Entertainment

Portable Options for the Dainty Boozehound

by Anam Syed

We're super excited that this week's Shark Tank on ABC features not one, but two amazing female entrepreneurs. Television's realest reality show has our sharks meeting each week to dump their own personal cash into new companies. Over the years, they've given us our share of thrills and chills, but this week we're all abuzz over Bon Affair wine spritzer. The company was started by Jayla Siciliano, who says she was inspired as a product manager for brands like Diesel and Burton. According to her website, Siciliano's business doings resulted in a lot of happy hours — a woman after our own boozy hearts. During a company retreat in Hong Kong filled with two weeks of non-stop toasting, Siciliano started to craft a lighter option to fit into her lifestyle, without cutting into social bonding or networking time.

Switching to spritzers did keep her lighter, but Siciliano wanted to develop one for her own tastes. So she enrolled in some MBA classes, worked with beverage pros and came up with her own version, which is pretty inspiring. Don't like what's on the market? Become a business maven and make your own.

Here's some more reasons Bon Affair has got us all hot and bothered and in need of a spritzy cooldown.

1. IT'S A NEAT PORTABLE OPTION FOR THE SPRITZER-DRINKER

Your beer-swilling friends have dominated the scene too long with their single serve cans and bottles. Now, you don't need to lug more than one ingredient or be accused of being high maintenance and chug (or sip if you prefer) with the best of them.

2. IT SAYS IT'S OKAY TO BE GIRLIE (AND FOR GUYS TO INDULGE, TOO)

A New York Times piece covering company founder Siciliano remarked on the spritzer's "girlie" reputation, and her challenges of not only running a startup, but rolling with the big boys. She is quoted in the article as saying: “I thought if these guys want to drink a spritzer, I could break through the feminine reputation it has." Breaking barriers through wine is exactly the sort of revolution we can get behind.

3. IT'S GOT ELECTROLYTES

Yes, yes, we know. Post Idiocracy, we're supposed to be a little suspicious of anything touting electrolytes, but we promise, it's something your body needs to prevent dehydration. Which is super stellar to have when you're knocking back something alcoholic and hydration is the last thing on your mind.

4. IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR LIZ LEMON

...sort of! As a non-spritzer drinker by trade, I would totally try anything Liz Lemon refers to as "Funky Juice."

5. IT'S GOT HALF THE CALORIES OF REGULAR WINE

Which is a score if you're one of the people still keeping up with your New Year's fitness resolution.