Updated October 2026
Vodka seltzer and hard seltzer can look similar, but the alcohol base and label classification may differ. Vodka seltzer is a consumer term commonly used for a ready-to-drink beverage that identifies vodka as an alcohol base. Hard seltzer is a consumer term used for products that can have different alcohol bases and label classifications.
The current package and official product description are the best places to confirm a specific drink. A category name alone does not establish how a product was made, how it will taste, or every fact about its formulation.
What is a vodka seltzer?
A product described as vodka seltzer identifies vodka as an alcohol base. The exact formula and label classification vary by product, so check the package for its class or type, statement of composition when present, alcohol content, and other required information.
Landshark Vodka Seltzer is one example: it is made with real vodka. That is a product-specific fact, not a rule for every vodka seltzer.
What is hard seltzer?
Hard seltzer is a broad consumer term rather than one universal formula. Products sold under that term can use different alcohol bases and can fall under different label classifications. Do not assume that every hard seltzer is malt-based or that every can follows the same production method.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau explains that federal definitions and labeling rules differ across beer, malt beverages, wine, and distilled spirits products. Those definitions provide useful context, but the current package remains the immediate reference for a particular product.
Read TTB’s beer and malt beverage definitions.
What can a label establish?
A current label or official product description may identify vodka, another distilled spirit, a malt beverage, or another composition. That helps establish the stated alcohol base or classification. It does not establish taste, quality, health value, or how the product compares with every other drink in the category.
Use the current package to verify the alcohol base, class or type, statement of composition when present, alcohol by volume, net contents, and other product facts. For a step-by-step explanation, read How to Read a Canned Cocktail Label.
The practical difference
The useful distinction is narrow: a vodka seltzer identifies vodka as an alcohol base, while a product described as hard seltzer can have a different alcohol base and label classification. Similar packaging or carbonation does not make two formulations the same.
For official Landshark flavor and product information, visit the Landshark product facts and flavors page. Use the Where to Buy page as a starting point for local availability, then confirm inventory with the retailer.
Plan ahead
Alcohol is for adults 21 and older. If you choose to drink, do not drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends planning a sober ride before drinking.
