Hey Waterpolo,
My vote is in Katz back seat. As she says, it’s true. Like Zima, Smirnoff Ice and Jack Daniels Lynchburgh Lemonade, Mike’s Hard Lemon and Hard Lime are Malt Liquors and made with similar ingredients to beer, but are distilled like Hard liquor.
Don’t confuse these with items on your store shelves like T.G.I. Fridays mudslides or the can’s of Long Island Ice Tea’s and Blue Hawaiians; those are made from wine bases.
You can tell from the alcohol content and proof. If it is about 20 proof (10% alc. cont.) then it’s wine based. 35-40 proof and you’re talking malt liquors (Mickie’s big mouth and King Cobra are made the same way.
(B-T-W, sales are so bad that Mikes is looking at reformulating their recipes in an attempt to catch more market or dump the whole thing altogether)
Good Drinking!
James