Abstract: The invention provides a ready-to-consume, freezeable, alcoholic beverage composed of water, sugars, alcohol, flavorants and carboxymethylcellulose. The beverage can be placed in a consumer or commercial freezer to form a soft ice, which can be consumed "as is" or can be spooned into a glass to provide, with stirring, an attractive slush-type frozen cocktail.

Abstract: A plastic packaged alcoholic beverage containing essential oils and having a substantial shelf life is provided. The alcoholic beverage has a proof of at least about 10 and includes as an essential taste component one or more essential oils. The alcoholic beverage is packaged in a container which includes as an interior layer in contact with the alcoholic beverage, a polypropylene homopolymer, and a second layer exterior to the interior layer comprising an oxygen barrier polymer. The packaged alcoholic beverage of the invention has a shelf life under standard conditions of at least about one year such that the alcoholic beverage has substantially uniform taste throughout the shelf life.