This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

What I Loved About Haus

Sipping apéritifs is a popular pastime in Europe. While I don’t have a trip to France or Italy planned any time soon, Haus gave me the chance to at least pretend like I was on a vacation in some romantic, far-flung locale.

I love the flavor variety

In my experience, I’ve had some pretty bitter apéritifs, so I was excited to see a range of flavor profiles from bitter to sweet to spicy. Haus sent over two of its sampler boxes, each of which had four 200-mL bottles to cover all of the flavors the brand offers: ginger yuzu, grapefruit jalapeño, spiced cherry, bitter clove, lemon lavender, rose rosé, peach passionfruit, and citrus flower.

I love the low ABV

I am almost always up for a good cocktail, whether I’m cozying up at the end of a long day or lounging by the pool on a hot, summer afternoon. But after two or three drinks, I’m typically tired or have an upset stomach … or both. Not to mention that a strong cocktail might taste good at the start of the sip but burn the rest of the way down. These low-ABV drinks allowed me to sip without cringing, and I could have a couple drinks with being out for the rest of the night. I also woke up to zero hangovers.

Room for Improvement

There are a lot of positives for this brand, but like anything, there’s always room to do better.

I didn’t love that several flavors were quite faint

While the variety of flavors were impressive, some of the options were very subtle in flavor. This is likely because these drinks are made with lower sugar than other alcohols and apéritifs, so this was an issue I could deal with. Pairing the Haus drinks with mixers can help boost the flavor. I also imagine once you've tried all the flavors, this subscription box would lose interest over time unless new flavors are released regularly.

What to Expect in a Haus Delivery

So you’ve decided to order Haus. What’s coming to your door? Here’s what to expect.

Price

Memberships offer one, three, or six bottles a month for $35, $63, or $144 respectively, plus free shipping, 10% off additional orders, and membership perks like exclusive events.

Alternatively, you can also order a sampler kit of four smaller bottles for $50, also with free shipping. I received two sampler kits.

Minimalist, Sustainable Packaging

The first thing I noticed was the eco-friendly packaging. There are no extra frills here, but instead of looking bland, the simplicity came off as high-end and elegant. I received one large cardboard box, and inside were two smaller, tightly sealed cardboard boxes. Each box contained four sample-sized (200-mL) bottles, although for members ordering the subscription box, you can expect to find one, two or six 750-mL bottles. Each bottle is glass and recyclable or reusable with wood-and-cork caps.

Guidebook

The box also includes a Haus seasonal guidebook, which describes the brand history, shares the various flavors, cocktail recipes, and even accompanying Spotify playlists to listen to while you mix and sip your drinks. I thought this guidebook was both playful and classy, and I enjoyed reading it while drinking these aperitifs. The playlists were funky, too, and I must admit I danced along to the Feelin’ Good Mix No. 9 for a few days.

Our Test Delivery in June 2021

For June 2021, I received two samplers, each with four different flavors of Haus. The boxes are customizable, so you can have your favorites delivered each month or order samplers of the flavors you are most intrigued by. We tested all eight flavors offered by the brand.

The Haus Products

I received eight 200-mL bottles of Haus drinks: ginger yuzu, grapefruit jalapeño, spiced cherry, bitter clove, lemon lavender, rose rosé, peach passionfruit, and citrus flower. These apéritifs ranged in ABV from 18% to 20%.

How We Used It

The brand guidebook recommends testing all drinks plain on the rocks, which is how I tested all of them to start. For one of my favorite flavors, the grapefruit jalapeño, I also made a cocktail with it.

What We Thought

Haus offers an interesting, varied profile of flavors that you just aren’t likely to find at the grocery store. The guidebook is a thoughtful, handy addition that gives even more depth to the products and makes drinking these apéritifs an experience from start to finish. I found nearly all of these to be enjoyable on their own over ice, making whipping up a fancy cocktail easy.

I had varied opinions on each flavor:

Ginger yuzu: This aperitif has 18% ABV and tastes mostly like ginger. It has a nice bite. It starts out strong and spicy, then mellows out into a sweeter, lighter note.

Grapefruit jalapeño: This is one of my favorite flavors. It starts out a little sweet, then you get the spice of jalapeño. I enjoyed it on its own at first, then prepared it with lime juice in a glass with a salted rim and lime wheel garnish for a low-alcohol (18% ABV) twist on a margarita.

Peach passionfruit: This is another favorite of mine. From the name, I expected it to taste very fruity and summery, but this one would actually be perfect for fall. It has a very sweet, peachy smell, but it tastes slightly like cinnamon. The flavor reminds me of a warm peach crisp.

Rose rosé: The rose rosé (18% ABV) has a slight berry smell and flavor. The flavor is very light and subtle with the slightest spicy aftertaste.

Spiced cherry: This aperitif, 20% ABV, smells and tastes exactly as the name implies: like cherry and anise. It starts with a sweet, cherry soda flavor followed by a cinnamon-anise kick.

Lemon lavender: I have to admit I don’t like this one (18% ABV). It smells like a strong cleaner and tastes what I imagine cleaners taste like.

Citrus flower: According to the guidebook, fans of lemon lavender will also like citrus flower (and vice versa), so I expected this one (18% ABV) to also taste like cleaner. I can’t quite place the smell of this, but I do like the flavor. It is very floral in a good way, like a floral iced tea with lemon. This one would be a perfect light spring drink.

Bitter clove: The bitter clove aperitif (18% ABV) smells similar to whiskey. It has a warm, spiced flavor to start then finishes on a bitter note. I find this to be more palatable and easier to drink than whiskey, so it’s a perfect swap in whiskey cocktails.

Is Haus worth it?

For cocktail and wine enthusiasts or those who love to entertain, Haus is an excellent membership to join. I love that there are so many flavors to choose from, with some of my favorites including grapefruit jalapeño, peach passionfruit, citrus flower, and bitter clove. They are easy to sip, and you don’t have to worry about feeling woozy while drinking or hungover the next morning. The membership is customizable, too, so you can have your favorites delivered regularly or try something new each month. I hope Haus continues to produce new flavors to keep the subscription box feeling fresh and exciting each month.

You can try Haus for yourself here.

Have you tried Haus? Head to the comments section and let us know!