13 Best Canned Cocktails of 2024 to Drink This Summer
It used to be that the only canned bevs you could crack open were the best beers in the world. But now, the best canned cocktails offer imbibers the opportunity to take the spirits they love anywhere—from the world's top beaches to their own backyard while working the best grills—without needing to deal with barware or glasses.
From simple spritzes with a touch of fruit to complex tequila cocktails perfected by some of the world’s top bartenders, the industry has gone all-in on canned cocktails—also known as ready-to-drink beverages (RTDs). That means vodka lovers, whiskey fans, gin drinkers, and tequila aficionados alike will find a can that suits their palate.
“Consumers are looking for quick, hassle-free options at an affordable price point,” says Laura Merritt, a marketing executive at Diageo, the company behind Smirnoff, Ketel One, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, and more.
The best canned cocktails come from a mix of iconic bartenders, major brands, and new startups. We taste-tested dozens to bring you this final list, which includes cocktails with ABVs anywhere from 5.5 to 42 percent, so be sure to check the can and drink responsibly. (Note: If you're looking to cut back, try the best nonalcoholic drinks and NA beers.)
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Slow & Low Rock and Rye, a delicious bottled-and-canned rye old fashioned wins our top spot.
Related: The 50 Best Beers in the World
Overall Best Canned Cocktail: Slow & Low Rock and Rye
Base: Rye whiskey
ABV: 42 percent
Slow & Low makes Rock and Rye better than many rye old fashioneds you can find at a bar, yet somehow fits them into tiny cans you can take just about anywhere. Once you take a sip, you immediately understand why this is not just a good canned cocktail. It’s a damn good cocktail, period.
Best Tequila Canned Cocktail: Social Hour Black Pepper Paloma
Base: Tequila
ABV: 11.2 percent
When you get bartenders from institutions like Brooklyn’s Clover Club developing canned cocktails, you know that you’re in for something special. Black Pepper Paloma is the latest addition to the bar's Social Hour range. It’s a spicy riff on the famed tequila cocktail, where black pepper adds a touch of complexity to the mix, making it equal parts tangy, sweet, and spicy.
Best Vodka Canned Cocktail: Smirnoff Smash Vodka Soda Strawberry Dragonfruit
Base: Vodka
ABV: 4.5 percent
Smirnoff took its time when stepping into the canned cocktail game, but served up an ace when it entered the space. The mix of tropical fruit and sweet red berry flavors makes for a unique combination. And while Smirnoff Smash Vodka Soda Strawberry Dragonfruit definitely leans on the sweet side, it's perfect for any fan of slushy daiquiris sipped at beachside bars.
Best Canned Cocktail for Whiskey Lovers: Tip Top Proper Cocktails Manhattan
Base: Rye whiskey
ABV: 31 percent
Tip Top Proper Cocktails Manhattan is a real cocktail in a can. Made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, it’s spirit-forward and surprisingly earthy with a nice touch of dark cherry that any old-school Manhattan drinker is sure to appreciate. While it comes in a tiny can, don’t be fooled—these will get to you quickly.
More Canned Cocktails and Ready-to-Drink Beverages We Love
Best Canned Cocktail for Purists: Jack and Coca-Cola
Base: Whiskey
ABV: 7 percent
“There will always be room for people to have a great Jack and Coke,” says Dallas Cheatham, director of RTDs at Brown-Forman, the company behind Jack Daniel's, Fords Gin, and others. He couldn’t be more right. Jack and Coca-Cola is arguably the most iconic two-ingredient drink and it makes for the perfect serve for backyard cookouts and casual weeknight happy hours.
Best Canned Cocktail for Tiki Drinks: Cutwater Tiki Rum Mai Tai
Base: Rum
ABV: 12.5 percent
Cutwater has been on top of the canned cocktail game for awhile, and that's because of drinks like Tiki Rum Mai Tai. Made from a blend of award-winning rums with notes of pineapple, coconut, and citrus, the brand doesn’t sacrifice quality to make something that feels like an island escape.
Best Canned Cocktail for the Beach: Superbird Tequila Sunrise
Base: Tequila
ABV: 5.9 percent
Superbird comes from the same people as Komos tequila, one of the best tequila brands to pop up this side of the tequila renaissance. Right off the bat, you know the tequila is high-quality. Mix that with tangerine juice, black cherry juice, agave nectar, and sparkling water, and you get Superbird Tequila Sunrise, a drink as good as any sandy summer sunset.
Best Canned Cocktail for Picnics: Cardinal Spirits Maui Mule
Base: Grain neutral spirits
ABV: 6.5 percent
Maui Mule offers a bit of something for everybody. Referring to itself as “a spicy, tiki twist on a classic mule,” it’s made with award-winning vodka, real passion fruit juice, and zingy ginger. It’s the perfect can for spicing up any picnic and also happens to be gluten-free and vegan.
Best Canned Cocktail Made by Bartenders: LiveWire Golden God
Base: Rye whiskey, brandy
ABV: 7.5 percent
Bartenders across the country have jumped into the canned cocktail scene whole-heartedly, but few have done it with as much enthusiasm as Aaron Polsky, founder of LiveWire, a line of bartender-developed canned cocktails. His LiveWire Golden God combines rye whiskey, apricot, elderflower, and green tea. The drink manages to hit that perfect middle ground of flavorful but not too sweet.
Best Canned Cocktail for Gin Lovers: The Original Southside
Base: Gin
ABV: 10 percent
The Original Southside comes in at 10 percent, right in between the ABV of beer and wine. What makes the brand's can even more unique is that it’s made with vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO ingredients, and crafted with 100 percent sugar cane. It’s also got that citrusy gin flavor many of us love.
Best Canned Cocktail for Gin and Tonic Lovers: Bombay Sapphire Gin & Tonic
Base: Gin
ABV: 5.9 percent
Gin and tonics are some of the most refreshing cocktails available at any bar. And now, thanks to canned cocktails, you can take them just about anywhere. Our favorite is from Bombay Sapphire. The brand's canned version of the two-ingredient classic doesn’t disappoint. There’s that hint of quinine that’s essential and enough zesty lemon to provide refreshment. Bombay Sapphire Gin & Tonic is also on the lower ABV side.
Best Canned Cocktail for Summer: Surfside Tea + Vodka
Base: Vodka
ABV: 4.5 percent
Surfside has only been around for two years, but started with a strong premise: What’s more refreshing than an iced tea on a hot summer day? Made from premium vodka, real brewed black tea, and lemon, the Philadelphia-based brand is already the No. 1 product sold at its hometown MLB stadium and is also popular at beach bars. At only 4.5 percent ABV and low on sugar, it’s great for cooling off without falling over. The brand makes a variety of flavors, but our favorite is Raspberry Tea + Vodka.
Best Canned Cocktail for Dessert: NightOwl Vodka Espresso Martini
Base: Vodka
ABV: 12.5 percent
Espresso martinis are a tasty post-dinner treat. But it’s hard to get the measurements right. Many a bar have failed to balance the variety of flavors, but NightOwl gets things right with its NightOwl Vodka Espresso Martini. The brand's version combines premium vodka, high-quality coffee, and the right touch of vanilla to create an authentically and actually drinkable espresso martini.
Related: The Best Tequilas of 2024 for Making Margaritas
Why Are Canned Cocktails Trending?
“Canned cocktails are a really interesting place to test the waters for new concepts,” says Cheatham.
Merritt agrees: “There’s so much room for experimentation. People are looking for offerings that challenge the status quo and smash together bold flavors and unlikely combinations that bring people together.”
Not only do canned cocktails make spirits and mixed drinks accessible in a way they were never available before, the ready-to-drink market also offers low-ABV options.
“These low- and mid-range ABV options allow people, especially segments like new parents, to take the edge off in a controlled way," says Meredith Mills-Merritt, founder of RTD gin cocktail company The Original Southside.
How We Choose the Best Canned Cocktails
I first narrowed down from the hundreds of canned cocktails that've been sent my way over the past few years. Then I started taste-testing. I separated the canned cocktails into various categories, starting with base spirit, then chose the various superlatives that helped define individual section winners.
Speaking with experts from spirits-makers gave me an understanding of what goes into the process of creating each product and how they see the sector heading into the future. Cheatham made the point that the canned cocktail category has moved exceedingly fast. Its sales are indicative of that and are only expected to grow further.
While the category originally used malt liquor as a base, the industry has moved towards premium spirits.
"We will continue to see a movement away from malt-based RTDs in favor of spirits-based RTDs," says Mills-Merritt. That thought was reiterated by Matt Slosek, president of Superbird: “Today’s consumers are always looking for what’s best and how to impress their friends and company when entertaining at home.”
With this in mind, we tried to keep our list pointed at brands who use real spirits as the base, rather than malt.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve written about wine and spirits for over a decade. My work has appeared in Fast Company, Food & Wine, Men’s Journal, Wine Enthusiast, InsideHook, Spirited, Liquor.com, and Travel & Leisure. Literally hundreds of canned cocktails have been shipped to my home over the last few years for me to try.
I spoke with a variety of experts from the world’s top spirits companies, like Laura Merritt of Diageo, Dallas Cheatham of Brown-Forman, and Matt Slosek, President, Superbird. Additionally, I chatted with CEOs and founders of up-and-coming brands who have already made a dent in the space.
Related: Wine Coolers Died in the '90s. Now They're Back and Better Than Ever for Summer 2024
