The Best Canned Cocktails for 2023
10 Best Canned Cocktails You Can Buy.
The Top 10 Canned Cocktails You Can Buy in 2023
The ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktail market has seen continued growth in recent years and is projected to maintain double-digit growth for several more years.
The convenience of premium quality pre-mixed beverages is great for summer get togethers, when you may not want to be mixing cocktails in the backyard. However, with the boom in canned cocktails has come a wave of new beverage companies entering the market, not all of which distill their own spirits, or use high quality ingredients.
The Tasting Protocol
To find the top 10 canned cocktails, we put together a tasting panel that tasted nearly 40 different canned cocktails.
The tasting panel was made up of men and women and followed the WSET tasting standard protocols used for both wine and spirits. This means that tasters did not swallow any samples during the tasting process (in other words, no one got intoxicated, which would obviously hamper the ability to taste properly). Once the tasting was completed, however, the battle began to reach for the winning cocktails.
It was interesting (although perhaps not surprising) to note that the top picks tend to use premium ingredients both in spirits and flavorings. All canned cocktails are not created equal. Quality matters and it was evident in back-to-back tastings.
Three Categories of Canned Cocktails
There is a noticeable difference between the 10 cocktails that made the list—many of which taste like you mixed them yourself using fresh ingredients—and those that did not make the cut. We ended up bucketing the cocktails into three categories:
those that made the top 10 list (exceptional cocktails that didn’t taste like they came from a can);
a middle category of canned cocktails that were just okay (but not nearly as good as the top 10); and
those that were just plain bad (many of these had a lingering bad aftertaste or tasted like they “came out of a can,” as one taster noted).
Tasters had to be unanimous in agreement about which category each drink belonged. There were many face-off tastings as well, in order to nail down the top 10 canned cocktails appearing below.
Nearly 40 different ready-to-drink canned cocktails were taste tested in Spring 2023 in order to narrow down the recommended list. As is always the policy here at the Grand One Lounge, bad reviews are not published. We celebrate the best in wine, beer and spirits. So any products you see on this site are recommended. Anything that doesn’t measure up simply does not get published on GrandOneLounge.com.
The Best Canned Cocktails for 2023
Here is the Grand One Lounge recommended list of the top 10 ready-to-drink canned cocktails for 2023, presented in no particular order.
Dillon’s Blackberry, Lemon and Elderflower Gin Cocktail.
Dillon's Blackberry, Lemon and Elderflower Gin Cocktail
A well-balanced fruity and refreshing gin cocktail. Dillon's blackberry, lemon and elderflower gin cocktail is topped off with soda for a little sparkling bite that helps to temper this cocktail from being too sweet (it's not overly sweet, but just sweet enough). The drink tastes fresh and clean and is a great choice if you like a fruit flavor profile. 5% ABV.
Jose Cuervo Sparkling Margarita.
Jose Cuervo Sparkling Margarita
If you doubted a sparkling margarita in a can could be anything worth drinking, Jose Cuervo has put those doubts to rest with this very well balanced and flavorful canned margarita cocktail. The Jose Cuervo tequila is present in perfect balance and it all comes together as a very refreshing sparkling margarita. 5% ABV.
Absolut Vodka Sparkling Mango Mule.
Absolut Mango Mule
If you love a classic mule, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this Absolut twist on the Moscow Mule. The Absolut Mango Mule is a well-balanced cocktail with flavors of mango and spicy ginger, along with a touch of apple and hibiscus juice. A very refreshing vodka-based drink that doesn't taste like something that came out of a can. 7% ABV.
Founder’s Seville Orange Bourbon Sour.
Founder's Original Bourbon Sour
Getting bourbon and whiskey cocktails just right in a can has proven to be a challenge for even the biggest whiskey makers. Founder's seems to have hit on something here with their delicious take on a bourbon sour. Made with American bourbon, the Founder's Bourbon sour uses real juice from Seville Oranges and lemons, along with a well-balanced hint of sweetness. A classic bourbon cocktail in a can. 7% ABV.
Cutwater Grapefruit Tequila Paloma.
Cutwater Grapefruit Tequila Paloma
Cutwater has been producing high quality canned cocktails for years and this grapefruit tequila Paloma is an excellent tequila beverage. You can taste the tequila, which taster's appreciated, but it's perfectly balanced with the other ingredients. A touch of sweetness from the grapefruit works well with the light carbonation and overall this is just a very refreshing tequila beverage. High quality ingredients do make a difference. 7% ABV.
Jack Daniel’s Smooth and Balanced Tennessee Honey Lemonade.
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey Lemonade
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey Lemonade is one of the most well-balanced and delicious canned cocktails you'll find. First things first, this is made using Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey liqueur, not JD Old No. 7. So don't let that throw you. In fact, without fail, tasters who did not otherwise like Jack Daniel's whiskey unanimously found this cocktail to be an instant favorite. The honey and citrus from the lemonade work very well together and the light carbonation enhances the taste experience. If you do like JD products, you will appreciate that you can taste a hint of Jack in the can. 6% ABV.
Founder’s Original Blackberry Gin Bramble.
Founder's Original Blackberry Gin Bramble
A bramble is any of the fruits that tend to be prickly or tangled in their growth and this includes blackberries. Founder's made the list again with this Blackberry Gin Bramble. This will appeal to those who prefer a berry flavored cocktail. Slight tartness from the lemon is well balanced against the sweetness of the blackberries, making for an overall easy drinking experience. The gin is not overpowering and all in all this is a crisp and refreshing cocktail in a can. 7% ABV.
Cutwater Mint and Lime Rum Mojito.
Cutwater Rum Mojito
Cutwater canned cocktails are exceptional. This Cutwater Mint and Lime Rum Mojito was a standout with all tasters—many noted that the mint tasted like it was freshly muddled. Made with Cutwater white rum, fresh mint and lime, the flavor profile is excellent and makes for a great mojito straight out of the refrigerator. The sweet taste of mint works well with the tartness of the lime. A very good cocktail. 5.9% ABV.
Bacardi Pina Colada.
Bacardi Pina Colada
As someone who takes the time to make fresh Pina Coladas at home with natural ingredients, I have to admit I didn't think it was possible to get anything close to that out of a can. I was wrong and all testers agreed. The Bacardi Pina Colada is delicious. The pineapple, coconut and rum blend perfectly here and it tastes like something that was home made. A winner. 5% ABV.
Malibu Watermelon Mojito.
Malibu Watermelon Mojito
As someone who does not like watermelon, I have to say that this cocktail blew me away in a good way. With its delightfully fresh flavors and perfect mix of watermelon, lime and mint, it is a very refreshing and well-balanced cocktail. I found myself fighting off other testers for more of this one after testing was complete. If you like watermelon (and perhaps even if you don't), the Malibu Watermelon Mojito is highly recommended. Definitely give this one a try as it was one of the most unique flavor profiles of all. 7% ABV
By Mike Belobradic
Wine, Spirits and Beer Virtuoso
Grand One Lounge