When you’re looking for something to take with you an a summer adventure — whether it’s to the beach, up into the mountains, or just down to the community pool — one thing is immediately obvious: cans are king. Most of these destinations don’t allow glass containers, and do you really want to be that guy pulling out a plastic handle of Banker’s Club rum when there’s a gaggle of four-year-olds in the splash pool right next to you?
Canned alcohol drinks, on the other hand, are versatile. You can throw these cans in a cooler and, when you’re done, you crush’em and recycle them. Go in with weight, come out feeling great.
The majority of what comes in cans, though, is beer. While there is nothing wrong with beer (like, at all), sometimes you want something a little different. There are hard sodas and hard seltzers, but sometimes you’re still left wanting more.
Thankfully, a number of companies are offering ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs, in the common parlance) and canned wine to satisfy that need for portable booze. What was once a fledgling area of the market here in the United States has grown significantly (in quantity and quality) over the last decade or so. Check out some of our favorite adult beverages in a can below.
New Holland Spirits
New Holland Spirits, a division of the Holland, Michigan-based brewery by the same name, has been making liquor for more than a decade but recentlylaunched three ready-to-drink canned cocktails just in time for summers on the Great Lakes. New Holland starts its foray into the segment with Bourbon and Cola, featuring the brand’s signature Beer Barrel Bourbon; a twist on a vodka classic, the Holland Mule, with Knickerbocker Gin; and perhaps the most refreshing for a summer, Blueberry Gin Lemonade.
Cutwater Spirits
Cutwater Spirits was one of the first companies to grab hold of the canned market back when it was part of Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits. The owners sold the brewery to Constellation Brands but kept the distillery, rebranded it, and greatly expanded the portfolio. Cutwater offers an awesome array of spirits, including 14 types of canned cocktails ranging from Tequila Paloma to several Vodka Soda flavors. Thse concoctions won six of the seven medals awarded in the “Ready to Drink” category at this spring’s American Distilling Institute Judging Awards.
Porch Pounder
Beer was once shunned in cans, but is now the hot package for most brews. Wine seems to be taking a similar path, as evident by Porch Pounder — the can even kind of looks like a beer. Porch Pounder comes in four-packs with your choice of chardonnay, rosé and red wine. It’s not a bad deal to be able to sip on some tasty wine at the beach.
Pampelonne Sparkling Wine Cocktails
Pampelonne makes several delicious ready-to-drink cocktails made with wine, each of which could be perfect for your next pool party, beach outing, or barbecue. The French 75, Rosé Lime, and Blood Orange Spritz are the three most refreshing flavors for summer, in our opinion.
Goslings
A Dark ‘n’ Stormy is the perfect mix for a dark and stormy summer night — or any other time, for that matter. Primarily a rum maker, Goslings also makes a packaged ginger beer. The company took the next logical step and combined the two in a small, ready-to-drink, 8.4-oz can for your next spicy craving.
Article originally published by Sam Slaughter on August 8, 2017. Last updated by pat Evans on May 8, 2018.
