In the past few years, we’ve seen the world of ready-to-drink (also known as RTDs) cocktails explode. Countless distilleries and other brands are selling their own ready-to-drink mixed drinks. Especially whiskey-based drinks. Take a stroll around your local alcohol retailer and you’ll be met with cans (or bottles) featuring timeless drinks like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Whiskey Sour.
In my years of writing about alcohol, I’ve realized that not all ready-to-drink cocktails are created equal. There are different types of RTDs. There are RTDs for casual drinkers who’d prefer to try something a little different than their usual beer, hard seltzer, hard lemonade, or wine coolers. There are the RTDs that sit between 5-10% ABV (similar to your favorite beer) and taste like the malt beverage version of your favorite cocktail. While we can throw back a few of these bad boys on a hot day at the lake, today we’re more concerned with the higher ABV alternatives.
The second type of ready-to-drink cocktail is a cocktail in a can. When you crack it open and pour it into a glass, you’d be hard-pressed to find a difference in flavor and alcohol content from the mixed drink you’d order at your neighborhood cocktail bar.
These drinks are usually around 20-30% ABV are the closest thing to actually ordering a Boulevardier, Sazerac, or Mint Julep at a bar or whipping one up at home yourself. The best part? You don’t need to buy different bottles of whiskey, mint, simple syrup, various flavored bitters, and other ingredients (and tools) to make them.
Whiskey-based cocktails that are like pouring a cocktail right into your glass
Now that you’ve learned a little about the appeal of bar-proof RTDs, it’s time to find some to add to your home bar refrigerator. Below, you’ll find some of the best examples of well-made, balanced whiskey-based read-to-drink cocktails that belong in your fridge. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Bulleit Manhattan
Bulleit is a big name in the American whiskey world. It should come as no surprise that this iconic Kentucky-based brand would have its own Manhattan RTD. This award-winning bottled cocktail is made with a base of Bulleit Rye Whiskey along with sweet vermouth and bitters. Sitting at a potent 37.5% ABV, it’s as close to a pre-made Manhattan cocktail as you’ll be able to pour out of a bottle.
Traverse City Old Fashioned
If you’ve never tried any expressions from Traverse City, what are you waiting for? A great start is by cracking open a bottle of its Traverse City Old Fashioned Cocktail. This popular RTD is made with the brand’s six-year-old bourbon, simple syrup, bitters, and Seville orange. It’s bottled at a potent 37% ABV.
High West Old Fashioned Barrel Finished Cocktail
High West didn’t just make a bottled RTD Old Fashioned, it barrel-aged it. The cocktail itself is made from a blend of bourbon and rye whiskeys. Raw sugar, simple syrup, and bitters are added before the liquid is barrel-aged in second-use rye whiskey casks. It’s bottled at a robust 43% ABV.
