With the rise of hard seltzer in 2019, it's become evident that the market for alcohol has changed. Canned cocktails are in, and the COVID-19 quarantine helped their popularity rise.
While it did take some time for traditional cocktails to adapt plenty of brands have come forward in recent months with their own spin on the canned craze.
Craft cocktails are coming to your home in a whole new dimension, and we’ve taken a look at the industry and compiled a list of some of the best. From hard kombucha to mixed drinks, rum, Japanese whisky and more, these are the canned craft cocktails you need at your next backyard BBQ or afternoon picnic.
See also: How Aaron Polsky's LiveWire Cocktail Company Turns Bartenders into Rock Stars
A retailer that thinks of itself as more of a “record label” than a cocktail seller, LiveWire aims to bring some of bartenders’ most successful drinks—previously restricted to their local bar— worldwide. Featuring canned brews like the Honeydew Collins by Joey Bernardo, the Rocket Queen by Erin Hayes, and the Heartbreaker or Golden God by founder Aaron Polsky, LiveWire Drinks bring the high-end mixing experience to your home. For a taste of Hollywood anywhere in the world and the true rockstar in all of us, LiveWire is a perfect fit.
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Bacardi is no stranger to the canned game, introducing three seltzer-similar sodas last year, such as Lime and Soda, Limon and Lemonade. Eager to capitalize on the trend, Bacardi pushed the agenda further this June, bringing more traditional brews to their cans. New drinks include Sunset Punch made with blood orange, lemon and ginger; Bahama Mama with orange, red berries and pineapple; and a traditional Mojito. Already a champion of the tropical rum mix, Bacardi punches its mixes to a whole new level, bringing what natural flavors, "no additional bar tools required."
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Not a fan of the fruity stuff? Maybe you’d prefer something a little more traditional. Tip Top Proper Cocktails prides itself on being “always balanced, not too sweet,” as it’s printed on every can. Flavors include margarita, daiquiri, the bee’s knees, old fashioned, negroni, and a traditional Manhattan. Tip Top is highly rated, and seven-time James Beard Award nominee Miles Macquarrie is at the reins, so it’s safe to assume these short stacks will freshen up the lowball market and bring out even more flavors in the years to come.
There's a lot of talk about transparency these days, so we'd like to take this moment to remind you that all the ingredients in our cocktails are written right on the can. How's that for transparency? pic.twitter.com/uAVC8kbh0l
— F!VE™ (@Fivedrinksco) April 27, 2021
“Any drink you can make, we can make better,” the website for Five Drinks claims, and it’s probably not a wise idea to test the theory. Each drink is made with only five ingredients, and the can’s simple design boldly explains what to expect in each brew. The drinks are largely bar staples, including Moscow mules, margaritas, gin and tonic, and watermelon vodka soda. While most of the drinks are available for just a single purchase, the top option is the variety packs, including the “Variety 10-Pack,” and the 32-can “Summer Bundle.” For those that don’t want a mix with countless ingredients on the back, this NYC staple is worth every penny.
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No, this isn’t just random gibberish meant to sell drinks. "Bambucha" is slang for “big” in Hawaiian, which perfectly represents this new line. Kombucha, a tea drink often mixed with fruit juice and spice for a kick, and Bambucha punches this idea further with several adult blends. The mixes are largely unique recipes, including Tropical Guava made with guava superfruit and pineapple; as well as Blueberry Vanilla and Hawaiian Hibiscus, the latter being a mix of lime, orange and grapefruit complimented by the Hawaiian flower. A probiotic, vegan mix for everyone, this new spin on the kombucha is good for you, and fun as well.
Good friends. Good drinks. Good times.
— Social Club Hard Seltzer (@SocialClub) October 7, 2020
Yeah, this is how we do it.#TopShelfSeltzer pic.twitter.com/qeEEJGi5IY
Maybe you’d like the flavor of a cocktail, but don’t want a full brew. For just the occasion, Anheuser-Busch released its new Social Club Seltzer, giving tradition flavors a mix of modernity. The Old Fashioned is made with the flavors all would expect, as well as the traditional lemon-zested Sidecar and Citrus Gimlet. The seltzers in question have made a few rounds online, and critics praise the approach to the growing seltzer game, as well as the ability to enjoy the flavor without the punch of too much alcohol. For a summer kick with infused tradition, this might be just the can for you.
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It’s no secret one of the most delicious and often expensive options for bargoers is Japanese Whiskey. Imported from the Land of the Rising Sun, Hitachino Highball from Kiuchi Brewery brings the favored spirit into the canned cocktail business, and it's made a splash with cocktail critics everywhere. While more casual drinkers might shy away from the whiskey title, fans should know the brew is more soda than whiskey. It can provide just the right amount of kick for those looking for a relaxing experience. Kiuchi Brewery is no stranger to audiences boasting some of the best craft beer around. It should come as no surprise the company works well with hard mixes, too.
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Made from Agave plants, Mezcal is a traditional Mexican beverage often mixed with fruit to create a tropical blend. It's picked up in popularity State-side, and the canned craze can only push it further. Elenita is named after a friend of brand co-founders Jordan Dil and Mikel Noriega, and the company hopes to jump-start the canned Mezcal bandwagon before it takes off. Four mixes use the Agave brew, including Pineapple Jalapeno, Cucumber Lime, Strawberry Mule, and Passionfruit Paloma, bringing some of the best flavors for drinks right to your home. Not sure what to try? Order the variety pack, featuring all four flavors!
Photography by: Courtesy LiveWire Drinks
