Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links.
The Best Canned Cocktails 2024
The good news is you don’t need to raise a finger to enjoy these, except for the one you use to pop the tab.
When your shirt is sticking to your skin and your tongue is sticking to the roof of your mouth, it’s time to crack open up a cold one. No, I’m not talking about a beer. I’m talking about an RTD aka a Ready-to-drink cocktail. We’re living in the future now, so you don’t need a cocktail shaker, bitters, or a measuring cup to have an artisanal cocktail for consumption wherever you are. A ready made canned cocktail is not just for celebrities who need another avenue to write off business expenses on their taxes. these drinks have come a long way from the Bud Light Lime-a-Ritas I used to chug out of a brown paper bag in college.
In 2024 Ready-to-drink cocktails include ingredients like vanilla liqueur, yuzu, and lychee—not necessarily in one drink. Any mood, any occasion, any place you may find yourself, there's a canned cocktail for that. Tip Top’s Mai Tai is ready to be poured over an icy glass and will taste better than any syrupy blended drink you could order at the swim up bar at a resort. Creative spirit combinations like yuja and mango in the JUMO Soju cocktail can let you explore international flavors. If you like to reach for the classics, Golden Rule's got an espresso martini that'll make you swear it was made by your favorite bartender. And the good news is you don’t need to raise a finger to enjoy these, except for the one you have to use to pop the tab. —Sirena He
Tip Top promises classic cocktails served with no frills but with superlative quality. Their new Mai Tai may be a traditional blend of rum, curacao, orgeat and lime, but once it hits your tongue you’ll understand why it’s our go-to for a portable cocktail. Tip Top mastered the mixture of tart and sweet and elegant with this rendition of a Mai Tai.
An espresso martini is meant to be simple, yet still complex, bitter but slightly sweet. It’s a cocktail of many paradoxes, but it should be easy to enjoy. Golden Rule has somehow synthesized all of those factors to create a deliciously creamy and bittersweet cocktail.
Inspired by the flavors and attitude of The Talkhouse dive bar in the Hamptons, these canned cocktails are the best of what you would order at your favorite local dive. Our new favorite is the Hampton Mule which is mixed with real vodka with a twist of ginger and lime.
You either love soju or hate it. And if you hate it, it’s probably because you’ve made some bad decisions after drinking a bottle of it. We can’t promise you’ll make any better decisions after trying the Mango Yuja Citrus Mint flavor of this soju cocktail, but we can promise that you’ll like it right from the first taste of the fun mixed flavors.
Enjoying a glass of sake isn’t just for a lavish omakase dinner anymore. Soke wines combined premium handcrafted Junmai sake with the tangy flavor of yuzu and a bit of ginger spice to this ready to consume cocktail that might be your new go to summer drink.
Premade craft cocktails may not sound like a beverage you’d want to serve at your next dinner party, but Via Carota’s Sparkling Cocktails would elevate your next soirée. Inside the gorgeous dappled glasses is a spritz with bright grapefruit, lime, and bespoke Blanco tequila in a perfectly balanced blend. Bring the joy of dining al fresco in the Italian riviera to whatever glass is within reach—just add ice!
The best hard seltzers must balance having the freshest fruit flavors that can possibly be trapped within an aluminum can along with the right amount of bubbles to give that refreshing mouthfeel. Sprinter’s Peach Vodka Soda hits that sweet spot for us.
On The Rocks On The Rocks Strawberry Daiquiri
When I say daiquiri you may think of the frozen blended kind that you choke back from some souvenir cup on vacation somewhere tropical. But the On The Rocks Strawberry Daiquiri conjures up a more subtle experience. Made with Cruzan rum, sweet strawberry and tart lime flavors, this cocktail is carefully measured to give you a perfect sip every time. Be sure to add it to a glass of ice!
A canned margarita doesn’t necessarily evoke the sensual memory of salted rims, thick ice chunks and lime wedge garnishes, but Soula’s Pineapple Chili Margarita might just trick you into thinking you’re drinking just that. Made with a curated blend of chilis and premium agave azul wine, you could sip a couple of these without regretting it the next day.
St. Agrestis' phony negroni is one of the best NA negronis out there. This phony mezcal variant might even be better. Somehow they've taken the smoky, maximalist mezcal negroni, a kind of cocktail-nerd secret handshake and made an equally big-flavored NA version.
You can think of the classic south side cocktail as many things. A Mint Julep-like cocktail with gin instead of rum. A gimlet with mint. A gin cocktail for those who think they don't like gin. No matter how you frame it, the south side is a quintessential warm-weather drink and filling up a cooler with the Original Southside cans is a no-brainer.
The 12 Best Canned Cocktails
43 Gift Ideas for the Beer Snob in Your Life
The Hands-Down Best Bourbon Brands in 2024
The Piña Colada Turns 70 But Still Stays Fresh
