It’s officially summer, which means it’s time for pool parties, backyard barbecues, 4th of July fun, and beach night bonfires. Gone are the days of ice chests and coolers stuffed with budget beers, though. Forget packing up your entire bar cart next time you go on vacation or have a warm-weather adventure: enter the era of refreshing, delicious, ready-made canned cocktails that are the perfect addition to your next summer gathering.
I made it my mission to find some of the best canned cocktails for every occasion, from chilling poolside during the day or partying into the summer night. After trying all 18 RTD cocktail on this list, it’s safe to say there’s a canned bev for everyone (21+) — regardless of if you’re a fan of vodka, rum, tequila, gin, whiskey, or even wine. Spoon University rounded up a few of our favorite cans to kickstart the summer fun – Cheers!
#SpoonTip: No matter what you’re drinking, make sure to always drink responsibly. Spoon does not promote binge or underage drinking.
Dulce Vida
Dulce Vida Tequila’s line of ready-to-drink cocktails are a premium, portable, cocktail experience. Available in Margarita, Watermelon Margarita and Paloma, each Dulce Vida cocktail is crafted using real fruit juice, all natural ingredients and Dulce Vida Blanco Tequila as a base.
Surfide Iced Tea
Surfside is a line of premium iced tea and vodka canned cocktails that signal easy-drinking and good vibes ahead. Clocking in at 4.5% ABV, Surfside is made with Stateside vodka and real tea with just 2g of sugar and 0 bubbles, and the variety pack includes favorite flavors like Iced Tea + Vodka, Peach Tea + Vodka, Half & Half + Vodka and Lemonade + Vodka.
Sprinter
Founded by beauty mogul-turned-entrepreneur Kylie Jenner, Sprinter is a bold and juicy RTD vodka soda made with real fruit juice, premium vodka and sparkling water. Using only the highest quality ingredients, Sprinter delivers 4.5% ABV and vibrant & fruit-forward flavors such as Black Cherry, Peach, Grapefruit and Lime.
Jim Beam Kentucky Coolers
Jim Beam Kentucky Coolers are the perfect pick for fresh, flavorful and laid-back drinking with friends and family featuring Jim Beam bourbon for a refreshing and crisp RTD beverage. Kentucky Coolers recently dropped four new flavors, including Orange Crush, Peach Crush, Blueberry Lemonade, and Strawberry Lemonade, for a line of RTDs that epitomize summertime sips.
Monaco Margaritas
Two is Monaco’s lucky number. These two-shot tequila cocktails are available in two flavors — Twisted Lime and Watermelon — and two varieties — Classic or Spicy — to ensure you’re having double the fun.
Fizzy Beez Mojito
This fizzy mint and lime classic is full of flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness thanks to organic honey. Fizzy Beez’s Mojito is clean, crisp, and refreshing straight from the can, or dress it up by pouring it over ice and adding a sprig of mint and lime wedge (or two).
Loverboy Black Cherry
Picture this: Hard Dr. Pepper. Loverboy channels the top-tier soda (sorry, Coca-Cola) with their Black Cherry Vanilla hard iced tea, which is available in a variety pack with Lemon Iced Tea, Half & Half, and Strawberry Lemonade.
Dogfish Head Strawberry Lime Margarita
On your margs, get set, go! Just in time for the summer, Dogfish Head is bringing you a brand new ready-to-drink cocktail flavor that packs just a little more of a punch with its Strawberry Lime Tequila Margarita. Adding to its lineup of high-ABV offerings, it’s made with a mix of real spirits and real fruit juices that deliver an impressive 12% ABV and a refreshing, bright, and tangy flavor experience.
Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola RTD
The classic Jack & Coke — one of the world’s most popular “bar calls” — now in a ready-to-drink (aka RTD) can. Premium Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey meets sweet and refreshing Coca-Cola for a consistent can that clocks in at 7.0% ABV.
The Finnish Long Drink
In Finland, the long drink (or “lonkero”) refers to a popular mixed drink made with gin and grapefruit soda. The Long Drink — which is beloved by celebrities including Miles Teller, golfer Rickie Fowler, and DJ Kygo — brings a taste of Finland to the US with a crisp canned bev that’s smooth and refreshing. In addition to the traditional, citrus, and cranberry flavors, the brand recently launched a Peach Long Drink just in time for summer, and it’s my fave one yet.
Bully Boy Grapefruit Spritz
It’s the summer of spritzes, change my mind. Boston-based distillery Bully Boy comes on strong with a perfectly citrus-y Grapefruit Spritz made with Amaro and grapefruit with hints of lemon and tart cherry reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast.
Fling Tequila Paloma
Fling — a line of craft cocktails from Kansas City’s Boulevard Brewing Co. — mixes Una Vida Tequila and bright grapefruit topped off with a hint of lime and a splash of sweet soda to “fling” you to Jalisco. (P.S. How cute is this can?!) If you love citrus but not tequila, try Fling’s refreshing Vodka Lemonade.
Vita Coco Spiked with Captain Morgan’s
Whether you’re at the beach, poolside, or just chilling with friends, Vita Coco Spiked with Captain Morgan transports any summer get-together to the tropics. Vita Coco Spiked cans include three rum-based cocktail offerings: Piña Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri and Lime Mojito.
You & Yours Gin & Tonics
You & Yours uses Sunday Dry Gin for a citrusy, botanical canned G&T reminiscent of a sunny day in Southern California. Or, level up the canned classic with You & Yours Blood Orange G&T, which includes the London Dry gin topped with a crisp blood orange-scented tonic water and the teeniest touch of lime.
HOUSEOFLOVE
Inspired by the Emmy-award winning competition show RuPaul’s Drag Race, HOUSEOFLOVE is a line of delicious canned cocktails made with premium alcohol derived from sugar cane and agave with a portfolio of spirits including tequila, rum and vodka. HOUSEOFLOVE’s alcoholic offerings include Vodka Citrus Soda, Pomegranate Lime Vodka, Passionfruit Margarita, Tangerine Margarita, and Strawberry Daiquiri.
#SpoonTip: Staying sober but still want to get in on the RTD fun? HOUSEOFLOVE’s Totally Tropical Mocktail is a canned bev combining natural guava, passionfruit, and citrus flavors.
Simply Spiked Limeade
Simply Limeade is getting an alcoholic upgrade with Simply Spiked, the juice brand’s line of hard Limeade. These 12oz, 5% ABV cans are available in four refreshing flavors: Signature Limeade, Cherry Limeade, Passionfruit Limeade, and Blackberry Limeade.
Aperol Ready-to-Serve Spritz
After studying abroad in Italy, it’s safe to say I’m officially an Aperol Spritz Girlie. Luckily, Aperol’s RTD cocktails are available in the States, so I can close my eyes and pretend I’m on the Amalfi Coast any day of the week.
High Noon Fiesta
Who doesn’t love a Nooner? The beloved vodka soda brand’s newest variety pack features tequila seltzers in four delicious flavors: fan favorites Lime and Grapefruit, plus the new Prickly Pear and Blood Orange.
#SpoonTip: Prickly Pear is even better over ice!
Neatly Spiked
Enjoy a vodka soda without the malt, crashing, bloating, and burning. Neatly has a variety of delicious bevs made with natural flavors — think White Peach, Blueberry Honey, Black Cherry, and Cucumber Mint — made with 6x distilled American vodka and real green tea extract for an energy boost.
Vosa Spirits
Co-owned by model and actress Kate Upon, Vosa Spirits’s vodka water cocktail is a new twist on a classic drink. Vodka Water is set to make waves this summer, and Vosa Spirits has you covered with the High Line (7% ABV), a lightly carbonated vodka water, and the non-carbonated Lemon Vodka Water (5% ABV) made with real fruit juice for a simple and refreshing summer RTD.
Fishers Island Lemonade
Fishers Island Lemonades are bold and refreshing with a nice kick thanks to premium vodka, barrel-aged whiskey, lemon and honey. Coming in at 9% ABV they’re a little more potent than a seltzer, but not as hard as a full-on cocktail.
Modern Mimosa
Name a more iconic duo than champagne & OJ, I’ll wait. Modern Mimosa combines sustainably grown wine from Italy and organic orange juice for a portable and effervescent delight that can go anywhere you do.
Horton Rum
Founded by influential content creator, Krista Horton, Horton Rum is a line of ready-to-drink cocktails made with real Caribbean rum. The 12 oz, 7% ABV cocktails come in three flavors: Diet Cola, Pineapple Soda and Lime Soda.
Talkhouse Encore
Talkhouse Encore is a line of refreshing, authentic and fruit-forward spirits-based RTDs inspired by Stephen Talkhouse, the legendary, Hamptons-based venue frequented by hall of fame performers and celebrities. Talkhouse comes in five refreshing flavors, including Blood Orange Tequila Soda, Grapefruit Tequila Soda, Cranberry Vodka Soda, Lime Vodka Soda, and a signature Hampton Mule.
Playhard Seltzer
Playboy’s latest business venture? Play Hard Seltzer. Inspired by the original Andy Warhol art, Play Hard invigorates a tropical blend of daring flavors; Apple Prickly Pear, Pineapple Passion Fruit, Grapefruit Yuzu and Mango Dragon Fruit for a new, go-to seltzer.
FUNKIN
Funkin Cocktails use innovative nitro-infusion to serve up a shakingly smooth texture similar to a bar-quality drink with a simple pop of the can. The UK’s #1 Cocktail Brand is now available in three award-winning flavors in the US: Nitro Piña Colada, Nitro Strawberry Daiquiri and Nitro Passion Fruit Martini.
Lipton Hard Iced Tea
Based on more than 130 years of expertise brewing, the tea giant is growing up with a new line of hard teas based on fan-favorite flavors such as Lemon, Peach. Strawberry, Citrus Green Tea, and Half & Half. With natural fruit flavors, a premium malt base and real brewed Lipton tea, this non-carbonated RTD is 5% ABV and delivers a smoother, refreshing beverage.
Red Stripe Rum
Red Stripe’s ready-to-drink rum cocktails deliver those remarkable tropical vibes with real Caribbean Rum and authentic flavors, making them the ideal beverage for summer! Red Stripe Rum Cocktails come in two bold flavors: Red Stripe Rum Punch, with a refreshingly sweet and vibrant tropical flavor; and Red Stripe Rum Mojito, with a refreshing and smooth classic citrusy flavor.