Yes, You Can Can: International Canned Cocktail Day
We’ve come a long way in a short period of time when it comes to canned cocktail quality.
A new brand with a creative take on the category seems to come to market each month. According to Nielsen data, the ready-to-drink category grew by around 80 percent from April 2019 to April of this year.
The popularity of canned cocktails (and RTDs in general) is at least partly fueled by consumer perception. From can design to the liquid inside, RTD cocktails have become craftier.
Brands now boast about the sources of their spirits, their low calorie counts, and their minimal, all-natural ingredients. Many are easy drinking and don’t make consumers feel bloated.
White Claw may still dominate the RTD landscape but we’ve rounded up several canned cocktail brands for you, your team, and your guests to try today. Cheers!
Fling Craft Cocktails
Boulevard Brewing Co. created Fling Craft Cocktails to quench their collective thirst to make something different. There are six cocktails available, including the Whiskey Mule and Blood Orange VodSod.
Crook & Marker
For those who prefer to pop the tops on spiked versions of their favorite drinks, there’s Crook & Marker. The brand’s RTDs are zero sugar with zero net carbs, vegan, and just 80 calories. Crook & Marker offers an expansive range of spiked lemonades, teas, sodas, sparklers, and coconut-forward cans.
Two Chicks Cocktails
Women-founded. Women-owned. Women-run. Two Chicks Cocktails aims to do more than just craft delicious RTDs using premium spirits—the brand is committed to celebrating inclusivity, empowerment, and connection. There are six canned cocktails available, including the Apple Gimlet and New Fashioned.
Ranch Rider Spirits
This brand from Austin, TX, is made with the adventurer in mind. Ranch Rider Spirits’ social media is full of pics of the outdoors, horses, and dogs. They’re even giving away a one-off surfboard next week! Connect with them to be among the first to know when their new Jalapeño Ranch Water launches.
You & Yours Distilling
Located in San Diego, You & Yours was founded in 2017. The brand’s canned cocktails are made with the spirits they craft on-site at their distillery in the East Village. For example, the You & Yours Vodka Mule is made with Y&Y Vodka, and their Gin & Tonic is made using their Sunday Gin.
Cocktail Squad
I’m not sure what draws my attention to Cocktail Squad first—the bold, sophisticated design of their cans or their flavors. Cocktail Squad’s range consists of cocktails like the Bourbon Smash, Whiskey Ginger, Whiskey Sour, and Greyhound.
Neither the author nor Hospitality Villains received compensation, monetary or otherwise, from these brands, their distributors or any other entity in exchange for this post.
Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash
David Klemt View All
I’ve been studying and writing about the hospitality industry since 2006. Like so many people, I started my journey in this business by working as a host, server and bartender. I was introduced to nightlife in Chicago, learning the ins and outs of nightclubs and after-hours hot spots.
After moving to Las Vegas nearly 20 years ago, I both co-owned a valet company and helped promote the club it serviced. That led to me taking on the role of editor for a Las Vegas hospitality industry publication.
A few short years later, I continued along my journey of hospitality industry reporting. I went from contributing to a major industry outlet to taking on the role of editor and content curator.
Hospitality Villains 