Spiked seltzers might be dominating sales reports and headlines this summer, but ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails quietly continue their steady rise.
Last summer, VinePair tasted and ranked the entire canned cocktail landscape, with options ranging from spiked lemonade to classics like the French 75 and the Gin & Tonic. With more than a dozen canned G&Ts now available nationwide, we decided to take a closer look at the category, once again calling upon a team of expert tasters to sample the good, the bad, and the downright disastrous.
Fed up with FMBs? Here are six delicious cans to stick in your beach bag this summer.
6. Boulevard Brewing Cucumber Lime Gin Tonic
Kansas City’s Boulevard Brewing Co. might be better known for ales and lager, but this cucumber– and lime-infused G&T is a welcome addition to its lineup. The cocktail has clean floral aromas and gently bitter flavors. Shout out to Restless Spirits Co. — the KC distiller that crafts the delicious gin for the cocktail’s base. Average price: $12 per 4-pack of 12-ounce cans.
5. Southern Tier Distilling Co. Gin & Tonic
One of Southern Tier’s four RTD offerings, this cocktail skews sweeter than a traditional Gin & Tonic, making it ideal for those who struggle with the combo’s bitter quinine kick. “It doesn’t taste craft, but you can absolutely crush one or two of these during a summer Saturday,” one taster commented. Average price: $15 per 4-pack of 12-ounce cans.
4. Interboro “Goodwin Hill” Gin & Tonic
All our tasters appreciated the quality of this canned cocktail, and enjoyed its fruity, floral aromas and refreshing burst of lemon on the palate. As for its identity, the group disagreed on whether it tasted like a bonafide Gin & Tonic, or whether it was more akin to a “canned gin drink.” Either way, this cocktail promises to brighten your summer. Average price: $16 per 4-pack of 12-ounce cans.
3. Cutwater Spirits “Old Grove”
One of VinePair’s favorite canned cocktails of 2018, Cutwater Spirits’ “Old Grove” offers intense aromas of fresh cucumber and black peppercorns. Its slightly sweet flavor reminded some of Sprite, but overall balance arrived via just the right amount of bitter quinine. A classic, if slightly sweet, G&T. Average price: $13 per 4-pack of 12-ounce cans.
2. You & Yours Distilling Co. Gin & Tonic
From San Diego craft distiller You & Yours, this cocktail arrives in an inviting illustrated can, and has intense floral and citrus aromas. The distiller’s Sunday Gin serves as the base, and there’s juniper and rose petal aromas and a tingling ginger spice on the palate. Average price: $14 per 4-pack of 12-ounce cans.
1. Greenhook Ginsmiths Gin & Tonic
Brooklyn-based Greenhook Ginsmiths combines craft spirits and convenience in this slimline can. Its 200-milliliter capacity ensures you’ll be opening a second before the first warms, while the smaller serving is a considered touch with the drink’s 12-percent ABV content. A high-quality blend of vacuum-distilled American Dry Gin and a proprietary tonic water, this is a quintessential canned G&T. Average price: $5 per 200-milliliter can.
