The best canned cocktails for summer – tried and tested

The world of cocktails is fast adapting to our appetite for high-quality mixed drinks on the go. If you’re heading out for a picnic in the park, a festival in a field, or simply facing the commute back to the Shires, you’re in luck, as the number of intriguing pre-made cocktails is at an all-time high.

Marks & Spencer has always been the go-to choice for the classic “gin in a tin”, an oft-purchased swiggable staple for the train journey home or an out-of-town adventure. M&S has eyed up the premium grab-and-go cocktail sector and expanded its ready-to-drink (RTD) range with a blood orange margarita (a burst of vibrant citrus and tequila) and a cherry mai tai (very sweet with cherry and almond notes, alongside some citrus freshness). Such is the popularity of these cans that the retailer is predicting to sell an incredible 14.6 million of them this year.

And this, ahem, “can-do” attitude has seen a host of smaller brands enter the market too, all with a focus on creating pre-mixed, transportable cocktails. Two such names, Exmouth’s Bar Buoy (which specialises in small, single-serve bottles) and London’s Moth Drinks (which partners with a range of craft spirits brands), have introduced new RTD cocktails for summer 2024, including arguably the current hotly trending drink, the paloma: a refreshing blend of tequila and pink grapefruit soda. Tequila is without doubt the ongoing gem of the spirits world, with consumer intelligence data from NielsenIQ showing that sales of canned tequila cocktails grew by 150.5 per cent in 2023, with the overall RTD category reaching a staggering £424 million in sales.

Alongside classic cocktails, consumers now have access to longer drinks, such as those from Served, a range of lower-ABV, fruity hard seltzers packaged in the slightly larger G&T-style 250ml cans. Others, such as the classic negroni or martini from Whitebox, are short and punchy – you just pull them out of the freezer, perfectly chilled, for a straight-up, ready-made serve.

We donned our sunglasses, optimistically grabbed the SPF50 and headed off on an outdoor adventure to see which RTDs will truly shine this summer. We tried 20 cans and here’s our pick of the bunch.

The best canned cocktails for summer 2024

Betty Booze Sparkling Tequila with Oak Smoked Lemonade

4.5%, Majestic, £12 for 4 x 355ml

If you’re a tequila lover, this is well worth seeking out. The balance of sweet, refreshing, slightly smoky lemonade and herbaceous spirit works well together, setting it apart from other tequila-based cocktails.

Sainsbury’s Blood Orange G&T

5%, Sainsburys, £1.20 for 250ml 

A no-nonsense canned gin and tonic with a tasty, bold citrus twist and a nicely balanced ratio of gin to tonic. It’s neither too sweet for aficionados nor too bitter for casual tipplers. An affordable choice for outdoor adventures.

Wonderland Cocktail Co. Cantarito Paloma

10%, Brewdog, £3.90 for 200ml

The paloma is arguably the drink of the moment, combining the wonderful herbaceous notes of silver tequila, pink grapefruit soda and fresh lime juice – and this one doesn’t disappoint, bringing in additional fruitiness from orange juice, alongside a pinch of salt.

Burning Barn Smoked Rum & Ginger

5%, Burning Barn Rum, £33 for 12 x 250ml 

Burning Barn was started after a fire destroyed the founder’s family farm in the West Midlands. This smoked rum and ginger mix takes inspiration from what would otherwise have been a tragedy. It has all the promise of a great fireside sipper, bringing together sweetness, smokiness and a touch of spice.

Whitebox Pocket Negroni

21.8%, Whitebox Cocktails, £5.50 for 100ml

Arguably the cutest RTD can you’ll ever come across, this dinky negroni may be small, but it packs an almighty punch. The company was founded by a team of world-class bartenders and it shows in the balance of Porter’s gin, sweet vermouth and Italian bitter aperitif.

Served Lime Hard Seltzer

4%, Served, £27 for 12 x 250ml  

Served was part-founded by British singing sensation Ellie Goulding, just in time to ride the huge trend in hard seltzers – effectively alcoholic sparkling water with a flavoursome twist. This one uses wonky limes that would otherwise be discarded and has no added sugar, giving a bright, fresh and – dare we say – slightly more health-conscious take on the RTD.

Moth Mojito

10%, Moth Drinks,  £2.99 for 200ml

Founded in 2021, Moth Drinks has been revolutionising RTD cocktails, shifting away from the simple G&T into more sophisticated territory. This mojito is vibrant, soulful and expertly made, in partnership with The Duppy Share rum, to bring you a truly Havana-worthy banger. Seek out Moth’s highly recommended paloma, too.

Pimentae Cucumber Margarita

14.5%, Pimentae, £32 for 8 x 125ml; or Waitrose, £4.25 for 125ml

Britain’s love affair with tequila cocktails is showing no signs of slowing down. Pimentae has developed a distinctly innovative take on the classic margarita, bringing the cooling vegetal notes of cucumber into the mix. The cans are slightly smaller as it’s higher in strength than many others in this category, but you’re certainly getting a high-quality cocktail for your buck. 

Tips for serving your train tinnies at their best

Canned cocktails are, of course, designed for minimum effort and maximum enjoyment – usually on the go or out in the open. However, a little preparation will ensure you get the best out of them.

Ice, ice baby

Most are canned at full strength and don’t require dilution or a separate mixer but they will benefit from the addition of ice. Before heading out, make sure they’re well chilled, then transport them in a decent insulated cool bag such as this Thermos Eco Cool 6 Can Cooler Bag (£15, John Lewis). Add some ice packs and a few Ziploc sandwich bags filled with ice cubes – they’ll keep the cans cool and can be added to your drink later.

Glassware

If you can’t take glass to your destination, it’s worth investing in some copper, steel or enamel cups: they’re easy to keep cold and will elevate the experience above disposable paper or plastic. For enamel tumblers that also look the part, try Rex London (£8.95, Rex London) or Falcon (£8, Falcon Enamelware).

Garnishes

To get your RTD cocktails as close to a genuine bar experience as possible, cut a few garnishes to slip into your drink, such as slices of lemon or lime or a paring of grapefruit zest. They’ll stay perfectly fresh transported in a small Tupperware box, lined with moistened kitchen towel.