Most people assume a canned drink will taste like regret mixed with high-fructose corn syrup.
Wrong.
The bar has risen. Or at least, the shelf has. We’ve been pouring every available tin into our mouths to find out which ones actually pass the sniff test. And yes, some are shockingly good.
The Bar-Quality Benchmark: Tip Top Proper Cocktails
If you want something that doesn’t taste like you’re drinking a beverage from a gas station, look at Tip Top Proper Cocktails.
Both our Director of Groceries Mara Weinraub and Food Editor Andrea Rivera are obsessed. Why? Because the brand nails the balance. It’s not overly sweet. It doesn’t hit you with the alcohol burn immediately.
“Their cocktails are so much better thanthey have any right to be.”
Andrea’s pick is the Old-Fashioned. You can grab a four-pack for $19 at Total Wine. It’s worth the price.
Mara agrees. She says Tip Top mimics what you’d get sitting at a nice cocktail. For summer heat, her bets are on the Margarita or the Mai Tai. Don’t overthink it. Just drink them.
The Surprising Margarita: Cayman Jack
Alexandra Foster, an assistant editor, isn’t a fan of canned drinks generally. She usually avoids them. So when she tried Cayman Jack, she was pleasantly surprised.
The Blood Orange Margarita took the top spot for her. It’s citrusy but smooth. Sippable. She suggests rimming the glass with salt to get the full experience, but honestly? Just open the can.
You can buy a 12-pack variety set for $17.49. It includes classic margarita, strawberry, and Mango. That’s cheap entertainment for a weekend.
The Bottled Exception: Via Carota White Negroni
Technically, this isn’t canned. It’s bottled.
But Via Carota makes such a beautiful bottle and such a brilliant drink that it has to be included. Mara was impressed by how Via Carota makes their pre-mixed cocktails taste freshly shaken or stirred.
She loves the White Negroni.
The original Negroni is harsh. It’s bitter. It’s intense. The White version? Light. Crisp. Refreshing. It serves four people. Perfect for game night. You can buy a 375ml bottle directly from their site.
The Reality TV Hit: Loverboy
Kyle Cooke, the star of Bravo’s Summer House, runs Loverboy.
Editorial Assistant Celia Funderburk led an office taste test recently. The winner? The Passion Fruit Guava Spritz.
Celia wrote that if you like passion fruit juice, you’ll love this. It’s delicious. It’s refreshing. It’s tropical without being cloying.
A 12-pack costs $49.50 direct. It’s pricier than the others, but the brand has a cult following for a reason. Sip it while you catch up on your favorite shows.
The Mini Powerhouse
Finally, there’s the vermouth-based option from Ali Domrongchai, Associate Groceries Editor.
She calls it “mini but mighty.”
Herd description: herbaceous. Sweet. Bitter undertones. Chilled, it tastes like a fancy cocktail bar pour.
A four-pack is $20. Start chilling a glass.
We’re drinking.
