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JOE LINGEMANSome taste just like the real thing. Others are even tastier and more fun than traditional mixed drinks. Here’s why it’s time to pop the top on the delicious new world of canned cocktails.
Tip Top Daiquiri
All of the drinks that Tip Top sells in its signature small cans are worthy of having at your next party, but my favorites are the ones that would be harder to make yourself. That category includes the daiquiri, which has a lively blend of Caribbean rums, and Tip Top’s take on the Jungle Bird.
Straightaway Nitro Espresso Martini
The espresso martini is back, and rightfully so. A sensation in the ’90s, the delicious kick-in-the-pants cocktail is newly popular again. But it’s never been fun to make at home. This nitro version, made with Stumptown coffee, delivers the frothy silkiness of the real thing.
Cutwater Spicy Bloody Mary
Now 58% Off
Yes, there are good Bloody Mary mixes out there that allow you to simply add vodka (or tequila or gin) to get yourself a great drink. But if you want to fully embrace that hair-of-the-dog spirit and just pop the top and sip, this is the way to do it. It’s decadently spicy and vibrant.
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Slow & Low Coffee Old-Fashioned
Now 60% Off
Instead of dessert or an espresso martini, consider this mix. Rye whiskey, Intelligentsia coffee, demerara cane sugar, raw honey, bitters, and navel-orange peel make something that tastes a bit like breakfast, with a hefty 40 percent ABV kick.
spirited hive Spirited Hive Vodka Cranberry Lime
A vodka soda with a splash of cranberry. It is one of the simplest drink orders, a gateway cocktail. And it does hit the spot, no? This canned version adds a touch of real honey for the right amount of complex sweetness.
Plain Spoke Brandy Old Fashioned Ready-to-Drink Cocktail
A fizzy old-fashioned? Made with brandy, as is the custom in the Midwest? I was skeptical. But this can from Plain Spoke of Madison, Wisconsin, is spirit forward yet refreshing. The kind of reward you want at the end of a long, hot day.
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Empirical Can 01 4-Pack
Now 21% Off
Empirical was founded by alums from temple of gastronomic experimentation Noma, and its products have a mad-scientist energy. This lightly carbonated cocktail—made from vacuum-distilled Pilsner malt and other ingredients—is beyond what most bars can pull off.
Phony Negroni (Non-Alcoholic)
Brooklyn-based St. Agrestis makes a lovely bottled negroni, but the nonalcoholic version is even better. It has a bit of carbonation to it; they say that’s the trick to making it feel like it has the bite of alcohol. Whatever the secret is, you won’t feel as though you’re missing the real thing.
Sprezza Rosso or Bianco Italian Spritz
All right, there’s nothing innovative about spritzes. But this version solves an issue that’s always bugged me: They tend to be flat and stupid sweet. Neither of those problems applies here. Dry, bitter, with endless bubbles. It’s a superior spritz.
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The Finnish Long Drink Zero
A long drink, as it’s known in Finland, is essentially a gin highball served with a carbonated fruit beverage, a close cousin to our Tom Collins. This version, from a company named after the drink, has grapefruit tartness, a touch of sweetness, just the right amount of juniper, 99 calories, and zero grams of sugar. I’m not sure why anyone would touch a White Claw after drinking this.
Madre Madre Desert Water Original 4-Pack
Mezcal, a bit of citrus, and carbonated water. Put all those things together and you have a low-calorie, low-ABV sparkling beverage that you can drink all day.
Austin Cocktails Bergamot Orange Sparkling Margarita Canned Cocktail
Now 39% Off
Only 96 calories per drink. (Two come in the can.) By no means a traditional margarita, even though it uses triple sec and lime, this is more of a take on the margarita that’s been given a nuanced, bitter taste from the bergamot orange. Delightful and interesting and refreshing all at once.
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