5 Delicious and Inventive Canned Drinks to Try Right Now
Editor’s note: Ok you’ve probably noticed our obsession with all things boozy and canned. This round-up really defies categorization, we just think they are worthy of drinking.
Canned and individually bottled “ready to drink” category: cocktails, hard seltzers, wines (even straight-up Irish whiskey) are having a huge moment. “Ready to Drink sales were up over 50% in 2020,” Christine LoCascio, Chief of Public Policy at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) said at a recent presentation. “There’s such a wide range of products, it’s fair to say there’s something for everyone.” If you’re hunting for the new and unusual—more complex than White Claw, but not quite a full craft cocktail—check out these recent offerings below:
Honcho Spiked Agua Frescas
MSRP $11 / six-pack of individual flavors, or $TK for a 12-can variety pack
In Mexico and Central America “Agua Frescas” are non-alcoholic combinations of fresh fruit, water, lime and sugar. But California-based Common Cider has decided to jazz the traditional drink up with Honcho, a collection of three (so far) creative fruit-themed, lightly boozy drinks. Each features the title natural juice, a “unique tropical fruit wine,” and no added sugars. Blueberry Lemon is a bright and refreshing blend, Prickly Pear channels the Southwest with a tart, slightly jammy note, and Mango recalls the tropics with clean, dry authentic notes (also tasty with a little hot sauce added). Overall the drinks are refreshing, taste like the fruits they're supposed to, with a “clean” finish and less astringency than similar malt-based beverages. Perfect poolside, or for a low-alcohol Cinco de Mayo alternative. Available throughout the Southwest, or at Shop.CommonCider.com (4.0% ABV, 100 calories, 2g carbohydrates, Gluten Free). Note that it is not available for delivery in all states.
Flying Embers Kombucha Bubbly Brut Nature
MSRP $25 / 4-pack
Hard Kombucha (a fairly new category) has become a favorite for those seeking an alternative to beer and cider. Flying Embers, out of Ojai California, has already introduced a line of creative hard kombuchas with inventive flavors like Pineapple-Chili and Mango Coconut, along with an insane number of series, collections and limited editions. Now they’ve introduced a new twist with Bubbly. It’s fermented with real botanical adaptogens and low-foaming Champagne yeast or Prise de Mousse (popularly used for the secondary fermentation in sparkling wines), then rested in Chardonnay wine barrels for an additional influence. The result is distinctly Champagne-esque, with a slight lemon dryness and the bready notes found in some Chardonnay-based sparklers replacing the earthy funk of Kombucha. Add to that an engaging iridescent can that changes colors as the light hits it differently, and you’ve got an ideal picnic, deck or beach sipper. (added bonus, the brand has been actively helping communities in California and Oregon recover from devastating wildfires the past couple of years) Available in California or at flyingembers.com (some shipping restrictions). (6.9% ABV, 130 calories, 0 carbohydrates, Gluten Free)
Sun Smash Fruited Hard Seltzer
$10.50 / single flavor six-pack, $20 / 12-count variety pack
We recently covered hard seltzers made with real fruit juice and while this one didn’t quite make it on the list., it’s a worthy addition. A lot of flavored hard seltzers on the market lean heavily into vague “natural and artificial flavorings.” This vibrant, tropical-themed collection from Selah, Washington features real fruit juice as 25% of its total ingredients, with no added sugar and no artificial anything. The vibrant cans evoke a 60s beach movie and the largely tropic-themed flavors—Mango Peach, Prickly Pear Lime, Pineapple Passionfruit and Black Currant (maybe that’s not so tropical)—seem ready-made for relaxing on a deck chair, or at least pretending you are. Though the brand says it avoids the astringent aftertaste you get with some hard seltzers, some of the fruit ingredients (passionfruit, prickly pear, black currant) bring their own unctuous finish to the game. Currently available in Washington state, but expected to expand throughout the summer. (5% ABV, 150 calories, 13g carbohydrates)
KYLA Hard Kombucha
KYLA is one of the OGs in Hard Kombucha (admittedly, that category only goes back a couple years). Using a fermented cane sugar base, the Oregon brand offers up three “series:”
KYLA Original is your basic flavored hard kombucha with natural flavors, herbs, and spices. Flavors include Pink Grapefruit, Hibiscus Lime, and Ginger Tangerine (all as “hint” flavors). The dusty earthiness common to kombucha is prominent, so know that going in if you’re a hater (4.5% ABV, 90 calories, 2g carbohydrates, gluten-free, $11/ six pack).
The Sunbreak Series is a tribute to the Pacific Northwest with colorful, vaguely tribal imagery on the cans “representing the moment the sun breaks through the gray.” Peppy flavors include Lavender Lemonade, Coconut Crush and Sunset Trio (passion fruit, orange and guava). They also arrive in larger 16-oz cans. (6.5% ABV, 180 calories, 7g carbohydrates, gluten-free, $5 / can).
The Riviera Series is a brand-new lineup of cocktail-inspired offerings (the alcohol is still fermented cane sugar, not distilled) with more prominent flavor profiles (the “kombucha-ness” is more subdued in this series). The flavors are just rolling out, but among them you’ll find a delicious Shiso Mint Mojito, Lemon (Verbana) Drop, Bergamot Blood Orange Fizz, and a Pom Pom Collins with hints of pomelo, pomegranate, lemongrass and thyme. (7% ABV, 150 calories, 8g carbohydrates, gluten-free, $11 / 4-pack or $20 / 8-can variety pack).
Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer
$16 / 12-can variety pack
It’s a little surprising it took the grandfather of spiked canned drinks this long to come out with a seltzer-ized version, but fans should be happy that the release times well with warmer weather and safer gathering opportunities. Four flavors are available: Lemon, Strawberry, Mango and Pineapple. While each features concentrated lemon juice, none include the other actual fruit juice (opting instead for “natural flavors”). The fruit flavors are clean, refreshing, and taste like the real thing. The stevia aftertaste (designed to reduce calories, probably) might leave some a little wanting. On the flip side - no carbs and only 100 calories! (5% ABV, 100 calories, <1g carbohydrates, gluten free).