Summer is here, and that means, canned cocktail season makes it annual return too. Whether you’re heading to a picnic or going camping, you’re no longer restricted to just beer and cider for al fresco drinking – the world of convenient booze has exploded and you can now get just about any of your favourite cocktails in a can.
Canned cocktails range in style from affordable supermarket ranges of the classics (such as mojitos and a gin and tonic), to innovative new mixes and gourmet creations using top quality ingredients. Pick up a single can in the supermarket or get a multi-pack delivery of something special to feed a crowd at your next barbecue or summer party. They save you the hassle of mixing up individual drinks for everybody and can be popped in the fridge at a moment's notice.
The idea of having your favourite cocktail pre-mixed and ready to drink might sound great, but how do these drinks measure up to cocktails made in a bar or at home? We blind-tasted more than 25 canned cocktails, from mojitos to martinis and everything in between. Below are our top picks of the best canned cocktails - judged on having a balanced taste, clear flavours and a finished cocktail we'd want to go back to.
For more drinks inspiration, visit our reviews section and find over 400 practical buyer's guides, plus taste tests of the best gin, vodka and more.
Best canned cocktails at a glance
- Best spritz collection: Della Vite spritz taster pack, £28.78/8 x 200ml
- Best Hugo spritz: Edinburgh Gin Hugo spritz, £2.30/250ml
- Best canned margarita: Pimentae grapefruit margarita, £32.20/8 x 125ml
- Best paloma: MOTH - Paloma, £26/8 x 125ml
- Best canned sangria: Daughters of the Vine red sangria, £2.80/250ml
- Best for a refreshing sip: Minus 196 - Lemon, £2.230/330ml
- Best canned passion fruit martini: MOTH - passion fruit martini, £26/8 x 125ml
- Best canned sex on the beach: Tapp'd On the Beach, £26.50/12-pack
- Best twist on a vodka soda: East London Liquor Co. vodka and rhubarb, £3.30/250ml
- Best bloody mary: Bloody Drinks Bloody Mary, £3.50/250ml
- Best piña colada: Malibu piña colada, £2.50/250ml
Best canned cocktails to buy 2026
Della Vite spritz taster pack
Available from Amazon (£28.78/eight 200ml cans)
Best spritz collection
ABV: 10%
Spritzes are the drink of the summer, and there are plenty of new canned versions launching this year. Not sure where to begin? There’s a spritz for everyone in this crowdpleasing selection from Della Vite (founded by the Delevigne sisters), which is designed to showcase the brand's prosecco. It's a handy one-stop purchase for al fresco celebrations that includes everything from a floral hugo spritz to the impressively fruity bellini spritz, plus an alcohol-free 'aperiti-no' spritz.
Available from:
Edinburgh Gin hugo spritz
Available from Tesco (£2.30)
Best hugo spritz
ABV: 5%
Move over Aperol – this year, we're all about the hugo spritz, a light blend of elderflower liqueur, mint and soda. There's no prosecco in this variety, resulting in a lower ABV than other canned cocktails. The elderflower is subtle and not too sweet, with cooling mint dominating the palate – very refreshing on a hot summer day.
Available from:
Pimentae grapefruit margarita
Available from Pimentae (£32/8 x 125ml)
Best canned margarita
ABV: 14.5%
A great dinky canned cocktail for BBQs and park gatherings, and the prettiest addition to your picnic basket. A fresh and fragrant blend of sharp pink grapefruit, premium tequila and a touch of sweetness from agave for balance. Paloma fans will enjoy this – cucumber, spicy and Tommy's margarita cans are available too. It's small but packs a strong punch at 14.5% ABV.
Available from:
MOTH Paloma
Available from MOTH (£26/8 x 125ml)
Best canned paloma
ABV: 10%
MOTH is one of the noisiest kids on the block in the world of canned cocktails; a registered B Corp which essentially means the company is doing good by its employees and the planet, offering generous annual leave and committing to sustainable practices. A cocktail certainly rocketing in popularity: the Paloma is a super simple concoction consisting of grapefruit, soda, lime and tequila. MOTH have the Paloma nailed with its electric zing, the grapefruit is crisp and the tequila provides a welcome kick. Be sure to pour this one over a tall glass stacked with ice and garnished with a wedge of grapefruit.
Available from:
Daughters of the Vine red sangria
Available from Sainsbury's (£2.80)
Best sangria
ABV: 7%
Channel holiday vibes during your next picnic with this canned sangria, which sees red wine infused with blood orange and ginger for a fruity alternative to familiar canned cocktails. The ginger adds a kick and it is surprisingly strong (7% ABV) so don't be fooled into thinking this will be weak, it's a sipper. We like it with a chunky ice cube in too.
Available from:
Suntory Minus 196 – lemon
Available from Tesco (£2.30), Amazon (£23.99/12 x 330ml)
Best for a refreshing sip
ABV: 6%
Japan has a reputation for being on the frontier of food-tech, and Minus 196 is a vodka-based RTD ('ready to drink') that's a prime example of this. The brand flash-freezes fruits in liquid nitrogen at -196C before crushing and infusing them in vodka and shochu. Crisp with icy, refreshing lemon, this is one to serve ice-cold at a barbecue – just keep topping up the supply, as your guests will race through them.
Available from:
MOTH passion fruit martini
Available from MOTH (£26/8 x 125ml), Waitrose (£4/125ml)
Best canned passion fruit martini
ABV: 14.9%
A popular release from last summer from canned cocktail stalwarts Moth, this is a classic blend of smooth vodka, passion fruit liqueur and vanilla. One for the sweet tooth, it’s the perfect tropical cocktail when a sunny day comes round.
Available from
Tapp'd On The Beach
Available from Tapp'd (£26.50/12-pack)
Best canned sex on the beach
ABV: 6%
For a fruity and sweet cocktail, this canned version of a classic cocktail blends peach, raspberry and cranberry juices with a double shot of craft vodka. It's a canned cocktail with a punch, but the cranberry stops it from being too sweet. There are plenty more to choose from Tapp'd too, including strawberry daiquiri, piña colada and blue lagoon canned drinks.
Available from:
East London Liquor Co. Vodka & rhubarb
Available from Tesco (£3.30/250ml)
Best twist on a vodka soda
ABV: 4.6%
Cool down this summer with this refreshing, fruity cocktail from East London Liquor Co. The rhubarb & vodka cocktail was one of our favourites that we tried. The vibrant rhubarb flavour is fresh and doesn't taste artificial. The booze is well balanced and the sweetness is just right. We also enjoyed the rum & ginger cocktail. We love that the flavours are all natural with no preservatives or artificial sweeteners.
Available from:
Bloody Drinks Bloody Mary
Available from Sainsbury's (£3.50/250ml)
Best Bloody Mary
ABV: 6.3%
Complete a Sunday brunch spread with an easy bloody Mary cocktail in a can. The classic cocktail from Bloody Drinks is powerful and tastes as high-quality as a freshly mixed drink at the bar. It boasts a strong vodka kick paired with dry, fruity Amontillado sherry. The fresh tomato juice is mixed with tangy, savoury flavours like Worcestershire sauce, a hint of soy sauce and some heat from Tabasco sauce.
Available from:
Malibu piña colada
Available from Tesco (£2/250ml), Sainsbury's (£2.25/250ml)
Best piña colada
ABV: 5%
‘If you like piña coladas’ and you like them very sweet, then this one’s for you. As you'd expect from a Malibu product, the coconut flavour is dominant, but pineapple comes through strongly, too, and both lend to the overall sweetness. Like most of the cocktails we tried, the booze tastes barely present. Despite this, the drink was generally liked by the judges and praised for its smooth, almost creamy texture.
Available from:
Related reviews
The best bottled cocktails
The best canned wines
The best rosé wine
All our best gin guides
The best rum taste tested
The best picnic hampers
The best cool boxes
The best portable barbecues
The best supermarket picnic food
The best gas barbecues
The best picnic gadgets
Best cocktail subscriptions and clubs
Cocktail recipes
Summer drinks inspiration
Our top mojito recipes
Easy cocktail recipes
Top 10 retro cocktail recipes
10 gin cocktails you can make in minutes
Top 10 rum cocktail recipes
This review was last updated in June 2026. For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.
from Good Food https://ift.tt/J31ypeu
0 Comments