What We Learned from Testing 40 Canned Cocktails

Gone are the days when canned alcoholic drinks meant only hard seltzers and tailgate beverages. Today’s ready-to-drink cocktails include everything from espresso martinis and old-fashioneds to gin- and soju-based spritzes.

Wirecutter kitchen writer, Antara Sinha, joins us to explain how she tested 40 canned cocktails, what separates a great canned drink from a mediocre one, and which ones are actually worth bringing to your next picnic, barbecue, or dinner party. Plus, we conduct a live taste test in the studio.

This episode covers:

• Why canned cocktails have become a legitimate alternative to bar drinks. Antara explains how the category has evolved from hard seltzers and tailgate beverages into a market full of carefully crafted cocktails made with premium spirits, higher alcohol content, and recipes designed to mimic what you'd order at a cocktail bar.
• How to identify a great canned cocktail before you buy it. After tasting 40 different drinks, Antara found that the best brands are transparent about their ingredients and feature high quality spirits.
• How to choose the right canned cocktail for your tastes and occasion. Antara suggests using canned cocktails as a low-commitment way to explore drinks you might not otherwise make at home, whether that's a negroni, espresso martini, or old fashioned.

Products we recommend:

• A citrusy, soju-based cocktail: Jumo Soju Cocktail (Mango, Yuja, Citrus Mint)
• Bold, rich, and complex: Tip Top Old Fashioned
• Botanical, light, and crushable: The Original Southside
• Indulgent, luxe, and seasonal: Cutwater White Russian

Additional reading:

• The 9 Best Canned Cocktails of 2026
• 21 Best Nonalcoholic Drinks of 2026
• Wirecutter’s Guide to Shopping at Trader Joe’s

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

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