Ready-to-Drink Cocktails that will get you pumped for Summer

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Whether you are off to the beach, a pool party, or tailgating before a game, we have the perfect ready-to-drink cocktails that you can take along with you. This collection of beverages will have you set for the summer. When the temps rise, get ready to cool down with one of these five ready-to-drink cocktails!

CANTEEN Spirits
CANTEEN Spirits was founded in 2019 by Brandon Cason, Daniel Barnes and Marc Donati. The company makes a variety of ready-to-drink seltzer cocktails featuring vodka, tequila or gin . Their Twitter tag line notes: “CANTEEN Spirits, for wherever your adventure takes you.” These cocktails are ready for you to take on all of your summer camping trips, beach vacations and picnics.

The Vodka Soda comes in seven different flavors: Watermelon, Black Cherry, Pineapple, Lime, Ruby Red, Strawberry and Cucumber Mint. They are 5% ABV and a 6-pack retails from $12.66 (on Drizly).

The CANTINA Tequila Sodas are 5.6% ABV And come in three flavors:  Ranch Water, Grapefruit Paloma and Watermelon Margarita. A 4-pack retails from $10.52 (on Drizly).

The Gin Spritz is available in three flavors: Blossom, Ruby and Citrus and are 5% ABV. 6-packs retail from $12.99 (on Drizly).

All three drink varieties have 0 sugar and are only 99 calories each. They come in bright, colorful, eye-catching cans and are available at retailers nationwide and online.

Enjoy one of these Ready-to-Drink Cocktails This Memorial Day Weekend!

Kraken Rum Ready-to-Drink Cocktails
Kraken Rum is a Caribbean black spiced rum. The brand, founded in 2010, is named after the legendary sea monster. The company “canned the Kraken” and recently debuted a line of ready-to-drink canned cocktails. There are three different flavors: Kraken & Cola, Kraken & Ginger Beer and Kraken Rum Punch. They are 5% ABV.

The company wants you to “Krak Open Summer” with their new cocktails. To celebrate the line’s debut, they are holding a sweepstakes where one lucky winner will get the chance to “Catch the Kraken” and go squid watching in Honduras.

These are the first rum RTD cocktails that have appeared on my radar. Kraken kindly sent me some samples to try. The Rum Punch was fruity, refreshing and flavorful. They are mellow drinks that aren’t super strong with booze intensity.

A 4-pack has a suggested retail price of $12.99 and is available at select retailers throughout the country and online.

Loyal 9
Loyal 9 Cocktails is a line of canned vodka lemonades. The company launched in 2018 in Rhode Island, but its products are now available nationwide. Lemonade is one of my favorite summer beverages and Loyal 9 has the perfect adult version! They have four fruity flavors which include the classic, Loyal Lemonade, Mixed Berry Lemonade, Watermelon Lemonade, and a Lemonade + Iced Tea, their take on an adult Arnold Palmer.  These are 9% ABV.

A 4-pack has a suggested retail of $10.99 – $12.99 and is available at retailers throughout the country and online.

QNSY Sparkling Cocktails

QNSY is a product of the pandemic. Founders Tara and Jeremy, native New Yorkers, created their sparkling cocktail line, when they were unable to act and perform. They named it after Queens, the New York City borough where they were born and raised.

QNSY currently has three different canned cocktails: Cosmo, Lovely Rita and Mojito, which are all 5% ABV. When the company states on their website: “We crafted our cocktails to taste really f*cking good,” you HAVE to give them a try! They kindly sent me samples and they really nailed the summer vibe with a flavorful, easy-drinking beverage.

So, how does QNSY create a “really f*cking good” cocktail? By using real fruit juice and pure cane sugar. These sparkling cocktails are made with a sugar brew. From a press email, we learned more about the process: “A sugar brew is produced by fermenting sugar. QNSY uses cane sugar during their sugar brew process. Similar to the creation of beer except instead of grain, sugar is used.
Once the sugar is fermented, it is now no longer considered sugar, but alcohol! Then QNSY adds in real fruit juice and other natural flavors to create their fabulous Cosmo, Lovely Rita, and Mojito cocktails.”

QNSY retails for approximately $5.99 a can or $15-$18.99 for a 4-pack and is available at over 230 retail stores. It is available for shipping in select states.

Strainge Beast
Strainge Beast launched in 2020, and is Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s hard kombucha brand. Many of us are familiar with their beer, which they’ve been making since 1980. However, you may be unfamiliar with their hard kombucha.

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink made with SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) and sugar. To make “hard” kombucha, the liquid undergoes a second fermentation to create the alcohol.

According to a press release that we received, “Strainge Beast celebrates and embraces what makes us all unapologetically unique.” The beverage cans are decorated with “strainge beasts” created from the ingredients in the particular flavor.

The hard kombucha come in six fruity, unique flavors: Watermelon, Sea Salt, Lime & Mint, Raspberry, Golden Kiwi & Elderflower, Ginger, Lemon & Hibiscus, Blood Orange & Passion Fruit, Grapefruit, Pomegranate & Cucumber and Blueberry, Acai & Basil. They are certified organic, gluten free and vegan.

For kombucha fans, this is a great adult beverage alternative. The ABV varies by flavor, and is between 4-8%. 6-packs retail for $14.99.

Guilty Eaters, have you tried any of these ready-to-drink cocktails? Which of these canned beverages do you want to try?