Inspired by the amazing SWISH mocktail cans in Craft Gin Club’s January 2024 Gin of the Month box (and their delicious alcoholic cocktail counterparts), we are taking a look at what makes pre-mixed cocktails in a can or bottle so special.

That’s right, if you are curious about ready-to-drink cocktails and looking for a place to start, this is it!

In this feature, you can find some great examples of canned and bottled cocktails to try at home, learn how to serve read-to-drink cocktails, and you can even discover what makes these mixology marvels so popular.

So, what are you waiting for? Find out everything you need to know about ready-to-drink cocktails right here!

What are ready-to-drink or premixed cocktails?

Premixed/ready-to-drink cocktails are drinks that have been mixed ahead of time so that you can just enjoy them without having to be a mixology master yourself.

They usually come in cans or bottles and can be poured into a glass or sipped straight from the can or bottle.

This means that if you bought a premixed Passion Fruit Martini (also known as a Porn Star Martini) in a can, the can would have a finished Passion Fruit Martini cocktail inside ready for you to drink immediately without having to add anything yourself.

Image: SWISH

Why are ready-to-drink cocktails popular?

Ready-to-drink cocktails or RTD cocktails, as they are known in the cocktail industry, are taking the world by storm right now.

They are so popular because they allow you to have an incredible cocktail experience, whether you are out and about or at home, without the need to make a cocktail yourself or have an in-house mixologist.

SWISH’s sparkling cocktails and mocktails, for example, are made with expert guidance from world-renowned mixologist Rich Woods. So you know you are getting that premium cocktail experience without having to be in a pricey cocktail bar or needing to have any cocktail kit at home.

What’s more, all of their cocktails are sparkling, adding a fun and delicious dimension to each serve.

With premixed cocktails, all the hard work is done for you and they come in easily portable bottles and cans. It’s no wonder their popularity is soaring right now!

Master Mixologist Rich Woods, SWISH. Image: SWISH

What are examples of canned cocktails?

Today, there are a wide range of great canned cocktails out there. And you can pretty much find ready-to-drink versions of almost all of the cocktail menu mainstays - the Passionfruit Martini, as we’ve mentioned above, has lots of representation in the world of RTDs, as does the humble yet delightful G&T.

However, we think the best examples of canned cocktails are those that take the standard formulas to the next level and use the premixed style of cocktail-making to give us something we couldn’t simply whip up at home.

Take SWISH’s version of a Margarita, for example, SWISH Smoked Pineapple Margarita Fizz. Here, they have taken this tequila-based ready-to-drink cocktail to new heights of deliciousness by adding smoked pineapple tones and their signature fizzy sparkles.

Or their take on a Pina Colada, SWISH Piña Colada Spritz. By adding bubbly sparkles to this classic mix of rum, pineapple and coconut they have elevated the whole drinking experience.

Another interesting difference about the SWISH’s version of the Piña Colada is that they do not use heavy coconut cream, which is traditionally calorific. Instead, they use a distillate of toasted coconut, which makes the cocktail light, and oh-so-delicious.

And don’t even get us started on their sparkling Key Lime Pie Mojito Fizz! Yes, a Key Lime Pie-flavoured Mojito.

What’s more, all of the SWISH range currently comes in cans, and in alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions of the cocktail too.

Image: SWISH

How do you serve ready-to-drink cocktails?

One of the great things about ready-to-drink cocktails is that they can simply be sipped straight from the can (perfect for picnics and train travel!) or poured over ice.

You can also serve your ready-to-drink cocktail in the traditional way the cocktail was created to be served. As such, you might pour your RTD passionfruit martini into a martini glass over a large piece of ice and garnish it with fresh passionfruit.

But what if the flavour of premixed cocktails is a little more exotic, like those made by SWISH?

Well, spoke to the incredible team at SWISH and they gave us some great tips for serving one or two of their delicious tipples.

SWISH Breakfast Fizz serving suggestion:

Serve this delicious RTD cocktail in a highball glass with ice and garnish with fresh pink grapefruit for a fabulously refreshing serve.

Image: SWISH

SWISH Piña Colada Spritz serving suggestion:

Serve SWISH Piña Colada Spritz in a highball or hurricane glass with lots of ice and garnish with fresh pineapple for a tropical delight.

Image: SWISH

SWISH Naughty Passion Martini Spritz

Serve this sumptuous ready-to-drink twist on a Porn Star Martini in a coupette glass and garnish with a wedge of passion fruit for a fun and utterly divine serve.

Image: SWISH

Find more great SWISH cocktail serves on the SWISH website, here!

Where to buy cocktails in a can?

Canned and bottled cocktails are available to buy at more major supermarkets across the UK.

You can buy SWISH cocktails as part of the Craft Gin Club January 2024 Gin of the Month box. Find out more here!