Within the two years since we first surveyed ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, the area has gone from being dominated by canned, crushable drinks designed for coolers and picnics to a complete universe of merchandise for which portability will not be the first concern. Now, the ever-expanding crop of RTDs features a notably stronger displaying of the spirit-forward, stirred selection, a lot of that are designed for at-home somewhat than on-the-go consuming. At liquor shops throughout the nation, Martinis, Manhattans and Outdated-Fashioneds will be purchased in large-format bottles, to be saved within the freezer or displayed on a bar cart, able to be poured at a second’s discover.
That doesn’t imply canned cocktails have disappeared, although. In truth, there are extra iterations than ever, with a number of examples for almost each traditional cocktail conceivable—spritzes, Negronis, Espresso Martinis and extra—in the marketplace. However are any of them, properly, good? Punch editorial employees gathered just lately to seek out out. After tasting greater than 40 examples, it grew to become clear that as a rule, essentially the most profitable ones have been made by spirits producers themselves, or with the assistance {of professional} bartenders. Right here, now, are one of the best ready-to-drink cocktails to hunt out.
