When you think of ready-to-drink cocktails, you probably picture sugary, syrupy alcoholic beverages. Products similar to spiked kids’ drinks have been on the market for many years. And while there’s definitely a time and place for, say, a Bartles & Jaymes wine cooler or even a Bud Light Lime-A-Rita, those aren’t necessarily drinks you want to serve at a backyard party or while drinking (publicly) at the beach. Luckily in the past few years there has been a rise in more curated, custom ready-to-drink beverages.
From ‘Merican Mule to Cutwater Spirits, many of these brands claim to offer high-level cocktails; and as a fan of fancy cocktails, I wanted to put them to the test. I gathered a few friends and we taste-tested an assortment of drinks.