6 Canned Tequila Cocktails Perfect for Shaking Up The Holidays

Canned tequila cocktails have emerged as the fastest-growing ready-to-drink (RTD) trend of the year. Liquor store shelves are already flooded with new contenders; celebrity investors like Blake Lively, Canelo Álvarez and Jennifer Lopez getting in new launches right alongside staples from Jose Cuervo and High Noon among countless others.

There are too many options to count. Sorting out the best of the best, we’ve put together a list of six top-tier cocktails that combine quality flavor with distinct, recognizable tequila.

Cultor

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These rustic little 200ml canned cocktails, created by bartender Shauna O’Neill, dial it up to the max with freshly rendered flavors of ginger, passion fruit, hibiscus, cucumber and more. Best of all, they’re sold at a meaty 12.5% ABV.

The Coco flavor (not pictured above) was our personal favorite, marrying the best qualities of coconut milk and tequila into a supremely smooth and delicate RTD sipper. While most cocktail brands are content to recreate the classics, Cultor goes all-in on unconventional recipes fit to be served at your local craft cocktail bar. These retail at $22 per 4-pack and are well worth the price.

NightOwl Espresso Martini

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Depending on who you ask, the espresso martini is either the most beloved or reviled cocktail trend of the 2020s. The simple three-part recipe hinges entirely on the quality of its ingredients, which, suffice it to say, can easily be fumbled.

NightOwl understood the assignment. A no-frills combination of two shots espresso, one shot alcohol and a hint vanilla, the brand uses exceptionally good coffee as its base and builds from there. The spirits come through loud and clear, and the “hint of vanilla” is subdued and not remotely artificial — much appreciated amidst the sea of Frappucino-esque coffee RTDs.

NightOwl sells these in Tequila and Vodka flavors, both retailing at $20 per 4-pack. If you plan to party all night, these won’t steer you wrong.

Epic Western

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Epic Western delivers tasty renditions of classics like the Paloma, Margarita, Ranch Water and “Brush Fire” (a jalapeño-infused Rita). These are advertised as carbonated cocktails rather than hard seltzers and the distinction shows.

The Paloma ups the ante full of grapefruit flavor, the Chispa Rita balances in recognizable orange and the Brush Fire offers one of the best canned renditions of jalapeño we’ve ever tried. A signature bite of sparkling mineral water rounds out the palate, freshening up the other flavors as it goes. These are an easy substitute for the endless wave of hard seltzers.

Suerte Canned

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At first glance, there isn’t much distinguishing Suerte from the glut of canned margaritas, palomas and ranch waters that have hit the market over the past few years.

The key difference lies in the tequila. Suerte is one of the most respected agave spirits producers among die-hard enthusiasts; its additive-free formula, distilled from tahona-crushed agave piñas, has handily established itself alongside cult favorites like Fortaleza and El Tesoro.

The brand’s canned lineup (subtitled: Please don’t call it seltzer), lives up to that reputation. This is, hands down, the highest quality tequila that you will ever taste inside an RTD. If that sounds like your kinda thing, these are priced at $12.99 per 4-pack.

Yo Soy Margaret Cold Pressed Cocktails

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Combining Gen Z wellness trends with mixology, Margaret Cocktails distinguishes itself from the competition with a winning formula of cold-pressed juices.

The results are fantastic. The Tequila flavor (made with cold-pressed lime) and the Mezcal flavor (cold-pressed cucumber and jalapeño) taste and feel unlike anything else that’s been bottled up for mass consumption. These are — in the best way possible — a true novelty within the industry, and a surefire hit for both health-conscious and liquor-loving drinkers. Priced at $6.25 and $7.25 respectively for the Tequila and Mezcal versions.

Dulce Vida Tetra Pak

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In the mood for a massive juice box? Dulce Vida, one of the most prominent players in the flavored tequila category, combines nostalgia with summery fun in these boozy 1-liter behemoths.

Clocking in at $17.99 and 15% ABV, the price-to-size ratio is off the charts. Though none of the flavors is completely unlike something you’ve tasted before, these offer a lightweight portable format perfect for barbeques, picnics and gatherings of all sorts. Also works great slushed up with a slice of lime. Of the three offerings, we’d particularly recommend the Watermelon Margarita.

Read More:

5 Fantastic Tequilas to Buy If You Can’t Find Fortaleza 

Australia Digs Deeper Into Tequila Market With Peanut Butter, Fruit Zingle and ‘Fireballs’-Flavored Agave Spirits

New Additive-Free Tequila ‘Founded, Farmed Distilled and Led by Women’ Hits the Market Nationwide

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