The Best RTD Canned Cocktails for Summer

High Noon, Mom Water, and Cutwater – oh my!

We love a freshly mixed cocktail, and we’re not short on stellar recipes…but it’s summer. There are places to go, even if it’s our patio or the neighborhood pool. People to see, and we want to soak in the time with them, where the only interruption to the hilarious story is reaching down into the cooler for another drink. Things to do, like…relax. 

Enter the relatively new and constantly expanding world of RTDs. 

What are RTDs? 

You’ve probably had one and didn’t realize it came with a catchy acronym. High Noon? White Claw?  Ready to Drink cocktails. Cutwater Margarita? It sure wasn’t made in a blender…RTD, and darn delicious. While some of these easy sips have been around since 1992 (looking at you, Jack Daniels Country Cocktails), others burst onto the scene in a flurry of fizz with the rise of hard seltzers in 2018. (Yes, it’s been that long since that cool girl brought the 12-pack of White Claw to the boat party and none of us have ever been the same.)

So, to honor the drinks that taste great and keep us the best kind of lazy, here’s a list of some of our favorite cocktails in a can, aka the best RTDs, aka your-summer-just-got-better beverages.

Mom Water

If you’ve ever seen a mom explain to her toddler why they can’t have a sip of (insert beverage here, including water, because baby backwash is real IYKYK), then hand that mom a can of Mom Water. We know, this begs multiple questions.

Q: Is Mom Water just for moms? 

A: Heck no. It’s fantastic marketing, but Mom Water is for anyone who thinks super light fruit-infused vodka that’s non-carbonated, sugar-free, carb-free, and has no artificial flavors or preservatives sounds delightful. Yes, we said delightful. Take a sip, you’ll say it too.

Q: Wait, so it’s hard seltzer?

A: Nope. Zero carbonation. Imagine a subtly sweet flavored water, or a coconut water. Also only 90 calories per beverage. The Mom Water team likes to use these:  #drinkslikewater #notaseltzer

Q: I’m confused, the flavors have names? 

A: Yes. Here’s your Mom Water flavor guide: Sandy = Coconut Mango. Kathy = Blackberry Lime. Linda = Blueberry Peach. Mary = Apple Melon. Julie = Passionfruit. Karen = Lemon Blueberry. Susan = Strawberry Kiwi. Nancy = Pineapple Orange. 

Q: I love this concept. But I can’t be seen holding a Mom Water can.

A: That’s cool, we get it. Enter “Dad Water” (Hint: It’s the same, but with tequila).

Jack Daniels RTD’s and Country Cocktails

A Jack and Coke drinker doesn’t usually brag. So we’ll do it for them: What’s a good pool party drink this summer? Jack Daniels RTDs. From Jack Daniels Whiskey and Coca-Cola to Tennessee Honey (whiskey, sour, and lemonade), these classics in a can are currently the #1 selling whiskey-based RTD in the world. Chill, serve. That’s all there is to say.

If you’re feeling a little more mellow, scoop up a variety pack of Jack Daniels Country Cocktail — this particular product is light, with a whisper of malt, and focuses on citrusy, fruity flavors (4% ABV) that are a perfect option if your crowd prefers their summer sipping with a little kick.

Cutwater

Y’all. Name your favorite vacation destination. Now give us the cocktail that matches. Margaritas in Florida? Orange Vodka Smash in the Outer Banks? Tiki Rum Punch on your tropical island? Vodka mule on your back patio? 

Cutwater has done the seemingly impossible: They’ve used their delicious spirits and made cocktails in a can that TASTE FRESH. It’s baffling. It’s humbling. It’s…wonderful. These expertly crafted canned cocktails fly off our shelves, and yes, maybe that’s because we take them home too. If you need us, we’ll be sipping a Tiki Rum Mai Tai (made with two kinds of rum) from an ice-cold can. You’re welcome to join.

High Noon

Let’s be honest, we see a lot of hard seltzer drinks out there. It can feel like the Wild West, with every brand throwing their version of bubbly vodka into the mix. That’s why we lean on a few dependable favorites, like High Noon. If we had a dollar for every person at our pool parties who says, “Oh I don’t like hard seltzer” and then falls head over heels for High Noon…we’d buy another four-flavor Pool Pack of High Noons. (Yes, Kiwi should now be in more cocktails. High Noon has convinced us.)

What makes this fruit-infused seltzer stand out from the carbonated crowd? Real fruit. Real vodka. No artificial flavors or sweeteners. Peach tastes like…peach. Watermelon is juicy, grapefruit zings on your tongue, lime is your best friend’s skinny margarita perfectly captured in a can. There’s a flavor for everyone (pineapple is a crowd favorite in our stores). Light, crisp, refreshing…High Noon is worth stockpiling for every summer event.

Sugarlands Shine Sweet Tea Lemonade

Moonshine is having a moment. And Sugarlands does it right, treating their moonshine with respect and crafting a Ready to Drink cocktail that delivers flavor, punch, a little bit of iced tea, and just enough lemonade to sweeten it all up. This distillery in Gatlinburg, TN, brings the history of moonshine in the Smoky Mountains to life with locally grown white corn that distills into beautiful ‘shine. This crew gets creative with flavors (there is literally an Eggo Waffle Brunch-In-a-Jar made with hints of maple syrup and Appalachian Sipping Cream). But we’re Southern, and it’s summer, so we’ll be here sipping moonshine sweet tea, y’all.

Your cooler and pool bag are now worthy of a sweet, slow-sipping summer. Let any of us at Cox’s & Evergreen know when you need a refill. More RTDs coming up ASAP! (We couldn’t help ourselves). Cheers!