The 18 Best Canned Cocktails to Kick Off Your Summer Nights

Look, it’s been a tough year and a half. We—and yes, I think the collective we—all need a drink here. Preferably by a pool or some body of water. Or on some grass. Hell, on a fire escape in the fetal position will do.

And while a glass of rosé is nice or a summer ale a pleasant sip, sometimes you just need something stronger. Enter the canned cocktail: crisp, refreshing, and...made with hard alcohol.

What should be your canned cocktail of choice, you ask? First let’s get one thing out of the way—White Claw is delicious—but you know about White Claw! So we’re going to focus on other aluminum-locked libations, like, say, Amass’s botanic hard seltzers, or Zuzu’s sparkling lime cocktails. Looking to support a small business? Order Blood Orange and Moonshine Soda, made by Belle Isle, a boutique distillery in Virginia. Then there’s Social Hour, a line of canned cocktails from the founder of Clover Club. For the elegant and elevated choice, consider world’s best bar Dante’s new contained summer spritz with Five Drinks Co. 

Then there s the drink that does double duty: Deloce s canned Espresso Martini. Because sometimes, you just need a bit of caffeine kick to get the summer night going—especially when you ve spent the last 18 months going to bed at 10 p.m.

Below, our favorite canned cocktails (plus a couple of stylish non-alcoholic options from Ghia and Hella Cocktail Co. for those who abstain—or are just sober curious).