13 best cocktail cans for summertime sipping

Mix of Total Happiness (aka Moth) lives up to its name with its range of small but mighty cocktail cans. Our favourite has to be the paloma. While the history of the paloma recipe remains unknown (it’s thought the tequila-based drink dates back to the 1950s), the tipple is enjoying a resurgence in popularity this summer.

Smooth tequila is mixed with zesty grapefruit, soda and lime in Moth’s fresh and sharp take on the drink. Just as good over ice at home as it is straight out of the can in a park, the classic Mexican cocktail is premium tasting yet helpfully practical for summer socialising. At £3.95 a pop, it’s on the pricey end of the spectrum but still a fraction of the cost of a bar drink (and just as nice).

Much-loved for good reason, M&S’s cocktail cans are staples of pre-drinks, festivals and train journeys. Costing less than £3, with a fairly high eight per cent ABV, the margarita is a standout in the pocket-friendly range.

Best served over ice with a fresh slice, the punchy marg is crafted from lime juice and two measures of smooth tequila. If you’re not jetting away to a Tulum beach club this summer, M&S’s cheap-and-cheerful margarita is your next best thing.

Vacay’s cocktail cans taste just as good as they look. The range (£21.99 for a mixed pack, Haveavacay.com) includes margarita, palomas, vodka mules, mojitos, vodka orange soda and a Tom Collins (our favourite). All of Vacay’s cocktails are packaged in vibrant cans with playful illustrations – plus, the 330ml serving trumps most other offerings on the market.

A staple of beach clubs, country clubs and yacht clubs, the Tom Collins cocktail has its roots in 19th-century Manhattan – and Vacay has put a contemporary twist on the classic, with London dry gin, tangy Sicilian lemon juice, soda water and natural cane sugar. Refreshing, light and with a fairly high ABV, it’s the perfect chilled cocktail to sip during hot summer days.

Female-founded Pimentae has built an A-lister following, thanks to its pre-mixed cocktails that bottle up the feeling of summer. The mini serves are perfectly pocket-sized and blend Mexico’s finest flavours – tequila, lime and agave – for a sweet and sour kick.

A true classic, it’s best served cold – pour over ice and garnish with chillis, for a zingy twist. Whether starting or ending a party, the Tommy cocktail is as delicious as it is strong (be warned). Plus, it even comes in a 50cl bottle size (£29.95, Pimentaedrinks.com) that has you covered for hosting.

The cans in M&S’s latest cocktail collection boast a high enough ABV for you to only need one or two to feel suitably merry. From the negroni to the espresso martini, it’s safe to say these little tins are strong. For something a little less heavy, opt for the paloma. Delivering a kick despite its small size, the 14 per cent cocktail is crafted from tequila, pink grapefruit liqueur, pink grapefruit juice and agave syrup, with a lightly sparkling taste.

The sweetness of the grapefruit is balanced perfectly with the potent strength of the tequila. Perfect for packing into your bag for beach days or drinks in the park, M&S’s paloma is a holiday in a can.

Don’t be fooled by the cute packaging of Whitebox’s pocket negroni, as the 21.8 per cent ABV cocktail packs a mighty punch. Crafted from one part Porter’s gin, one part bitter aperitif and one part sweet vermouth, it’s throwing it back to the Italian cocktail’s no-frills roots.

As its name suggests, it’s ideal for popping in your pocket for summer occasions – tasting just as nice on the rocks with an orange peel garnish as it does straight out of the can. Delivering a strong kick despite the teeny size, its premium price is matched by the premium quality.

Originally referred to in early-20th-century Paris as a “bucket of blood”, bloody Marys have a marmite reputation – you either love them or are somewhat disgusted by them. Fortunately, we’re in the former camp – and Bloody Drink’s cocktail can is just as tasty as versions quaffed at a bar.

Blended with tomato juice and 58 Distillery’s triple-distilled vodka, it’s balanced with amontillado sherry, fresh lemon juice, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce and a dash of Kikkoman soy sauce, with Tabasco’s pepper sauce serving up the perfect amount of spice. Pouring a foolproof bloody Mary every time, the cocktail is seasoned to perfection.

If you’re keeping it classic, you can’t go wrong with Bombay Sapphire’s gin-and-tonic can. The bar-quality drink combines the brand’s signature vapour-infused London dry gin with botanicals for a subtle citrus flavour, mixed with tonic water for the perfect pour every time.

Light, refreshing and simple, Bombay Sapphire’s tinnie has a slight kick, thanks its six per cent ABV, and is best served over ice with lime or cucumber.

Another resounding success from Whitebox, the classic cosmo is everything you’d want Carrie Bradshaw’s go-to cocktail to be. The vodka-based tipple is balanced with cranberry, lime and orange triple sec notes, for a fruity and sharp flavour. Best served chilled with an orange or lime garnish, it’s still delicious if devoured straight out of the can.

The 100ml mix makes up for its small size with its 16.8 per cent strength. A stellar choice for elevating your barbecue or party drink of choice, cosmo consumers will find this canned cocktail to be well worth the wonga.

Canned espresso martinis are tricky to get right but Moth has come through with its vodka cold brew. Packaged into pleasingly portable cans, the smooth tipple blends Wood Brothers vodka with cold brew and coffee liqueur for a rich, chocolatey taste and creamy texture.

Shaking the can serves up a bar-worthy layer of foam and it’s best served over ice in a martini glass – but it’s equally drinkable straight out of the can for a boozy, caffeine-fuelled kick.

Founded in 2014, East London Liquor is one of the original boutique gin companies, and its distillery bar in E3 is a hotspot for cocktail-lovers. Highlights from the range include a pomegranate and vodka seltzer and a vodka and rhubarb can but the grapefruit gin and tonic is our new go-to for summer.

Putting a fruity spin on the classic, it’s mixed with the distillery’s in-house grapefruit-infused tonic and East London gin. Vegan-friendly with a five per cent ABV, the tinnie is flavourful and refreshing.

A crisp glass of aperol spritz is synonymous with summer and Moth has recreated that feeling with its apertivo spritz cocktail can. The 200ml serving is a thoroughly enjoyable mix of bitter orange and the botanicals of Tarquin’s Cornish gin, with a sweet, fizzy finish.

Bold and refreshing, it’s best served over ice in a wine glass with a slice of orange. Perfect for get-togethers when you don’t want to mix a drink yourself, the easy-breezy tipple is a summer staple (and is sure to impress any house guests).

If you love Soho House-style picantes, Mixology With Olly’s spicy Tommy’s margarita will go down nicely. Recreating the bar experience at home, the 15 per cent ABV tipple uses premium ingredients for the perfect pour every time. Made with a blend of smooth tequila, agave syrup for sweetness, lime juice for sourness and chili for that spicy kick, the margarita is the perfect balance of flavours. Whether you’re stocking up for drinks in the park or dinner with friends, it’s everything you want in a pocket sized cocktail.