Ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails have surged in popularity due to a mix of convenience, quality, and cultural trends. Consumers increasingly value portability and ease, and RTDs deliver a bar-quality experience without the need for mixing or specialized ingredients. This makes them ideal for social occasions like picnics, festivals, and casual gatherings where traditional cocktails would be impractical.
Another driver is the shift toward premiumization. Modern RTDs often feature high-quality spirits, natural flavors, and innovative recipes, appealing to consumers who want sophistication without effort. Health-conscious trends also play a role: many brands highlight lower sugar, fewer calories, and clean-label ingredients, aligning with wellness-focused lifestyles.
The rise of craft cocktail culture has influenced expectations, and RTD brands have responded by offering unique flavor profiles and collaborations with mixologists. Additionally, the pandemic accelerated demand for at-home drinking solutions, cementing RTDs as a go-to option for convenience and variety.
Finally, RTDs offer a great canvas for brand building: building up audiences with younger consumers.
In short, RTD canned cocktails combine practicality, quality, and trend appeal: meeting modern consumers where they are.
Beatbox Party Punch
BeatBox, the US-born ready-to-drink (RTD) “Party Punch,” is making its debut in the UK.
The flavored wine beverage, known for its bold fruity taste and vibrant packaging, launches in four variants: Blue Razzberry, Juicy Mango, Orange Blast, and Fruit Punch (ABV 6.1%).
BeatBox was founded in 2012 and gained national attention across the US in 2014 after securing a $1m investment from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank. It is no sold in all 50 states and 130,000 retail locations.
The brand ranks as the top RTD in single-serve convenience in the US: thanks to its appeal to younger adult consumers with a sugar-free, gluten-free, non-carbonated alternative to traditional alcoholic drinks.
Now, the UK launch aims to replicate BeatBox’s stateside success.
The drink has been launched by distributor Red Star Brands across key wholesale and convenience channels including United Wholesale Scotland, Filshill, Dhamecha, and Imperial C&C.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing BeatBox, one of the fastest-growing ready-to-drink beverages in the United States, to the UK,” said Ryan McCann, Director at Red Star Brands. “It’s so much more than a party favorite – it’s a category disruptor redefining the alcohol industry.”
Nostalgia cocktails: Just Call Me Shirley
Just Call Me Shirley has expanded its nostalgic cocktail concept with the launch of Vodka and Tequila SKUs, now available for online purchase in 45 states.
The female-founded brand reimagines the classic Shirley Temple with premium spirits, offering a fun, elevated twist on a retro favorite. Each 5% ABV can is low-calorie, low-sugar, caffeine-free, gluten-free and crafted without artificial dyes, delivering the signature cherry lemon-lime flavor without Red 40 or excess sweetness. A non-alcoholic version infused with electrolytes remains available online and in select stores.
Founded by best friends Sydney Attis and Mikayla Garcia, Just Call Me Shirley has quickly gained national recognition, winning the UPS Store Small Biz Challenge, earning a Gold Medal from RTD Magazine for its Vodka Shirley, and appearing on FOX & Friends. The brand was also featured in Empowered by Meg Ryan, spotlighting standout small businesses.
“We created Just Call Me Shirley because we were always ordering ‘dirty Shirleys’ in college and realized there was a gap in the market for a fun, elevated canned cocktail,” says co-founder Sydney Attis. “Being able to now ship our cocktails to 45 states is surreal.”
Pre-orders are open at drink-shirley.com, with retail availability in California, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa and further expansion planned for 2026.
Subourbon Life: RTD bourbon
Subourbon Life is expanding its ready-to-drink bourbon cocktail range with two new flavors: Bourbon Piña Colada and Bourbon Espresso Martini.
The female-founded brand, created by Jen Hardell, continues to disrupt the RTD market with premium, non-carbonated bourbon cocktails designed for daytime occasions. Each drink is crafted with six-year Kentucky barrel-aged bourbon, naturally sweetened, gluten-free, and 5% ABV.
The Bourbon Piña Colada offers a tropical twist with hints of banana, while the Bourbon Espresso Martini blends bourbon with coffee and caramel notes. These join the existing lineup of Pink Lemonade + Mint, Iced Tea + Lemonade + Honey, and Margarita + Citrus. Subourbon Life positions itself as an alternative to carbonated seltzers and vodka-based RTDs, aiming to make bourbon approachable and versatile.
“Our mission has always been to make bourbon approachable and fun,” says Jen Hardell, founder and CEO. “With these new flavors, we’re continuing to innovate and provide our customers with high-quality, convenient options that fit into their lifestyles.”
Available in key markets including New York, New Jersey, and California, the range is also offered for nationwide shipping via Subourbon Life and Tipxy.
Smiling Wolf: alcohol-free functional canned cocktails
UK non-alcoholic spirits brand, Smiling Wolf, has expanded into ready-to-drink cocktails: designed to deliver the full cocktail experience without alcohol.
The premium collection includes G&T, Aperitivo Spritz, Mojito and Negroni, each crafted with natural nootropics and vitamins to support mood, calm and focus.
The 250ml cans feature the brand’s Feel Good Blend, a mix of L-arginine, L-theanine, L-glycine, caffeine and B vitamins, offering smooth energy and stress reduction from the first sip.
Retailing at £3.80, the drinks are available online via Smiling Wolf’s website, Amazon and in more than 60 independent stores nationwide. Each variant recreates a classic cocktail profile: G&T with juniper and botanicals, Aperitivo Spritz with Mediterranean herbs and bitters, Mojito with fresh mint and citrus, and Negroni with a bittersweet herbal complexity.
The launch taps into growing demand for functional, mood-enhancing beverages, particularly among younger consumers seeking alcohol alternatives that fit wellness-led lifestyles. “We’re premiumizing the functional drinks category by creating cocktails that deliver both taste and effect,” says Steve Wilson, Head of Innovation at Smiling Wolf. “Our mission is simple: keep the vibe, without the consequences.”
Smiling Wolf’s RTDs aim to bridge the gap between functional drinks and adult drinking culture, offering a new way to socialize without compromise.
Pathfinder espresso tonic
The Pathfinder, a US non-alcoholic spirits brand, has launched The Pathfinder Espresso Tonic: a zero-proof, RTD collaboration with iconic Seattle roaster Caffe Vita.
The drink is crafted with The Pathfinder Hemp and Root (a botanical zero-proof spirit) and Vita Cold Shot (Caffe Vita’s cold espresso extraction).
The effervescent release is a ‘refreshing take on the endlessly popular Espresso Martini’, making it ideal for evenings or as an energy boost at any time (one 200ml can contains 1 espresso shot).
“The Pathfinder was born on a five-block stretch of Seattle’s Capitol Hill, where Caffe Vita was one of our earliest supporters,” said Chris Abbott, co-founder of The Pathfinder. “Partnering with Vita on this release felt like a homecoming. Their new Cold Shot technology delivers espresso with incredible flavor and texture—and it elevates this RTD into something completely unique.
Malibu & Dole: Pineapple and rum
Malibu & Dole ready-to-drink cocktails are set to debut in the US in early 2026.
Inspired by the popular mix of Malibu rum and Dole pineapple juice, the new range blends real rum, real pineapple juice, sparkling water, and natural flavors.
The 4.5% ABV cocktails will include pineapple, pineapple mango, pineapple strawberry and pineapple dragon fruit flavors.
Each 12oz can contains 130 calories and is free from artificial sweeteners and colors. Larger 19.2oz cans will be available for pineapple and pineapple mango.
Passion fruit innovation
Passion fruit liqueur, Passoã, has launched two new ready-to-drink cocktails in the UK: Passoã Passion Fruit Martini and Passoã Pink Lemonade Spritz.
Passoã Passion Fruit Martini is a sparkling twist on the classic Pornstar Martini, blending bold passion fruit, smooth vanilla, and a splash of lime. Meanwhile, Passoã Pink Lemonade Spritz blends passion fruit with lemon-lime to balance fruitiness and refreshment.
Each drink 5% ABV and is vegan and gluten-free with natural flavors and just 150 calories per 250ml slim can.
Already available across Europe, the new range is now available at convenience stores across the UK for £2.30 RRP.
