Features Canned Cocktails Hard Seltzer Brewery Distillery Guide Homepage Highlight 30+ Connecticut Local Canned Cocktails, Spritzers, + Hard Seltzers (2023 Guide) Carly Terzigni June 29, 2023 It’s summertime, which means that for many of us, it’s time to mix together a refreshing cocktail for the next barbecue, pool party, or trip out on the boat. But as we all know, as tasty as cocktails are, they can be a hassle to put together. By the time you get your base alcohol, your mixer, and any other ingredients assembled, half of the afternoon has already passed. Fortunately, a number of beverage companies have developed delicious ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails that taste as if they were mixed just moments ago.If mixed drinks are your drink of choice, keep on reading to discover which locally-owned, Connecticut-based companies manufacture their very own canned cocktails. Many of these cans are available in stores around the state as well as in their local breweries or distilleries. We also included several national brands of canned cocktails that you will also be able to shop for around Connecticut. All of these brands are available for you this summer, whether you are heading down to the Connecticut shoreline or you are heading out of state to your favorite beach destination. No matter your summer plans, a canned cocktail is just what the occasion calls for.Drink Mechanics https://drinkmechanics.com/DRINK MECHANICS is a relatively new Hartford-based company that was founded by out-of-work bartenders during the shutdowns of 2020, when cocktail delivery suddenly became "a thing". Their goal was to create an all-natural, shelf-stable, canned cocktail that was craft driven and on par with anything served at a cocktail bar. To that end, they only use premium spirits and real fruits to formulate their original recipes. All of their cocktails are 10% abv, gluten free, contain only a tsp of agave nectar for added sugars, and will fill an iced pint glass to the brim! The Drink Mechanics started out canning by hand and delivering direct to customers' doors with a converted ice cream truck. By the summer of 2022 they were commercially producing and could be found in retail stores across the state. They are now in construction on their forever home in a jaw-dropping space inside State House Square, which will house a manufacturing operation along with a full bar, restaurant, and live entertainment as they seek to connect the community with local arts. Go to www.drinkmechanics.com and use their interactive map to find a store nearest you!Litchfield Distillery https://litchfielddistillery.com/Since 2018, Litchfield Distillery’s craft cocktails have been satisfying taste buds across Connecticut. Their secret? They make each canned cocktail with only 100% real ingredients — nothing artificial and never any added refined sugars. The Litchfielder is the distillery’s signature cocktail, a whiskey-sour-style drink made with their Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The Spiked Lemonade features their vodka, lemon juice, and a touch of blueberry extract, while the Batcherita is the distillery’s take on a margarita, featuring their Connecticut-made Agave Spirits. Whether your summer adventures take you near or far, you’ll want to pack a cooler with these refreshing elixirs, which are available in most retail locations that carry Litchfield Distillery spirits. Waypoint Spirits https://drinkwaypoint.com/In the mood for some authentic, flavorful cocktails in a can? Look no further than the canned cocktails of Waypoint Spirits. Available statewide and in their taproom in Bloomfield. The Vodka Iced Tea Lemonade is a perfect blend of their award-winning vodka, fresh black tea, and a splash of lemonade to give you the ultimate iced-tea cocktail beverage. This 7% ABV cocktail is ready to accompany you on your next golf outing, beach day, or just to celebrate enjoying life in your favorite chair. And what do you get when you start by mixing bunches of fresh mint leaves with our crisp, award-winning vodka and their fresh lemonade? You get their take on a Vodka mojito called Vodka Mint Lemonade, coming in at 7% ABV. All you need is a glass filled with ice, and the party is on! Anyone say Gin cocktail? Waypoint Spirits' Bees Knees is a flavorful blend of their award-winning gin, fresh lemons, and locally sourced honey; this small-batch craft cocktail brings you the best that Connecticut has to offer. Canned at 7% ABV, shake and pour over ice and sip the sunshine all year long! When taste matters, it’s Waypoint Spirits in a can.Daybreaker Craft Cocktails www.tworoadsbrewing.comIn 2021, Two Roads Brewing, one of the largest breweries in New England, launched Daybreaker Craft Cocktails - a line of bar-quality, ready-to-drink cocktails in a can made with 100% real fruit juice. The latest addition to the lineup is Daybreaker Tropical Punch, a vodka-based cocktail that embodies summertime in a can. Daybreaker Tropical Punch is made with simple, straightforward ingredients - two shots of vodka per can, sparkling water, and 100% real passion fruit, orange, and mango juice. This award-winning cocktail is a must-try!Links Drinks https://www.linksdrinks.com/For years, golfers have looked forward to the Transfusion cocktail at the turn or in the clubhouse. Links Drinks has created a brand of ready-to-drink Transfusions in a can! The "Classic" is made with vodka, ginger ale, and grape juice. The "Front Nine" with orange juice, and the "Back Nine" with cranberry juice. All three cocktails are 7% ABV, gluten-free, and made with all-natural ingredients. You can now enjoy this golf tradition anywhere...the course, beach, boat, or BBQ at home. Enjoy Life!Sundial Cocktails https://www.sundialcocktails.com/Sundial Cocktails are rum-inspired canned cocktails that are making waves throughout New England. Each of their refreshing beverages boasts an impressive 8% ABV, ensuring the taste and consistency of a craft cocktail. All four of their drinks are meticulously crafted to provide a unique and enjoyable drinking experience with every sip. Their current collection includes an Island Rum Punch, Tropical Mai Tai, Sunset Mojito, and Spiced Rum & Ginger. Sean Cote, Co-Founder of Sundial Cocktails and an alumnus of Quinnipiac University, is proud to partner with F&F Distributors to bring Sundial Cocktails to Connecticut communities. Get ready to elevate your drinking experience this summer with Sundial Cocktails, where premium flavors and convenience meet in perfect harmony.Alvarium Beer Co.https://alvariumbeer.com/Try Avery’s Hard Soda! The Hard Sippin’line rotates blackberry lemon, blue raspberry, cherry lime, strawberry watermelon, kiwi, and peach pear at the brewery and in bottle shops.Art of the Pour Craft Cocktails www.artofpour.comCocktails, ready to pour. Cosmopolitans and jalapeño margaritas that are low in sugar (they sweeten with Stevia) and made with quality ingredients.Bestie Hard Seltzerhttps://www.bestiehardseltzer.com/“Life is better with your Bestie”, especially when that Bestie is raspberry, cranberry, mango or black cherry flavored, carb and gluten-free and 85 calories. Zero Carbs. Zero Gluten. No Preservatives. Count on your Bestie.Black Hog Brewingwww.blackhogbrewing.comCitrus Bancha, Peach Oolong, and Black Cherry Earl Gray spiked seltzers. Organic teas are mixed with fruit juices and spiked in a delightful way. Brewport Ice Manwww.brewportct.comWhen you cross a Bridgeport iconic Micalizzi Italian ice and hard seltzer you get an Ice Man. A blue Raspberry flavored Ice Man, to be exact, brewed by the Brewport Brewing Company, also in Bridgeport.The Cocktail Chemisthttps://thecocktailchemistbevco.com/Stock your cooler with their double-gold award-winning canned Espresso Martini, Mojito, and their Vodka Soda and your summer parties will be off to a great start.Fishers Island Lemonadewww.filemonade.comMade with premium vodka, barrel-aged whiskey, lemon and honey, their spiked lemonades, Spiked Tea, Pink Flamingo, Island Fizz, and Frozen Spirit Pops (finally, popsicles for adults!) will be enjoyed by a range of palates.Foxon Park and Thimble Island Brewinghttps://www.foxonpark.com/https://www.thimbleislandbrewery.com/Two more prominent name sin the craft beer and soda lanes, respectively, collaborate to bring exciting boozy sodas that release the inner child in those 21+, responsibly, of course.Cream soda and white birch flavors really turn the New England vibes on 100%! Lock City Brewingwww.lockcitybrewing.comTry their Lock Fizzy Blood Orange and Habanero Hard Seltzer this summer. Made with passion fruit, orange, and guava with a lively kick from habanero peppers to bring the heat.‘Merican Mulewww.mericanmule.com‘Merican Mule is a CT-based canned cocktail brand founded by a UCONN alum. They craft Mules with different liquors and will be debuting their first Non-Alcoholic ginger beer mixer, plus a 99-calorie Moscow Mule light, this Summer. Owl’s Brew Boozy Teawww.theowlsbrew.comOwl’s Brewing is brewing up some Spiked Sparkling Tea, boozy tea with botanicals, if you will. All the flavors are made with fresh-brewed tea and are vegan and gluten-free, and are “clean,” without artificial flavors, so-called “natural flavors,” sugar substitutes, or paragons.Partáy Craft Cocktailshttp://www.drinkpartay.com/Raise your pinkies to your choice of a margarita or grapefruit paloma made with blue agave, real fruit juice, no artificial flavors, and a mighty 7.1% ABV. Owned and operated out of Stamford, CT, and made locally in CT, Partáy curated the perfect drinks for you to enjoy the sunshine this summer. Buy in stores throughout CT (BevMax, Total Wine, Big Y and More) find them at Alive@5 or order online on Drizly or online.Reedshttps://drinkreeds.com/Reed’s Craft Ginger Mule is packed with real, fresh ginger, known around the world for its health benefits and stimulating properties. They source our ginger sustainably from the Peruvian Amazon—a bold strain found nowhere else.Sono 1420https://sono1420.com/Sono 1420 produces all-natural, real-ingredient RTDs using nothing artificial. Try their three canned vodka-based cocktail flavors: “Transfusion” with grape juice, lime juice, and ginger ale; “Orange Kush” with orange juice, triple sec, and Sprite, and “Strawberry Lemonade Haze” with strawberries and lemon juice.Stony Creek Brewerywww.stonycreekbeer.comFizz Bang Hard Seltzers in flavors of Raspberry Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, Mango Lemonade and Blackberry Lime. Refreshing when you aren’t in the mood for a beer.TUCK Ginwww.tuckgin.comTUCK gin, with its flavor notes of juniper and jasmine, combine with organic tea, in black or green. Perfect served over ice. Pinkies up! Sort of. Urban Taqohttps://www.facebook.com/UrbanTaqo/Fresh cold-pressed margaritas, anyone? For a limited time, Urban Taqo released a line of margaritas to-go, perfect for your summer parties. Available in Original Lime, Spicy Pineapple, and Watermelon.National brands you can find across Connecticut:Cafe Agave Spike Cold Brewswww.cafeagave.comGourmet coffee fabulously spiked in flavors such as a Caffe Mocha, Espresso Shot, Salted Caramel, and Vanilla Cinnamon. Cool Cathttps://drinkcoolcat.com/Cool Cat is an award-winning canned wine cocktail made from California white wine that is offered in four delicious flavors: Elderflower Mint Lime, Grapefruit, Citrus, and Berry. These 12 oz drinks contain a mere 140 calories and 2 grams of sugar and are gluten-free. Named "Best Spritzer" by Liquor.com, the brand is the brainchild of co-founder and CEO Rocco Venneri, a native of New Canaan, CT.Faux Pashttps://www.fauxpascocktails.com/The delightfully disruptive female-led media company Betches has launched a canned cocktail for the fabulously flawed and the silly but self-aware. Spicy mango margarita is the most ambitious offering, along with the core portfolio of fruit-driven vodka/tequila sodas. The Finnish Long Drinkhttps://thelongdrink.com/The Finnish Phenom now comes in Peach. It’s gin-based, bright, and citrusy, and the sugar-free version is one of the best 0-cal options available. The peach promises to be a revelation.High Noonhttps://www.highnoonspirits.com/Barstool Sports’ signature seltzer is crushing it in coolers and on socials. Vodka Soda based seltzers with real fruit juice; the tequila line follows the same format and continues to be ubiquitous at cool kid cookouts and kickbacks near you.Loverboyhttps://drinkloverboy.com/They made a zero-sugar sparkling hard tea because nothing like it existed. It starts with the perfect blend of organic brewed tea, botanicals, juices, and monk fruit combined with the smoothest-tasting gluten-free alcohol that they could find.Montauk Hard Labelhttps://www.facebook.com/MontaukHardLabel/Conceived by two born-and-raised locals as well as one innocent bystander, Montauk Hard Label tries to embody the spirit of their town and its culture by introducing their own touch to the drinking community. You could be drinking any whiskey in the world, but you're drinking theirs, and for that, they thank you!ONDAhttps://drinkonda.com/Get your light and refreshing tequila seltzers this summer from Onda, a woman-owned distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. Tequila seltzers are made with all-natural ingredients and contain just 100 calories each. No added sugar, real, legit juice, and naturally gluten-free.Spritz Societyhttps://www.spritzsociety.com/Spritz Society sparkling wine cocktails take real, recognizable ingredients and packs them into convenient 8.4oz cans. Each can contains 6% ABV and 120 calories and come in five delicious fruit flavors – Grapefruit, Lemonade, Peach, Blood Orange, and Pineapple.
