Chill Out with RTD Winter Cocktails
Winter RTD cocktail
Winter, undeniably, is a great time to stay home under a blanket in your footie pajamas. We might suggest adding a smooth, sexy cocktail to that scenario. Make it a ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail and you’ll barely need to get off the couch.
While we often think of canned cocktails as a convenient item to tote to an outdoor picnic or the beach, most consumers drink them at home, and, according to Beverage Daily, 33% of consumers serve their canned cocktails out of a glass for better taste and presentation. In response, many RTD makers are adding larger format RTS (ready-to-serve) cocktails to cater to the at-home entertaining set. Think of these as the home version of batched cocktails that have taken off in bars.
Ready-to-drink drinks are maintaining their popularity year over year. “Across 10 key RTD markets last year,” states IWSR, “45% of alcohol buyers purchased RTDs; spirits were most often drunk in the same occasion as RTDs; and beer was the most replaced drink.”
Premiumization continues to be another factor in RTD differentiation. According to IWSR, “Now, as high inflation and cost-of-living continues to impact spending levels across beverage alcohol, RTDs are also serving as a crucial entry point for consumers who want to enjoy premium spirits at a fraction of the bottle price.” Manufacturers are collaborating with premium and craft liquor companies and are calling out the brands right on the label.
Check out our list of ready-to-drink cocktails you should be drinking this winter.
XXI Chocolate Peppermint Martini
Twenty-One Martinis started in Las Vegas when mixologist Angelo Bottley shook up an espresso martini for Shannon Keeran. The two went on to establish XXI Martinis, a collection of premium vodka martinis. Their creamy, ready-to-shake chocolate peppermint vodka “martini” is 15% ABV and makes a wonderfully frothy and decadent nightcap. A winter-only flavor, you will only find it on shelves for a limited time, it launched in October of 2024. Bottles are shelf stable for 4 months once opened or for 9 months in the refrigerator. $29.99
Cutwater Strawberry White Russian
Winter flavors from the popular canned cocktail producer emphasize rich, after dinner treats including a coffee cream and vodka-based strawberry white Russian that channels a boozy chocolate-dipped strawberry, a Valentine’s Day favorite. The flavor launched in 2024. Serve it very cold for dessert. Their bourbon-based whiskey sour comes in at only 8% ABV (the white Russians clock 13%) for a light and lemon-y winter sipper. Pour some into a mug and microwave for 45 seconds for a quick and easy RTH (ready-to-heat) hot toddy.
Koloa Hawaiian Mai Tai Cocktail
In 2024 Koloa Rum launched Rum Rusher in collaboration with the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s available in Utah, Nevada and Hawaii. Otherwise, you may want to settle for one of their more available RTDs. Dreaming of the tropics can really warm up a winter night, and Kauai’s Koloa Rum Distillery combines their premium gold rum, made from local sugar cane, with traditional island Kukui Mai Tai Cocktail for a potent (17% ABV) ready-to-serve cocktail that will send your mind to a Hawaiian luau.
Moth Espresso Martini
Coming in on the tail end of winter is Espresso Martini Day on March 15th. Since the espresso martini was invented in London, it makes sense that there would be an RTD version coming from England. The folks at British RTD company Moth Drinks have been slinging ten SKUs to rave reviews (according to the Spirits Business they held a 41% share of the UK’s premium RTD market) and finally sent four flavors across the pond to the US, starting with a test in November of 2023. Their textbook espresso martini, made with vodka from a family distillery in Oxford, real cold brew, plus coffee liqueur, packs a bartender’s punch at 14.9% alcohol and has a lovely frothy cap. Shake in its slim 200 ml can, pour into a chilled glass, and top with 3 espresso beans if you’ve got ‘em. Consider it the next best thing to a trip to jolly old England. Read more about the espresso martini.