Features Ingredients Cocktails Canned Cocktails Drinks Home Delivery homepage Homepage Locally Made Canned Cocktails We've Been Lovin' in Summer 2020 Kristin L. Wolfe August 15, 2020 Not gonna lie. I’m sucked in by looks. What’s on the inside counts, sure, but when I see a sharp, sexy...wait a minute. I’m talking about my drinks. What were you thinking?Ok, weird intro aside, there seems to be an endless list of new canned drinks out there and room for even more. And, although nothing these days seems to be “normal” we are trying to enjoy ourselves however we can; and to me, sun, water, and delicious cold drinks, certainly helps that effort. So, while some of your pandemic hobbies might have revolved around expanding your mind or being creative with activities like puzzles, knitting, or cooking grannies old recipes, mine sorta kinda included drinking on the beach; and drinking delicious, creatively designed canned beverages, in particular. I started out with the popular seltzers like White Claw, Stoli’s yada yada, then moved to a few hard ciders from the 1911 suite (from Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards), like the Rosé in a tall, gorgeous soft pink can; then my fam and I fell in love with punch of the Watermelon Mint with graphics as a bold as the taste.But then my new “hobby” got a little more interesting, uh...well, bolder, with stronger boozish. Here are a couple of brands created in our lovely state, then a few others you just have to try, especially since there’s still at least six weeks left of sunshine. However, I gather these will still be enjoyed well beyond the end of summer.Litchfield Distillery If you are in CT and haven’t taken a tour of Litchfield Distillery or had their tremendous line of yummy boozy drinks, I wonder if you’re still “allowed” to be here. Anyway, they just know what they are doing, full stop. Last year, I had the pleasure of downing their new canned line for an edible piece, and I am thrilled to give them another shout out. There’s no summer bbq without lemonade, so there shouldn’t be a summer bbq in CT without LD’s Spiked Lemonade; it’s just as sweet and tart as lemonade should be. And for the connoisseur of “dark” booze, The Litchfielder adds bourbon to a combo of citrus and maple, almost bringing the daytime treat into night. Now, I’m excited about the sassy new can on the block, the Batcherita, which seems to complete the line of zippy cocktails just perfectly with citrus and agave in a vessel you are less likely to drop.Litchfield DistilleryLitchfielddistillery.com@litchfielddistilleryLinks Drinks The Transfusion cocktail is a golf club classic now in a ready to drink can. Made with premium vodka, ginger ale and grape juice. This drink is gluten free, has natural flavors and no preservatives. Enjoy it on the course, beach, boat, anywhere! Linksdrinks.com@linksdrinksThe Cocktail Chemist What is that phrase, great things come in small packages ? Well, whatever it is, watch out, because owner Dimitrios Zahariadis of The Cocktail Chemist Beverage Co. and self-titled Intergalactic Dictator of Blending has just launched three little wonders with a big punch of booze. With all natural, quality, fresh ingredients, these are just what you want from your favorite bartender and now packaged in a way that’s light and easy but with 10% alcohol, might just knock you over. Add some sunshine and your palate is in happyland. The Vodka Soda is extra light on cranberry but not on booze; what would be my go to, the Mojito, is PERFECT in every way; not light on anything. You taste the rum, the mint, and the lime for a trifecta of yumminess. Now, the surprise of the bunch, Something Good, was a happy accident. Zahariadis’ friends asked him to just make them something good, but didn’t specify what that “something” should be. So one night he experimented and voila, Something Good is a surprising combo of vodka, violet, and elderflowers. It is QUITE floral, which I loved, but, if you are not so inclined, be prepared for a perky bouquet. I’m excited for his latest, out in the fall, the Espresso Martini combining vodka, espresso, and a hint of vanilla.The Cocktail ChemistFollow him at thecocktailchemistbevco.com or @the.cocktail.chemistFishers Island Lemonade Well, just a stone’s throw from CT (how long is a stone’s throw anyway? in this case, two miles), and with origins at The Pequot Inn, (and houses the island’s only bar), Fishers Island created a drink that regular customers can’t get enough of, and at this point, we’ve seen EVERYWHERE. And there’s a reason. No, not that it has both vodka and whiskey with fresh lemon and honey (although that’s reason enough), but that it is so damn good. Frankly, it really is summer in a can. Just look at the stripey beach towel graphic.Fishers Island Lemonadefilemonade.com@filemonade Cafe Agave Spike Cold Brews Did someone say coffee? What do you do if you haven’t had your afternoon punch in the face, and yet, you’ve finished work for the day? Well, you get a twofer with Cafe Agave’s booze and brew blends. It is the only coffee cocktail that is wine-based, made from the fermented sap of the agave plant (which is what gives us our much beloved drink, tequila!) and at 12.5% boozish and connoisseur-level coffee, there is nothing shy about this sexy line of drinks. The Spike Cold Brews come in Vanilla Cinnamon, Salted Caramel, Cafe Mocha, or Espresso Shot. They are sweet, they are strong, and certainly worth a try. And, as someone who only drinks espresso as her coffee of choice, these are BOLD. Many drinks have a hint or echo of coffee in the background. These stand out.Cafe AgaveCafeagave.com@cafeagaveAnd that’s not all….Montauk Hard Label From the very edge of our part of the world, and the magazine version of summer, Montauk Hard Label offers more summer pleasure with bold flavors. Peeps, they have Mint Julep in a can!!! Bringing the soft, fresh, and lightness of summer, with a punch of booze they have creative flavors and fun, cartoony graphics. I also love their Peach Whiskey Iced Tea or Blueberry Lemonade. Don’t fret, if your not a whiskey drinker, they have a whole line of fruity Vodka Sodas too like Pineapple, Lemon, or Watermelon….but I’m in love with the Cucumber Jalapeno.Montaukhardlabel.com@montaukhardlabelONDA One of the lightest on the list, and like Fishers Island, a FEMALE run business, Onda’s tequila-kissed canned drinks are the epitome of refreshing. Low calorie, low alcohol, and in a sleek and sexy can, Onda’s drinks are like a ray of sunshine. The Grapefruit was my personal favorite but you can’t go wrong with the classic combo of Tequila & Lime. Onda is now available in select stores around the New York area including the five boroughs, Long Island and Westchester County. Additionally, Onda is also now available on Drizly and Minibar for those who prefer to have it delivered! Ondadrinkonda.com@drinkondaCape & Islands Distillers With the use of Cape Cod “Raw materials, ingredients and style,” these New England pals have a new line of canned cocktails. If you can pull yourself away from their delicious award-winning White Rum, herbally dry Gin, or OMG their Coffee Vodka, neat, then you MUST try their newest canned line. You can have the best of both worlds, especially with the Shark Bite including the white rum and fruit, the Cape Codder with cranberry, lime, and vodka; the Mashpee Mule, and their fourth in the line, the Sippewissett Gin & Tonic. Clean, fresh ingredients, great beachy graphics, and oh yeah, with 7-12.5% alcohol kick, you’ll get knocked on your ass.Capeandislandsdistillers.com@capeandislandsdistillersLoverboy Ok, the name almost gives me hope; as if a fella will appear after consumption. Perhaps that’s wishful thinking, but what you do get however, is a sleek, sexy can of yummy combos and officially the lowest calorie cans on our list. Welcome to the spritzers like Mango Peach with Chili Pepper and Blueberry Lemon with Basil; or the Hard Teas like Hibiscus Pom with Lime; White Tea Peach with Lavender; and Black Tea with Lemon and Ginger. Light, fruity, herbally, and gluten-free. Now, if they just work in the Loverboy appearing part, they’d be damn near perfect.Drinkloverboy.com@drinkloverboyBelieve me, there’s more to try, but I’m still hungover from all these. Do share your favorites with us at ctbites though!
