Not Your College Cooler:The RTD Revolution, One Whiskey Can at a Time

The RTD Rush: Is Whisky Leading the Charge?

If you’ve glanced at a bottle shop fridge or even a sporting event concession lately, you’ve probably seen the RTD (ready-to-drink) cocktail section swelling beyond hard seltzers and vodka sodas. Whisky is now making a serious push into the category—and doing it with surprising nuance.

Spirit-based RTDs have outpaced their malt-based predecessors in both growth and perceived quality, and whisky—once relegated to flasks or neat pours—is now finding a home in cans and bottles that promise more than just convenience.

But do these premixed drinks actually taste good? And can a real whisky lover take them seriously?

Are Whisky RTDs Any Good?

The short answer: some are. But you’ll want to choose carefully.

The Big Brands

Crown Royal, Jack Daniel’s, and Jameson have all put their signature spirits into RTDs—typically canned, often fizzy, and leaning sweet. Think Whiskey & Cola, Peach Tea, or Whiskey, Ginger & Lime. These are designed for mass appeal: easy drinking, low effort, and consistent. For someone who wants a drink that “tastes like whiskey” without the ritual, they work. Just don’t expect depth or dryness.

The Craft Set

There’s a growing corner of the RTD market dedicated to bar-quality cocktails made with actual bitters, sugar, and vermouth. Tip Top Proper Cocktails, for example, cans a genuinely respectable Old Fashioned and Manhattan. Brands like High West and Slow & Low opt for glass bottles, signaling higher quality and a more sippable experience. These often clock in at 35–40% ABV—more like a proper pour than a fizzy cooler.

What We Like: Rod & Hammer’s and Tip Top Proper Cocktails

Rodd & Hammer’s Canned Cocktail line up

You may have seen these coastal-themed cans showing up in the RTD aisle. Rod & Hammer’s SLO Stills is a California-based craft distillery known for using purified Pacific Ocean water in their whiskey—a quirky but memorable detail.

Their canned cocktails (11% ABV, 12 oz) include:

• Whiskey Mule – bourbon, ginger, lime

• Whiskey Margarita – rye-based with agave and citrus

• Whiskey Paloma – grapefruit and bourbon

• Whiskey Peach Tea – easy-drinking and summer-friendly

These land somewhere in the middle of the RTD spectrum: more spirit-forward than a hard seltzer, but less complex than a bar-grade bottled cocktail. They’re well-suited for pool days, tailgates, or beach trips—times when you want something portable, cold, and whiskey-adjacent.

They won’t impress a Manhattan purist, but if you’re comparing them to your typical sweet canned seltzer, they’re a notable step up. If you want something more elevated they do make some tasty bottled options too.

Tip Top Choice

Tip Top Proper Cocktails Line Up

Tip Top Proper Cocktails has carved out a loyal following by doing something most RTD brands don’t: keeping it classic, compact, and bar-quality in a can.

Launched in Atlanta, Tip Top offers iconic stirred cocktails—Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Negroni, and more—in tiny 100ml cans that pack a punch (typically 24–37% ABV). There’s no carbonation, no fruit juice, and no fluff. Just real spirits, proper proportions, and balanced recipes that taste like they came from an actual bartender.

Tip Top’s canned cocktails are shelf-stable, travel-friendly, and refreshingly honest about what they are: legit classics, built for real cocktail drinkers who don’t want to sacrifice quality just because they’re drinking from a can.

If you're looking for a whisky RTD with actual complexity, their Old Fashioned and Manhattan are among the best in class.

Can vs. Glass: What’s the Difference?

RTDs generally come in one of two formats—and it’s not just a packaging choice. It often signals the intent and quality behind the product.

🥫 Cans: Convenience First

Cans dominate the RTD market because they’re:

• Portable and lightweight

• Allowed in outdoor venues

• Designed for immediate consumption

But the compromise tends to be in complexity and ABV. Canned whisky cocktails often hover around 5–12% ABV and lean heavily on sweet mixers, masking the whisky rather than showcasing it.

🍾 Glass: Premium Positioning

Glass-bottled RTDs often aim higher:

• Shelf-stable spirit-forward cocktails (Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Negroni)

• Less sugar, more body

• Poured and served like traditional drinks

These can feel more intentional—meant to be sipped, not slammed—and often use proper whiskey rather than neutral grain spirits.

If you’re buying with flavor in mind, glass tends to signal better things.

So, Are Whisky RTDs Worth It?

Yes—but it depends on what you’re after.

If you want a whiskey drink you can toss in a cooler and crack open without needing ice or tools, options like Rod & Hammer’s, Crown Royal’s Peach Tea, or Jack & Cola will scratch the itch. They’re casual, consistent, and better than most malt-based coolers.

If you’re chasing the depth of something that genuinely shows off the whiskey—it’s worth seeking out bottled options like Rod & Hammer’s bottled cocktails, High West, or Slow & Low. These sip more like the real thing, and often come with ABVs to match.