Grab and go – the convenience of ready to drink cocktail cans

Nick Gillett, Co-founder and Managing Director of successful spirits distributor Mangrove Global, reflects on the revolution engendered by the recent arrival of ready-mixed canned – and now bottled – bar quality cocktails

It’s hard to believe, but “ready to drink" cocktails in a can are a relatively new phenomenon in the UK, only really emerging into the grocery market during Covid. When we were all confined to our homes, we missed our favourite cocktails from bars and restaurants, so the innovative spirits companies developed their own drink-at-home cocktails.

Consumers are no longer restricted to the humble G&T in a can as the variety is staggering. Certain niche brands such as the East London Liquor Company are incredibly innovative with their RTD offerings and offer a great way for consumers to try certain spirits without buying a whole bottle. For convenience shops, RTDs are worth stocking – they encourage customers to try new brands and spirits, they don’t take up too much shelf space, they answer the trend for cocktails and shops can stock cans from local producers which gives a nod to provenance.

Nick Gillett

Alcoholic RTDs have the advantage of being much lower in alcohol than traditional wines and spirits with around 5% abv on average. This appeals to those wanting to drink less. Growing massively in this area is the low- and no-alcohol RTDs, mirroring the trend in bars as drinkers want an alternative to traditional soft drinks.

The ease and simplicity of RTDs is what makes them so popular in today’s fast paced life. Perfect for a quick drink while travelling, taking to the park or at a barbeque, all they require is to be chilled. Add in the sustainability of RTDs – the cans are easily recyclable – and it’s a no brainer.