Ready-to-drink cocktails may not appeal much to purists, but it’s clear that customer demand is there—and plenty of distilleries and ambitious brands are putting in the time and effort to develop products meant to be worthy of an upscale bar.
It should be clear by now that this isn’t only a game for the biggest companies, and craft distilleries are in a good position to offer flavorful, high-margin products. While canned cocktails come with their own challenges, including package integrity, higher-proof bottled cocktails should be in the comfort zone of most craft distilleries.
Smaller independents such as Tattersall in River Falls, Wisconsin, and Wigle Whiskey in Pittsburgh are leaning into their strengths, embracing high-end ingredients—and some careful math—to formulate and dial in their RTD products.
Here is some of what they’ve learned.