Pre-made Cocktails
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ou may have seen them at liquor stores, near the checkouts, sometimes in the liqueur section, or possibly with the obscure miscellaneous liquor; to be truthful, they don’t really have a home of their own. Such is the lot for the pre-mixed cocktail, which is only just beginning to see its potential. Thanks partially to film and television, the cocktail has returned to relevance. Not only are the classics getting revived, but with a seemingly infinite variety of liquor, bitters, tinctures, and mixers now available, new creations are being conceived by mixologists the world over. Given modern society’s desire for convenience and portability, the pre-made cocktail’s time has begun. While some of the more popular or complicated drinks, like Cuervo’s ready-to-drink Margaritas, prepackaged Caesars, and the Black Russian and Long Island Iced Tea mixes, have been
20 Culinaire | May 2021
around for decades, these new iterations are in a different class. Most of the older products are great for bartenders and house parties but aren’t really considered mainstream items. Nonetheless, they did plant the seed for this new wave of craft cocktails. Just as micro-breweries came of age at the turn of this century, artisanal distilleries have had a similar, albeit smaller, evolution. As Prohibition era regulations from the 1920s and 1930s were gradually repealed in North America, distillery numbers multiplied thirtyfold in only a couple of decades. This meant hundreds of new producers making gin, vodka, and unaged rum while waiting the mandatory three years before their whiskey could be sent to market. In order to expand their product lines, some turned to pre-made cocktails. Many recipes were developed in their tasting rooms, but patrons also wanted to consume them at home. Thankfully, regulation changes allowed these drinks to be pre-packaged for takeaway, or even delivered. With the current pandemic playing havoc with operational hours, room capacities, and tasting events, these products have become a welcome revenue generator. To be sure, the classics dominate the category, but craft distillers love variety. In Alberta, several new operations are now producing pre-mixed cocktails with
more coming later in 2021 and beyond. Product development does take time; sourcing the ingredients and packaging, recipe formulation, production schedules and costs all need to be considered. Even restaurant and bars are getting involved, as the AGLC amended its regulations last year to allow off sales of liquor (including cocktail kits) to be included with takeout and delivery (check out Pr%f in Calgary and Bar Clementine in Edmonton, among others). In addition, independent agencies such as Cocktail Concierge, can develop products with any liquor partner, thus creating three different distribution channels. What this hath wrought in the Alberta market is a small but considerable variety of options, and thanks to distinct ingredients and recipe modifications, each cocktail has its own unique qualities. Here are some pre-mixed cocktails worth searching out, with some key ingredients highlighted.
Note:
Products come in a variety of sizes and prices, between $8 and $50. Some are only available at the producing distillery but may be delivered Alberta-wide. Others can be found at local liquor stores.
