CAN-DO DRINKS

Canned spirits and wine explode in popularity across the Valley

Though ready-to-drink canned cocktails and wines were at first shrugged off by many as a pandemic trend, chosen for their ease of drinking outside amid the social distancing era, their continued popularity proves they are here to stay. Here are some of the best canned options to enjoy inside, outside and everywhere in between.

Orange Blossom Vodka Soda

Grand Canyon Distillery

Grand Canyon Brewing, which expanded to include a distillery in 2017, has five canned products on the market including vodka, rum and gin-based beverages. The Orange Blossom Vodka Soda is a standout, lauded as much for being completely sugar free as it is for its bubbly effervescence and sweet, heady flavor. $14.99 (four-pack). www.grandcanyonbrewery.com.

Queen B Sparkling Malvasia

Puscifer

Popular Arizona winemaker

Maynard James Keenan, who has a Scottsdale tasting room under his Merkin brand, offers several canned options as part of his Puscifer wine label. An exceptionally unique variety is the sparkling malvasia, which is smooth, floral and lightly viscous. The label also boasts a canned sparkling cider and sparkling rosé. $12.99 (fourpack). www.caduceus.org.

Vodka Berry Mule

Chaco Flaco

Phoenix-based Chaco Flaco offers three all-natural, ready-to-drink canned cocktails, including this gluten-free, vodka-based beauty. It is a twist on a traditional Moscow mule with bubbly ginger beer and mint, but also has blueberries and cucumber in the mix as well, which makes it over-the-top refreshing with a hint of sweetness. $14.99 (four-pack). www.chacoflaco.com.

Sauvignon Blanc

Archer Roose

Archer Roose, which is a femalefounded label co-owned by Elizabeth Banks, has quickly made a name for itself thanks to its premium quality canned wine. Each varietal is sourced from the best wine regions in the world and sustainably made. All options are 100% natural with zero added sugar, and they are gluten-free and vegan-friendly. At only 90 calories per can, each sip of this Chilean-sourced wine is an explosion of citrus, passion fruit and green apples. $64 (12-pack). www. archerroose.com.

Bourbon Whiskey Cocktail Spirited Hive

This brand’s name is an homage to its ingredient list, as each of the canned cocktail lines are made using organic honey. This particular offering pairs the natural sweetener with bourbon from the lauded Green River Distilling in Kentucky. The core ingredients are infused with lemon, meant to balance the honey’s sweetness; and rosemary, which brings in herbal notes and ties all the flavors together. $16.99 (four-pack). www.spiritedhive.com.

Sparkling Rosé West + Wilder

Another leader in canned wines, West + Wilder’s offerings are each inspired by the beautiful vineyards and landscapes of California, Oregon, and Washington. This particular sparkling option is crafted with a core of pinot gris and pinot noir. Though it is dry, there are great notes of fruit – especially strawberry and plum – on the nose and palate alike. $17.99 (threepack). www.westandwilder.com.

Smokey Margarita Crafthouse Cocktails

Using all-natural ingredients and high-quality, small-batch spirits, Crafthouse is out to prove authentic craft cocktails can be canned. The brand is certaintly demonstrating it is possible is this margarita, which is made with both Oaxacan mezcal and premium Blanco tequila. The spirits are simply paired with fresh lime juice and a hint of sugar. $24 (four-pack). www.crafthousecocktails.com.