The world of beverages is constantly evolving, and one trend that’s gaining momentum is the rise of tequila and mezcal ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails. These pre-mixed drinks have been around for a while, but they’re now more popular than ever, with many brands offering unique flavor profiles and innovative packaging.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at eight standout brands that are leading the charge in the tequila and mezcal RTD market. From NightOwl’s espresso martini to Togronis’ Negroni-inspired cocktail, these drinks are sure to tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more.
1. **NightOwl Tequila Espresso Martini**
ABV: 12.5%
Born out of two years of R&D, NightOwl set out to solve one of hospitality’s most beloved headaches: The espresso martini. Its twist on the concept is about as simple as it gets — a double shot of espresso, a single shot of either gluten-free vodka or blanco tequila and a whisper of vanilla.
NightOwl’s tequila expression, dubbed “The Original,” is our favorite of the two, positioning the brand at the intersection of the espresso martini craze and America’s insatiable appetite for all things agave. Coffee (distinctly espresso) comes through loud and clear, alongside a thoroughly subdued hint of vanilla that tastes far from artificial.
2. **Topo Chico Spirited**
ABV: 5.9%
When Molson Coors partnered with Coca-Cola to launch Topo Chico Spirited in 2023, it was less of a leap and more of an inevitability. The core lineup includes Tequila & Lime (a Ranch Water), Tequila & Grapefruit (a Paloma) and Vodka & Lemon (a riff on the Texas-favorite Chilton). Each is made with real spirits, real juice, and the cult-favorite sparkling mineral water found on convenience store shelves across the country.
If you’re sold on the concept of a cocktail that actually tastes like Topo Chico and actually tastes like spirits, then these will be a slam dunk. At 5.9% ABV and 130 to 150 calories per can, these are sessionable, honest drinks with next to no frills, perfect for a hot summer day spent tubing down the river.
3. **Freshie Tequila Seltzer**
ABV: 4.7%
Speaking of no frills, allow us to introduce Freshie. Launched by husband-and-wife Paige and Ryne Iseminger in 2021, the brand touts itself as the world’s first USDA-certified organic tequila seltzer.
Its recipe is refreshingly basic, combining organic blanco tequila, natural mineral water, and agave nectar canned at a slim 99 calories. The lineup includes its flagship Lime, a Grapefruit-Guava and the spicy Blood Orange-Habanero, none of which are flavor bombs per se but rather relaxed sippers on par with a La Croix.
4. **Cultor**
ABV: 12.5%
Founder Juan Felipe Alviz met award-winning Miami mixologist Shauna O’Neil at the legendary cocktail bar Sweet Liberty, and the two bonded over a shared obsession with the flavors of Mexico.
Together, they built one of the best rosters of tequila RTDs we’ve ever tried. The lineup — Passion, Flora, Soul and Coco — spans the flavor spectrum from tropical to floral, each offering a unique and punchy twist on the bar-ready cocktail concept.
5. **VMC**
ABV: 5.5%
VMC stands for “Viva Mexico Cabrones” — boxer Canelo Alvarez’s post-fight rallying cry — and the brand wears its national pride as prominently as a championship belt.
Launched in Mexico in 2022 before crossing into the U.S. in 2023 thanks to Spirit of Gallo (the very same behind High Noon), VMC has built its reputation around authentically Mexican flavors often overlooked north of the border.
A standout from the original trio of flavors is its aguafresca-inspired Jamaica, which delivers a toothsome, almost pomegranate-like blast of hibiscus flavor. The collection was recently expanded with the zingy Tamarindo, a wildly underrated cocktail ingredient if there ever was one.
6. **Togronis**
ABV: 25%
Togronis — a simple amalgamation of “Negronis” and “To Go” — is produced by Common Pour out of San Diego in partnership with Seattle’s Scrappy’s Bitters.
In addition to its flagship Negroni and a bourbon-based Boulevardier, the brand sells an excellent Mezcal Negroni made with agave spirits, Italian sweet vermouth, and an in-house red bitter (licensing, as any Negronis nerd knows, makes Campari a non-starter).
Sharp flavors of vermouth and bitters dominate the palate, followed by a subdued swash of none-too-smoky mezcal. It’s one of the best canned mezcal cocktails that money can buy, made all the better by its bite-sized 100-milliliter cans.
7. **Yacht Water**
ABV: 5.8%
Rapper and podcaster Lil Yachty, famously not a drinker, surprised fans with an alcohol brand in early 2024. The RTD — created by Peter Kiley of Monday Night Brewing alongside Quality Control Music’s Coach K and the Atlanta-based Sneaky Spirits — is a Ranch Water riff built on additive-free reposado tequila, key lime juice, sparkling water, and sea salt.
On paper, it had all the makings of a cash grab. Surprisingly though, Yacht Water is anything but. The Key Lime delivers exactly what a good Ranch Water should — a crisp, citrusy and surprisingly salty drink that never veers into candy sweetness.
8. **Epic Western**
ABV: 5.9% – 8%
If Lil Yachty’s twist on Ranch Water tastes like a salted margarita rim, then Epic Western’s tastes like mineral water tapped straight from an aquifer.
Founded by a group of San Antonio friends in 2019, the brand offers myriad twists on the classic, including a spicy jalapeño Brush Fire, a low-calorie Chispa Rita and a tropical Cowboy Colada. All but one are canned at 8% ABV, well above average for a recipe that more often than not leans into mildly boozy tequila seltzer territory.
Though we can’t pick a favorite canned Ranch Water from the many, many options available on the market, Epic Western’s La Paloma is certainly up there with the all-time greats.
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