A canned tequila drink should taste like tequila. Are you listening, canned cocktail producers? If I’m buying a Tequila Soda in a can or a Paloma in a can, then I want to know that tequila went into the making of the drink. Otherwise, I’ll just reach for a hard seltzer or a hard soda. If I’m searching for the best canned tequila drinks, then I’m looking for tequila flavor.
Of course, that’s not all. We tasted 18 tequila drinks in a can looking for cocktails that are refreshing and balanced with fruit flavors that taste like real, actual fruit, as well as that grassy tequila flavor. Whether you love a Margarita but don’t have the time or desire to squeeze lime after lime, or if you’ve switched allegiances from Vodka Sodas to Tequila Sodas and are looking for your new happy hour go-to, we found the best canned tequila drinks around.
- Onda Tequila Seltzer Blood Orange
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Made with blanco tequila, actual fruit juice, and no added sugar, Onda’s line of Tequila Seltzers is pretty good, but two flavors stood out way above the others. First up is the Blood Orange. It’s super light and refreshing with a good orangey, zesty flavor rather than the usual tangy, tart citrusy flavor you get with a Tequila Soda. It’s the best Tequila Seltzer if you can’t handle that much acidity—perfect for sipping by the pool or at a BBQ.
Credit: Merc / Reserve Bar
- Onda Tequila Seltzer Grapefruit
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Here’s the best Tequila Seltzer if you like your Tequila Sodas super-duper zesty. It tastes like very fresh grapefruit rind squeezed into a Tequila Soda—a Paloma-Light. It’s another good canned tequila drink for a hot summer day. Pile a few into a cooler with ice and take me to the beach.
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- Cantina Especial Ranch Water Tequila Soda
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There’s no denying the tequila in this canned Ranch Water. It tastes like a homemade Ranch Water with a good slug of blanco tequila, a heavy squeeze of lime, and topping of spritzy soda water. It tastes boozy enough so that you won’t think you’re drinking a plain seltzer, but it’s also not so boozy that you have to sip it slowly. For the Ranch Water fans who are looking to be lazy, this is the holy grail canned tequila cocktail.
Credit: Merc / Reserve Bar
- Betty Booze Sparkling Tequila with Lime Shiso
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Here’s the best Tequila Soda in a can for folks who want to amp up their Tequila Sodas with a little bit of herbaceous class. It’s a delicate blend of sparkling limeade, grassy, vegetal tequila, and a certain je ne sais quoi, which I assume is the shiso. It’s an upgraded Tequila Soda in a can. Give it a try if you’re looking for a canned tequila cocktail to replace your usual T&S.
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- South Norte Matador
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I’d never had a Matador before trying this canned version of the tropical tequila cocktail. Made with tequila, lime, and pineapple, it’s sweet, fizzy, and a little bit creamy. But then it ends with the mildest hint of lime zest that makes it unique and delicious. It’s not like any canned cocktail I’ve ever had before. Want a tiki drink but hate rum? This is the canned tequila cocktail for you.
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- JuneShine Classic Tequila Margarita
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This canned Margarita was the best classic canned Marg we tasted. It’s simply made with tequila, lime, and sea salt, and yet it tastes like a delicious Margarita (if a not-so-sweet one). It’s zesty and tangy and great for sipping in the sun. And though it tastes like tequila, even tequila-hater Jordan Myrick likes this tequila canned drink.
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- Cazadores Paloma
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This Paloma in a can continues to be at the top of our ranking of the best canned cocktails, period. It’s not too sweet, super-grapefruit-y, and it still retains some tequila flavor. Palomas are some of the best tequila cocktails out there—tequila loves grapefruit and vice versa—and Cazadores managed to create a Paloma in a can that tastes like something you’d find at a bar.
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- Cazadores Spicy Margarita
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We ranked this canned tequila drink our number one best canned Margarita. It has a delicious jalapeño-infused flavor and not too much spice. It tastes like someone put a lot of thought and care into the recipe. It’s balanced between sweet and sour and spicy. It’s far too easy to drink. If you can handle a little spice, this is one of the best canned tequila drinks around.
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- VMC Jamaica Hibiscus Cocktail
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Ever had the jamaica agua fresca at your local taqueria? Did you like it? Then you’ll love this canned tequila drink. Created by professional Mexican boxer Saul Canelo Alvarez, this sparkling hibiscus tequila canned drink is rich and tart and tangy. It’s packed with so much flavor—sour and sweet and floral, with a kick of grassy tequila. You’ve never had a canned cocktail like this, I promise.
Credit: Merc / Total Wine
Best Fruity Tequila Seltzer
Best Tart Tequila Seltzer
Best Ranch Water
Best Tequila Soda
Best Tropical Cocktail
Best Margarita
Best Paloma
Best Spicy Margarita
Best of the Best
Other canned tequila drinks we tried: Cantina Especial Watermelon Margarita, Faux Pas Grapefruit & Orange Tequila Soda, Catina Especial Grapefruit Paloma Tequila Soda, Hornitos Passion Fruit Tequila Seltzer, Onda Tequila Seltzer Watermelon, Onda Tequila Seltzer Lime, Betty Booze Sparkling Tequila with Oak Smoked Lemonade, Jose Cuervo Sparkling Paloma, Monaco Lime Crush Tequila Cocktail
