The Best Non Carbonated Alcoholic Drinks from Our Taste Tests

Fizz can be refreshing—but it can also fill you up or irritate your stomach, especially if you have a sensitive gut. No shame—beer’s a bitch when you already produce a lot of methane. In our many boozy taste tests, we’ve tried plenty of non carbonated alcoholic beverages, including still hard lemonades, spiked teas, and Margaritas. (And while we’re on the subject, why are so many hard teas, hard lemonades, and canned Margaritas carbonated in the first place??) Here are the best non carbonated alcoholic drinks from our taste tests.

Best Hard Tea

Arnold Palmer Spiked Original Half Iced Tea & Half Lemonade

Total Wine

Traditionally, iced tea isn’t carbonated. Oddly, a lot of hard teas we tried were fizzy. Even more odd? A lot of them don’t taste a lick like tea! This boozy Arnold Palmer was a standout because it’s not carbonated and it actually tastes like tea—nicely brewed black tea mixed with tart, tangy lemonade. Seriously, if you’re looking for something refreshing for summer, this is one of the best non carbonated alcoholic drinks you can buy. 

Read the full ranking of the best hard tea

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Rating:

9/10

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Best Non Carbonated Hard Lemonade

Fishers Island Lemonade 100% Spiked

Total Wine & More

This wasn’t our top hard lemonade, but it’s the best non carbonated drink we tried in our hard lemonade taste test. It’s made with both whiskey and vodka, so it’s flavorful and packs a punch (it’s 9% ABV). It tastes like there’s actual lemon zest in the mix, which we can’t say for a lot of hard lemonades, which can easily taste like fizzy bathroom cleanser.

Read the full ranking of the best hard lemonade

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine & More

Rating:

9.5/10

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Best Creamy Cocktail

Cutwater White Russian

Instacart

If you want to kick back with a White Russian like Jeffrey Lebowski, but you don’t keep Kahlua or heavy cream on hand, Cutwater’s White Russian is a revelation. When we ranked all the Cutwater canned cocktails, we weren’t expecting to love this as much as we did, but it turns out it’s one of the best non carbonated canned drinks you can buy. It’s creamy, boozy, and sweet, without being cloying. Spark up a J and grab a can of this before you head to the bowling alley.

Read the full ranking of the best Cutwater cocktails

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Rating:

9/10

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Best Margarita

Golden Rule Margarita

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Not only does Golden Rule’s canned Margarita come in an extremely adorable, highly aesthetic can, it isn’t fizzy! It’s tart, sweet, and you can actually taste the tequila. This is the best non carbonated alcoholic drink that will trick your friends into thinking you have major skills behind the bar—it’s really as good as a Mexican restaurant Margarita.

Read the full ranking of the best canned Margaritas 

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine & More 

Rating:

10/10

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Best Espresso Martini

Tip Top Espresso Martini

Total Wine & More

If you’re on the hunt for the best non carbonated alcoholic drinks—and you have a healthy alcohol tolerance—you kinda can’t go wrong with a Martini. And if you like a little pick-me-up with your downers, Tip Top’s canned Espresso Martini is perfection. It’s earthy and rich and bitter and chocolaty, but not creamy or fizzy. Shake this up with ice if it’s too sweet or strong for your tastes.

Read the full ranking of the best canned Espresso Martinis

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Rating:

10/10

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Best Rum Cocktail

Cutwater Tiki Rum Mai Tai

Total Wine

If you’re a Mai Tai purist who lives and dies by Trader Vic’s version, you should probably move on to some of the other best non carbonated alcoholic drinks on this list. But if you’re in the mood for something sweet, punchy, tropical, and fizz free, this is a great canned cocktail. It’s made with two types of rum, so it’s fruity and flavorful but it’s also boozy as all get out, just like a good Mai Tai should be. Pack a cooler with these for your next trip to the beach and you won’t be bummed.

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Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

8/10

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Best Whiskey Cocktail

Hotchstadter’s Slow & Low Rock & Rye

World Market

You know how they say good things come in small packages? Well, it’s a dumb cliché, but it really rings true in this case. This tiny canned cocktail is for true whiskey lovers. The Rock & Rye is a pretty simple concoction that contains rye whiskey, rock candy, honey, navel oranges, and Angostura bitters, but it’s a classic for a reason. Pour this over ice or drink it straight from the can—there’s no fizz so you can enjoy it now without the agita later. 

Read the full ranking of the best canned whiskey cocktails 

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Rating:

9/10

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Best Bloody Mary

Cutwater Spicy Bloody Mary

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Cutwater discontinued its classic Bloody Mary (booo!), but the spicy version is one of the best non carbonated alcoholic drinks for people who can handle the heat. Be forewarned: This thing is seriously spicy! But it’s also beautifully balanced and delightful to drink. No more wasting time mixing Bloodies at brunch—just grab a pack of these cans instead. 

Read the full ranking of the best Cutwater cocktails

Credit: Merc / Drizly

Rating:

8/10

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Best BuzzBallz Flavor

BuzzBallz Espresso Martini

Total Wine & More

If you’ve fallen prey to the siren song of those weird, colorful little balls of booze at the supermarket or gas station, we’re pleased to report that all of them are non carbonated alcoholic drinks (hell yeah). Still, their Espresso Martini is the way to go. 

Read the full ranking of the best BuzzBallz flavors

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Rating:

10/10

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Best BeatBox Flavor

Tropical Punch BeatBox

Total Wine & More

Hot tip: All BeatBox drinks are uncarbonated—isn’t that great? These little Tetra Pak-ed boozy bevs come in a lot of flavors, plus they’re all vegan, sweetened with a mix of cane sugar, sucralose, and stevia, and, most importantly, they’re 11% ABV, which is twice as much as your average beer or hard seltzer. Their Tropical Punch is one of our favorite non carbonated alcoholic drinks. It tastes kind of like a less coconutty, more pineapple-forward Piña Colada. 

Read the full ranking of the best BeatBox flavors

Credit: Merc / Total Wine & More

Rating:

9.5/10

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Best Canned Red Wine

Underwood Pinot Noir

Total Wine

Canned wine gets a bad rap, but we’re here to set the record straight: Underwood is good, this Pinot Noir in particular. If you like mineral-forward red wines that are best served chilled, you’ll dig this. It’s redolent of stone fruit and wet stone—for a red, it’s highly refreshing. Again, a lot of canned wine is carbonated, but this stands out as one of the best non carbonated alcoholic drinks in a can.

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Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

9/10

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Best Canned White Wine

Underwood Pinot Gris

Total Wine

If white wine is more your style, this is the way to go. Again, Underwood just gets canned wine. This one is fruity, flinty, and refreshing. Even though you’ll certainly drink it cold, it’s the perfect wine for a brisk fall day. Set aside those sparkling whites—this is the perfect smooth-drinking alternative. 

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Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

8.5/10

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Best Sake

Kikusui Junmai Ginjo

Total Wine & More

Next time it’s sushi night and you need room in your belly for as many pieces of spicy tuna crispy rice as humanly possible, try this lovely, non fizzy sake. It’s mellow and easy drinking, but zippy enough to work with fatty foods. The best part: A 720ml bottle will set you back less than 25 bucks.

Read the full ranking of the best sake

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine & More

Rating:

10/10

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