We can’t always be on vacation—but we can certainly try. We can listen to Jimmy Buffett (RIP). We can eat coconut shrimp every night for dinner. We can wear bathing suits instead of underwear even when it isn’t laundry day. And we can drink canned rum drinks. We’ll let you handle your tropical soundtrack and wardrobe, but allow us to recommend the best Mojito in a can, the best Pina Colada in a can, the best Mai Tai in a can, and more.
Rum drinks in a can are somewhat different from other canned cocktails. They’re less about the actual spirit and more about specific cocktails. You might find a canned riff on a Whiskey Sour or a canned gin-spiked spritz. But when you’re talking about canned rum drinks, you need to have a rum drink in mind. So, we gathered together all the brands of Dark and Stormy cans, canned Pina Colada, canned Mai Tai, canned Strawberry Daiquiri, and canned Mojito that we could find. We tasted them all head to head paying attention to how faithful the canned versions were to the original cocktails, and came out the other side on island time with six canned rum drinks to recommend. Here are the best rum drinks in a can that you can buy.
- Goslings Dark ‘n Stormy
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Goslings, which makes both dark rum and ginger beer, has a trademark on the name “Dark ‘n Stormy.” Thankfully, the brand’s original Dark and Stormy cans are pretty darn good—so they are right to own that trademark. The drink itself is spicy and sweet and just rummy enough. I think it could use a touch more tang, though, so go ahead and pop a lime wedge right into the can for a perfectly balanced rum drink. We also tried Goslings’ flavored Dark and Stormy cans, but they all tasted really artificial. Stick with the O.G. Dark ‘n Stormy.
Credit: Merc / Drizly
- Funkin Cocktails Nitro Strawberry Daiquiri
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It sounds like a spaceship is landing on your bar when you crack open a can of Funkin Nitro Strawberry Daiquiri. But that’s not the only reason I’m recommending this fruity, creamy cocktail. If you love a Strawberry Daiquiri—not the type you’ll get at a shmancy cocktail bar but the kind you get on a cruise ship that comes in a souvenir glass with a crazy straw—then this is one of the best rum drinks in a can for you. It tastes like sweet, tart, vibrant Strawberry Daiquiri mix. And the nitro gives it a lovely creaminess. I think it could use just a touch of dilution, though, so pour it over some crushed ice for optimal enjoyment.
Credit: Merc / GoPuff
- Cutwater Tiki Rum Mai Tai
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I’ve been a fan of this Mai Tai in a can for a while. Though it’s not the absolute best Cutwater canned cocktail out there simply because not everyone likes a Mai Tai, it is tropical, just a bit fruity, and seriously strong like a good canned Mai Tai should be. Made with both white rum and barrel aged rum, it’s much more complex than many other canned rum drinks. If you drink Mai Tais regularly, you won’t be disappointed. And if you’re curious about Mai Tais, Cutwater’s canned Mai Tai is a solid introduction to the classic rum drink.
Credit: Merc / Total Wine
- Cutwater Mojito Mix Pack
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You get three flavors of canned Mojito in this mix pack from Cutwater: classic lime, passion fruit guava, and mango watermelon. The lime is wonderfully refreshing—it’s almost like a more flavorful Mojito-flavored hard seltzer. Plus, the mint tastes real. The passion fruit-guava actually has real passion fruit flavor—that is rare. Usually drinks purporting to taste like passion fruit and/or guava just taste like citric acid or nothing. This tastes tangy and tropical with a hint of mint to let you know you’re still drinking a Mojito in a can and not just any tropical canned rum drink. The mango-watermelon was not my favorite—it tasted the least like a Mojito out of the trio—but if you like sweet mango and sweet watermelon and a little bit of rum, then you’ll be happy. It tastes like a boat drink you get on a snorkeling trip. Bring this mix pack to a party. Between the three flavors of canned Mojito, everyone who enjoys rum should be able to find something they like.
Credit: Merc / Total Wine
- Funkin Cocktails Nitro Pina
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Funkin’s Nitro Pina was the best canned Pina Colada we tried, no question. It knocked all the others out of the pool (where you should be drinking this Pina Colada in a can). It’s super creamy thanks to the nitro. The pineapple is zingy. And the coconut tastes like real cream of coconut. It’s perfectly fine to drink this Pina Colada in a can right out of the can, but it would also be very, very good poured over crushed ice for a creamy, dreamy, tropical experience.
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- Bacardi Mojito
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If you’re looking for a canned Mojito that tastes like the real deal, then look no further than Bacardi’s Mojito in a can. It’s tart and limey—like, actually lime—and really minty. And it is sweet. But, guess what? So are the best Mojitos made from scratch. Indulge in a sugary cocktail and grab this Mojito in a can. It’s very easy drinking—practically like soda—but it’s only 5.9% ABV (compared to the Cutwater Mai Tai, which is 12%) so go ahead and have a couple.
Credit: Merc / Total Wine
Best Dark and Stormy
Best Strawberry Daiquiri
Best Mai Tai
Best Flavored Mojito
Best Pina Colada
Best of the Best
Other canned rum drinks we tried: Cutwater Bali Hai Pina Colada, Vita Coco Spiked with Captain Morgan Pina Colada, June Shine Tropical Rum Mai Tai, Goslings Black Cherry Dark ‘n Stormy, Goslings Pineapple Dark ‘n Stormy, Cutwater Tiki Rum Punch
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!