RTD

Ready-to-drink cocktails bring premium spirits and bartender-quality recipes into a convenient, portable format — no shaker, no measuring, no mixing required. The RTD category has grown well beyond simple hard seltzers and canned beer into sophisticated canned and bottled cocktails made with real spirits, craft recipes, and quality ingredients. Wooden Cork carries canned cocktails, hard seltzers, hard kombuchas, and bottled cocktail expressions from established spirits brands and dedicated craft RTD producers.

The category spans a wide range: single-spirit RTDs from major distilleries (Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails, High Noon vodka sodas, Cutwater Spirits canned cocktails), craft small-batch bottled cocktails using aged spirits, hard kombucha from producers like Jiant, and premium canned Margaritas, Palomas, Negronis, and Old Fashioneds. ABV ranges from 4.5% for hard seltzers to 12%+ for cocktail-forward expressions built on full-strength spirits. Browse all spirits and new arrivals at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between hard seltzer and a canned cocktail?

Hard seltzer (White Claw, Truly) is typically made from fermented cane sugar or malted barley base — not distilled spirits — producing a low-ABV (4–6%) lightly flavored sparkling drink. A canned cocktail uses actual distilled spirits (vodka, tequila, whiskey, rum) as the base, producing a higher ABV (typically 7–12%) and a more complex flavor profile closer to a mixed drink. High Noon is a true vodka seltzer using real vodka; most White Claw and Truly products are malt-based, not spirit-based. The distinction matters for flavor, ABV, and how they pair with food.

Are RTD cocktails as good as fresh-made cocktails?

The best RTD cocktails use real spirits, fresh juice or quality flavoring, and balanced recipes — and at their best are indistinguishable from a well-made bar version. Brands like Cutwater Spirits, Tip Top Proper Cocktails, and canned Negroni and Old Fashioned expressions from craft producers use the same quality spirits as their bottled equivalents. Convenience is the main trade-off: RTDs are optimized for portability and consistency rather than freshness, so citrus-forward cocktails (Margaritas, Daiquiris) may taste slightly different than bar-fresh versions with freshly squeezed juice.