6 Best Vodka Cocktails in a Can

Even though they’re made with neutral vodka, the best vodka cocktails should still taste like cocktails—not just juice or soda. We tasted 20 different vodka canned cocktails (including Moscow Mule cans and canned Vodka Soda) and found the six best canned vodka drinks in a can. 

Even the best vodka cocktails are maligned—they’re overlooked because of their neutral spirit base. But what about the Moscow Mule? It’s simple but it’s more than just ginger beer. That spicy brew mixes with lime juice and the alcoholic heat of vodka to produce something undeniably good. Even a well-made Vodka Soda deserves appreciation. The subtle balance of bubbles, booze, and perhaps a squeeze of citrus come together to create an elegant, food-friendly cocktail. 

I’m saying all of this as an avowed gin and whiskey lover. I will always speak to the prowess of a botanical heavy gin or a barrel-aged whiskey. But, I am also willing to admit that there are some truly wonderful vodka cocktails out there—and some of them come in cans. 

Thanks to the booming canned cocktail industry, you can now get a Moscow Mule in a can, you can get canned Vodka Soda, you can get a Vodka Spritzer in a can. Heck, you can even get obscure vodka drinks like the Vodka Transfusion in a can! There are plenty of choices out there when it comes to canned vodka cocktails. So I teamed up with fellow cocktail appreciator, managing editor Gwynedd Stuart, to taste 20 different vodka cocktails in a can in search of the best canned vodka drinks. (It’s a very, very tough job, but we somehow did it without breaking a sweat.) Read on for the best canned Moscow Mule, the best Vodka Soda in a can, and more. 

Best Vodka Spritz

We tasted two Ketel One Vodka Spritzes (this one and the Peach & Orange Blossom) and this one was by far the best Vodka Spritzer in a can. It tastes like fizzy spa water that someone spiked. (Note to spas: I think that’s a good idea.) It has a vibrant cucumber flavor with just a hint of mint, and it’s not sweet at all. It tastes like something you might drink at a garden party, which I think is quite an accomplishment for a canned vodka cocktail.

Credit: Merc / Target

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Vodka Lemonade

Upon first sniff, I was afraid this would taste like a Mike’s Hard Lemonade (I’ve tasted lots of hard lemonades so I am very familiar). But it’s much, much more subtle. It tastes like fresh, lightly sweetened lemonade mixed with sparkling water and some vodka. Yes, you can actually taste the vodka. It’s extremely refreshing and one of the best canned vodka drinks to sip on a porch.

Credit: Merc / Target

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Vodka Iced Tea

We recently tasted a bunch of hard teas for a separate ranking and had a tough time finding many that actually taste like tea. But this one does. It tastes like strong brewed sweet tea mixed with vodka. My only quibble with it is that there’s no acidity. Personally, I would add a squeeze of lemon to the can. With that addition, you’ve got yourself one of the best vodka cocktails in a can.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Moscow Mule

We tasted four different Moscow Mule cans, and this one was the best canned Moscow Mule, hands down. It tastes like a classic, standard Mule. Some of the others took liberties, which is fine, but I really just wanted the best Moscow Mule in a can. I wanted spicy, spritzy ginger beer and booze, and that’s what this canned Moscow Mule delivers. Sure, it could use a squeeze of lime, but it’s totally great without it, too.

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Vodka Soda

Shall we start with the can? How great does this can look? It’s gorgeous. So minimalist and beautiful. And, luckily, the drink inside also tastes great. Created by two Canadian BFFs, this canned Vodka Soda is made with real lemon juice, real vodka, and sparkling water. Each can contains just 95 calories and 1 gram of sugar. It tastes like the best Vodka Soda with an extra heavy squeeze of lemon—kind of like a spiked lemon Spindrift, only better. This is the best Vodka Soda in a can I’ve ever had and definitely one of the best vodka cocktails in a can, especially if you don’t like sugary drinks. 

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Both Gwynedd and I were skeptical of this canned cocktail because Palomas are, by definition, made with tequila or mezcal. But we quickly got over our prejudice after taking a sip. It’s so zesty and tangy and it even has a touch of bitterness, like you would get from the rind of a grapefruit. It doesn’t taste like a Paloma (because it’s not a Paloma) but it does taste like Pompelmo San Pellegrino soda (one of the best San Pellegrino soda flavors) mixed with vodka. And that’s a dream come true. Ignore the incorrect name, because if you stock your fridge with these “Palomas,” you’ll be stocking up on the best vodka cocktails in a can. 

Credit: Merc / Target

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other canned vodka cocktails we tried: Two Chicks Vodka Elderflower & Pear, Ketel One Botanical Vodka Spritz Peach & Orange Blossom, Absolut Berry Vodkarita, Joia Spirit Cosmo, Absolut Ocean Spray Vodka Cranberry, Absolut Ocean Spray Vodka Cran Raspberry, Absolut Ocean Spray Vodka Cran Pineapple, Absolut Ocean Spray Vodka Cran Grape, Cutwater Vodka Transfusion, Monaco Citrus Rush, Cutwater Vodka Iced Tea, The Standard Vodka Mule, Salt Point Vodka Mule, Cutwater Vodka Mule 

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