5 Ready to Drink Cocktails To Share With Your Bestie

Sharing is caring so they say and indeed that's what the best friendships are made of! And what better to share than the tasty concoction of a ready-to-go cocktail? Thankfully, the ready to drink cocktail market has been developing rapidly which makes it so much easier to have lovely cocktails for two at apéro hour, whether they come from a can or a small bottle. These types of cocktails also make pre-drinking easier without the hassle of getting together unusual recipe ingredients! Here is a selection of fabulous cocktails and mocktails for you to share with your friends!

Tom Savano - Passionfruit Martini

A very smooth, well blended but also tangy Passionfruit Martini, this is a bar quality cocktail and isn’t overly syrupy. You can always add that shot of prosecco on the side for that well known fruity Martini cocktail combination! This is a very drinkable cocktail blending the passionfruit with vodka, Madagascan vanilla and lime. As it is served in a bottle with a stopper, the cocktail can be savoured throughout the night and the next day (if you’re up to it that is).

Size: 500ml
ABV: 20%
Find here: £22 (price reduction online)

Gordon’s Premium Pink Gin and Tonic

This is the classic go-to G&T combination where the fruity sweetness of Gordon’s London pink dry gin smoothly blends with the bitterness from the Schweppes tonic in perfect harmony. The botanical base is bright and lively, perfect to bring a little sun to your day. A handy size to bring to picnics, it’s also ideal for drinking before a night out, or whilst you practice those TikTok dance moves with your bestie.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: £1.80

Something & Nothing French Rosé  + Hibiscus and Rose Spritz

Made with French rosé wine and hibiscus and rose seltzer, this is a lighter drink that’s ideal for chilled occasions - think BBQs, picnics or just destressing after work. The rosé adds floral and fruity notes to the spritz and being such a food-friendly profile, it would also work a treat with small bites. It’s vegan friendly too!

Size: 330ml 
ABV: 4%
Find here: £3.79

ISH Spirits Non-Alcoholic Mojito

A delicious blend which has been awarded the IWSC Bronze prize, it is hard to believe that this is a mocktail! It smells and tastes just like a Mojito thanks to the well-balanced botanicals in the non-alcoholic ISH Caribbean Spiced Spirit - you really get a taste of that rum twist. It’s the perfect treat to take on a road trip with your bestie!

Size: 250 ml
ABV: 0.5%
Find here: £2.59

The Drinks Bureau - Shirley Temple

Another classic mocktail on the list, the Shirley Temple takes its name from the famous actress who appeared in films such as Heidi! This is a cherry flavoured drink containing warm ginger, a sweetness that is offset with a great tangy flavour and bitters that give it a real depth. It’s a perfect drink to sip on with your friends whilst enjoying a movie!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £12 for 4 cans

There you have it - these ready to drink cocktails are full of flavour and great for sharing, so get out those cocktail glasses or drink them from the can wherever and whenever, who needs an excuse! To see more tasty cocktail suggestions, click here.

By Latoya Austin

Franklin & Sons: an icon of mixers, sodas, and tonics

Founded in Victorian London all the way back in 1886, Franklin & Sons are true pioneers in the soft drinks space, leading the way with natural ingredients and innovative flavourings to offer the most complete range of mixers, sodas, and tonics out there.

Within their remarkably diverse range, there will always be the perfect bottle to jazz up your drinks which is why we made the most of their offering throughout The Three Drinkers in Cognac, and if you’re a listener of our Bring a Bottle podcast, you may well have heard us merrily sipping our way through even more of them on there.

Beautifully bottled too, it really is well worth exploring all of their wonderful flavours for yourself to see which jump out, but below are just some of the Franklin & Sons that we have loved trying, and recommendations for what to enjoy them with!

FRANKLIN & SONS TO EXPLORE

Original Ginger Ale

Ultimate warmth and refreshment with a completely natural feel, Franklin & Son’s Original Ginger Ale blends natural root ginger extract with their pure sparkling spring water for classy and subtle flavouring. Celebrating the classic ginger and cognac combination, you can see it used as a Highball in Episode One where the spice of the two blend perfectly.

Ingredients:
30ml Cognac (we used Courvoisier VSOP)
80ml Ginger Ale
Plenty of ice

Method:
Pour in your cognac over plenty of ice and top up with the fizzing ginger ale. Voila!

Find here: £20 24 x 200ml

Sicilian Lemon

The first Franklin & Sons bottle to appear in the series, the Sicilian Lemon is used for the gorgeously simple and sunny Courvoisier Gala Highball below. Legendary Sicilian lemons and natural botanicals like cinchona bark blend with sparkling spring water to make this burst of citrus.

Ingredients:
30ml Cognac (we used Courvoisier VSOP)
80ml Sicilian Lemonade
Plenty of ice

Method:
Highballs are simple so let’s keep it that way – pour everything over ice and give it a little stir.

Find here: £20 24 x 200ml

Mandarin & Ginger Soda

The Mandarin & Ginger featured in one of our One Drink, Three Ways segments where you can find three deliciously different serves it’s perfect for. With natural zest, warmth, vibrance and refreshment, this soda elevates all kinds of different drinks which is why it crops up again in Episode Two of the series emphasising the fruity spice of cognac.

Ingredients:
30ml Cognac
80ml Mandarin & Ginger Soda
Plenty of ice

Method:
Super simple – cognac poured over ice and topped up with the soda! An orange wheel is the perfect garnish.

Find here: £20 24 x 200ml

Rosemary & Black Olive Tonic Water

The Rosemary and Black Olive tonic is so distinct. Almost reminiscent of focaccia, this savoury mixer adds a stunning culinary dimension to cocktails. We pair it with Umami gin for an entirely unique herbaceous G&T that is just asking to be paired with some side dishes.

Ingredients:
30ml Umami gin
80ml Rosemary & Black Olive Tonic Water
Plenty of ice

Method:
Simply pour each over ice, stir well and sip away.

Find here: £20 24 x 200ml

Guava & Lime Soda

A very light and lofty soda with natural guava and Tahitian lime as well as a sprinkling of ginger, this completely livens up what can be a dull vodka and soda combination. Refreshing, fruity and tropical!

Ingredients:
30ml guava vodka
80ml Guava & Lime Soda
Plenty of ice

Method:
Pour each over ice and stir well to combine thoroughly!

Find here: £20 24 x 200ml

Natural Rose Lemonade

Episode Four of The Three Drinkers in Cognac shows our Helena using Natural Rose Lemonade to bring colour, natural sweetness and an inviting aroma to the wonderful cocktail below. The English rose petals, lemon juice and crisp sparkling water are a floral twist on the original 1886 lemonade and add so much summery elegance to almost any concoction – delicious.

Ingredients:
50ml gin (we used Audemus Pink Pepper Gin)
Splash of Champagne
Top up with Franklin & Sons Rose Lemonade

Method:
Stir gin and ice and add to your cocktail glass. Top up with a splash of Champagne and Rose Lemonade. For the garnish, cut thin strips of lemon skin and wrap them around a chopstick for an appetising spiral effect.

Find here: £20 24 x 200ml

Pink Grapefruit Soda

You can see Aidy takes this essential Pink Grapefruit soda for a spin in Episode Four of The Three Drinkers in Cognac, when partnered with Reposado Tequila, fresh lime and Grand Marnier in a Paloma/Margarita hybrid. The soda is amazing for adding fizz alongside bright and balanced citrus notes with a dash of bitterness.

Ingredients:
50ml reposado tequila
50ml Grand Marnier
25ml fresh lime juice
Pink Grapefruit Soda

Method:
Add the tequila, Grand Marnier, and fresh lime juice into a rocks glass over ice and stir. Top up with Pink grapefruit soda and stir very gently to combine.

Find here: £20 24 x 200ml

Pineapple & Almond Soda

This is another favourite of ours that you really need to try. To be honest, you could enjoy it flying solo as a soft drink, but it’s so versatile that it can be mixed with the nutty caramel notes of cognac, the profile of a tropical rum, or even earthy tequila/mezcal. Stewed caramelised pineapples shine through at first, but when mixed the marzipan almond notes flood the palate – this is what drinks innovation should look like.

Find here: £20 24 x 200m

If you want to see these delicious Franklin & Sons drinks in action, check out The Three Drinkers in Cognac! Or, if you’re curious as to their other flavours, have a flick through their range here!

The Best Ready to Drink Cocktails

Ready-to-sip cocktails are more popular than ever, and also better quality than ever. But there are still shockers to put you off them forever, so we've gone through the best of them! Whether it’s on the train, at a picnic or at a garden BBQ, these delicious, canned cocktails take all the hassle out of making them yourself without sacrificing taste.

Manchester Gin Raspberry Infuse/Franklin & Sons Sicilian Lemon Tonic

This vibrant twist on a G&T is both refreshing, but also has a touch of sweetness at the same time. Both the raspberry and lemon flavours are natural and fresh, and the fantastic Franklin & Sons lemon twist gives the drink a zing keeping the palate refreshing.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 5.5%
Find here: £2.35 (3 for £5.75) Coop

LuvJus Mixed Pack

We’ve sung the praises of LuvJus before and for good reason. Not only do part of the profits go towards supporting LGBTQ+ charities, but the drinks inside are so elegant too – a complete win win. A far cry from low-quality, over-sweet sharp cocktail cans you may have been scarred by before, their three flavours are natural, low calorie and delicious. The Pineapple, mint, Korean ginseng, jasmine and vodka in particular has scooped awards for great balance and fragrance.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 4.6-4.8%
Find here: 6 for £14.95 (watch out for the £5 off pop up too!)

Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin & Tonic

We’re big fans of Mirabeau, and this gin is based on their top quality rosé, inspired by the flavours of the botanicals from the French Riviera. With a Mediterranean tonic, it is savoury, herbal, and floral with citrus notes. There are touches of red fruit giving a great balanced flavour. Sip and dream like you’re on the Riviera!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 5.5%
Find here: £3.55

Portabello Road Gin and Franklin & Sons Natural Indian Tonic Water

Here we have a classic G&T and pretty much the best version of it in a can. Natural flavours of quinine and cinchona bark extract add some depth but ultimately, it’s a straight down-the-line delicious, refreshing, and balanced G&T – in a beautiful can too!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 5.5%
Find here: 6 for £20.50

Soho Street Cocktails Strawberry Daiquiri

Before being offput by the price, note that you get 1.5L for your money and it’s certainly not quantity over quality either. This ready to drink Strawberry Daiquiri is plush with warming Caribbean rum, fresh strawberries, and zippy lime – nothing like the slush puppy style Daiquri you can get. The pouch comes with a handy tap providing ten 150ml servings, perfect for parties.

Size: 1.5L
ABV: 9.5%
Find here: £28.99

Pimentae Tommy's Spicy Margarita

Pre-bottled cocktails don’t get much better than this. Behind that beautiful label is a liquid to back it up. Agave, chilli and lime run wild in this sweet and spicy take on the world’s favourite cocktail and it works so well.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £31.39

Whitebox Pocket Negroni Cocktail

Never has a Negroni been so cute. Porter’s Gin, Sweet Vermouth and Bitter Aperitif combine in this harmonious blend of herbal fruity notes. Perfect for picnics or BBQs, but it’s so small that you can just keep it on you for whenever you fancy – ideal.

Size: 100ml
ABV: 21.8%
Find here: £3.95

MOTH Aperitivo Spritz Cocktail

MOTH’s canned cocktails always deliver, and this summery number is no different. The sunny orange is bold with sweetness and underlined with bitterness, the herbs pay homage to its Italian roots and the botanicals of Tarquin’s Cornish gin add fantastic depth. Summer in a can!

Size: 200ml
ABV: 10%
Find here: £3.99

VACAY 

This brand has a small but classic range of cocktails that everyone knows and loves including a margarita, mojito, and paloma. Vacay’s aim is to create cocktails with all natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners using only the best quality spirits. The drinks are beautiful and smooth without the overly sweet aftertaste so common in canned sips these days. These canned cocktails are also great to use as a base for more complex drinks. We loved adding some chili garnish to the margarita to add some spice. The cans are 330mL and packaged with bright colours, perfect for your social media snaps by the pool!

Size: 330ml
ABV: 5%-6%
Find Here: From £3.99

Marks and Spencer’s New Canned Cocktail range

We all know and love the classic M&S canned cocktail range. The range of typical cocktails even blew up on TikTok during the summer of 2022 due to their smooth taste, higher alcohol content, and low price. This year M&S have decided to up their game and come out with 4 new limited edition flavours: Rose Negroni Spritz, Salted Caramel Espresso Martini, Smoked Pineapple Daiquiri, and Pink Grapefruit Paloma. Each can is a standard cocktail known and loved by all - but with a new and innovative twist. These tins are definitely a must-have for all your upcoming summer picnics in the park!

Size: 150ml
ABV: From 14%
Find Here: From£3.50 (in-store only at the moment)

If you’re looking for some No-Lo drinks to sip in the sun instead, check out these varied beauties.