Drink of the Week: Crafthouse Cocktails Canned Pineapple Daiquiri

A pioneer of the ready-to-drink cocktail category, Cratfhouse Cocktails released their first bottled cocktails in 2013 (in 750mL size) and more recently debuted more totable versions in recyclable, 200 mL aluminum cans. Coming from two longtime hospitality pros—Matt Lindner and Charles Joly—its no surprise the cocktails were designed with bar-level quality in mind.

Joly and Lindner took care to source premium spirits for the base of each drink, from producers including Plantation Rum, Bittered Sling, and Traverse City Whiskey Co. The result is a line that tastes as close to a bar-prepared cocktail as I’ve found within the canned and bottled category. While all of the expressions are excellent (and several, like the Moscow Mule and Spicy Margarita, come in party-ready box sizes), my favorite is the Pineapple Daiquiri. It’s made with Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum, real lime juice and a dash of Angostura island-spiced bitters, and when shaken slightly and poured over ice (let it dilute for a second to reach optimal flavor), the drink sings with tropical goodness.

The size of the cans and packaging is also a bonus; 200 mL is about six ounces so you get about two servings of each cocktail per can, and thanks to the screw-top, you can recap and store in the fridge for when the craving strikes again. 13.6% ABV. $5.95 per can, bountyhunterwine.com