Listen and follow The Wirecutter ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadioGone are the days when canned alcoholic drinks meant hard seltzers and tailgate beverages. Today’s ready-to-drink cocktails include everything from espresso martinis and old-fashioneds to gin and soju-based spritzes. Wirecutter kitchen writer, Antara Sinha, joins us to explain how she tested 40 canned cocktails, what separates a great canned drink from a mediocre one, and which ones are actually worth bringing to your next picnic, barbecue, or dinner party. Plus, we conduct a live taste test in the studio.This episode coversWhy canned cocktails have become a legitimate alternative to bar drinks. Antara explains how the category has evolved from hard seltzers and tailgate beverages into a market full of carefully crafted cocktails made with premium spirits, higher alcohol content, and recipes designed to mimic what you'd order at a cocktail bar.How to identify a great canned cocktail before you buy it. After tasting 40 different drinks, Antara found that the best brands are transparent about their ingredients and feature high quality spirits.How to choose the right canned cocktail for your tastes and occasion. Antara suggests using canned cocktails as a low-commitment way to explore drinks you might not otherwise make at home, whether that's a negroni, espresso martini, or old fashioned.Products we recommendA citrusy, soju-based cocktailJumo Soju Cocktail (Mango, Yuja, Citrus Mint)Soju’s sweetness shines in this fruity, tropical can.$22 from Jumo(pack of four)Bold, rich, and complexTip Top Old FashionedThis balanced, warming old-fashioned was one of our favorite cans of the whole bunch.$21 from Total Wine & More(pack of four)Botanical, light, and crushableThe Original SouthsideTasters loved this cocktail for how light, fizzy, and well balanced it was.$17 from Total Wine & More(pack of four)Indulgent, luxe, and seasonalCutwater White RussianTasters enjoyed this creamy, balanced White Russian, which would be good for a holiday party spread or shared with a friend.$13 from Total Wine & More(pack of four)$12 from Instacart(pack of four)