From lemon and calamansi to pink grapefruit, meet the new wave of must-try RTDs changing the game.

Beyond the local bar, there are two schools of thought when it comes to mixed drinks. The first demands an almost monk-like dedication to DIY mixology – a fully stocked bar cart, a cacophony of equipment and a lot of time. The second skips all of that. We’re talking about canned premixed drinks, of course, and they’ve come a mighty long way in recent years. There’s also about 100 bajillion to choose from – seriously, walk into your local Dan’s and see.

Compromising absolutely nothing in the name of range and convenience, the new wave of premixed drinks captures all of the artisanal flavours and trending tinctures one might expect from their local cocktail joint. And the best bit is you don’t have to go out of your way to get your hands on them! Swing by the bottle-o on your way to the party, or better yet, do direct to boot (like click and collect, but you don’t even have to go inside the door) and get your Uber to stop off en route.

Below is our roundup of the 11 best new premixes, seltzers and canned cocktails to pick up on your way out. You’re welcome.

Click image to shop

1. Monsuta Lemon Chūhai 6%

By now, you’ve almost certainly heard about shōchū. Now, meet chūhai – which essentially means ‘shōchū highball’ in Japanese. It does exactly what it says on the box and Okinawa brewery Monsuta have premixed their refreshing Lemon Chūhai to perfection. Theirs comes with a flavoursome injection of lemon, soda and vodka to create a delicious anytime cocktail to fill that vacant spot in your shopping cart.

2. Billson’s Sunset Fizz

While most of us were too busy trying to snap that glorious golden hour sunset for our Instagram story, Beechworth’s primo premix producer Billson’s managed to capture it in a can. Made using triple-distilled vodka and pure alpine spring water, fizzy notes of citrusy orange sherbet offer up a delicious ode to the most beautiful hour of the day in this Sunset Fizz. The ultimate sundowner? Yes, obviously.

Click image to shop

3. Moon Dog Fizzer Sour Apple Seltzer

We love a Fizzer – they’ve been a staple in our RTD repertoire for a while now. According to the boffins at the Moon Dog brewery, their latest seltzer (Fizzer Sour Apple) is made using a special fermentation process. That’s nice, but we’re more interested in how it tastes, and the good news is that it’s bloody delicious. Juicy and refreshing with a wicked lick of acidity, this Sour Apple seltzer is high on our add-to-cart list.

4. White Claw REFRSHR Lemonade Limón with a hint of Calamansi

If you think the name is a mouthful, just wait until you taste it. One of the OGs of the seltzer world, White Claw’s new REFRSHR range is the brand’s boozy take on lemonade. There are flavour infusions like blood orange and raspberry, strawberry and kiwi, and more to explore. Brewed with a hint of calamansi (a sort of kumquat-mandarin citrus hybrid native to the Philippines), the racy White Claw REFRSHR Limón is our pick of the bunch.

A refreshing can of White Claw REFRSHR Lemonade Limón

Click image to shop

Click image to shop

5. Vodka Cruiser Cocktails

The time-honoured Vodka Cruiser needs no introduction, but their new range of premixed cocktails is worth a mention in our book. Crafted with a focus on the perennial classics, these cans are a dead easy (and tasty) way to get your cocktail fix. There’s a zesty, salty-ish Lime Margarita, a Caribbean-inspired Passionfruit Daiquiri and a sultry Raspberry Cosmopolitan to choose from. Skip the shaker and grab one en route to the checkout.

6. The Kraken Rum Punch

Punch is an interesting drink in that once it’s assembled, the matter of scooping yourself a glass is simple. The assembly of a punch, however, is quite laborious and frankly not very much fun. So, kudos to the smart squids at The Kraken for devising this premixed Rum Punch. Built around their Caribbean black spiced rum and bursting with tropical fruit flavours (think pineapple, lime, mango and cherry), it’s a one-way ticket to the tropics without the fuss. Grab, go.

Click image to shop

A can of Ampersand Projects Whisky & Soda Lime

Click image to shop

7. Ampersand Projects Whisky & Soda Lime 6%

There’s something about a Whisky Soda. A certain elegance; a je ne sais quoi. It’s the kind of drink that seems equally at home amongst a glamorous Slim Aarons-esque setting as it does at a backyard barbie. Premixed to perfection, Ampersand Projects’ Whisky & Soda Lime features an ultra-smooth Australian whisky and a balancing injection of fresh lime flavour. Low on sugar, low on calories and gluten-free, this RTD is OTT in the refreshment department.

8. Kirin Hyoketsu Lemon

Hot off the press (or canning line) is Kirin’s Hyoketsu Lemon. Named for their signature ‘hyoten toketsu’ method – a technique used to freeze lemon juice to lock in the perfect balance of natural sweetness and sourness – Kirin’s foray outside of the beer market is a real coup. Vodka? Check. Soda? Check. Perfectly preserved lemon flavour for days? You can count on it.

A lemon flavoured can of Kirin Hyoketsu Lemon

Click image to shop

A can of Smirnoff Hard Soda Pink Grapefruit Crush

Click image to shop

9. Smirnoff Hard Soda Pink Grapefruit Crush 6%

Of all the citrus fruits that simply ooze refreshment, the grapefruit surely reigns supreme. Floral and dry with only a hint of sweetness, it’s the perfect addition to Smirnoff’s new vodka premix – Hard Soda Pink Grapefruit Crush. Low on calories (136 per can) and endlessly delicious, it’s probably the most convenient vodka soda going.

10. Ned Australian Whisky & Cola 12%

There’s no shortage of cultural depictions of Ned Kelly in Australia. Sydney Nolan, anyone? Maybe we’re shooting from the hip here, but we’d wager that were the famous bushranger around today, NED’s Australian Whisky & Cola would be his go-to premix. It even has his face on it! Crafted in Melbourne from the distillery’s deliciously unique whisky, it’s a glorious blend of smooth, spicy and sweet.

Click image to shop

A can Brookvale Union Vodka Red Pub Soda

Click image to shop

11. Brookvale Union Vodka Red Pub Soda

There’s a certain nostalgia attached to the rich flavour of this Vodka Red Pub Soda. It just screams Aussie summer, and who better to harness all of that nostalgia than Brookvale Union (because of their proximity to iconic Manly, duh)? Lush, creamy and yet still somehow refreshing, our only question is why didn’t anybody think of combining vodka with creaming soda earlier? You beauty.