Top 10 rum-based RTDs
In honour of National Rum Day tomorrow (16 August), we’re spotlighting 10 standout rum-based ready-to-drink (RTD) serves that are shaking things up with almost zero effort required.
Rum always brings the party – whether it’s being poured into a tiki mug at a beach bar or stirred down into something classic. And while the spirit might still carry a few pirate-era clichés, these 10 RTDs prove the category has gone through a serious glow-up of late. Sleeker, snappier, and more convenient, rum has officially gone portable, and we think its never looked better.
From the clean, citrusy Punch of Whitebox’s Straight Up Daiquiri to the rich, tropical indulgence of Moth’s velvety Piña Colada, these pre-mixed pours are here to elevate your fridge — and your festivities.
Sly Dog x Ginger Wings
Time to spice up your life with this hot little can from Sly Dog Rum. The sibling-founded British brand has teamed up with its pals at Marlow-based chicken wing concept Ginger Wings to craft an elevated edition of its signature serve, the Spiced ‘n’ Stormy.
Combining Sly Dog Spiced Rum, ginger beer, bitters and lime juice, plus some of Ginger Wings’ ‘famous’ spice, you can expect notes of toasted spice and candied ginger along with ginger spice with a peppery kick – the perfect addition to your next festival.
Black Lines Rum Punch
They say Punch is the cocktail from which all others followed, so in many ways this is the OG and therefore a must-have for any cocktail party you’re planning this National Rum Day.
Derived from the Sanskrit ‘panch’, meaning ‘five’, the best Punches stay true to the namesake with five key ingredients – just as bottled cocktail brand Black Lines has done with this colourful number, which brings together Two Drifters Signature Rum, pineapple, passion fruit, ginger and bitters.
Each 150ml serve (of which you can get five out of this 750ml bottle) clocks in at 8.4% ABV. Pour from the bottle, or serve it up in your favourite Punch bowl for an added sense of occasion.
Moth Piña Colada
Missed out on booking that tropical holiday this year? Canned cocktail brand Moth has the next best thing: a RTD Piña Colada packed with juicy pineapple, smooth coconut and a bespoke Duppy Share white rum – a combo that brings sun-drenched vibes and fruity, earthy, herby notes that make every sip feel like you’re kicking back in a hammock.
Drink straight from the can or level up and pour over ice into a coconut for some next level vacay vibes. You won’t mind getting caught in the rain with this can in hand.
Whitebox Straight Up Daiquiri
Rum might lend itself to some of the more outlandish and extravagant cocktails, but sometimes it’s the simplest serves that slap the hardest.
And so when it comes to the classic Daiquiri, the crew at Whitebox Cocktails haven’t over-complicated things, and they haven’t strayed from the rule book. They’ve just combined rum, lime and sugar in a 100ml can, and left it up to you to store in your fridge for when you’re ready to pour into your favourite coupe. You don’t even need ice – just hit this straight up and you’re good to go. It doesn’t get more ready-to-drink than that.
Gather Cocktails’ Salted Caramel Banana Colada
If you’re bananas about Piña Coladas, Gather Gourmet Cocktails have just the thing – a gastronomic take on the classic that swaps out the tropical element for something a bit more indulgent.
This 12% ABV serve tastes a bit like if you remove the pastry from a banoffee pie and add rum instead. “That’s essentially what we’ve done,” the brand says, making this luxury, RTD cocktail the talking point of any gathering.
Captain Morgan & Pepsi
Move over rum and coke. Captain Morgan is chilling in a can with a different sidekick these days, after hitching its wagon to Pepsi Max last autumn to craft this classic RTD serve.
“With a shared emphasis on fun, our partnership with Pepsi Max brings together two iconic brands to create one epic taste that will inject excitement into the RTD category,” said Nuno Teles, former managing director at Diageo GB. “Both brands bring their own distinctive flavour profile to the mix, an expert blend to deliver a great taste experience.”
The partnership marked the first time the flagship Pepsi brand has produced an alcoholic beverage – what a debut!
Duppy Share & Ting
You can’t help but think of white sandy beaches and tropical Caribbean climates when you think of rum, and this collaboration between Duppy Share and grapefruit soda brand Ting probably couldn’t be more Caribbean if it tried.
With both brands sharing Jamaican roots, the collaboration probably seemed like a no-brainer. And when you give the 250ml canned serve a try, it tastes like a no-brainer, too.
Burning Barn mixer trio
Rum is one of those spirits that sings with a mixer, and UK-based Burning Barn Distillery knows this. That’s why it has created three canned expressions that all feature one perfect companion to its craft rum.
Whether you opt for the Smoked & Ginger, the Spiced & Cola, or the Honey & Lemonade, you know you’re getting a double act as dreamy as Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson when you crack open one of these.
Las Olas Rum Punch
Premium spiced rum brand Las Olas has only just joined the RTD game, and what an entrance to the category it has made.
Following the success of its acclaimed bottle, Las Olas has now brought its signature flavour and crafted approach to a convenient format – a vibrant, 200ml can packed with bold, natural ingredients and perfect for on-the-go moments.
Infused with juicy strawberry, zesty lime, and the brand’s signature spiced rum punch, the new 10% ABV serve delivers a balanced, refreshing sip.
V Rum
Offered at 7% ABV, these three 250ml cocktails – Grapefruit Twist, Spiced Rum & Zero Cola and Tropical Crush – are crafted in-house by British rum brand V, and packaged in sustainably sourced recycled aluminium cans.
Carl Churchill, CEO of V Spirits Company, said: “We recognised a clear opportunity in the booming RTD category to bring bar-quality rum into a convenient pre-mixed can format, without compromising on quality or sustainability. These RTDs stay true to our craft ethos: premium British rum, responsibly made, packaged for modern lifestyles.”
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