The ready-to-drink alcohol market has expanded dramatically, and today's beverage brands are developing products far beyond traditional beer and wine.

Some of the most common alcoholic beverage concepts being developed for commercial production include:

Spirits-Based RTDs

Ready-to-drink beverages made with distilled spirits.

• Vodka cocktails
• Tequila cocktails
• Rum cocktails
• Whiskey cocktails
• Gin cocktails
• Bourbon cocktails

Canned Cocktails

Popular cocktail formats adapted for convenient ready-to-drink packaging:

• Margaritas
• Moscow Mules
• Mojitos
• Palomas
• Old Fashioneds
• Whiskey cocktails
• Espresso Martinis
• Cosmopolitans
• Daiquiris

Hard Seltzers

Carbonated alcoholic beverages with fruit-forward or botanical flavor profiles.

Hard Lemonade & Hard Iced Tea

Classic beverage categories adapted into alcoholic RTD formats.

Canned Wine

Including:

• Still wine
• Sparkling wine
• Rosé
• Wine spritzers
• Sangria
• Wine-based RTDs

Wine-Based Cocktails

Wine can also serve as the base for innovative ready-to-drink cocktails and flavored beverages.

Spritzers

Light, refreshing alcoholic beverages combining wine or another alcohol base with carbonation and flavor.

Alcoholic Coffee & Espresso Drinks

Including canned:

• Espresso Martinis
• Coffee cocktails
• Cream-style coffee cocktails
• Cold brew-based alcoholic beverages

Tropical & Fruit-Forward Cocktails

Products inspired by vacation and tropical drinking occasions:

• Piña Coladas
• Mai Tais
• Rum Punch
• Tropical Margaritas
• Passion Fruit Cocktails

Functional & Better-for-You Alcoholic Beverages

A growing category that may incorporate ingredients associated with:

• Energy
• Hydration
• Botanical ingredients
• Lower sugar
• Lower calorie
• Wellness-oriented positioning

These products require especially careful consideration of ingredient compatibility and regulatory claims.

Alcoholic Lemonades, Teas & Juices

Brands are increasingly taking familiar non-alcoholic beverage formats and creating alcoholic versions.

Packaging Options for Alcoholic Beverages

Depending on the beverage and manufacturing process, commercial packaging may include:

• Aluminum cans
• Glass bottles
• PET
• Shot bottles
• Single-serve airplane bottles
• Multi-pack formats

For RTD alcoholic beverages, cans can offer a particularly attractive combination of portability, convenience, and shelf presence.

The packaging format should be considered alongside the formulation and manufacturing process—not as an afterthought.