We say Oui to RTD's!
The ‘ready to drink’ cocktails making mindful drinking that bit more accessible!
You might be wondering what RTD stands for… and it’s simple really. An RTD is a ‘Ready To Drink’ pre-mixed cocktail containing a “spirit”- mixer and/or other ingredients (think fresh juice, bespoke syrup, kombucha- you name it.) RTDs are designed so that they can be enjoyed straight from the can. So, no bartending… or even ice required!
First, a ‘lil bit of history…The first RTD appeared in Britain in the 1980s, with the now-familiar Gin & Tonic ‘in a can’, and was soon followed by other two-ingredient cocktails. Similar to the non-alcoholic drinks market, the 1990s did the reputation of RTDs very few favours, with a trend for overly-sweet, brightly coloured ‘alcopops’; but things picked up in the new millennium, with more sophisticated canned beverages. Cut to today, and the trials of the Covid19 pandemic forced the hospitality industry to think outside the box… or inside the bottle, and a new generation of RTDs became popularised; as the world’s best bars engineered their sophisticated craft cocktails into various packages, ready to be posted! Lucky for us Healthy Hedonists, this convenience is certainly not limited to those who wish to drink alcohol and there are now a pretty cool range of alcohol-free RDT’s that make mindful drinking delightfully simple.
Why do we love them?
Whether it’s opening your fridge after a long day WFH, or heading to a mate’s house/ picnic/ pool party with your 6 pack of AF canned cocktails; RTDs make mindful drinking that bit more accessible, and we are here for it! Just bring a couple of extra cans… as in our experience, all your friends at the party will want to try them!
RTDs also great for trying a range of different products and flavours… for the sober-curious who lack the space or ££ for full bottles of different Mindful Cocktail ingredients at home, or want to try a product before investing!
You can 100% drink RTDs from the can… it’s kinda the point ha-ha; but you know us at La Maison Wellness! We are all about elevating the experience and making it special… so, our recommendation is to pour your RDT’s over ice into a nice glass, with a simple garnish.
Voilà- in the blink of an eye you’ve got a beautiful mindful cocktail, with absolute minimal effort!
Here are some of our favourite alcohol-free RDT’s that we love:
Lyre’s Amalfi Spritz
Lyre’s actually have a broad range of RTDs: from your traditional gin-and-tonic or rum/ bourbon-and-coke replacements; to fun, pre-mixed cocktails-in-a-can. But we particularly like their ‘Amalfi Spritz’, which is the perfect, summery Aperitivo!
Caleño Light & Zesty
Tropical and Columbian-inspired, expect a light and zesty serve from Caleño that pairs their non-alcoholic spirit with naturally-light tonic water. A lively blend of Inca berry, pineapple, payaya, coriander, juniper berry, green cardamom and lemon peel- which is perfect for picnics & pool parties!
CleanCo Cuba Libre
Did someone say no alcohol and reduced sugar? Clean by name and clean by nature; we highly recommend CleanCo’s Cuba Libre made with their Clean R & Cola, for when you’re craving something simple… clean, and refreshing!
Sea Arch
The alcohol-free spirit of the Devon coast… Sea Arch literally bottle the beach with their RTDs featuring seaside botanicals. We particularly recommend their Rose Sea & T, which pairs a delightful raspberry & rose tonic with their alcohol-free gin alternative. A floral delight: perfect for pink gin lovers!
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Seedlip
Seedlip take their gin-and-tonic style RTD to the next level, by pairing their Spice 94 edition with a bespoke grapefruit tonic. Expect a beautiful blend of allspice berries with warm, bark notes and a bright long, citrus finish. Delicious and different.