The Canned Cocktail I’m Keeping In My Fridge All Summer Long

I’m usually that person—the one insisting on making margaritas from scratch while friends hang out in the kitchen, politely waiting as I hunt for my misplaced jigger.

There’s something uniquely satisfying about making simple syrup long enough in advance that it’s chilled and ready in the fridge, squeezing all the juice from several fresh limes, measuring out precise quantities of tequila and triple sec, and shaking a cocktail just long enough to get that perfect frost on the outside of a metal shaker.

But last summer, during a particularly chaotic dinner party, I found myself simultaneously shredding carnitas for tacos while trying to keep my son from writing on the wall and yelling over the playlist to ask who wanted salt rims. I had a minor revelation: sometimes, convenience isn’t just nice—it’s necessary.

My sister introduced me to Cutwater Lime Margaritas and, as a result, went on to save many future dinner parties. When she offered me a taste of hers, it was love at first sip. And I say that as someone who knows her way around a real-deal margarita.

Now, they live in my fridge next to the fresh limes and a bottle of tequila that still gets plenty of use—just not when I’m already juggling several other hosting duties.

Why I Love Cutwater’s Lime Margarita

What immediately sets Cutwater apart from other ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails is that it tastes like a proper margarita. There’s no artificial, syrupy sweetness that plagues so many canned cocktails. The balance of tart lime and orange notes from the triple sec with just the right tequila kick creates something that resembles what I’d mix myself.

But don’t take my word for it. I noticed on Cutwater’s site that they’ve won 30-plus awards for their margarita alone (and a mind-blowing 3300 awards—to date—for all their spirits and drinks). They’re also easy to find and widely available in stores like Target, Walmart, and even Trader Joe’s.

At 12.5% ABV, it’s not messing around, which is why my husband and I usually split one at cocktail hour. It’s the perfect lazy-day drink when I want something more sophisticated than beer or wine but don’t have it in me to play bartender.

I also recently tried Cutwater’s newest release—a Spicy Mango Margarita, which, as you’d imagine, has a lovely sweet and spicy thing going on. I’m also a big fan of their Paloma and delightfully subtle Gin Collins. But it wasn’t until I wrote this story that I realized our experts had already awarded Cutwater the “Best Canned Margarita” title in our taste tests.

How I Jazz Up a Pre-Mixed Margarita

These margaritas are great served chilled and straight from the can. But for a real margarita mood, I like to zhuzh them up in a few easy ways. My favorite quick upgrade is rimming a glass with salt or Tajín, which gives it the right vibe and makes everything taste even better. I then pour it over crushed ice to mellow the flavors and chill it, with a lime wedge to garnish.

The best thing about any quality RTD cocktail is that it gives you permission to focus on the people and moments that matter. Or at least it frees you up to eat dinner while it’s hot for once.

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