Some time back (more than 20 years ago), an LCBO manager and friend, told me that the board would be putting more effort into promoting ready-to-drink (RTD) options. There was just that much more margin per unit.
So despite their concurrent campaign to discourage booze from getting into the hands of youth, they began heavily encouraging RTD sales.
I recently spoke with a number of LCBO employees and all expressed that they “weren’t surprised” that in 2026, their employer had started promoting RTDs, earlier than ever.
When I returned to Ottawa, I learned that there were producers in Quebec who were leading the way in this category. Not only was the packaging nicer, they also had better ingredients, less sugar and were more enjoyable.
With a clear trend towards less sugar in these drinks, Ontario has caught up in the last few years. It’s now more rare that I come across a recipe that just doesn’t work.
With that out of the way, I’m always more interested in recipes that stand out for a more naturally derived profile. These products will ideally also be drinks that I might not necessarily make at home, for a variety of reasons.
With that (from L to R) we launch into the first RTD grouping of 2026.
Rumbler’s Cola is their take on a Cuba Libre. It is less sweet than you might expect with a mouth-watering lime acidity at the back end. The cola flavour is modest but in balance with the rum. It’s a decent product but with just rum, cola and lime, it’s easy enough to experiment with proportions to make your own at home.
Sapporo Vodka Lemon Sour stands out. I first had it weeks ago in Vancouver and I immediately wondered if I’d be able to find it back in Ontario. Lucky me.
To date this ranks as the best tasting lemon RTD on the market. There is something almost magical about the flavour profile. It has sufficient lemon in terms of flavour and acidity, but also a background foundation of lemon oil. It’s a delicate mix and it’s this that makes it such a precise and low-sugar refresher. Worth buying.
Reid’s Cucumber Rose Collins, in terms of name and package, is very promising. A gin-based beverage with cucumber and rose? Yes please.
Well the cucumber is very present, but perhaps the rose is a reference to the pale pink because the flavour of rose is entirely absent. Now maybe it’s there somewhere but you can’t tell for all the bitter quinine.
Nowhere does the label indicate that this is a tonic-based drink and the word “Collins” means a gin and lemon-based beverage. Not a tonic.
As a drink it’s fine, but correct the label or fix the recipe.
Twelve Apostles Singapore Sling is a welcome addition to the field of canned cocktails, if for no other reason than that the required boozy ingredients are difficult to find.
Key ingredients include Cherry Heering, a Danish liqueur that the LCBO stocked at every store for decades. Now I can’t recall when I last saw it.
Another is DOM Benedictine, and at the moment, only two stores in Ottawa have it in stock.
The Twelve Apostles version is an offshoot of Cowbell Brewing and it’s fruity, sweet and fun to drink. It has an aromatic tropical appeal and does make you think of warmer climes.
My feeling is that it could use a little more acidity, courtesy of lime and a little less sugar. As a writer, I’m also curious to know what they could be using in place of Benedictine and Cherry Heering. Stay tuned for the answer.
Iceberg Blueberry Lemon is the venerable Canadian Vodka’s first foray into the RTD space. It has less sugar than many such drinks and does have hints of blueberry and lemon.
It’s smooth and when well chilled, very easy to drink. The blueberry comes through and while it will be a popular summertime sipper, in a field of incre
