Kitchn Love Letters

This “Delicious” Canned Cocktail Is So Good, I’ve Stopped Making It at Home

Mackenzie Filson
Mackenzie Filson
Mackenzie Filson is a food & beverage writer and native Floridian. Her work has appeared in PUNCH, Delish, Kitchn, and EatingWell, amongst others. You can read more of her writing in her newsletter, Book Sommelier, where she pairs books with wine (her one party trick.)
published Oct 19, 2024
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Negroni canned cocktail in glass.
Credit: Mackenzie Filson

Somewhere along a Pinterest search for cute bar carts, it hit me: I don’t even want to play bartender at home. Full stop! Of course, ruby-red, gem-toned bottles of Campari and sapphire gin look so cute and Instagrammable on a gilded cart, and I love the feeling of hosting and thinking, “Ummm, not to brag but this party is a hit,” but I’d much rather have room for activities in my very-much-studio apartment. 

Credit: Mackenzie Filson


Thankfully, I don’t really have to anymore, because Tip Top Proper canned cocktails exist. I know I sound like a late-night infomercial selling pillows and grilled cheese makers, and yet I’m frighteningly serious about my love for these scary-convenient canned cocktails. The canned Negroni is securely holding the number-one spot on my MySpace Top 8.

Credit: Mackenzie Filson

What’s So Great About Tip Top Proper Cocktails?

I’ve tasted plenty of canned cocktails, and these are still the only ones I allow into my cooler. Every single component of this Negroni is truly firing on all cylinders. Negronis are a simple cocktail, after all — composed of just gin, a red bitter liqueur (like Campari), and vermouth — so to pull it off in canned form is especially impressive. 

Simply pour this botanical, bittersweet cocktail over ice (no need to chill!), add a bit of orange peel, and it tastes just like the Negronis I get at my favorite bar, if not better. 


On top of that, since I’ve discovered Tip Top Proper Cocktails I’ve found that I’ve gotten way more adventurous when it comes to ordering when I’m not at home. Who knew I actually loved alcohol-forward Old-Fashioneds and Boulevardiers? Or even rum (especially in a Jungle Bird or Mai Tai)? Well, I do now — and I’m taking them all in my cooler to an outdoor movie immediately

Credit: Mackenzie Filson


Best of all, these puppies aren’t just convenient in terms of their canned nature — Tip Top Proper Cocktails are relatively easy to track down, too. The Bee’s Knees (which is a delightfully tart lemon-gin-honey cocktail) and Espresso Martini cans are readily available at Trader Joe’s (in states where it’s legal to sell spirits at grocery stores).

Credit: Mackenzie Filson

What’s the Best Way to Enjoy Tip Top Proper Cocktails?

Depending on what your drink of choice is, each can will share a bit of know-how for serving, like chill and shake or pour over ice. Liking Negronis is 70% of my personality, and I drink them often, so I am all for serving them simply over a large ice cube and a bit of orange peel (squeeze to release those oils!). If I want to get extra fancy, I’ll maybe add some sour cherry juice or a few dashes of flavored bitters (cocoa or orange bitters — maybe both?). 


There’s no pressure to zhuzh any of Tip Top’s cocktails up, but why not? Add some whipped cream atop your shaken, chilled can of Espresso Martini, some banana bitters to your Old-Fashioned, or an Amarena cherry or two (plus some juice) to your Manhattan. Maybe even freeze a Bee’s Knees into a mini, boozy cocktail? These are simply jumping-off points. 

Why even bust out a glass? These cans are all the bar cart you’ll need now. Insert cheesy, yet so genuine infomercial smile here. 

Buy: Tip Top Proper Cocktails Negroni, $39.99 for eight (100-mL) cans

Do you have a favorite canned cocktail? Tell us about it in the comments below.