11 of the best bottled cocktails for your drinks trolley
Sure, shaking and stirring martinis to order may sound like fun, but when playing host or looking for a quick party tipple, the last thing you want to be doing is measuring out liqueurs and muddling your mint.
As well as sheer convenience when it comes to entertaining, a bottled cocktail also makes the perfect gift.
So, we got busy trying a selection of ready-made cocktails at the Good Housekeeping Institute, from classic gin-based serves to popular espresso martinis, to find the perfect pour. All that’s left for you to do is grab the glasses and garnish — we’ll drink to that!
Best bottled cocktails 2025
How we test bottled cocktails
Our panel — made up of 10 WSET-trained experts and consumers — tested 34 bottled cocktails to find those worthy of a space on your drinks trolley. Each was blinded to avoid brand bias, before being served according to the brand's suggestion.
Testers were looking for ready-made serves that matched the quality you’d expect of a freshly mixed drink. These are the ones they recommend for stress-free hosting.
Salted Caramel Espresso Martini Cocktail Box
Score: 88/100
While this isn’t strictly a bottle, we had to share this genius pre-mixed cocktail from Sainsbury’s, which comes in a 1.5L bag-in-a-box, ready for your next drinks party.
The amped up espresso martini has been elevated with salted caramel, which adds a rich, velvety butterscotch note that’s not in the least artificial. Our panel loved it, and at just 5% ABV, it’s the ultimate easy drinking cocktail.
Negroni
Score: 86/100
As cocktails go, the negroni is an easy one to create. Containing equal measures of gin, Campari and vermouth, the key to a perfect serve is the quality of the spirits — and that’s where Moore House comes in.
The vermouth is the star of the show here, adding a pleasingly bitter, herbaceous note, followed by bright orange, a touch of salt and botanical gin. Pour over ice, stir and garnish with an orange twist, and you're good to go.
Espresso Martini
Score: 81/100
Using quality ingredients, this is a classic espresso martini done right. Not too sweet or too bitter, our panel found Kocktail's version incredibly smooth and easy to drink, with a caramelised, smoky aroma.
Cocktails Espresso Martini
Score: 79/100
Tails has created a top-notch espresso martini — just add to a shaker for the obligatory frothy top. Sweet, creamy and oh-so-smooth — there’s no better way to round off your evening.
Infusionist Salted Caramel Espresso Martini Style Cocktail
Score: 79/100
As you can see, espresso martinis featured heavily in our taste test, and Aldi’s take was also a hit with our testers. Unusually, it has a rum base (rather than the traditional vodka), which adds a light smokiness. Sweet and nutty with a long-lasting coffee finish, we’ll be serving this alongside dessert.
Piña Colada
Score: 79/100
Like liquid sunshine, if you could bottle the feeling of being on holiday, this would be it! The notes of pineapple and coconut are natural-tasting and refreshing, refraining from being too sweet. Just add ice and turn up the heating for instant summer vibes.
Pink Pepper & Plum Cosmopolitan
Score: 78/100
We love Daylesford’s contemporary take on the classic cosmopolitan. Instead of vodka, the brand combines tart plum, pink peppercorn-infused gin and red vermouth, to create a flavour reminiscent of sloe gin.
Testers enjoyed the light ginger and cinnamon spice, which added a zingy flourish to this sweet sipper. We recommend freezing your martini glass or coupe before serving.
Margarita
Score: 77/100
Granted, this is clearly a canned cocktail, rather than a bottle, but we'll let that slide as Moth (which stands for Mix of Total Happiness) is on to a good thing.
Comprised of Enemigo tequila, triple sec, lime and salt, each dinky can is a single serve. Zesty and smooth, there’s none of the elbow grease normally associated with margaritas, like squeezing all those limes — all you need to do is pour over ice.
Extra Special Spiced Cranberry and Clementine Cosmopolitan
Score: 77/100
ASDA's fruity vodka-based cocktail combines sweet clementine with tart pomegranate and refreshing lime, while cinnamon and nutmeg add a warming, spicy note. Shake over ice, pour into a martini glass and add a clementine and cranberry garnish to serve. Et voila!
Banana Negroni
Score: 74/100
We’re always open to clever cocktail innovation, and this fun twist includes real bananas on top of the classic gin, vermouth and bitter trio. But make no mistake, this is a proper negroni at its heart, with a powerful thwack of bitter orange, which keeps the well-integrated, natural-tasting banana in check. Impressive stuff!
We also recommend checking out the brand's Chocolate Negroni, which scored 72/100 and is every bit as decadent as it sounds.
Diamond Rickey
Score: 74/100
From Ryan Chetiyawardana — aka one of the best barmen in the world — Mr Lyan’s Diamond Rickey delivers in both the sweet and sour stakes.
A cross between old-school sherbet lemons and lime cordial, enjoy straight up over ice, or add tonic and a wedge of grapefruit for a longer drink.
These also passed...
Waitrose No 1 Morello Cherry Amaretto Sour, £18 for 50cl, Score: 73/100
Cocktail Collection Johnnie Walker Old Fashioned, £15 for 50cl, Score: 72/100
Ciroc Cosmopolitan Cocktail, £12.37 for 50cl, Score: 72/100
Lockdown Liquor Co. Picante, £25.34 for 50cl, Score: 72/100
World of Zing Rhubarb Cosmopolitan, £19.99 for 70cl, Score: 71/100
Batch & Bottle Hendrick's Gin Martini, £24.90 for 50cl, Score: 70/100
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