Review: Crafthouse Cocktails, Complete Lineup

Crafthouse Cocktails has James Beard Award cred behind it courtesy of bartender Charles Joly, but it’s the approach to real ingredients and authentic recipes in its canned, RTD offerings that really caught our attention. The operation currently offers seven different canned cocktails, all 200ml in size (good for about 1.7 servings in each). They aren’t carbonated (thank God) unless they’re supposed to be — and are noted as such before.

We tasted the lot. Thoughts follow.

We’ll add additional Crafthouse product reviews here if/as we get them.

Crafthouse Cocktails Mai Tai – Made with Planteray rum, orange curacao, lime, and orgeat — not just an authentic recipe, but one with a brand-named ingredient (and a good one at that). This tastes fully legit, as if it was freshly made and by someone who knew what they were doing. The quartet of components all speak at about the right level — smoldering, slightly funky rum, orange and lime, and a pleasant burst of almond syrup. I can always go for more orgeat in my Mai Tai, but that may be splitting hairs. This is the one to get and to keep on hand for showing off to guests when time is tight. A

Crafthouse Cocktails Paloma – Blanco tequila, sparkling grapefruit soda, and lime. A pretty iconic paloma, and a very credible one when poured over ice, not readily distinguishable vs. a freshly made version. What I would have loved here is a bit stronger grapefruit character, as the tequila is quite aggressive and vegetal. The squeeze of lime helps but a brighter punch of ruby red could have elevated this to the next level. 12% abv. A-

Crafthouse Cocktails Pineapple Daiquiri – Made with pineapple-infused aged rum, lime, and aromatic bitters. This is pineapple-forward, but appropriately so, a ruddy amber color with a pineapple upside-down cake sweetness to it. The tropical character slides into more overt citrus with some apple cider elements visible as it develops, but the pineapple comes roaring back for the finish. Any sense of rum is… limited, at best, but this is a canned cocktail with a tiki-adjacent beach vibe, and it certainly doesn’t take itself very seriously. I’d have another. 14% abv. A-

Crafthouse Cocktails Espresso Martini – Vodka, Intelligentsia coffee, and baking spice bitters. There’s a bit of a cola flavor up top with this otherwise straightforward espresso martini, which adds in moderate chocolate elements and a grind of fresh cinnamon — that baking spice clearly showing its face. What’s surprisingly moderated are coffee flavors, which here come across as fairly mild and nutty instead of rich and espresso-like. It works pretty well nonetheless, provided you aren’t looking for an aggressive coffeehouse experience. 15% abv. A-

Crafthouse Cocktails Moscow Mule – Vodka, ginger beer, and real lime. Fizzy, of course. First of all I’m just impressed they used the name “Moscow mule” for this cocktail instead of the more PC “vodka mule” that’s been making the rounds of late. Keep it real, y’all. The cocktail is not bad at all, though it couldn’t be simpler, the bite of a relatively mild ginger beer and ample lime elements combining to effectively temper any booziness from the vodka from getting through. (It’s also one of the lowest abv beverages in the lineup.) Rather sweet as it finishes, which dulls some of the gingery bite, but ultimately harmless. 11% abv. B+

Crafthouse Cocktails Spicy Margarita – Blanco tequila plus jalapeno, lime, and — curiously — chipotle. The presentation is fairly traditional, if a touch sweet, with ample lime and a kick of heat — and the tequila manages to come through, if just barely. The chipotle is the oddity here, its smokiness giving the cocktail a slight air of mezcal and a chocolate vibe. That’s not a bad thing, but it may not be what you’re looking for in a “spicy margarita.” 14% abv. B+

Crafthouse Cocktails Moonlighter Vodka Spritz – Made with vodka, chamomile, lavender, and bianco vermouth. Carbonated, and it tastes healthy. Very floral, with both chamomile and lavender making their presence felt right away. There’s fortunately a bright citrus akin to Meyer lemon that helps balance out the florals, with a wine-heavy finish that indicates there’s a significant amount of vermouth in the mix. Actually rather approachable when served very cold. 11% abv. B

Each $19 to $24 per four-pack of 200ml cans.

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