Memorial Day Canned Cocktails: High Noon, Surfside, Cutwater & Sandbaggers Buyer's Guide

Memorial Day weekend is around the corner, and that means the cooler at the cookout will be full of canned cocktails instead of mixers and measuring cups. At Buffalo House Liquor & Wines in Tonawanda NY we’ve been stocking up on the newest RTD hits and the classics that make backyard gatherings easy and delicious. Whether you’re picking up a grab-and-go 4-pack or planning to stock the bar for the whole weekend, this guide walks you through the real decisions: taste, ABV, calories, and how much to buy.

Why canned cocktails took over the cooler (canned cocktails memorial day)

Ready-to-drink canned cocktails are the fastest-growing category in the store for one big reason: they solve the logistics of outdoor entertaining. No measuring, no broken glass, no late-night cleanup — which is exactly what you want on a holiday weekend. Here’s what’s driven cans to the top of the list for Memorial Day celebrations.

What fans actually love

• Convenience: Open and pour (or drink straight from the can) — perfect for parks, beaches and poolside.
• Consistency: Each can is a balanced cocktail so the first drink tastes like the last.
• Variety: From vodka + real juice to premium spirit cocktails and espresso martinis, there’s something for every guest.
• Transportability: Cans stack in a cooler and take less room than bottles and mixers.

RTD vs. mixing at home

• If you like control and craft-level cocktails, you’ll still reach for bottles at home.
• If you want maximum social time and minimum gear, RTDs win — especially for long holiday weekends like May 22–26, 2026.
• Retail promos (like Buffalo House’s MEMORIAL10 and STOCKUP15 — more below) make RTDs an economical choice when you need volume.

Top Canned Cocktail Picks for Memorial Day —

White Claw Spirits Pineapple Flavored Vodka $21.99 Shop Now Casamigos Spicy Margarita $14.99 Shop Now High Noon Hard Seltzer Lime $10.99 Shop Now High Noon Tequila fiesta Variety 8 Pack $21.99 Shop Now NUTRL Lemonade Variety 8 Pack $19.99 Shop Now Surfside Lemonade Variety $19.99 Shop Now Surfside Half & Half Variety Pack $19.99 Shop Now High Noon Hard Seltzer Variety $29.99 Shop Now

We’ve curated the most reliable, crowd-pleasing cans that fly out of our cooler at Buffalo House Liquor & Wines in Buffalo NY. These selections are great for a variety of tastes and group sizes.

Easy crowd-pleasers

• High Noon Hard Seltzer Lime ($10.99) — crisp, citrusy and incredibly approachable. Great for people who like a lighter, refreshing sip.
• High Noon Tequila Fiesta Variety 8 Pack ($21.99) — a step up from seltzer with tequila and real juice flavors. Perfect when you want something brighter than standard seltzer but still low-fuss.
• High Noon Hard Seltzer Variety ($29.99) — assorted flavors if you want to avoid flavor fights in the cooler.

For lemon-lovers and sweet-and-tart fans

• Surfside Lemonade Variety ($19.99) — vodka plus iced tea and lemonade riffs; a sunny choice for picnic-style menus.
• Surfside Half & Half Variety Pack ($19.99) — half iced tea, half lemonade profiles for guests who want the classic summer combo.
• NUTRL Lemonade Variety 8 Pack ($19.99) — a lower-calorie lemonade pack for guests watching sugar without sacrificing punch.

Tequila-forward choices

• Casamigos Spicy Margarita ($14.99) — a bold, tequila-forward option for people who want a margarita without mixing. Smooth agave notes and a real kick of lime.
• Casamigos Classic Lime Margarita ($14.99) — in the premium section but deserves mention here for people who want that true margarita profile in a can.

Something different: flavored spirit cans

• White Claw Spirits Pineapple Flavored Vodka ($21.99) — a pineapple-flavored vodka can that’s tropical and easy to drink for poolside service.

How to pick the right 4-pack or 12-pack for your crowd (ready to drink near me)

Choosing the right pack comes down to three questions: how many people, how long, and what kind of drinkers you have. Use these quick rules to decide between 4-packs, variety 8-packs, or full cases.

Quick rules of thumb

• Guest count: Multiply your guest count by 1.5 drinks per person per hour for active party hours (the “1.5 drinks/person/hour” rule). That covers steady sipping during games, grilling and socializing.
• Duration: For a 4-hour block with 20 guests: 20 x 1.5 x 4 = 120 drinks. That’s about 10 cases of 12 cans (depending on ABV and whether people alternate with beer/wine).
• Pack type: Go with mixed or variety packs when you’re not sure of tastes. Everyone gets what they like and you reduce waste.

Choosing by crowd type

• The light-sippers: High Noon Hard Seltzer Lime and High Noon Hard Seltzer Variety keep calories lower and fizz high.
• The tequila fans: Casamigos Classic Lime Margarita and High Noon Tequila Fiesta Variety appeal to margarita and tequila soda lovers.
• The classic cocktail person: Cutwater packs and On The Rocks martinis (see premium section) satisfy guests who still want a proper cocktail experience.

Premium Cans Worth the Upgrade —

Cutwater Red White & Blue Variety $24.99 Shop Now On The Rocks Lemon Drop Martini $19.99 Shop Now Casamigos Classic Lime Margarita $14.99 Shop Now Cutwater Espresso Martini $12.99 Shop Now

When the weekend calls for something a little more elevated — anniversaries, small gatherings where a “fancy” can makes a statement — these premium RTDs deliver on flavor, spirit quality and balance.

Premium RTD highlights

• Cutwater Red White & Blue Variety ($24.99) — sophisticated flavors with a spirit-forward personality; perfect for guests who expect a bar-quality cocktail.
• Cutwater Espresso Martini ($12.99) — an ideal post-dinner can; rich coffee notes and a boozy finish that tastes like a night-cap without the shaker.
• On The Rocks Lemon Drop Martini ($19.99) — a chilled, cocktail-bar style martini that several guests will notice the difference on.

When to upgrade

• If you want cocktails that can stand on their own without garnish or ice, premium cans like those from Cutwater and On The Rocks pay off.
• Choose one or two premium packs mixed into your general cooler lineup to elevate the spread without breaking the bank.

Calories, ABV, and sugar: what to know (best canned cocktails 2026)

One of the most common questions we get at Buffalo House Liquor & Wines is about calories and alcohol content. Knowing these numbers helps you pace your guests and plan pairings with richer barbecue fare.

Common ranges

• Lower-calorie seltzer-style cans: Typically 90–120 calories, around 4–5% ABV (High Noon Hard Seltzer Lime and similar).
• Fruit-juice forward RTDs: Often 120–200+ calories with ABV in the 5–8% range (some High Noon tequila options and Casamigos variants).
• Premium spirit cans and martinis: Higher ABV (8–12% or more) and often more calories per can because of richer ingredients (Cutwater Espresso Martini, On The Rocks).

Tips for serving and pacing

• Label two cooler sections: one for low-ABV seltzers, one for fuller cocktails. Guests can choose by how they want to feel.
• Offer chilled water and snacks alongside the cooler to slow drinking pace.
• When in doubt, select variety packs to balance calorie and ABV profiles across the crowd.

The case for mixed variety packs and local favorites (surfside near me, cutwater near me)

Variety packs are the easiest way to accommodate different tastes and reduce leftover cans at the end of the holiday. They’re also a great answer to the perennial question in our shop: “What if I don’t know what my friends will like?”

Why mix it up

• Less waste: Fewer leftover cans because guests self-select.
• Better value: Many variety packs are priced close to single-flavor packs and often feature exclusive flavor combinations.
• Local appeal: Regional favorites and niche brands — and even smaller local makers you might spot when shopping — keep things interesting.

Local note

In Western New York we see strong interest in surf-and-summery profiles like Surfside Lemonade Variety and crowds who appreciate premium cans such as Cutwater collections. If you’re searching “surfside near me” or “cutwater near me,” stop by Buffalo House Liquor & Wines in Tonawanda NY — we’ll point you to what’s fresh and in stock for Memorial Day.

If you’re planning your Memorial Day cooler now, stop by Buffalo House Liquor & Wines in Tonawanda NY or order online for free same-day delivery in Tonawanda and Buffalo. Use code MEMORIAL10 for 10% off single purchases, or STOCKUP15 to take 15% off cases — perfect for stocking the cooler through May 22–26, 2026. Our team in Tonawanda NY is happy to help you pick the right mix of High Noon, Surfside, Cutwater, Casamigos and the other canned cocktails that will keep the party rolling. Call us at (716) 770-1230 or visit the store to shop our selection and get everything chilled and ready for the holiday.