CRACK open a can to celebrate G&T Day this weekend.
The juniper spirit is one of the nation’s favourite tipples.
But if you find mixing your own highball too much hassle, ready-to-drink tinned versions offer a convenient and cost-effective way to glug.
Here drinks expert Helena Nicklin gives her thoughts on supermarket pre-mixed G&T options that are good to go, and rates them out of five . . .
Sunrise Gin and Tonic 5% ABV, 250ml, 89p, Lidl – 4/5
LIDL’S Sunrise G&T tinnie is as cheap as chips and it’s got the green tin memo so is also looking rather premium despite its ultra-low price.
What’s inside isn’t bad either, especially for a gin o’clock tipple costing less than a quid.
With a 5% ABV it’s in line with almost every other version you’ll find on supermarket shelves, so you don’t feel short-changed on the booze.
When you crack in, you can just taste the gin.
The tonic fizz feels like frothy lemonade and is punchy on the flavour, which hides some of the botanical bitterness – ideal if you aren’t a fan.
It’s refreshing, with a warming kick, and crazily cheap. Chuck a couple in your basket.
Gin and Diet Tonic 4% ABV, 250ml, £4.12 for 4, Asda – 3/5
ANOTHER diet canned version but this time with a fractionally higher ABV than some, which makes a small difference in a positive way.
Given its low-cal status, this again has a more synthetic lemon tang – and there is not a huge amount of flavour other than that.
Once you take a few swigs, though, you will get that warming kick and a bit of a G&T glow-up.
For a diet version, it does well – and it’s well priced so if you are watching your calorie intake, this is a decent option.
It is pretty good within its weight watcher parameters and cheap.
Gin and Tonic 5% ABV, 250ml, £1.10, Sainsbury’s – 5/5
THIS no-nonsense can, costing a smidge above a quid, is a real cracker.
Well judged and not too sweet, there’s a great balanced flavour contained in this tinned tipple with proper bitter lemon peel, a quinine kick and a lovely whack of juniper.
The alcohol feels more obvious than in some other G&Ts, in a good way, although the ABV is the same as others.
For the price, it seriously overdelivers.
The lime-green matte can is beautifully eye-catching, so not one you’ll want to hide at the back of the cupboard.
A ready-mixed sip that gin lovers will appreciate. If you normally mix your own then don’t be nervous about trying this – it’s great stuff.
Diet Gin and Tonic 3.4% ABV, 250ml, £1, Morrisons – 2/5
THE sad thing about the diet part of a canned spirit and mixer is that the alcohol is often reduced, too.
You see that here with the 3.4% ABV, which is far lower than most “full-fat” tonic versions.
But this is lower than some other diet versions, too.
For a pound a can, this just about fills a hole in a G&T emergency or if you are counting every calorie, but it is a bit saccharine as a result.
This lacks the body you’d get with more sugar. The lemon flavour feels pumped in, too, and it takes over the bitterness.
This is fine if you’re not comparing it to others and probably also if you add some citrus slices and pour over ice in a highball. But the joy is a bit lacking.
Gin and Tonic 5% ABV, 250ml, £1, Tesco – 4/5
ANOTHER absolute bargain at a pound a can and it’s not just a train bevvie as Tesco’s juniper tinned tipple is starting to turn heads.
For the price, there’s a lot to love here with all the authentic botanical flavours you could want, though perhaps they could be dialled up a tad if being picky.
The balance of sweetness and bitterness works and there’s no sticky or synthetic aftertaste.
Not as polished as some, but for a quid, you’ll likely forgive it.
Decant this into a balloon glass over ice and add a slice of your favourite garnish then sip with some olives on the side feeling smug about how much you’ve saved on your at-home cocktail hour.
Gin and Diet Tonic 5% ABV, 250ml, £1.50, Co-op – 4/5
WITH a rather fabulous flamingo on the can for no real reason, you are primed to think “party” with this stylish tin.
It won’t just look good on the fridge shelf – it does a good job when you drink it, too.
It uses diet tonic water but is still 5% ABV, so this bird has got its priorities right.
You feel like you’re having a proper drink here, and would barely know the tonic was diet.
The best diet version and worth the extra pennies if that’s your preference.
Also great for parties, as the can is so pretty.
It looks premium so it’s a good one for taking round to friends’ houses if sharing a few evening drinks together.
Greyson’s Gin and Tonic 5% ABV, 250ml, 89p, Aldi – 4/5
GOING head-to-head on price with Lidl, who have upped their green can game, is Aldi’s now rather famous dupe of the Gordon’s brand.
Aldi’s Greyson’s juniper spirit has been around for a while and always delivers cracking value for money across its range.
This canned option is beautifully balanced and tastes more premium than the price suggests, although admittedly there’s a slightly metallic aftertaste.
Still, it’s excellent value. Sip this with salty snacks to disguise the end note and it’ll slip down a treat.
Or keep in the cupboard on standby for hassle-free G&T’s for any guests, if it’s not your usual tipple.
Gin and Tonic 8% ABV, 250ml, £2.50, M&S – 3/5
THE very drink that made the concept of a “train tipple tinnie” famous, this G&T in a can has certainly been cracked open in a few carriages after a long day at work.
It’s a punchier version than some other G&Ts, too, at 8% ABV, but the taste is balanced with lots of lovely lemon and a bitter kick on the finish.
It does, however, taste a tad diluted despite its boozier credentials – but the flavour is pleasant and fresh, where others can feel a touch fake.
Its premium price feels rather high compared to the others so it’s a splash-out sip.
But if you’re a true gin lover, it is serious about its contents – so you might think that justifies the extra spend.
