Post Meridiem Canned Cocktails
Post Meridiem canned cocktails from Atlanta come in five recipes created by mixologists with premium spirits, bitters, syrups, and other quality ingredients.
From Georgia’s first canned cocktail company, Post Meridiem’s ready-to-drink cocktails certainly pack a punch. Even the weakest of the cocktails, the 1944 Mai Tai, is 23.5% ABV (47 proof), and bear in mind that a lot of canned cocktails are only around the 6% ABV (12 proof) mark. Post Meridien’s strongest cocktail is their Double Old Fashioned, and that’s 37% ABV (74 proof). That’s almost like drinking neat spirits.
Post Meridiem Canned Cocktail Recipes
The company, from Atlanta, is also happy to share its cocktail recipes so you know exactly what goes into the cans. You don’t need to squint at the small print to check if anything unhealthy is being used, or to see if there are any artificial flavorings. No, the recipe for each cocktail is in large print, and the recipe is the same as the ingredients, nothing added at all.
Double Old Fashioned in a Can
That Double Old Fashioned, for example, is:
- 3 oz Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 4 Dashes Blend of Three Bitters
- 1/3 oz Demerara Syrup
- Orange Zest Oil
The cans are only small at 100ml (about 3.4 oz) and they’re not cheap at a recommended price of $3.99 each, but they do contain quality ingredients like barrel-aged whiskey, maraschino liqueur imported from Italy, and 100% real lime juice. And if you know a bar where you can get a Double Old Fashioned for $3.99, let me know!
Tasting Post Meridiem Canned Cocktails
I was sent four of the cocktails to check out, the missing one being the Margarita. That was a shame as I love Margaritas and make a mean one myself, so it’s always a good benchmark. Not this time, though.
The company recommends you shake the cans as you would a cocktail shaker, and then just pour them over ice. So what were they like? We thought we’d better start with the weakest first.
The 1944 Mai Tai
23.5% ABV, 47 Proof
- 1 1/2 oz Blend of Caribbean Rums
- 3/4 oz 100% Real Lime Juice
- 2/3 oz Orange Curacao
- 1/2 oz Almond Orgeat
With its almond aroma and flavor to the forefront, this is an excellent Mai Tai. The orange and lime bring those tropical flavors too, and whatever rums they’ve chosen are clearly top class and wonderfully smooth. This is one mighty Mai Tai.
The Lemongrass Vodka Gimlet
25% ABV, 50 Proof
- 2 oz Vodka
- 2/3 oz 100 % Real Lime Juice
- 2/3 oz Cane Sugar Syrup
- Lemongrass Oil
This is another perfectly-made cocktail, with the delightful lemongrass element one of the highlights. You can taste the real lime juice, and more importantly you can taste the vodka! That’s certainly not been the case with other canned vodka cocktails I’ve had, where I’ve felt obliged to add an extra shot. It’s definitely not needed here as the whole thing is well-balanced straight from the can.
The No. 4 Daiquiri
27% ABV, 54 Proof
- 2 oz Silver & West Indies Rums
- 1/3 oz Italian Maraschino Liqueur
- 2/3 oz 100% Real Lime Juice
- 1/3 oz Cane Sugar Syrup
A No. 4 Daiquiri is a Florida-style Daiquiri, though it was invented in Havana in one of the bars that Hemingway frequented. Those were his preferred Daiquiris and I’m sure he’s have been happy with this one. The cherry liqueur and real lime juice pack this with flavor, and whatever the rums are also pack it with alcohol. Yes, Hemingway would have approved… and no doubt would have asked for another.
The Double Old Fashioned
37% ABV, 74 Proof
- 3 oz Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 4 Dashes Blend of Three Bitters
- 1/3 oz Demerara Syrup
- Orange Zest Oil
I didn’t just save the strongest till last, I also saved the best till last. I’d love to know what bourbon went into this kick-ass cocktail, as I’d try to emulate this recipe myself. There’s the sweetness from the bourbon and the syrup, balanced by just the right amount of bitters, and bolstered by the intensity of the orange zest oil. If anyone tells you that cocktains in a can will never be as good as a freshly-made one, buy them one of these.
The Verdict
There’s no doubt about it, that along with Crafthouse Cocktails these are easily the best ready-to-drink cocktails I’ve tasted. If I was served one of these in an expensive bar I’d be very happy with the bartender’s cocktail-making skills, and be sure they were using quality ingredients and not skimping on the amount of spirits in them.
Buying Post Meridiem Canned Cocktails
Post Meridiem Canned Cocktails used to only be available in a few Southern states, but now they can be ordered online across 34 states (and rising). Minimum order is 8 cans, and you can order a 12-pack with samples of all five cocktails in it. You get two of each but three Margaritas and three Vodka Gimlets. It’s free shipping for 24 cans or more.
And Why Post Meridiem?
Inspired by the magic hour when the sun begins to set, our name marks the tipping point between winding down the day and starting the evening.
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