RTD Cans vs Mixing Your Own American Whiskey Cocktails
By Chicago's Best Wine & Spirits Store | Published: 2026-10-19
Category: Comparisons
Compare ready-to-drink canned cocktails with mixing your own American whiskey drinks. We break down the trade-offs in convenience, flavor control, and cost.
Quick answer
For instant convenience and consistent flavor, reach for a ready-to-drink can like Crown Royal Black Cherry Whisky Sour. If you value creative control and a richer spirit, mixing with Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select or a classic Paper Plane template offers more depth.
Convenience vs. Craft
Ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails eliminate measuring, shaking, and cleanup. A can like Crown Royal Black Cherry Whisky Sour delivers a pre-balanced drink at 23% ABV, perfect for picnics or last-minute gatherings. The trade-off: you cannot adjust sweetness or spirit strength.
Mixing your own cocktail lets you choose the whiskey, control the citrus, and experiment with bitters. For example, Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select brings a higher-proof, more complex Tennessee whiskey that stands up in a sour. The cost per drink can be lower, but you need ingredients and time.
Flavor Range and Quality
RTD cans are designed for broad appeal. Crown Royal's Black Cherry Whisky Sour leans sweet and smooth, with a consistent profile every time. The limitation: you get one flavor per can.
Mixing opens up a spectrum. A Paper Plane cocktail—whiskey, lemon, Aperol-style bitters, amaro—can be tweaked to your palate. Using a premium whiskey like Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select adds vanilla and oak notes that an RTD cannot replicate. The catch: results vary with your skill.
For a balanced middle ground, the TIP TOP Paper Plane Cocktail (3oz single can) offers a modern-classic RTD with whiskey, lemon, bitters, and amaro—already blended for you.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Convenience: RTD cans are grab-and-go. No tools, no mess. Mixing requires jigger, shaker, strainer, and fresh ingredients.
- Flavor control: With RTDs, the flavor is fixed. Mixing lets you dial sweetness, sourness, and spirit strength to your taste.
- Cost per drink: A 4-pack of Crown Royal Black Cherry Whisky Sour costs $12.89 (about $3.22 per 100ml). A single TIP TOP Paper Plane is $3.14. Mixing with Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select ($100.47 per 750ml) costs roughly $6.70 per 2oz pour plus mixers—but you can use a cheaper whiskey. RTDs win on per-drink price for premium whiskey. Mixing can be cheaper with a value bottle.
- Portability: Cans are unbreakable, lightweight, and ready to chill. Homemade cocktails need a thermos or glass bottle.
- Occasion fit: RTDs suit casual sipping, parties, and outdoor events. Mixing fits dinner parties, cocktail hour, and personal exploration. Match the method to the setting.
Products at a glance
- CROWN ROYAL BLACK CHERRY WHISKY SOUR COCKTAIL (4PK-100ML CANS): Crown Royal Black Cherry Whisky Sour is a ready-to-drink cocktail with Crown Royal blended whisky, black cherry, and lemon juice at 23% ABV. You get a consistent, shelf-stable whiskey sour with zero prep—ideal for on-the-go drinking.
CROWN ROYAL BLACK CHERRY WHISKY SOUR COCKTAIL (4PK-100ML CANS) - JACK DANIELS WHISKEY SINATRA SELECT, Tennessee: Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select is a premium Tennessee whiskey crafted for smoothness and depth. Using it in a homemade cocktail gives you a richer, more customizable base that an RTD can't match.
JACK DANIELS WHISKEY SINATRA SELECT, Tennessee
Which path fits you?
Best for RTD cans
- Busy hosts who want zero cleanup
- Tailgaters, campers, and picnickers
- Anyone who values consistent, predictable flavor
Better off mixing
- Whiskey enthusiasts who want to showcase a premium bottle like Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select
- Home bartenders who enjoy tweaking recipes
- Anyone who dislikes sweet or pre-set cocktails
