Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Trade Eights Cocktails?

  • Trade Eights are premium canned cocktails made with real spirits, real juices, real botanicals and all-natural ingredients.

  • Trade Eights cocktails deliver a true cocktail experience using real whiskey, vodka, and gin—never a malt base—combined with real citrus juices and botanicals.  They are blended in small batches to create a perfect balance of flavor with just the right amount of sweetness.

    • No artificial flavors

    • No overly sugary profiles

    • No weird after taste

    • We are craft-quality cocktails

  • Trade Eights are real cocktails. Trade Eights are spirit-based, full-flavored, and balanced—unlike most hard seltzers, which are lighter, malt-based and less complex in flavor.

  • No, they are not too sweet. They are perfectly balanced to highlight the spirit, citrus and botanicals — not overwhelm with sugar.

Ingredients & Quality

  • Trade Eights cocktails are made with:

    • Real distilled spirits (bourbon whiskey, vodka, gin)

    • Real citrus juices

    • Natural sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, and pure cane sugar.

    • Botanicals like ginger and hibiscus

    • Filtered water

    No artificial flavors or synthetic additives.  Just clean, natural ingredients.

  • Yes. Real juices from lemons, grapefruits, limes, and even ginger are a core part of our recipes, giving the cocktails a fresh, authentic flavor, appearance and aroma.

  • Yes. Trade Eights uses only clean, natural ingredients — no artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or preservatives.

  • Yes. All Trade Eights Cocktails are gluten-free.

Flavor & Experience

  • They taste like a well-made cocktail: flavorful, balanced and refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness and a clean finish.

    For example:

    • Ginger Citrus +Whiskey cocktail is warm bourbon, spicy ginger, bright lemon

    • Crisp, clean, and not too sweet

  • If you enjoy vodka, start with the Grapefruit Honey +Vodka — it’s a fan favorite and a great introduction to the brand’s balanced, real-cocktail style. With tart, juicy grapefruit, the subtle sweetness of honey and a warm back note of cinnamon, it can easily jazz up a Sunday brunch or toast a relaxing sunset on the lake.

  • The best canned cocktails can closely match a freshly made drink, and Trade Eights is specifically crafted to deliver that experience with real ingredients and proper balance.

Occasions & Use Cases

  • Trade Eights are designed for moments when you want a quality cocktail without the effort:

    • Dinner parties

    • Weekend get-togethers

    • Outdoor adventures (beach cocktails, golf course drinks, picnic sips, boat drinks, Apres-ski cocktails, camping and hiking refreshers)

    • Relaxing at home

    • Summer barbecues

    • Gifting occasions

    • Host(ess) gift

    • Tailgating or watching your favorite sports team

  • Yes. They’re an easy way to offer guests a premium cocktail experience without needing to mix drinks. 

  • Trade Eights Cocktails make a thoughtful host(ess) gift.  They are a great upgrade — more interesting than beer and more convenient than making cocktails from scratch.

Comparisons

  • Trade Eights Cocktails are spirit-based and therefore, are real cocktails. Hard seltzers are typically malt-based, lighter, and have less complex flavors.

  • Trade Eights Cocktails are crafted to perfectly balance real spirits with a blend of real ingredients — offering a convenient and faster alternative to making drinks yourself.

  • Our cocktails are well balanced and not too sweet, making them a great option for people who prefer a more refined flavor profile.

Awards & Recognition

  • Yes. Trade Eights has won numerous awards, including Double Gold at the San Francisco Ready-To-Drink Competition, Double Gold at the SIP Awards, and has been recognized as one of the top canned cocktail brands in the U.S., including being named #2 on USA Today’s list of Best Canned Cocktail Companies in 2025.

Purchasing & Availability

  • Trade Eights Cocktails are available at many retailers and restaurants. Visit the Find a Drink page to find a location near you.

  • Yes. Check the Store page for a selection of Trade Eights apparel and accessories.

  • We offer a curated selection of apparel and lifestyle items designed to reflect the Trade Eights brand — perfect for fans of the cocktail and the lifestyle around it.

  • Trade Eights merchandise is fulfilled through a print-on-demand partner, so returns and exchanges follow specific guidelines. You can view full details on our return policy. Because items are made to order, returns are typically only accepted for damaged, defective, or incorrect items

Giving Back

  • Yes. Trade Eights gives a portion of our revenue each year to support animal welfare charities that care for and protect animals. We believe great cocktails should have a positive impact beyond the glass.

  • Trade Eights supports animal welfare organizations through an ongoing commitment to donate 1% of sales. Giving back is a core part of who we are.

Nutrition & Details

  • Each cocktail is crafted to be balanced and not overly sweet. For a 5oz serving, similar to the amount in a glass of wine, our cocktails have between 110 to 120 calories and 7 to 10g of sugar. Much less than the average bar cocktail.

  • All our canned cocktails are 10% ABV for a smooth, satisfying kick.

  • At 10% ABV, our cocktails deliver a more balanced, full-strength experience — closer to what you’d expect from a bartender-made drink. This means you can enjoy a more satisfying cocktail with fewer drinks, without compromising on taste or quality.

  • Each can has about two servings.