The realm of cocktail subscription boxes is nearly as broad as the realm of cocktails itself. Some boxes include alcohol and others don’t. Some are geared toward beginner-level cocktail makers, while others are meant for experienced home mixologists. No matter what your preference is, these top cocktail subscriptions will help deliver the joy of craft bartending right to your doorstep.
Best Cocktail Subscription Boxes of 2022
Best Overall: Cocktail Courier Best for Budding Mixologists: American Cocktail Club Best for Mixers Only: Shaker & Spoon Best Variety: SaloonBox Best for One-Time Purchases: The Cocktail Box Co. Best Splurge: Crafted Taste
Key Specs Starting Price: $29.99/kitFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 6 to 8Pros Many customization options availableAffordable subscription with free shippingNon-alcohol version available ConsNo overnight shippingOnly half-size liquor bottles available in kits Cocktail Courier has plenty of great qualities, but one of our favorite aspects of this subscription service is its high degree of customization. From the beginning of the signup process, Cocktail Courier works to learn your particular taste preferences. New users can select their favorite spirits in a short survey, and the answers will influence what types of cocktail kits you’ll receive. Each kit comes with all the supplies you’ll need to make six to eight cocktails. This includes a half-size (375 ml) bottle of alcohol, all the relevant mixers and garnishes, and a recipe card. If you don’t like the look of your next shipment, you can either skip it or swap it for a different cocktail selection. The delivery options offer even further customization. Users can choose to receive their shipments weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly. A useful online interface allows users to rate the cocktails they’ve tried and fill out a personal recipe library. The standard, “Classic Size” club includes alcohol and costs $49.99 per shipment, but you can opt for the mixers-only package at only $29.99 per shipment. All subscriptions include free shipping, and gift subscriptions are available, as well. Pricing and PlansJust the Mix (without alcohol): $29.99Classic Size (with alcohol): $49.99 Key SpecsStarting Price: $43.99/month (with 12-month subscription)Free Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 4 ProsEase of use No cocktail experience requiredFree shipping ConsCocktails follow the same format every monthPerishable items are not included The American Cocktail Club is an ideal choice for those who are just beginning to dip their toes into the world of mixology. Each monthly shipment of the “Everything Box” includes all the ingredients necessary to make four servings of the featured cocktail. You’ll receive four mini bottles of the base spirit, a 4 oz. bottle of a special juice blend, a carbonated mixer, a recipe card, and one additional goodie (like a garnish, a bar tool, or an additional mixer). If your liquor cabinet is already well-stocked, you can opt for the “Everything But The Booze Box,” which omits the alcohol and lowers the subscription cost. The cocktails always follow the same template—spirit plus juice plus carbonated mixer—which is the basic formula of many classic cocktails, including the Tom Collins, the Paloma, and the Moscow Mule. The repetition of this relatively simple formula may prove uninteresting to more seasoned cocktail enthusiasts. However, if you’re a fan of fizzy, juicy drinks, this club may be right up your alley. Sweetening the deal, you can save money by signing up to prepay for a certain number of shipments (either three months, six months, or 12 months). Pricing and Plans $59.99/month for month-to-month$173.97 for 3-month prepay ($57.99/month)$335.94 for 6-month prepay ($55.99/month)$637.88 for 12-month prepay ($53.99/month) Key SpecsStarting Price: $50/month (with 12-month subscription)Free Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 12ProsLearn multiple cocktails for a single spiritDrink recipes created by award-winning bartendersDelivery to all 50 statesConsAlcohol not includedNo free shipping Perfect for those with well-stocked home bars, Shaker & Spoon sends every single cocktail ingredient straight to your door—except for the booze. Every month, users receive a box containing the fixings for three different drinks based around the same spirit. Each recipe makes four servings each, equating to a total of 12 cocktails in each shipment. After sourcing your own alcohol, you’ll have everything necessary to build cocktails based on original recipes created by award-winning mixologists. While the shipments are a bit pricey for not containing any alcohol, users can save money by prepaying for three, six, or 12 months in advance. Shaker & Spoon is the perfect cocktail subscription box to expand your cocktail repertoire. Want to expand beyond the monotony of gin and tonics? Got a bottle of bourbon but can’t swallow the idea of one more whiskey-cola? Shaker & Spoon will introduce you to the full spectrum of what every bottle of liquor can do. Pricing and Plans$59/month for month-to-month$169 for a 3-month prepay ($56/box)$319 for a 6-month prepay ($53/box)$599 for a 12-month prepay ($50/box) Key SpecsStarting Price: $54.67Free Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 4ProsAll ingredients provided, including alcoholAlcohol shipped in hard-to-find minisShipping includedConsSpirit shipments not available in all statesOnly makes four cocktails An all-in-one service that delivers both alcohol and mixers to its subscribers, SaloonBox provides a top-quality cocktail experience in a compact presentation. Available in durations of three, six, or 12 months, SaloonBox subscriptions include the complete package of alcohol, ingredients, and recipe cards. Each box will create two servings each of two different cocktails—not enough for a party, but perfect for a date night at home. The kits feature mini-bottles of alcohol, which take up less space in your liquor cabinet. Better yet, the cocktails are all seasonally-based and created with the consultation of award-winning bartenders. The alcohol is shipped separately from the ingredient kit, and customers should be aware that there are some states that don’t allow liquor delivery. In those cases, however, the “Everything But The Booze” kits are still available, and the price is significantly lower. All in all, SaloonBox is the perfect choice for the home bartender who wants to up their cocktail game, two servings at a time. Pricing and Plans$172.99 for 3-month prepay ($58/month)$338.99 for 6-month prepay ($56.50/month)$655.99 for 12-month prepay ($55/month) While technically not a cocktail delivery service, the kits from The Cocktail Box Co. deserve a mention for their ease of use, convenience, and aesthetic appeal. Each kit comes in a tin that’s just slightly larger than a deck of cards. Inside, you’ll find juices, syrups, bitters, and other ingredients necessary to make three to six servings of a classic cocktail. Small barware and accessories, like cocktail picks or a tiny mixing spoon, may also be included. And, if you find yourself out of ingredients, you can order refills without needing to buy a whole new kit. The only downside is that you have to provide your own alcohol. However, the size and portability of these kits make them perfect for those times when you find yourself with access to booze but not mixers. Cooped up on a long flight? Order a whiskey and whip up an Old Fashioned. Hotel minibar letting you down? Snag that mini vodka bottle and shake yourself a Moscow Mule. House-sitting for your friend who only has a dusty bottle of rum on hand? Good thing you brought your Cocktail Box Co. kit, because now you can enjoy a delicious Mai Tai (mini umbrella not included). Pricing and Plans1 cocktail kit: $22.99 4-pack cocktail kit: $69.99 6-pack cocktail kit: $99.998-pack cocktail kit: $129.99 Key SpecsStarting Price: $100 (for mixers only)Free Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 16 ProsFull bottle of spirits with each kitOption to opt out of upcoming shipmentsFree shipping with subscriptions ConsMost expensive service we reviewedDoes not ship to all states The subscription service from Crafted Taste offers top-notch cocktail recipes, quality ingredients, and a full 750 ml bottle of alcohol with every shipment. Each kit contains enough ingredients for up to 16 cocktails, making Crafted Taste perfect for parties. If you have perfectionist tendencies, the large-format nature of this box allows you to experiment with different proportions until you find the perfect cocktail specs for your particular palate. Featured cocktails include classics like the Mint Julep and the Bee’s Knees, but you’ll also be introduced to contemporary creations with names like “Posmo Cosmo” and “Staycation.” Flexibility is another benefit of this subscription. You’ll be notified in advance of what the upcoming shipment will contain, and you’ll have the option to upgrade to a premium spirit, downgrade to mixers-only, or skip a delivery entirely. The standard subscription costs $150, which may sound expensive. However, when you divide that fee by 16, the price per cocktail is reasonable. A premium-only subscription is available for $200 per shipment, while mixers-only is available for $100. Best of all, every subscription includes free shipping. Pricing and PlansMixer only: $100/monthFull Kit with Alcohol: $150/monthPremium Upgrade: $200/month
The outside packaging: How sturdy was the box?The inside packaging: How were the contents secured inside the delivery box?Extras: What else besides the actual products were in the box? We wanted to know if the companies included any literature or freebies such as glasses, tasting notes, etc.
What Is a Cocktail Subscription Box?
Cocktail subscription boxes are services that allow users to whip up restaurant-quality cocktails right at home. At regular intervals, these services deliver the tools and ingredients that can help make you a better bartender—and, at the very least, they’ll save you the trouble of sourcing and prepping ingredients. Some services include alcohol, whether in mini- or full-sized bottles, while others simply provide mixers and other ingredients.
Which Kinds of Cocktails Are Included in a Subscription Box?
Some cocktail subscription boxes may lean heavily on classics like the Old Fashioned, the Margarita, and the Manhattan. However, most will also source new recipes from talented mixologists with diverse backgrounds, providing a thoroughly contemporary experience for their users. Expect to encounter stirred or shaken cocktails, sours, daisies, rickeys, juleps, mules, fizzes, flips, and everything in between.
Do Cocktail Subscription Boxes Include Alcohol?
While most cocktail subscription boxes offer a tier with alcohol included, there’s usually an option to pay less by choosing a mixer-only version. Certain services, like Shaker & Spoon, don’t include alcohol in any of their subscriptions.
How Much Do Cocktail Subscription Boxes Cost?
Mixers-only boxes are generally less expensive than kits that include alcohol. The American Cocktail Club, for example, offers one for as little as $44 per month. On the other end of the spectrum, Crafted Taste’s “premium” boxes, featuring top-shelf spirits, clock in at $200 per month. Since most services offer penalty-free cancellation, they might just be worth taking for a test drive—especially at the discounted longer-term rates.
Methodology
We compiled this list of the best cocktail subscription boxes utilizing a range of different evaluation criteria, including price, quality, variety, ease of use, cancellation policies, company ethics, and more. We analyzed cocktail subscription services that cater to beginners, as well as those that appeal to seasoned cocktail pros. The clubs we’ve selected have all received praise and garnered positive consumer feedback.
