Whether it’s a classic frozen margarita or a fancy pear Aperol spritz, everyone loves a good, well-made cocktail. What makes one better is when minimal effort is required. Enter, Tip Top Proper Cocktails. Founded by music festival veterans Yoni Reisman and Neal Cohen, Tip Top offers a wide range of ready-made cocktails served in easy-to-store, 100 milliliter cans.
It isn’t exactly a novel concept, but the small company is all about quality. Each recipe was created by James Beard-finalist bartender Miles Macquarrie, and the drinks have won a slew of nominations and awards. Our favorite one, the Jungle Bird, was even presented with one of the most coveted prizes in the industry: The Best-in-Class classic cocktail award at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The Jungle Bird, a rum-based punch with red bitters, received the award in 2023, along with a Double Gold award in the Ready-to-Drink competition, which is a pretty big deal. The competition sets the industry standard for excellence, and thousands of products from around the world are judged. Only one cocktail earns the Best in Class award every year, which The Tasting Alliance says signifies the drink’s “true excellence”. The Jungle Bird stole the show years ago, and it stole the hearts of our expert taste testers when we ranked every Tip Top canned cocktail from worst to best.
A bartender favorite
The Jungle Bird also won the best ready-to-drink rum cocktail at the 2024 New Orleans Spirits Competition, and it continues to be one of Tip Top’s best-selling products. Described as an “under-the-radar bartender favorite”, the Jungle Bird tropical cocktail is a mix of rum, lime, pineapple, and red bitters. The original drink dates back to the 1970s, when it was first served to guests at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton Hotel.
Tip Top’s version is a refreshing, slightly fruity drink with notes of burnt sugar and a long finish. It has an ABV of 25%, and it comes in a fun, bright green, single-serve can. According to Macquarrie, it “rides the line” between a tropical drink and a classic aperitif cocktail, providing the perfect balance between sweet and bitter.
We love shaking it and pouring it over a glass of crushed ice garnished with a lime wedge, but a slice of pineapple also wouldn’t go astray. Some customers like to mix the Jungle Bird with Fresca, or you can drink it right from the can. However, we think this sunset-inspired drink deserves a special tiki mug for the full effect to be enjoyed. The beach, of course, is optional.
