2023 is shaping up to be a good year for pre-made cocktails—and we couldn't be more excited. 

According to industry experts, the ready-to-drink (RTD) category is the fastest growing segment in the beverage market. And that trend looks like it will continue throughout 2023. RTD products include pre-mixed malt-based, wine-based, or spirit-based beverages that are typically bottled or canned. The appeal of these products is having an easy to carry, easy to serve cocktail at your fingertips. And here at GrowlerWerks, we're big fans of that concept.

Our line-up of go-anywhere craft beverage products is designed to ensure your favorite drink is always on tap and within reach. Simple whip up a batch of cocktails in your uKeg Pro, Go, or Nitro and you'll have pre-made perfection ready to take with you to parties, tailgates, or even just to the couch in the next room. And while the uKeg makes it easy to make and serve cocktails, there is an art and a science to creating the perfect recipe. Fear not, we have a few recommendations to get you started.

Tips for Making uKeg Batch Cocktails

1. Pick the right uKeg. Carbonated drinks are best served in a uKeg Pro or Go, while non-carbonated drinks work better in a uKeg Nitro.
2. Do the math. Figure out how many ounces of each ingredient you need for a single serving, then multiply those amounts by the number of servings you plan to make in your uKeg.
3. Pre-chill your ingredients. For drinks that will be served up, starting with ice cold ingredients is critical. But even if you plan to serve a drink over ice, it's best to start with ingredients straight from the fridge or freezer.
4. Measure your pours. You may be able to get away with eyeballing your pours when making single drinks that are easier to correct, but for batch cocktails you want to make sure every drink you dispense is perfect. Use jiggers or measuring cups to get your portions perfect.
5. Add water. Cocktails like gin and tonics or vodka sodas don't require any additional water. But cocktails that are typically shaken or stirred (we're looking at you, Manhattans) need water added to the uKeg to account for the dilution that would have occurred if you'd stirred over ice. As a guideline, the water you add should equal 20% of your total pre-diluted volume.
6. Do a test run. Nobody likes to be a guinea pig. Before serving to guests, make a trial batch to ensure it meets your expectations.

Looking for a few recipe ideas to get your creative juices flowing? Check out the cocktail section of our blog. Then start experimenting. 

Cheers to an easy-drinking 2023!