The can
Two Stacks’ Dram in a Can Irish Whiskey, $ 18.99 for a four-pack
The back story
In recent years, canned beverages have acquired a certain cachet. Craft beer makers have embraced the packaging. And beverage brands are heavily promoting canned cocktails, to say nothing of hard seltzer.
What could be next? Whiskey in a can, of course.
Two Stacks, an Irish-based brand, has started rolling out its Dram in a Can in the U.S. The beverage comes in a four pack of mini cans, with just 100 milliliters (or roughly 3.4 ounces) per can. “It’s a whole new drinking experience for on the move,” says Shane McCarthy, one of the brand founders.
Indeed, McCarthy and his partners, who all have a background working with breweries and distilleries, tout the idea of Dram in a Can as a beverage with portability — to be enjoyed, say, after a long hike. (This way, there’s no lugging that bottle of Scotch in your backpack, he hints.)
McCarthy is also aware that some naysayers insist canned beverages have a metallic taste imparted by the packaging. Craft beer makers have come up with their own solutions to this issue. But in Two Stacks’ case, the company is using tin rather than the more common aluminum, saying that tin is much less reactive.
Dram in a Can is not strictly about the packaging. It’s a blend of five different types of Irish whiskey, mixing grain, malt and pot still styles. Oh, and if you’re opposed to sipping from a can, take note: Two Stacks plans to release the whiskey in a full-size bottle, too.
What we think about it
We admit we initially thought of this more as a gimmick than a worthy idea. But then we remembered the time we carried a glass bottle with us and it broke in our bag, creating quite the mess (and ruining a perfectly decent tote). On top of that, the dram inside Dram in a Can is quite good — we’re fans of Irish whiskey in general for its sheer approachability and tastiness, but this one has plenty of depth with notes of fruit and vanillas and just a hint of smoke.
How to enjoy it
We don’t think we need to tell you how to sip a canned beverage — just open and drink away. But McCarthy says if you want to go the cocktail route, take a bottle of seltzer or club soda and use it to make a delightful highball with the whiskey.
