What Comes in a Can and Belongs at Your Holiday Party?

Any bartender worth his chili-lime rimming salt knows that every ingredient in a drink matters.

Ever had homemade tonic? Mexican Coke? Margaritas made the right way?

They taste a million times better. But they also slow a pine-tending man down, especially when he has a house full of guests to entertain.

Which is why we recommend Mixwell, a local mixology company hucking A-grade mixers preserved in smart, resealable cans.

At launch, they do three flavors: Young Ginger, Dandelion Tonic and Mojave Grapefruit, all made from local ingredients like Malibu-picked dandelion and grapefruit and agave sourced just outside of Palm Springs.

And Mixwell owner and local mixologist Billy Ray (Patina Group, Blind Barber) designed the super-savvy can with drinkmaking excellence in mind. It’s resealable and pressurized, and has a slow-pour lip so you get exact measurements every time. Just pop the back tab up and slide the lid back so that the fluid comes out. 

Each 12-oz. can is good for around three cocktails.

Mixwell Celebrates the Bartenders of Los AngelesAn ode to the men and women behind the pine. 5:05

Pick some up at the Cocktail Lab on Beverly Blvd.

And because it’s the holidays, Billy Ray kindly made us two cocktails using his mixers and a few other items you can pick up at your local grocer or the Cocktail Lab. Cheers.

What’s This?

1.5 oz. Woodford Reserve bourbon

.5 oz. lemon juice

4 oz. Mixwell Young Ginger Soda

2 dashes cranberry bitters

4 sage leaves

Build drink in mixing tin (3 leaves of sage, lemon juice, cranberry bitters, bourbon and ice). Shake. Fine-strain into Collins glass with ice and top with Mixwell Young Ginger. Garnish with sage leaf.

Sandy Claws

1.5 oz. Altos Tequila

.25 oz. allspice dram

.5 oz. lemon juice

2 dashes Miracle Mile Chocolate Chili Bitters

4 oz. Mixwell Mojave Grapefruit Soda

In a Collins glass, add lemon juice, allspice dram, tequila and ice. Top with Mixwell Mojave Grapefruit Soda and finish with Miracle Mile Chocolate Chili bitters. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.