El Rayo’s Tequila Tonic in a Can Is the Ultimate Summer Cooler

Goodbye gin in a tin. This summer, there’s a new canned cocktail in town – and it’s got a lightning bolt on the label.

There’s something refreshingly rebellious about ditching the expected. That’s exactly what El Rayo – the Peckham-born Tequila brand with Mexican soul – is doing this summer with the launch of its new Tequila Tonic in a can. Yes, you read that right: Tequila. Tonic. In. A. Can.

It’s a bold move, but El Rayo isn’t known for playing it safe. Since 2019, the brand has been quietly rewriting the rulebook, proving that Tequila doesn't need to come with lime wedges, salt rituals or 3am regret. Their long serve – Plata Tequila with crisp tonic and a hint of grapefruit – has always been the hero of the brand, and now, it’s getting a portable upgrade.

The 250ml slimline cans are clean, zesty and come in at a very respectable 7% ABV. Each one blends El Rayo’s award-winning Plata Tequila with artisanal tonic and a dash of grapefruit – just enough to give it that citrus snap without veering into sugary territory. It’s the kind of drink you want on a rooftop, at a barbecue, or frankly, anywhere the sun dares to show itself in the UK.

“We’ve always believed Tequila is better served long,” says co-founder Tom Bishop. “This launch is the natural evolution – same great Tequila, same modern Mexico energy, just easier to crack open. It’s the future of Tequila, in a can.”

The cans themselves are a visual feast – wrapped in bold shapes and vibrant colours courtesy of Mexican artist Mario Ballestero. Equal parts art piece and drinks shelf disruptor, they’ve got the sort of aesthetic that practically begs for a spot in your festival cooler bag.

But it’s not all style – there’s substance, too. El Rayo is made using slow-grown blue agave from the Jalisco highlands, hand-harvested and distilled in copper stills with a three-day cook time. It’s a far cry from your student union Tequila nightmares. This is grown-up, feel-good drinking – a genuine slice of modern Mexico in a can.

It all began, fittingly, not in Guadalajara but in a flat in Peckham. Founders Tom Bishop and Jack Vereker cracked open a bottle of Añejo one evening and were instantly hooked – not just on the spirit, but on its untapped potential. Their journey took them from South London to the agave fields of Mexico and back, eventually teaming up with maestro tequilero Oscar Garcia to craft what would become El Rayo.

The name, Spanish for “lightning,” speaks to the energy they’re channelling – vibrant, unexpected, and just the right amount of electric.

For those who prefer their spirits unbottled and unboxed, El Rayo’s two flagship Tequilas – the bright and clean Plata (£34/70cl) and the oak-aged Reposado (£38/70cl) – remain the brand’s cornerstones. But the Tequila Tonic can is arguably their most accessible creation yet. No shaking, no stirring, no second-guessing. Just crack, sip, and enjoy.

The El Rayo Tequila & Tonic RTD is available now via elrayotequila.co.uk, Amazon (£39 for a case of 12), and Zapp (£3.50 a can).

This summer, forget gin in a tin. You’ve got a new classic to reach for – and it comes with a lightning bolt.