A favorite poolside duo just got a convenient upgrade. Malibu and Dole are teaming up to launch ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails coming early 2026.
The new line includes a variety 8-pack of 12 oz cans (4.5% ABV) in four flavors including Pineapple, Pineapple Mango, Pineapple Strawberry and Pineapple Dragon Fruit. Large format single cans (19.2 oz) will also be available in Pineapple and Pineapple Mango.
The collaboration was inspired by the popular pairing of Malibu and Dole pineapple juice, which mixed together is the top way consumers enjoy Malibu, according to drinks research firm IWSR.
“Malibu & Dole have had a long-standing relationship and have been enjoyed together by our consumers in bars and homes across the country for many years,” said Natalie Accari, division vice president of RTD & convenience at Pernod Ricard USA, in a statement. “This innovation takes our consumers’ favorite serve and makes it even more accessible in a convenient format.”
Leveraging recognizable names from across the aisle for RTDs has been a consistent strategy for the French spirits group, as seen with Absolut Vodka and Ocean Spray. The Coca-Cola Co. also partnered with Pernod-Ricard on an Absolut Vodka & Sprite RTD after launching its Jack & Coke RTD partnership with Brown–Forman.
“We are thrilled to embark on this new collaboration with Malibu,” said Elisabeth Morris, director of brand and licensing at Dole Food Company. “Both brands are leaders in their category and bringing them together in a highly desirable and convenient format will only enhance the consumer experience year-round.”
The Malibu & Dole cocktail line is manufactured, marketed and distributed by Pernod Ricard USA.
Pernod Ricard has actively leveraged some of its top brands across its canned cocktail portfolio, including Jameson, Havana Club, Malfy, Beefeater and Kahlua. Malibu has its own line of RTDs, and launched ready-to-serve (RTS) cocktails in Tetra Paks in February 2024. The brand also has a malt version, Malibu Splash.
In its last quarterly earnings report, Pernod Ricard noted that Absolut sales in the U.S. were improving, led by the collaboration with Ocean Spray.
Spirits-based RTDs are one of the few bright spots in bev-alc, up 27.6% in sales in the two-week period ending August 9. Despite major spirit and non-alc names aiming to leverage their brand recognition in the segment, new-to-world entries such as High Noon or Surfside have been at the forefront of growth.