If drinking a cold beer or a chilled wine on a hot summer day feels like the greatest luxury on Earth, then, perhaps, you just lack a nice bottle cooler. This is a rather small investment considering years of enhanced imbibing experience. So we guess you’d rather spend a few dollars now than wish you did when a strong urge to drink cold water or beer becomes too hard to ignore. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all possible types of bottle coolers on the market, how these things work and what to look for when shopping for one. We’ll also review the TOP 12 Best Bottle Coolers & Koozies that would impress your guests and earn you a well-deserved name of a reliable party maker.
- What is a bottle cooler?
- How a bottle cooler works
- Types of bottle coolers
- 12 TOP Best Bottle Coolers & Koozies
- Stainless Steel Can Coolers
- Bottle Insulators – for beer drinkers
- Corkcicle Chillsner Beer Chiller- for beer drinkers
- Thermo Tank Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle – for any beverage
- 4 Wine Coolers
- Electric cooler for any beverage – Cooper Cooler Rapid Beverage & Wine Chiller
- Multiple bottle cooler
Bottle coolers are those essentially indispensable things that you would want to carry with you at a picnic, on camping & hiking trips, or just want to have one at home for a “special occasion”. Speaking of which, these “specials” sometimes pop up out of nowhere demanding a nicely chilled bottle of wine. Throwing one into a freezer won’t do wine any good and would still require some time, bathing a bottle in an icy water requires you to move the bottle for chilling to be effective, and by the time your wine or beer is cool enough to drink, the occasion seems to have passed.
Fortunately for you, there’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on an advanced cooler, or, on the contrary, deal with cheap imported products that seldom don’t work as expected. With the technological advancement in cooling technologies, everyone now has an opportunity to enjoy a good-old cold drink of beer, having invested in a reliable and effective bottle cooler.
What is a bottle cooler?
Bottle cooler is either a “sleeve” or a special container that uses a cooling technology to bring the bottle (and its contents) to its ideal serving temperature or keep the bottle chilled and cool for longer.
How a bottle cooler works
Bottle coolers usually have double walls that provide thermal insulation, meaning it prevents hot air from reaching the drink.
Most of the bottle coolers must be chilled before use (or frozen for better results). If you place a warm drink in a bottle cooler, it will slowly reach the desired temperature (provided you’re not using an electric cooler). However, if you place an already chilled drink in a cooler, then it will stay cool for hours, and this is exactly the effect you would want to achieve.
Types of bottle coolers
There are several types of bottle coolers that are worth recommending from simple koozies to enhanced electrical chillers. Let’s look at these in more detail.
- Koozies, in their essence, are simple insulated jackets that wrap the bottle up to maintain its temperature.
- Cooling containers, like cooling sticks, stainless steel or glass cylinders, are filled with a special coolant insert that you need to freeze before use.
- Ice bucket coolers use vacuum-walled thermos technology to insulate the bottle (and often don’t even require ice).
- Electrical coolers that use ice or thermoelectric cooling technology. The electric type that we’ll feature later in this guide sprays cold water while rotating a bottle to evenly cool it down.
12 TOP Best Bottle Coolers & Koozies
Further discussion elaborates on the most common types of bottle coolers that would work well for beer and wine. We’ll start with beer can & bottle coolers, then cover the types dedicated specifically for wine, all of which are priced affordably and won’t break anyone’s budget.
For all cans: RTIC Stainless Steel Can Cooler 12oz
This nicely designed sleek beer can cooler uses vacuum-walled thermos technology and locking gasket to seal in the cold. No sweat exterior keeps the cooler dry, neat, and tidy. Forget the sweating buckets with their puddles of water dripping from a table; you’ll get none of it with this guy. Moreover, the cooler’s constructed from premium grade, 18/8 stainless steel that’s non-toxic and BPA free. Besides, it’s easy to clean and take care of.
Judging by the overwhelming consumer appreciation of this cooler, it’s rather easy to recommend since it works well and looks just as advertised. Those who were left disappointed often complained of receiving a defective product. So whenever you receive the item, check it and see if it needs to be returned or exchanged for a working version. As for the price, it’s affordable and won’t break a budget. Besides, there are plenty of colors to choose from, in case you’re looking for any gift ideas.
Price: Check the current price
Thermos Stainless Steel Beverage Can Insulator
You cannot really go wrong with Thermos, an industry leader in manufacturing insulated food and beverage containers. This Thermos Can Insulator, thus, makes another easy recommendation. Besides, it’s a little bit cheaper than its counterpart from RTIC but just as effective, so why spend more? This guy shares almost all characteristics with the major representatives of this type of coolers, meaning it’s stainless steel, sweat-proof, and good for 12 oz cans which it keeps cool for up to 3 hours. What makes it stand out is a rubber grip on top of the construction, making it very easy to hold.
Price: Check the current price
Bottle Armour Bottle Insulator with Bottle Opener – 2 Pack Set – for beer drinkers
For the price of roughly 30 dollars, you’re getting 2 insulated bottles made of BPA free neoprene lined 18/8 passivated stainless steel. The fit is pretty universal, meaning it works well both for beer bottles and soda bottles alike. There’s also a bottle opener for convenience, so you don’t have to carry one separately. In case you’re thinking of buying this as a gift, you can personalize it by laser engraving, silk-screening, and the like. And while it might seem like a good bargain, many customers complained of the petroleum smell that comes out of the insulator, making it very unpleasant to drink from. But these were just a handful of complaints; others seemed genuinely pleased with the coolers, so it might still be a good option worth considering.
Price: Check the current price
Beer Bottle Sleeves – Set of 6 – for beer drinkers
This is by far my favorite on this TOP list. First off, since the pack contains 6 items, you’re getting each of this for roughly two dollars, that’s a pretty good deal, I think. Second of all, look at them: they are colorful, smoothly designed, with a sleek and delicate zipper on top. All of these nicely added features make this product a fantastic gift idea for “millennial intelligentsia”.
Moreover, they seem to be pretty durable, sealed, and zig-zag stitched. The sleeves are made of extra thick neoprene that both keeps the drink cool and your hands dry. Fits most 12 oz longneck beer and soft drink bottles and comes with a free bottle opener. The majority of customers were super pleased with their purchases, and those, who were not, were promptly contacted by the seller and offered free replacements.
Price: Check the current price
Corkcicle Chillsner Beer Chiller, 2-Pack – for beer drinkers
This thing is a completely different chiller from those that we’ve already discussed above. Corkcicle, although in the business for less than 10 years, has established itself as an innovative barware company that manufactures stylish cooling products. Besides, investing in Corkcicle, you make your own share in bringing clean water to developing nations since 5% of all Corckcicle sales are donated to clean water projects.
The item that we feature in this guide comes in a gift box of 2 in-bottle beer chillers that look like metal sticks. The stick is made of stainless steel and filled with non-toxic thermal gel, it freezes quickly and cleans just as easily. You need to freeze the stick first and then insert it in the beer bottle to enjoy a cool drink from the first sip. There are also 4 flow vents that ensure a consistent flow of liquid. Fits most 9-inch (or taller) bottles.
The majority of testers have positive things to say about the Corkcicle saying it worked pretty well at keeping a drink cool, but apparently was only good for one drink, after which you had to refreeze it again. Another obvious disadvantage is that you have to take a good gulp of beer before inserting the stick otherwise it won’t fit in or the beer would spill. As for the price, it’s affordable, especially considering you’re getting two for the price.
Price: Check the current price
Thermo Tank Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle – for any beverage
This is, by all means, a bestseller from Thermos. It looks like a regular vacuum flask, maybe only slightly taller (25 oz), and well, it is exactly that. It’s made of 2 layers of impenetrable stainless steel separated by vacuum and surrounded with a layer of copper that further protects the temperature.
The thermos construction guarantees the cold drink stays cold for 36 hours straight and hot for 12 hours. On the downside you have to fill the bottle with beer, cider, or the like, you can’t just insert a beer bottle there. The majority of respondents praised the thermo-regulating properties of this thermos, with only a few detractors noticing that it held smell (of a liquid, dish soap, etc) for several days, making it a rather unpleasant disadvantage.
Price: Check the current price
Vacu Vin Active Wine Cooler Silver, Set of 2 – for wine drinkers
Vacu Vin wine coolers are essentially insulation sleeves made with multiple polyester foil layers and foam pouches that are filled with cooling gel to ensure that temperature is retained. It’s an open base cooler, meaning there’s no bottom, so should fit well all standard wine bottles. The sleeve needs to be frozen before and after use for subsequent re-application. For the price of fewer than 20 dollars, you’re getting two of those pouches, which is a pretty good deal. The testers seemed genuinely impressed with the sleeve, especially those who put the sleeve on an already chilled bottle of wine to keep it cool for longer.
Price: Check the current price
Oggi Wine Cooler with Freezer Inserts – for wine drinkers
This Oggi Wine Cooler is a cooling cylinder that’s made of stainless steel and has freezer inserts. To start using Oggi, simply remove black centerpiece and freezer inserts, place them in the freezer and let it cool or freeze. Take your inserts from the freezer and insert them back into the chiller. Put the wine bottle into the cooler and voila, you’re done, your bottle will slowly get down to the desired temperature and stay cool for longer. The customers seemed pleased with this model, saying that it worked pretty well and looked stylish on a table. Those left untouched often complained about the lightweight steel exterior that was easily dented and a “ton of condensation” that the exterior produced.
Price: Check the current price
Bellemain 3 Liter Insulated Ice Bucket with Ice Tongs – for wine drinkers
Bellemain cooler is a prominent representative of a classic ice bucket concept. Bellemain will fit very well in almost any interior or décor: its timeless design is a work of art in its own right, its pleasing shape, a sturdy and lusciously looking structure will impress any guest or even a cynical snobbish relative.
Just as its many other counterparts, Bellemain is made of stainless steel with a double wall insulation that will keep your drinks cool for six full hours. Plus, you’ll get the free bonus “bartender precision” ice tongs and a 3-year “Bellemain promise” warranty, all of which makes this product virtually risk-free. Customers were not stingy in praising Bellemain for its design and cooling properties, with that being said, this product merits a solid recommendation.
Price: Check the current price
Creative Home Natural White Marble Wine Cooler – for wine drinkers
And the last cooler one our list is a Marble Wine Cooler from Creative Home. It falls within the same price range as any other cooler we featured above, and yields the same positive consumer response, making it worth recommending. It might look a bit old-fashioned and outdated, but if you’re a stickler for vintage, or looking for a nice Christmas gift for your grandparents, then this cooler might be a good idea. It’s made with beautiful polished natural marble that works as a great insulator and will keep your wine perfectly chilled. The bottom is padded so as to prevent scratching and slippage. Keep the cooler in the freezer and take it out when the occasion arises to keep your guests or relatives happy.
Price: Check the current price
Electric cooler | Cooper Cooler Rapid Beverage & Wine Chiller
This is the only electric wine cooler on our list, and we’ve sifted through a lot of chaff to choose the best option for you. Cooper Cooler can be actually used both for cooling and heating. It chills cans for as less as one minute, and wine bottles for 6. There’s an automatic touchpad that features preset times, extra-chill setting, and add-ice indicator light.
To start using this cooler, you’ll need to add ice and water into the container, put up to 6 cans of beer or one bottle of wine inside, select the appropriate setting, close the lid, and the cooler will do the rest. The lid is completely removable for longer bottles, there’s also an auto-off function that stops the device when cooling is done.
Price: Check the current price
Multiple Bottle Cooler | Arctic Zone Titan 9 Can Zipperless Cooler
If you’re looking for a multiple bottle cooler, this zipperless cooler from Arctic Zone is a good option to consider. Deep Freeze insulation with radiant heat barrier doesn’t absorb heat, but reflects it. The bag incorporates 9 cans (but you can choose a larger version for as many as 48 cans).
What makes this product somewhat unique is a patented “flip open” zipperless lid which ensures you have an easy access to your cans at all times. Other cool and innovative features include HardBody liner, removable SmartShelf, Ultra Safe leak proof lining with Mcroban, adjustable Backsaver shoulder strap, and finally, an abrasion and puncture resistant exterior. All of these features would cost you fewer than 25 dollars, which is a great bang for your buck! Besides, other consumers are super pleased, with a few, though, suggesting to buy a bigger version of the cooler (like for 16 or 30 cans) to incorporate more ice.
Price: Check the current price
Comparative chart of Bottle Coolers & Koozies
| Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
RTIC | 12oz Stainless steel |  |
Thermos | 12 oz Stainless steel + rubber grip Cold up to 3 hours | |
Bottle Armour | 12 oz Stainless steel 2 bottles | |
Lazy Dog Warehouse | 12 oz Neoprene with zipper 6 sleeves | |
Corkcicle | 8 inches Stainless steel 2 sticks | |
Thermo Tank | 25 oz Stainless steel 36 hours cold, 12 hours hot | |
Vacu Vin | 5.5 inches Polyester foil layers + foam pouches + cooling gel 2 sleeves | |
Oggi | 8 inches Stainless steel Freezer insert | |
Bellemain | 102 oz Stainless steel Ice Tongs | |
Cooper Cooler  | Electric cooling 16 by 10-1/2 by 8 inches 6 beer cans or 1 wine bottle 120v | |
Creative Home | 6 inches Marble | |
Arctic Zone | 9, 16, 30, or 48 Cans Zipperless lead Hardbody liner Smartshelf | |
FAQ
How to make a bottle cooler?
There are many DIY tricks all over the internet that cover almost all possible (and impossible) ideas on how to make your drinks cooler and how to make your own DIY cooler at home, and for the sake of an example, we’ll cover an obvious “DIY tip”: put your bottle in icy water for 10-15 minutes, turning the bottle continuously to ensure proper cooling. Some of the ridiculous (although more or less effective) “recipes” include soaking a sock in water and inserting a bottle inside, considering a sock is made of 100% cotton, it will work as a thermo-absorbent and an insulator.
How to service a bottle cooler?
If your electric bottle cooler starts malfunctioning after its warranty period ends, then your only option would be fetching it to the nearest cooler repair professional (who also deals with fridge repairs, among other things).
How to clean a bottle cooler?
Check instructions, and see if your cooler is dishwasher safe, and if it is, then gently rinse it under warm water first and then place it in a dishwasher. And if it is not, then wash it gently with your hands and ample amount of dish soap.
Is there a bottle cooler for daycare?
Our guess is that you must be looking for baby bottle tote bags for transporting to and from daycare, and if that’s the case we’d advise you to get any insulated bag that’s just the right size for the brand of the baby bottles you carry. If the price is not much of an issue (there are all priced nearly the same anyway), we’d recommend Neoprene 6 Pack Bottle Carrier from Vettore, that one should work well.
Is there a bottle cooler for baby?
These are usually bags that you have to choose in accordance with the size of your baby bottles. If you’re using Medela brand, then Medela Breast Milk Cooler with Contoured Ice Pack would serve you beautifully.
What’s the best bottle cooler for a car? // water bottle cooler for a car?
If you’re looking for the best single bottle cooler for a car, then Vacu Vin sleeves seem like your best bet: they are super portable, durable, and would work well in a car. If you’re looking for a multiple bottle cooler, then it might be a good idea to invest in one of these portable cooler bags, like YETI Tundra.
What’s the best bottle cooler for bar?
Again, if you’re looking for single bottle coolers, then we suggest you impress your customers with Corkcicle Chillsner Beer Chiller. If a barman served me a beer with this thing, I would be definitely impressed.
Is there any bottle cooler for a diaper bag?
If you need to carry with you a diaper bag and just one bottle, then J.L. Childress All Bottle Cooler can be a good solution to your problem: it holds just one standard bottle of 8-9 oz.
What bottle cooler for wine can you recommend?
Go for Cooper Electric, if budget is not a concern, and if it is, then consider purchasing Vacu Vin Cooler or Oggi Cooler, both of them are priced affordably and are pretty good for a single bottle.
Is there any bottle cooler with a glass door?
If we’re talking about single bottle coolers here, then the only item that fits your request is Cooper Electric that has a transparent lid.
Is there any milk bottle cooler for doorstep?
We couldn’t find those that are specifically designed as a milk bottle cooler for doorstep, but you can use anything from the list above, or purchase a special milk delivery box, that has holes for ventilation and would keep your milk cool.
Can you recommend a baby bottle cooler with an ice pack?
As recommended above, Medela Breast Milk Cooler with Contoured Ice Pack is a good and reliable option. If you’re not a Medela fan, then Skip Hop Insulated Cooler also has a freezer pack.
Is there a water bottle with a cooler stick?
Corkcicle Chillsner Beer Chiller and Kollea Chiller Stick work well for beers. They should work for glass water bottles just as nicely.
What’s the best water cooler bottle with filter?
Dafi Water Bottle with Filter is not exactly a water cooler, but it’s a water bottle with filter, in case you might be interested.
Pros and Cons of bottle coolers
Pros
- Will keep your family and friends happy with chilled drinks
- Will save you from drinking a lukewarm beer in front of a TV with an important football match on
- Can be a wonderful gift idea for any of your friends or relatives
Cons
- Single bottle coolers are obviously good for well, single bottles.
- Some of them doesn’t work very effectively
- Your wine needs to be chilled first anyway for most of the single bottle coolers to be effective at maintaining temperature
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found our guide both instructive and informative, as you begin your search for the best single bottle cooler. We’ve tried to cover all the bestselling items so that you have plenty of options to choose from. Don’t forget to take your own tastes (or the tastes of people whom you’re buying a gift) into account before investing in any of those coolers. The more you know about beer and wine, the easier it will be to choose the best and effective option to cool down your drinks. Anyway, happy hunting for the best cooler out there!
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