Mixologist’s Garden which promises ‘perfection every time’ when it comes to adding the final flourish to a cocktail, believes there is a huge opportunity for its freeze-dried garnishes in travel retail.

 

Aiming to make the perfect serve easier to create, whilst ‘elevating the drinking experience while travelling and at home’, Mixologist’s Garden offers a range of six freeze-dried fruit garnishes: three citrus variants (Lime, Lemon and Orange) and three berry (Strawberry, Blueberry and Raspberry).

 

According to the company, 80% of the leading spirit brands show their product being served with garnish when advertised yet being offered the perfect serve while travelling or being able to recreate a beautifully garnished drink at home is fraught with pitfalls – ‘until now’, says the company.

 

The product comes ready to serve in a resealable pack, has ultra-long shelf life, is transported and stored at an ambient temperature and the product is 90% lighter than fresh fruit; of particular interest to airlines and cruise operators.

 

 

The brand states that for a high-capacity cruise ship that serves 32,000 mixed drinks a week, switching to Mixologist’s Garden would save a huge 15 tonnes of weight been carried and more than 1200kg of CO2 emissions per ship, per year.

 

Additionally, all the fruit used by Mixologist’s Garden is 100% Sourced-In-Season and then processed, meaning fresh fruit is not being flown across the world, reducing food miles by 90%, according to the brand.

 

Currently available in 100 serving bags, the garnishes are being used in cocktails, soft drinks, ciders and beers in 1000+ bars which are being exclusively distributed my Molson Coors in their on-trade UK territory.

 

The brand is now in the process of being launched for the travel market for airlines and cruise ships to replace fresh fruit in the drinks service.

 

Mixologist’s Garden is being introduced to the travel industry by former CiR MD and NPD President, Garry Stasiulevicuis.

 

“The impact of covid has seen a boom in consumers drinking more at home, with a huge rise in people searching for ‘easy cocktail recipes’ online,” said Stasiulevicuis.

 

“This has led to around 40% of consumers now saying they want to be able make and consume better quality drinks.

 

“Additionally, the trend has led to consumers being more discerning when purchasing and consuming drinks in bar locations.”

 

According to the brand, using Mixologist’s Garden garnish delivers a better drinking experience as the flavours, colours and aromas infuse into the drink as the fruit rehydrates – a process that takes around 30 seconds after the garnish has been immersed in a liquid.

 

With consumer sized packs being launched in Autumn this year and other fruit pieces in development, Mixologist’s Garden said the interest from brands to use the garnish in sampling activations in airports, as a GWP or as a co-packed item to deliver the perfect serve in a retail format, has been ‘strong’.

 

“We’re bringing to market a highly sustainable product that enhances the consumer experience,” added the brand. “Being able to add value and deliver some clear benefits to those who use the brand is something unique.”