Zero Proof Cocktail Kits
"Three Wisconsin companies join forces to provide an alcohol alternative beverage kit for customers"
Siren Shrubs, Tapped Maple Syrup and Top Note Tonic, three start-up food and beverage companies based in Wisconsin, joined forces recently to curate a unique offering for customers; four distinct “zero-proof” cocktail kits that went on sale on their e-commerce sites last week.
Although a zero-proof cocktail kit may seem out of the norm for Wisconsin culture, according to Siren Shrub co-founder Cozzolino, “The non-alcoholic or sober curious movement continues to gain ground through influencers on social media, podcasts, and print media who are building community around - and normalizing - alcohol-free lifestyles.” Some Americans have seen this movement come to life with the addition of zero-proof cocktail offerings in bars and restaurants. Top Note founder Pellettieri noted “bars started offering non-alcoholic cocktails with Top Note in them in 2018.” Moving the non-alcoholic, cocktail menu concept mainstream still shows ample room for growth. The sober community attributes having an inclusive, non-judgemental drinking culture as a key factor when choosing where to frequent; also reporting a willingness to pay a premium for drinks crafted with the same attention to detail as their alcoholic counterparts.
However, with the Covid-19 pandemic temporarily shuttering bars, sober curious consumers needed the opportunity to create fantastic tasting, adult-styled beverages in the comforts of their own home. Looking to expand their online offerings to this community, Cozzolino and McCord began curating combinations of mixers, syrups and their shrubs. Being closely connected to Jeremy Solin of Tapped Maple Syrup, the syrup provider for their Maple Ginger shrub, they knew Tapped’s infused syrups would add a nice complexity to the drinks. For mixers, Cozzolino and McCord chose Top Note, a unique, local mixer they found paired well with their early concoctions.
Simultaneously Mary Pellettieri of Top Note took notice of Siren Shrub at Outpost, and began following them on social media. “All it took was a few direct messages for us to connect. We saw we had the common interest of offering a kit for customers” said Pelletterri. The companies decided to work together to offer these boxes as a gesture to their customers who are seeking cocktails without alcohol.
“It may seem unfathomable in the land of beer and old fashioned’s, but the sober curious movement has taken root here in Wisconsin, and we are happy to offer ways for people to embrace it,” said McCord.
The companies came up with 4 boxes total. Each Zero-Proof Cocktail kit contains: 1 - 16 oz bottle of Siren Shrub, 2 - 8 oz bottles of Tapped Maple Syrup (one infused, one pure), 2 - 4pk of Top Note Tonics (one flavored, one club), and a recipe card.
The flavor combinations for the inaugural launch include:
Kit #1 - Basil, Hops, Tonic
Kit #2 - Maple Ginger, Cardamom, Grapefruit
Kit #3 - Rhubarb, Espresso, Ginger Beer
Kit #4 - Tart Cherry, Hibiscus, Bitter Lemon
The kits are available for purchase online and ship within the continental US. Siren Shrub Co. is carrying all four and Tapped Maple Syrup and Top Note are currently carrying Kit #1 with plans to rotate in a new kit each season.
The companies hope they can pitch the combination to more restaurant groups and retailers seeking to differentiate their beverage offerings and have something for the sober curious customer soon. “We have ambitions that by Q4 we can offer a kit of some sort to a larger retailer in the state as a means to support our local sober community,” said Pellettieri.
# # #
Tapped Maple Syrup produces craft infused, barrel-aged, and pure maple syrup from sustainably managed forests in northern Wisconsin. We’ve been making rich, flavorful maple syrup in small batches for 5 generations. We also work with other neighboring maple syrup makers who share our values and passion for delicious syrup. Our maple syrups are used to mix cocktails, flavor breakfast cereal, sweeten coffee and tea, top ice cream, and substitute for processed sugar in recipes. Tapped infused maple syrups include Cardamom, Cinnamon, Espresso, Ginger, Hibiscus, Hops, Red Pepper, Old Fashioned Cocktail, Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters, and Black Umami Garlic (soon to be released). For more information on Tapped Maple Syrup, visit www.tappedmaplesyrup.com.
Siren Shrub Company is a women-owned company focused on creating an inclusive drinking culture. Loved by the drinkers and non-drinkers alike, Siren Shrubs take drinks up a notch with their unique flavor complexities. They are sophisticated mixers crafted from tangy, organic apple cider vinegar, fresh fruits, roots, and herbs, and sweetened with just the right amount of organic cane sugar or maple syrup. Siren Shrub Co. highly values collaboration within the local food system and are happy to reflect a close relationship with a Wisconsin farm partner in every bottle. The current lineup of shrubs include Basil (Whitefeather Organics), Tart Cherry (Seaquist Orchards), Maple Ginger (Tapped Maple Syrup), and Rhubarb (Epic Nature LLC). Siren Shrub Co is excited to expand our product portfolio with Zero-Proof Cocktail Kits and the upcoming release of a ready-to-drink Sparkling Shrub. For more information visit: www.sirenshrubs.com.
Top Note Tonic crafts the most complex and layered beverage mixers on the market. Founder, Mary Pellettieri, spent 20 years as one of the brightest minds in the craft beer game. Having mastered the art of making award-winning beer, Mary set her sights on revolutionizing craft cocktail mixers. Featuring unique botanicals and unexpected ingredients, Top Note mixers provide the consumer with beautiful flavors that complement the best spirits in the market. Top Note allows consumers to experiment with confidence and create complex, not complicated, high ball cocktails, or mocktails of all kinds. The Top Note product lineup currently includes Ginger Beer, Classic Tonic Water, Grapefruit, Bitter Lemon Tonic and their award-winning Indian Tonic Water. For more information about Top Note Tonics, visit www.topnotetonic.com.