By Ashley Bray
Don’t miss the other articles in our series on The Rise of RTDs: Coit Spirits Aims for a True Cocktail in a Can and On-Premise Growth Drivers.
BeTini Spirits is no stranger to the ready-to-drink (RTD) market. The company was founded in 2014 to deliver a luxury RTD cocktail experience.
“When I created the brand, I really wanted to create something that looked and felt like a luxury cocktail that every girl could afford to buy. And I’m really proud that we’ve hit that,” says Julie Stevens, founder & CEO of BeTini. “When we formulated them, I wanted them to taste like a proper cocktail. So they have a lot more alcohol in them than most RTDs. Most RTDs, especially now with all the seltzers in the market, are far lower. And ours is 25% proof.”
The low-calorie, low-carb, naturally sweetened premium cocktails feature six flavors in 750 ml glass bottles: Appletini, Lemon Drop, Margarita, Mojito, Pink Cranberry, and Tropical Sunset.
Recently released this summer, BeTini Minis now feature four-packs of 200 ml plastic bottles available in Lemon Drop, Margarita, Pink Cranberry, or Tropical Sunset flavors. BeTini has plans to roll out the remaining two flavors in the smaller size by next spring.
With the on-premise friendly size of BeTini Minis, the brand now aims to expand into restaurants and bars. For one, the individualized size is easier and safer to serve in the age of COVID-19. “You’re not worrying about pouring into cups or touching someone else’s cup,” says Stevens.
In addition, the BeTini Minis fit well in an on-premise market that is currently struggling with labor shortages. “A lot of restaurants are having a real labor shortage due to COVID, so it’s hard to get bartenders to come in,” says Stevens. “I think people now just want something easy.”
Using a product like BeTini takes the guesswork and prepwork out of cocktail making while still allowing the bartender some room for creativity by adding spirits or garnishes to the RTDs. Stevens recommends placing the BeTini RTDs on your bar’s menu under the low-carb, low-calorie section versus in their own separate section.
The BeTini Minis also work great for takeout. “With the new regulations allowing people to get take out, it’s a great option to get a real cocktail for takeout,” says Stevens, who also notes that the bottles are a much more aesthetically pleasing option than plain tupperware or takeaway cups.
Try one of the BeTini cocktail recipes below!
BeTini Cranberry Cucumber Cooler
Ingredients:
2 oz BeTini Pink Cranberry
¾ oz Cranberry Juice
¾ oz BeTini Lemon Drop
3 slices of Cucumber
Club Soda
Ice
Directions:
In a shaker, muddle 2 slices of cucumber. Add the remaining ingredients and ice, then shake. Strain into a collins glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with a cucumber slice.
Apple Lychee Tini
Ingredients:
3 oz BeTini Appletini
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 teaspoon diced ginger
3 lychees
Ice
Martini glass
Directions:
In a shaker, muddle ginger, lychees, and lemon juice. Then add BeTini Appletini. Shake with ice and fine strain into a martini glass. Garnish with one lychee.
BeTini Lemon Drop Punch
Ingredients:
2 oz BeTini Lemon Drop
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 oz of red wine
club soda
3 raspberries
1 drop of vanilla extract
Lemon wheel & raspberry for garnish
Ice
Collins glass
Directions:
Muddle lemon juice and 3 raspberries in shaker and add BeTini Lemon Drop, wine and 1 drop vanilla extract. Shake and strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Top off the glass with club soda and garnish with lemon wheel and raspberry slice.
