“Velvety sensation”: Ardagh’s Nitro Can enters new market with “bar-quality” Funkin Cocktails

25 Jun 2019 --- Ardagh’s Nitro Can has been adopted by UK cocktail mixer company Funkin Cocktails in a collaboration that sees the first-ever range of RTD nitro canned cocktails hit the shelves. With premium cocktails increasing in popularity, but traditionally demanding time and skill to serve to customers, Funkin have opted for the streamlined cans to deliver its range an on-the-go format.

The slim aluminum can features a fixed nitrogen-infused widget that mixes the cocktail instantly, ensuring maximum product quality and consistency.

The Nitro Can technology was devised by Ardagh in 2016 to capitalize on the trend for nitro coffee, and with Funkin’s new range it now enters the fast-growing RTD alcoholic beverage market. 

“It features a fixed widget charged with nitrogen, which delivers a distinct sound upon activation and generates a stunning cascading effect that ultimately tops off the beverage with a crema,” Adriana Escobar, Product Manager at Ardagh Metal Beverage, tells PackagingInsights.

“Upon activation, the nitrogen releases bubbles throughout the beverage, generating a cascading pour that ultimately tops off the beverage with a creamy, frothy head. Nitrogen provides a new experience to the beverage, it enhances the aromas and the mouthfeel,” she says.

All the scents, flavors and colors of a bar-made cocktail are retained during the “cascading pour,” resulting in the instant delivery of an attractive beverage with a long-lasting foam head and the smooth, velvety sensation that is usually only achieved in a traditional cocktail shaker.

Not only does the Nitro Can offer an engaging consumer experience, but its stable in-can environment is also a solid packaging solution to protect vulnerable ingredients in the cocktails, notes the company. 

The 200ml range contains real fruit, which makes retaining the integrity of product flavor and safety essential, and the can guarantees shelf stability both in refrigerated and ambient temperatures.

Ben Anderson, Marketing Director at Funkin Cocktails, says: “This has been a great collaboration in our 20th anniversary year – we couldn’t be happier with the final product. Our core values are ingredients, innovation and inspiration, and Ardagh’s Nitro Can solution supports all three. We are really happy to deliver our exciting flavors in a system that keeps the product safe and tasting perfect.”

The cocktails are available in four flavors: Espresso Martini, Passion fruit Martini, Amaretto Sour and the on-trend Pink Gin Fizz – at home, out-and-about or in busy commercial environments previously unable to meet demand for quality mixology, such as restaurants and festival bars. The eye-catching cans feature Funkin’s brand new livery, a silver theme with bold graphics depicting the flavour varietals.

Adriana Escobar, Product Manager at Ardagh Group’s European Metal Beverage division, says: “It’s exciting to be tapping into new categories with our Nitro Can. This exceptional innovative packaging format deserves a wide take-up and we love to see new categories take advantage of all its benefits.”

Funkin’s range is now available in the UK market. 

Last year, Ardagh launched Kahlúa Espresso Martini in Nitro Cans. Kahlúa uses a 250ml slim Nitro Can to provide consumers a velvety smooth Espresso Martini infused with nitrogen. 

By Laxmi Haigh