The convenience of pre-mixed, craft cocktails has arrived. Alongside of the rise of semi-prepared meal delivery services, like Blue Apron and Chef’d, there’s a growing market for bringing the craft bar home. Pre-cooked, pre-chopped and other convenience foods have been around for decades, but many people want to enjoy some aspects of food and drink prep, but still shave time off of these chores.
Is making cocktails at home so difficult that we need these products? As someone who has a well-stocked home bar and loves mixing drinks, I can’t entirely relate. But then I went camping, and the convenience of the pre-mixed, ready to serve cocktail suddenly more sense. I could imagine cabin getaways, girl trips, um… train trips… with cocktails at the ready, without having to pack along several bottles.
Portland-based Couture Cocktails launched earlier this year with a pre-mixed and bottled Manhattan. Owner Laura Brady left the field of law behind to work in Oregon’s wine industry, where she ran a wine tour business and online wine shop. She saw an opportunity to create a product of her own, and bottled their first product in April, launching with Manhattans.
“The idea for Couture was born out of making Manhattans for years and my love for entertaining,” Brady says. “I always have a signature cocktail at my dinner parties and found myself stuck behind the bar, rather than visiting with my guests. I decided to make two bottles of Manhattans—one for granny and one for my party. It was a huge success and got me thinking there were probably more people out there who would love the convenience of having access to a high quality cocktail in one bottle.”
Brady is planning to introduce another cocktail in the Couture line next year, and hopes to release one new product a year. They are only available in Oregon liquor stores currently, but it’s easy to imagine buying it Whole Foods along with a semi-prepared dinner from the deli.
Brady recommends pouring the Couture Manhattan into a shaker filled with ice, stir and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a good quality cherry and you’re ready for cocktail hour.
