Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/65124
Cocktails in a Pouch Aren't a Crock W hile at last month's WSWA Convention & Exposition (see page 119), I fell in love. Actually, I fell in love more than once, as every booth and suite offered new product experiences to explore and brands to discover, so I found myself awash in adoration for a variety of new Bloody Mary mixers, bar snacks and innovative beverages that will surely line this column in upcoming issues. But one product that really caught my eye was a pleasant surprise in so many ways: Meet Croctails, the soon-to-be-released drink-in-a-pouch that is, I must admit, surprisingly delicious. Wine-based and offered in five fun flavors, Croctails will be rolling out this summer in a package that's a functionally fantastic throwback to the innocence of childhood. GoPouch President Henri-Luc Martin and VP of Business Development Mark Newman. "It's the grown-up version of the Capri Sun," explains Mark Newman, VP of Business Development for GoPouch Beverages. For millennial imbibers who have fond childhood memories of Capri Suns from long hot days at summer camp, the connection will be instant—it was for me . . . and our photographer . . . and THE TASTING PANEL's Advertising Director, Sara Deckers. Cool packaging and nostalgia will only go so far with this writer, however, so the best thing about Croctails is that they're actually—gasp!— delicious. Devoid of the overly-sweet tones that plague many RTDs, throwing a few Crocktail pouches in the freezer results in a heavenly adult slurpee-like effect that will make outdoor excursions awesome. At WSWA, Croctails flowed out of an on-premise slushie-style machine that will be perfect fits for casual beachy bars or Bourbon Street, and I found love in its Sweet Tea expression. With notes of actual black tea and light mango-lemon frutiness, this is one drink that will warm your heart— just watch out for the brain freeze. —Rachel Burkons may 2012 / the tasting panel / 39 Imported by Vineyard Brands, Inc. Birmingham, AL. PHOTO: DANIELLE "DEED" DEBRUNO