Bibo Barmaid, a smart self-serve cocktail machine that allows consumers to create expertly blended mixed drinks at home with the touch of a button, will soft launch in the US retail channel by Christmas and has launched a new crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to expedite its time to market.
The countertop appliance will sell for $249 and is the brainchild of Debra Walker, an 25-year veteran marketer of Fortune 500 brands.
Walker believes that, whether for a Girls’ Night Out, New Year’s Eve or Super Bowl party, Bibo is the solution for great cocktails, offering a variety of tastes without the hassle usually associated with preparing cocktails. The three-part system includes a Bibo Barmaid unit, proprietary Bibo alcohol pouches and Bibo cocktail mixer pouches.
The 1.6oz pouches will initially include flavours like cucumber melon, tangerine paloma, margarita and appletini.
Making Bibo cocktails is easy, the company claimed: consumers can simply turn the machine on, fill it with cold water, select a cocktail mix and a spirit pouch and insert the two into the Bibo Barmaid. Then they pull down the handle, press the “mix” button and, in less than 20 seconds, a professionally mixed drink is ready to enjoy.
The brand’s campaign on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo is seeking to raise $25,000 within a month.
“Necessity is the mother of invention and that’s what happened with the Bibo Barmaid,” said Walker, explaining the origins between the Bibo Barmaid. “I’ve hosted and attended many parties where the drinks were either too weak or too strong, and too many open alcohol bottles and mixers made it a mess, resulting in wasted leftovers. During a girlfriend get-together, I realised there had to be a better way to make cocktails. New technologies can make life easier and up the fun-factor. That’s what Bibo is all about. The world’s best bartender is right in your own home. Now you can make great drinks, choose from a wide variety of flavours, and forego the headache of buying all the ingredients and storing them after the party.”
Flavour specialist Givaudan is already on board as a Bibo Barmaid partner and has created eight flavours, including chocolate peppermint martini, rum punch and Malibu mai tai, with a half-dozen more slated for 2017.
“Flavour variety is the name of the game in today’s spirits and cocktail market, as consumers are not only looking for unique flavours, but also easy flavour variety solutions,” said Eric Spenske, Givaudan’s vice-president of marketing. “When Ms Walker came to us and asked us to work with her in creating cocktail flavours ranging from the classics to beach cocktails to unique spa and garden flavours, we were thrilled to help. We believe that this single-serve solution – with these types of unique flavours – will be a huge success.”
“It’s time to ‘Rethink the Drink’ and revolutionise the way we enjoy refreshing adult beverages,” added Walker. “And now, with our Indiegogo campaign, the public can help take Bibo Barmaid to the next level.”
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