Diageo bags bars for draught cocktail

26-Jan-2011 - Last updated on 26-Jan-2011 at 15:10 GMT

Draught Smirnoff Vodka Mojitos

Diageo is trialling its first draught cocktail in the UK under its Smirnoff brand.

The new dispense system for Smirnoff Vodka Mojitos is on trial in 500 UK bars.

It consists of a ‘bag-in-box’ system, which sits under the counter, and is connected to a line leading to a font on the bar.

The company has also provided all bars taking part in the trial with an ice-crushing machine to help staff make the perfect cocktail.

Each serve is 12.5 per cent ABV and contains around 1.9 units of alcohol.

Tried and tested

The system is already well established in Spain and Greece, where it was introduced to boost flagging sales in restaurants and bars, and is being tested in Portugal.

Smirnoff Mojito and Cosmopolitan pre-mixed cocktails have already been launched in the off-trade at a RRP of £13.99 for a 75cl bottle to appeal to 25 to 35-year-old professionals that entertain friends at home.

Robyn Black is features editor on BigHospitality's sister publication, The Morning Advertiser.