Bulleit creates bottled cocktails

Diageo-owned Bulleit Bourbon has released its first ready-to-drink cocktail range, comprising a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned.

The ‘bar-quality’ whiskey-based serves were created with the help of bartenders. The expressions have an ABV of 37.5% and come in 375ml and 750ml bottles.

“As a brand rooted in bartender culture, we collaborated with a number of leading bartenders to perfect and refine two timeless whiskey cocktails, the Old Fashioned and Manhattan,” said Sophie Kelly, senior vice-president of whiskies, Diageo.

“With Bulleit Crafted Cocktails, consumers can pour and serve bar quality, crafted cocktails wherever they are. Whilst nothing can replace the full experience of enjoying a drink made by your local bartender, Bulleit Crafted Cocktails are as close as you can get.”

The Bulleit Old Fashioned cocktail is a blend of Kentucky straight Bourbon, aromatic orange bitters and simple syrup.

Meanwhile, the Bulleit Rye Manhattan offers a balance of sweet vermouth and bitters with a ‘layer of complexity’.

“It can take time to master a Manhattan or Old Fashioned,” said Adam Geissler, Bulleit brand ambassador.

“Luckily bartenders are masters of their craft and have been skilfully making these cocktails with our whiskeys for years, so it was only right we had them help us create these products to help put bartender-quality cocktails in the hands of people (21-plus) to enjoy without the time or fuss of cocktail preparation.”

The bottled cocktails can be served neat, chilled or over ice.

To support the launch of the drinks, Bulleit has worked with bartenders on a content series that explores ways to garnish.

Bulleit’s Manhattan and Old Fashioned bottled cocktails are priced at US$29.99 per 750ml.

Earlier this week, Diageo opened a US$110 million manufacturing site in Illinois, US, to help accelerate its RTD portfolio.

In September 2021, Diageo opened its first carbon neutral whiskey distillery in Kentucky, one of the largest of its kind in North America.