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SB meets… George Bagos, Three Cents

A trailblazer in flavoured sodas, Three Cents was founded in 2014 in Athens, Greece, by four bartenders: George Bagos, George Tsirikos, Dimitris Dafopoulos, and Vassilis Kalantzis. We spoke with one of the founding members to learn how the brand celebrated its 10th anniversary and to discover its latest innovations.

Three-cents-tonic-water
George Bagos, co-founder of Three Cents

What inspired you to establish Three Cents?

At the time, the flavoured soda category was non-existent. We saw an opportunity to craft a product that would allow cocktails and long drinks to shine, and enable bartenders to get creative. We were united by the goal of making the perfect mixer, and dedicated all our spare time to studying and learning everything there was to know on the subject. Our newfound knowledge, passion for bubbles, and love for Mexican drinks and culture set us on a mission to bring the Paloma to Europe. We worked tirelessly to create a pink grapefruit soda that offered maximum carbonation and flavour.

What makes Greece an ideal place for crafting mixers?

Greece offers such beautiful natural produce from which we can take advantage and draw inspiration. At a time when provenance is so important to consumers, we’re proud to say that – where possible – we locally source ingredients to create our range of sodas and tonics. Greece also boasts some of the finest bars and bartenders in the world, so we have the perfect talent to use our drinks and create exciting combinations.

How did Three Cents celebrate its 10th anniversary last year?

In the past decade, we’ve been at the forefront of flavour innovation. Three Cents’ 10th anniversary was a major milestone, so it was only right to celebrate all year round. For World Paloma Day, we paid homage to our beloved cocktail throughout May with our ‘One & True Paloma’ campaign, inviting fans of Mexico’s most-loved cocktail to bars and venues across Europe.

We also exhibited at the Athens Bar Show for the ninth consecutive year. We used the show to reflect on where it all started, honour our journey with the Paloma, and spotlight the brand’s future and our dedication to innovating the category. At the show, we unveiled our latest product, a first of its kind: our delicious Fig Leaf Soda, crafted to meet consumers’ thirst for a unique and trending flavour profile.

What has the response to Fig Leaf Soda been like?

The response to the Fig Leaf Soda launch has been strong. The flavour profile has recently proven popular in the culinary scene and is carving out its place in drinks. We’re incredibly proud to spearhead the category by bringing Fig Leaf Soda to the UK market. With the team at Cask Liquid Marketing behind us, we believe it will be welcomed by consumers looking for sophisticated drinks and premium brands that offer authenticity, transparency and naturally crafted products.

The real beauty of Fig Leaf Soda is that in addition to lending itself to so many cocktails and long drinks with its sweet and fruity profile, but with a subtle and earthy undertone, it can also be enjoyed neat as a refreshing non-alcoholic option.

What does Three Cents have planned for 2025?

2025 is set to be a big year for us. We’ll be working hard to introduce our Fig Leaf Soda to venues, bartenders and consumers across the UK and embarking on a series of big-scale and high-tempo activations throughout the year. Expect lots of noise in May as we again spotlight the Paloma and our Pink Grapefruit Soda, as well as a summer of love for our range of tonics.

Three Cents will also be the exclusive and official mixer partner of the Top 500 Bars and the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for the second consecutive year.

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