Overview
The idea of dipping into your own liquor cabinet and fashioning drinks — that aren't just rum and Coke — for friends sounds like the ideal way to start a night. But in reality, unless you're a seasoned mixologist, that process is probably hindered by a stockpile of unidentifiable dregs in the back of the pantry or by trying to track down, and splash out on, exotic ingredients. Enter: New Zealand's first luxury cocktail delivery service.
The Cocktail Collective arose from the ashes of New Year's Eve 2016 when a group of friends were looking to elevate their morning after with cocktails, but found the admin unappealing.
The idea is simple: users select the cocktail of their choice online and pick a location anywhere in New Zealand. Each cocktail box is filled with fresh produce, portioned small batch spirits and a simple-to-read recipe card that will make between 10-15 serves. All you need is ice and something to drink out of.
The company's mixologist and spirit lecturer, Grant Pickup, has 25 years experience in the drinks-making business and has whipped up recipes for: margarita, espresso martini, Moscow mule, Southside royale, Beachcomber and Tom Collins. The first Cocktail Collective box recipe is an espresso martini in collaboration with coffee roasters Altezano Brothers. It features a cold brew coffee specifically crafted for the cocktail to give a thick longer-lasting crema crown — the gold mark of a quality espresso martini that means the 10th pour looks and tastes just like the first.
Cocktail Collective is now delivering cocktail boxes across the country. Find them here.