Overview
Jumping Goat have come up with a solution to the age-old 'to go out, or to turn in' conundrum. Now, the answer is always go out. Exhaustion is no longer an excuse to forego the clubs, nor is drinking oneself into bed a viable option. Jumping Goat is alcohol on steroids. It's a cold brewed coffee liquor, with all the effects of a shot of espresso and a shot of straight liquor combined. They reckon it'll keep us dancing till dawn wearing bras as hats. Challenge accepted.
We chat with with the Goatfather, Callum O'Brien, plus find out details below on how to win a night out at 1885's club night Molly, including Limo pick up for you and five friends.
Concrete Playground: Give us a rundown of Jumping Goat's history.
Callum O'Brien: I retired from professional squash after the 2006 Commonwealth Games and got into hospitality. I owned a bar for a stint and then worked for DB Breweries doing concept development for a few years. I launched Jumping Goat at the beginning of 2014 with the help of Allan Cave, a massively talented Melbourne-based designer who has done all the design to date, and the product is now in over 200 bars nationwide.
CP: Where did your idea for espresso alcohol come from?
CO: When I was younger I would mix an espresso shot with vodka and shot it on my way out. This tasted like crap but worked a treat so I figured there was room for something like it in the market. I started experimenting with one of those cheap little espresso machines where you put water in the back – I would put vodka in the back to make vodka espresso shots. This tasted even worse. Then the cold brewed thing got my attention and it has all stemmed from there.
CP: Why Jumping Goat?
CO: I started Jumping Goat as I saw a massive disconnect between real coffee and coffee liqueur as people know it. It is a fun brand, tastes like real coffee, has the awakening effects of real coffee, and caters for those people who don't want a sweet, syrupy liqueur. We see ourselves as a liquor not a liqueur – a liqueur you sip before bed, this you drink when you want to stay out of bed.
CP: Where did the name Jumping Goat come from?
CO: Legend has it that the first person to discover the benefits of the coffee plant was an Ethiopian Goat Herder named Kaldi. His goats used to eat these berries and jump around like crazy. Old Kaldi gave them a crack too and discovered what we now know as a coffee buzz. I am trying to do to humans what the coffee bean did to those lucky little goats.
CP: You're a young start-up, what challenges have you faced in establishing the brand?
CO: Getting the brand out there is the hard thing. Big liquor companies have big budgets and can block you out of events and bars. Luckily bartenders have embraced Jumping Goat which has helped get the product into consumer hands.
CP: What separates JG from the rest?
CO: We're not a traditional coffee liqueur. At 35% alcohol, it packs some punch and since we use a shitload of quality single origin Guatemalan coffee beans it also contains a nice little caffeine hit - about 70mg of caffeine per 100ml (drip coffee contains about 50mg/100ml and Red Bull about 32mg/100ml). There's no coffee flavouring or colouring, it's all natural coffee bean goodness.
Win a Night Out at Molly's + Limo Pick Up
Jumping Goat sponsors Molly, a club night every Wednesday at 1885 and we have a VIP experience to give away thanks to Jumping Goat and 1885. The prize includes a ride for you and 5 friends to the event in the 1885 Limo, Jumping Goat tasters on the trip, and a $100 1885 Voucher when you arrive.
To enter in the draw, email auckland@concreteplayground.co.nz with the subject line: MOLLY THE GOAT, and tell us the name of your pet goat, if you were to have one. Best name wins.
Winner will be drawn Friday, 22 May 2015. Must be over 18 to enter/win. ID will be required for all winners.
