COA collaborates with Young Master to release canned cocktail

Hong Kong cocktail bar COA has partnered with local, award-winning brewery Young Master to create a canned version of the bar’s signature La Paloma de Oaxaca.

I n times of social distancing, many bars around the world have no choice but to temporarily suspend their business. Some of them may chose to create bottled cocktails for takeaway. However, such packaging may sacrifice the freshness of the concoction.

To counter the problem, COA in Hong Kong initiated a partnership with local craft brewery Young Master to develop a scaled-up recipe of the bar’s signature drink, La Paloma de Oaxaca – a cocktail made from Tequila, mezcal and grapefruit soda.

According to the duo, the scaling-up and packaging challenge entailed not only replicating the flavour profile, but also making it shelf-stable and designed for home enjoyment. Both teams had worked on multiple recipes and processes to match not only technical parameters like acidity and specific gravity, but also sensory attributes that make the drink taste well balanced, refreshing, and moreish.

The new recipe features Arquitecto Tequila, Alipus mezcal and a home-brewed grapefruit soda by Young Master. Each 330ml can of the cocktail would make the equivalent of two servings at the bar. The drink will come with the garnish choice of a sachet of worm salt or grapefruit peel in order to complete the experience.

The canned cocktails are now available for sale at Young Master’s online store, together with their full range of beers and merchandise, as well as selected bottle shops around the city.