A Cocktail Club is the Latest NFT Innovation for Drinkers

It was only a matter of time. If there are marriages and arms for sale as NFTs, an NFT cocktail club seems inevitable (and rather tame in comparison). In November, Colton Beverage announced a partnership with mobile authentication technology company Authentic Vision to launch what it says is a first-of-its kind NFT premium cocktail club.

The DL on NFTs

For those who have managed to avoid all discussion re: NFTs (non-fungible tokens) up until now—but whose love of cocktails demands intel, stat—simply put, they are digital assets that represent real-world items. Generally, they come in the form of art and music, but more and more, they are being embraced in the wine and spirits space.

NFTs are intended to be a fraud-proof digital certificate of authenticity, held on the blockchain. Since their debut in 2014, NFTs have become ubiquitous, if not universally beloved. Many see them as a safety hedge against fraud, but they are also an excellent way to generate buzz and interest from people who might not normally be running, say, to check out the next canned cocktail release.

Alcohol-themed NFTs have abounded recently, and for details on some of the latest, check our coverage on NFTs more generally, a whisky NFT buried in a bog, and on Robert Mondavi’s embrace of the movement.

Why should the average cocktail enthusiast care about Colton Club an NFT cocktail club—and how does the limited edition offering work? We reached out to the Alvin Widitora, Colton Club’s Chief Technical Officer to find out more.

The NFT space is crowded; what makes your offering compelling?

Alvin Widitora photo courtesy of Colton Club

Colton Club is truly a first-of-its-kind cocktail membership club. We believe we are the first in the NFT space to ship ready-to-drink (RTD) craft cocktails to constituents on a monthly basis. Each month features a signature recipe or “formula” with four months of deliveries comprising a thematic “flight.” We are currently able to deliver products to doorsteps in most states within the contiguous U.S.

Members will enjoy original cocktails created by our chief mixologist Brian Johnston, lovingly crafted with fresh ingredients, boutique “grain-to-glass” spirits, and house-made syrups. These are served in our distinct, patent-pending, infinitely recyclable steel capsule. The finished product is delivered in a stunning, gift-ready, six-pack box featuring original artwork (details below) that represents the monthly recipe or “formula” on offer.

In addition to club shipments, the membership experience will be augmented by additional benefits such as invites to gated virtual experiences and exclusive real life, in-person events.

At Colton, we are fully embracing the art side of the NFT world by collaborating with fine artists to develop unique visual expressions for our products. Los Angeles based artist Daniel Matzman has already created an original piece to commemorate our first flight, “Mooncraft.” The custom artwork will appear in product packaging as well as several NFT offerings.

Who do you see as your target audience?

We are targeting a 50/50 male/female split. Basically, cocktail enthusiasts who enjoy premium experiences, fine dining, entertaining, travel, the arts, live events, and the finer things. On a side note, the Web3 space is more male-skewed, but the overall ready-to-drink cocktail market is predominantly female.

How limited is the first edition (looks like 100?)? What will the live event entail?

Our LIFT OFF preview pass launched on November 30, 2022. To mint Lift Off and find more information visit: ColtonClub.io. A private event during Miami Art Week/Art Basel took place to celebrate the launch of the mint to the public, in partnership with @rickhousedao, @web3expo, @onchainmonkey communities.

More and more cocktail enthusiasts are interested in what goes into their cocktails—was that an important consideration for you?

Treecraft Distillery spirits and cocktail ingredients

Definitely. Our formulas start with premium, “grain to glass” spirits from Treecraft Distillery, an artisanal San-Francisco based producer.

From there, we mix in house made syrups, fresh juices, and select herbs using a variety of methods including infusion. Unlike nearly all of our competitors, we deliver a product free of any “natural” i.e., lab-created flavors. Combined with our proprietary steel capsule, it’s about as close you can get to drinking a freshly mixed drink at the bar. In fact, it’s often mistaken as such!

Is it only available via the NFT or can people try your cocktails elsewhere?

Currently, the only ways to access the cocktails is to obtain the LIFT OFF preview NFT, or attend one of our in-person events or an event that we will be presenting our products, such as the upcoming BevNET Live in Santa Monica. Ultimately, our goal is to expand beyond our LIFT OFF preview program and soon provide the ability to purchase Colton’s cocktails directly.

What can you tell us about the team?

Brian Johnson of Colton Club — Brian Johnston of Colton Club

Our chief mixologist Brian Johnston cut his teeth as bartender at the Mezcal Bar in downtown Riverside, CA, where, as one of its founding members, he crafted elegantly attired, agave-based concoctions using ingredients from scratch. He soon moved on to private bartending and creating unparalleled cocktails for an array of discriminating clientele. Brian brings uncommon care and dedication to his craft. The only thing more important to him than creating the perfect cocktail is to make sure your experience at his bar is unmatched.

In master distiller Nate Byerly of Treecraft Distillery, Johnston has found a “kindred spirit” (so to speak). Byerly’s sublime spirits betray a deft touch, bringing exquisite and subtle flavors to the fore. This is a perfect match to Johnston’s ethos of creating complex and nuanced cocktail flavors that, rather than masking the base spirit, brings out its essential nature.