Two-part package puts consumers in good spirits

Despite the craft beer craze of the past few years, beer lost a portion of its share of U.S. alcohol revenue in 2015 to liquor for the sixth consecutive year, due in large part to a cocktail renaissance, according to data released by the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. The Wall Street Journal reports that total alcohol revenue for producers rose 30% over the past 10 years to $68 billion from $52.2 billion. Of that, liquor increased 40% to $24.1 billion.

Yumix, LLC is a beverage company specializing in ready-to-mix cocktails. The company has developed the Clasper bottle, engineered by Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI). It is a combination of two polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers (with the bottom container snapping into the base of the larger top bottle) and a shrink label. The bottom holds 50 ml of premium alcohol and features a heat-applied aluminum-foil seal. The main bottle holds 6.5 ounces of hot-filled, shelf-stable juice and is topped by a 38 mm polypropylene closure. Shrink-label graphics include usage instructions. 

“The Clasper addresses several trends, both from a packaging and consumer perspective,” says Tracy Momany, vice president, product development group, PTI. “The package is portable, and PET is highly recyclable. For consumers, portability, instant gratification, responsible drinking, and food safety are all addressed.”

To use, the consumer separates the shrink sleeve at the seam between the top and bottom containers, via a perforation, unsnaps the bottom container from the base of the primary bottle, removes the heat seal and closure from the bottom and top components respectively, and pours the alcohol into the juice.