Aussie Alcohol YouTubers 'Cold Ones' Have Launched Their Own Drink

Aussie alcohol YouTubers Cold Ones have taken their passion for beverages to a whole new level with the launch of their premix drink, Grog.

This fusion Ready-to-Drink (RTD) sensation combines Japanese and Australian flavours, setting itself apart as a unique alternative to popular seltzers in the industry.

In just one month since its official launch, Grog has quickly risen to prominence, boasting an impressive following on Instagram and selling over 250,000 units. To celebrate this achievement, Cold Ones sold 1,000 tickets to their Grog launch party, which was completely sold out in just 7 minutes.

Grog is distilled and canned in Victoria, using a blend of Aussie and Japanese ingredients. Inspired by Japanese soft drinks, this Japanese-Aussie fusion features Shochu, Vodka, and soda in two delicious flavours: grape and peach.

Not only does Grog pack a serious flavour punch, but it also boasts a low-calorie content and contains zero added sugar while maintaining a 6% alcohol formula.

Chad Roberts and Max Stanley, the masterminds behind Cold Ones, have meticulously crafted Grog to reflect the values of genuine Aussie ingenuity.

Max shared their inspiration, saying, "We've spent years testing and reviewing alcohol on our Cold Ones channel but found we were never completely satisfied. The only drinks that ever came close were the ones we found in convenience stores on trips to Japan, but even those we felt could be improved when made locally."

However, bringing Grog to life wasn't without its share of challenges.

Several prospective brewery partners initially turned them down, doubting their selling power. Chad explained, "In the beginning, we approached a number of big breweries, and the general consensus was that they didn't take us seriously and didn't believe we had the selling power. They were happy to put our names on their already established flavours, but we didn't want that; we wanted a drink that felt true to us, so we did it on our terms."

Undeterred by these rejections, Max and Chad embarked on a journey to develop the hard Japanese soda recipe, flavour profile, and design independently. They leaned on the established alcohol label 80Proof to scale distribution.

Grog is now set to be stocked in over 1,000 independent bottle shops across Victoria by the end of October.

For enthusiasts eager to try this groundbreaking drink, Grog will be available in mixed packs of 8 for $44.99 and single-flavour 16-packs for $83.99 from independent liquor stores in Victoria starting on October 20.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Australian states can look forward to the launch in November.

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