ENGAGING BARTENDERS WITH REYKA VODKA

SEASONAL FORAGING expeditions that created a life long love of a craft vodka brand

As a small scale innovation brand from Iceland Reyka vodka had to work especially hard to gain any share of mind with the trade gatekeepers to premium consumers. Our expeditions activated the brand reason for being and put the liquid in the hands of inventive bartenders; creating many an instagrammable moment and putting it on the menu of top venues.

Concept Development | Partner & Influencer Engagement | Event Management

The Challenge

To create a trade engagement programme to turn top bartenders into brand advocates by aligning their own boldness in drinks creation with
Reyka’s ‘inventive spirit’.

THE Insight

Top bartenders are bombarded by spirits brands wanting to court them and gain favour: competitions, tastings and giveaways are all employed by brands with big budgets. We knew that we had to cut through by creating a stand-out experience that connected with Reyka’s authentic provenance and liquid profile to create true advocates.

The APPROCH

Harnessing the brands positioning of ‘inventive spirit’ we searched for territories that connected with the home of the distillery, Iceland. Due the rugged landscape, harsh weather and remote location Icelanders are resourceful people, a trait we explored and wanted to bring to life to demonstrate the human spirit behind the people who craft Reyka vodka.

We established the territory of foraging, which not only connects with Icelandic resourcefulness, it was a zeitgeist emerging amongst our target audience of trend led-bartenders. Working with Fergus the Forager, we developed an immersive experience that took select handfuls of bartenders
to habitats outside London.

We showed them how to explore and forage for ingredients that they could then incorporate into their drinks creations. After a day of discovery, the group partied in a pop-up woodland bar, each making their own cocktails for the group centred on the flora foraged during the day. We’re proud of the unique experience we created to launch Reyka to the on trade.

THE WONDER

Inspired by Reyka’s craft credentials, 4 immersive expeditions stimulated 40 influential bartenders to include foraged ingredients and flavours in their cocktail menus and to talk about the brand with their followers.