Schweppes is hitting the road to bring its new Schweppes 1783 range of premium mixers to millions of experimental consumers across Great Britain.
With a host of events, masterclasses and experiential activities taking place until the end of the year, consumers will discover how to experiment with the naturally-flavoured Schweppes 1783 range, how to perfectly pair the mixers with a host of premium spirits and enjoy some of the brand's perfectly-served signature cocktails.
The tour will see the team be serving 1783 cocktails at Taste of London in Regents Park, which runs until 17 June.
The brand will be celebrating its partnership with Time Out by sponsoring the magazine's summer party on 23 June and teaming up with some of London's most high-profile bartenders. Serves on offer include:
- Gabriele Manfredi, head bartender at Oriole: Star of Bombay gin, Schweppes 1783 Crisp Tonic Water and fresh lime juice, served with pickled juniper berries
- Paul Rus, head bartender at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon: Plymouth Gin with Schweppes 1783 Salty Lemon Tonic Water, lemon and orange peel and black cardamom seeds
- Antonino Madonia, bartender at Cahoots: Dandelion root-infused Courvoisier VSOP Cognac with Schweppes 1783 Cucumber Tonic Water, rhubarb, lemongrass and apple and ginger jam
- Giovanni Andrea Magliaro, bar manager at Mr Foggs Tavern: Botanist Gin with Schweppes 1783 Light Tonic Water, fresh mint sprig and dry lime
- Greg Miller, co-founder of the King's Head: Finlandia Vodka with Schweppes 1783 Ginger Ale, Limoncello, fresh lemon juice and Schweppes 1783 Salty Lemon Tonic Syrup
A new 'Schweppes Ultimate Mixer Bar' and branded trailer will also be debuted at Goodwood's Festival of Speed and Revival festival in August and September, both of which are sponsored by Schweppes. The 'Schweppes Ultimate Mixer Bar' will also be at Rewind festival in August and Festival No.6 in September.
Schweppes will continue its sampling throughout the Autumn and Winter months at BBC Good Food Palace Festival (21-23 September), during London Cocktail Week (3-7 October) and at BBC Good Food Expo (29 November - 2 December). This programme is all in addition to Schweppes' presence at the Eat and Drink Festival earlier this year and it's all year-round sponsorship of Gin Festival.
The ambitious sampling programme is supported by a £7million integrated marketing spend for 2018.
Simon Harrison, Customer Marketing Director GB at Coca-Cola European Partners, said, 'We're bringing the nation's favourite mixer[1] direct to more people across the country than ever before, by partnering with some of the UK's most renowned events and venues.
'For some consumers, it will be the first time they get to try our new range of premium mixers, 1783, which we revealed at the end of 2017. Expertly crafted by mixologists for consumers to explore, the range features Schweppes' renowned effervescence in combination with unmatched natural flavours which include Crisp Tonic Water, Light Tonic Water, Quenching Cucumber Tonic Water, Salty Lemon Tonic Water and Ginger Ale variants'.
'With the Gin and Tonic summer season upon us, we're confident our campaign will help further grow demand for Schweppes and Schweppes 1783 both in stores and in pubs & bars nationwide.'
The programme of sampling follows the relaunch of Schweppes at the end of 2017 which saw the arrival of a new bottle, which is modelled on the original Schweppes skittle that was blown and formed in a single piece by inventor Jacob Schweppe back in 1783.
The relaunch was supported by a £6.6m campaign and also saw the arrival of Schweppes 1783, a new distinguished range of naturally flavoured premium mixers available in 200ml and 600ml glass bottle formats. Schweppes 1783 pays homage to the year that Jacob Schweppe put the bubble in the bottle and was launched at London Cocktail Week in October 2017.