Good Spirits? Great Spirits!

At Dhall & Nash we always have our ear to the ground, listening carefully for the next big thing, and the rumbles have indeed told us… we think we found it.

Meet ‘Good Spirits’ – a humble name for a range that knocked our socks off when we first tried them. These pre-mixed cocktails have been concocted by Dave Horan – a mixologist who settled in Auckland after working in cocktail bars in Dublin, Sydney, Melbourne, London, Wellington and Auckland.

Good Spirits is a two pronged affair – a cocktail event service where Dave comes to customers and makes custom cocktails on-site, and a pre-mixed range of four brilliant, premium, bar-ready cocktails that we’re thrilled to now be distributing New Zealand wide!

No doubt most kiwis are familiar with RTDs – and potentially have some rather seedy memories of drinking them (or perhaps no memory at all…) it’s important to emphasize here that pre-made premium cocktails are not the same as the sugary, artificial RTDs of your teenagehood. 

For a while, kiwis weren’t totally sold on the difference between them – but in the last few years (perhaps accelerated by lockdowns) our collective eyes, palates and horizons have been opened to the convenience, potential and in some cases (like Good Spirits) the undeniable tastiness that premium pre-made cocktails offer.

Close your eyes, consumers, we’re talking behind the bar here, and we’re talking about you and your choices!

Just last month, DrinksBiz – the leading on-premise beverage publication in NZ – published a piece detailing the rise of these top-shelf worthy pre-mixes in the trade. Analysing data from CGA by NIQ’s February New Zealand On Premise Pulse+ Report, they explain “The report confirms a robust awareness of draught/tap cocktails and mixed drinks among New Zealand consumers, with more than a third noticing these offerings when eating and drinking out.”

Concerns are raised about consumers’ perception of pre-made drinks, with a preference for cocktails being  freshly mixed BUT the report also found that a whopping 42% of consumers surveyed are warming to the trend as the quality of these solutions improve. Quality like that found in craft beverages such as Good Spirits are quite literally shaping the end-consumers tastes. 

The Shout NZ also analysed data in 2024, and found that despite a more money-conscious shift across the board leading to people looking to stay home a little more, it doesn’t mean death for cocktails; “Half (50%) of 18 to 24-year-olds told CGA’s OPUS that they typically choose cocktails when out – which means the category has a wider appeal than beer (33%) or wine (25%).”

So from a popularity standpoint, they’re great. But what about the bottom line? The Shout NZ also spoke to Chief Executive of Spirits NZ, Robert Brewer about the landscape. 

“Kiwi consumers are now drinking less but are more discerning with their spend…” Brewer says this has created an opportunity for venues to adapt to changed consumer demand, for example; by offering a larger range of cocktails.“Not only are they becoming increasingly popular but are also higher value and higher profit than many other alcoholic drinks… The average cocktail sits about 50% higher from a price point perspective, sells with an 8% higher margin, and makes 68% higher gross profit… In dollar terms, this means you’ll be making about $5.50 more gross profit per cocktail compared with other drink categories.”

Despite consumer spending habits changing, their tastes appear to be more consistent, with the respondents reporting that the Espresso Martini is the most popular cocktail they serve – both in 2023 and at the same time last year.

The Margarita comes in second in 2023, replacing the Mojito which was runner-up in 2022.”

For establishments that didn’t want to offer cocktails – around 10% of those surveyed in the data that The Shout analysed – time and staff experience was cited as the biggest barrier.

“One of the first rules for serving cocktails is time for service,” says Brewer, “Your cocktails should be served as quickly as possible – not only does this keep the customer happy, but efficient service means best returns.”

In The Mix, another reputable drinks authority reporting on market data but from the US, explains “The ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail market is experiencing a dynamic transformation, becoming a significant player in the beverage and hospitality arena…” They go on to list which high-end venues are incorporating pre-made cocktails into their premium bars, restaurants and guest spaces. These include The Marriott, Kimpton, Hyatt and Hilton hotels. 

Their data may be from the US, but consumer trends always trickle down to little ol’ NZ down here eventually, and we believe this shift is starting to happen. With a brand like Good Spirits, this presents a fantastic opportunity for our on-premise establishments to offer convenient, high-quality cocktails consistently. 

“For the beverage and hospitality industry, staying ahead of this trend involves embracing innovation and understanding consumer preferences. By incorporating RTD cocktails into their offerings, businesses can meet the growing demand for convenience and quality, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly changing market.”

You guys may not be pouring the drinks, but boy do you get these tasty drops to a good number of kiwis!

Where the on-premise establishments are seeing a changing market, you are too but from the other end. The Shout NZ explains, “The latest data indicates that some consumers are switching occasions from pubs and bars to off-premise channels. This is partly a result of rising costs, with NIQ’s Consumer Outlook Survey finding that half (51%) of consumers fitted the ‘cautious’ segment of people who are not severely affected financially, but who are watching their spending closely, while another 19% are ‘strugglers’ who experience financial insecurity. The trend towards home drinking has led suppliers to find new and creative ways to tap into these occasions.”

Seven Fifty Daily – while reviewing the changing tastes and cultures of the drinks market in the US – have insight relevant to us down here in Aotearoa, “Though the ready-to-drink cocktail category has existed for decades… it’s only in the past five to seven years that new brands emerged to spark the shift towards high-quality RTD cocktails… Consumers seem to have an endless appetite for RTD cocktail innovations—and it’s likely to propel the category for years to come.”

We’re a smaller market down in NZ, but reading past the mind-boggling $40b, the 12% volume statistic is one we expect to see replicated down here. The world is connected now – trends are international and people are more ‘plugged in’ to what’s happening all over the world. Once we’d never dream of knowing what was selling well in America or Japan but Gen Z, the Millennials and even savvy Gen Y and Baby  Boomers are all being suitably influenced by what goes on online and in the media.

“Flavor innovations and exploration are also continuing to drive growth for RTD cocktails…” Seven Fifty Daily mentions, too, “They want a real spirit that tastes good and uses fresh and whole ingredients. I think once people taste it, they realize this is a possibility and that the category is here to stay.”

Flavour innovations like… say… Lychee Martinis and Fig Negronis? 

All four high-end cocktails are made with the finest ingredients sourced from New Zealand and Italy, delivering a top-shelf experience without the need for mixers or mess. Whether you’re a pro looking for convenience, hosting an intimate dinner yourself or throwing a big ole room shaker, Good Spirits has got you covered. Simply chill, pour, and enjoy a cocktail that meets the highest standards.

Dave – hailing from Ireland – settled in New Zealand and after working the bar himself, decided to make it a more custom experience, bringing cocktail-making to the consumer and hiring himself out to work events whipping up tasty drinks for guests. His reviews are glowing, and eventually he decided to bring the experience to people wanting to create something a little special themselves easily by bottling some of his most popular drinks. The Espresso Martini, Lychee Martini, Chilli Margarita and Fig Negroni are now his  core offerings, presented in beautiful, art-deco-esque fluted glass bottles; they’re as eye-catching as they are delicious.

We are thrilled to bring Good Spirits on board with Dhall & Nash – our core values are to respect those who create wonders by patiently loving and toiling, and us building a bridge through education and experience. Dave at Good Spirits may not be toiling a vineyard but he’s toiling away at his craft, and making wonders that we’re keen to experience with you! Cheers to that.