The portable cocktails you can take with you anywhere

We’ll soon farewell Melbourne’s miserable winter. And when you break out the picnic rug this spring you might be popping a few of these clever creations in the Esky.

Four Pillars Gin negroni in a can, by Curatif. Picture: Supplied.

Would you drink a cocktail from a can?

Last month espresso martini and negroni cans hit bottle shop shelves, thanks to Melbourne entrepreneur Matt Sanger and his company Curatif.

Canned margarita, aviation, daiquiri and bloody mary cocktails are also in the works.

“We want people to say ‘that’s a great espresso martini’ and that they couldn’t believe it came from a can,” Sanger says.

He wanted to create a sustainable product that could be enjoyed anywhere and tasted great.

But putting the idea into practice wasn’t easy.

Archie Rose Distilling Co vodka and Seven Seeds espresso martini. Picture: Supplied.

The Four Pillars Gin negroni. Picture: Supplied.

After finding quality producers to work with (think Seven Seeds, Archie Rose Distilling Co and Four Pillars), Sanger had to then find the right tin.

Curatif wanted the can to be recyclable, with a lining that can hold corrosive spirits and coffee up to a year and be the right size.

No Australian factories made small cans, ranging from 120-150ml, so Sanger looked to Japan.

But after landing a contract with a Japanese factory, plans stalled when a typhoon hit the country in mid-2018 and weeks later it was decommissioned after flooding.

Sanger turned to Europe and found a company in Holland, and production started earlier this year.

“We had these great aspirations and agreed at the start we wouldn’t compromise on those aspirations,” he says.

“We could have used off-brand vodka, any raw material or used non-recyclable packaging, but we didn’t.”

Sanger is also thankful Aussie producers agreed to help make the cocktails.

“We knew we had to use ultra-premium ingredients, like Archie Rose vodka. It has this crispness to it that works perfectly with the Seven Seeds coffee.”

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Curatif's Jeremy Spencer, Matt Sanger and Sam Lane. Picture: Supplied.

Seven Seeds created a special espresso blend to work in the canned cocktail.

So is Curatif trying to replace the bar-made cocktail with its product?

“Not everyone wants or can afford to go out for cocktails every night of the week,” Sanger says.

“This way you can have one on the beach, camping or on a plane.”

Curatif is available at Dan Murphy’s and independent liquor stores nationwide.

The espresso martini can is $12 for 120ml or $45 for a four-pack.

@kara_irving