Four Loko intros Bartender Series flavors

CHICAGO — Phusion Projects’ Four Loko brand is introducing its latest series of products, the Bartender Series of its flavored malt beverages. The company said the Bartender Series is aimed at delivering the taste and experience of a mixed drink in the ready-to-drink category.

The Bartender Series — taken from drinks made by professional bartenders — currently has three flavors — Blue Mofo, Purple Hooter and Pink Scorpion, whose can designs are inspired by graffiti art.

“Four Loko is synonymous with camouflage packaging,” Phusion Projects VP marketing Jenna Shklyar said. “With Bartender Series, we did not want to lose the bold design Four Loko is known for. Instead, we embraced it and built on it by introducing simple, yet powerful graffiti imagery. On the flavor front, collaborating with professional bartenders helped us merge the authentic experience of trying unique cocktails at a bar, with the convenience of a can. The result is that while Four Loko's Bartender Series branches out into mixed drink inspired territory, it stays true to the adventure Four Loko stands for as a brand.”

Four Loko’s 10% alcohol by volume Bartender Series is currently available in the United States in 16-oz. cans. Phusion Projects said that while the line only recently launched, according to IRI data for the four weeks ended March 19, Bartender Series’ month-to-mont unit sales growth was 113.3%, compared with the 10.9% growth in the overall 16-oz. premixed cocktails segment. This is coming after the company’s February launch of its Bold Series of drinks.