In the MIX

A deconstructed spirits kit is shaking up drinks night, discovers Douglas Blyde

After a decade of research and experimentation, inventor Mark Stone has launched his very own bar in a box, a venture set on providing ‘a sense of theatre and wonder for creatively serving drinks at home’.

Named ‘Hocus’, Stone’s chest of curios contains two tiers of tiny ampoules encapsulating the essences of gin, vodka, rum, tequila and bourbon. These have been subjected to a process Stone calls ‘deconstructive ethanology’ in which the original spirit is separated from alcohol then concentrated. To revive them, snap open a vial, stir the liquid into a measure of supplied neutral spirit, then sip straight-up, with a mixer or in a cocktail. Non-drinkers can enjoy the vials with a mixer, leaving out the measure of spirit.

To produce each batch of 2,000 kits, Stone established a factory in the former skittles alley of his local social club with electricity drawn from solar panels. Carbon-neutral and fully recyclable, the packaging was designed by an agency that works with Nike and Pixar and contains ‘secret messages about what the numbers on the ampoules mean’ hidden in plain sight. The kits also hold the potential to supply self-pour drinks machines and, where space and weight is at a premium, airplane cabins and even space ships in the future.

Stone encountered fierce resistance from parts of the drinks industry. Regardless, he hopes Hocus can offer a means to help showcase smaller craft brands. And in terms of investors, he is focused on ‘believers in the project’ wanting ‘to have fun on the journey’ rather than cold number crunchers.

Hocus spirit kits, £59 (hocus.uk)