Simply Mixology and Masego Refresh L.A. Fans With Experiential ‘Bar Cart’ 

Simply inspired those looking to take their at-home social soirées to the next level – literally – last weekend with an elevated house party aboard a custom double-decker bus in Los Angeles.

Co-designed by Grammy-nominated TrapHouseJazz artist and cultural tastemaker Masego, “Simply Mixology Presents: The Bar Cart” debuted May 19 on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, offering fans the ultimate “Mix from Home” experience. From a TikTok-worthy aesthetic and vibey lounge space to tasty cocktails and mocktails made with Simply’s new line of refreshing mixers, the one-of-a-kind event served as a fittingly festive kickoff to summer and celebration of Simply Mixology’s national launch.

“I just wrapped my first North American tour, so I’m really looking forward to kicking back and relaxing this summer. It was an incredible experience, but now that I’m settled in L.A., I can’t wait to get my crew together for a night in with a good playlist, good food and a good drink or two,” said Masego. “I love margaritas, but I don’t always feel like making one, so I’ve been enjoying the Strawberry Guava Mojito from Simply Mixology. Depending on my vibe, I’ll add silver tequila or mezcal, or sometimes drink it without alcohol at all.”

Mixing cocktails or mocktails at home is now much simpler – and more delicious – with Simply Mixology. With flavors like Lime Margarita, Peach Sour and Strawberry Guava Mojito, these fruit-forward, all-natural flavored juice beverages are made with the same close-to-nature ingredients fans expect from the fast-growing portfolio of Simply Beverages and are crafted to be enjoyed with or without alcohol*.

“We know that Simply has been a favorite mixer for 20 years… you can make a mean screwdriver with Simply Orange Juice, a great Cape Codder with Simply Cranberry, and a killer margarita with Simply Limeade,” said Alex Ames, Creative Director, Nutrition, Coca‑Cola North America. “With Simply Mixology, we wanted to find a way to simplify and elevate the at-home drinking experience with great-tasting, natural solutions that are not only amazing mixers, but also stand on their own as ready-to-drink mocktails.”

Several intersecting consumer trends inspired the launch of the dual-proposition offering. On one hand, more people are enjoying making cocktails at home over bellying up to the bar. Simultaneously, a boom in booze-free movements like Dry January and sober curiosity have ignited the popularity of creative, premium-quality mocktails.

Simply’s R&D team partnered with renowned bartenders and mixologists to develop the three blends that offer full sensorial experiences with or without spirits. Several key insights around trending flavors inspired the lineup:

• Margaritas are the #1 preferred cocktail when ordering out.**
• Whiskey Sour cocktail searches have more than doubled in the last five years.***
• Lime and Mint flavors grew over 40% in the last year.****

“We always try to follow where the consumer is going while also delivering a variety of offerings that stay true to the Simply brand ethos,” said Josh Kroo, Nutrition Category Lead, Coca‑Cola North America. “The power of this brand – and what’s becoming our legacy – is how we deliver the goodness of fruit in the simplest way possible to meet a range of occasions throughout the day.”

Simply’s journey to becoming a nutrition masterbrand – bolstered by a series of category-crossing innovations including Simply Light juices and ades and Simply Smoothies – proves it’s far more than just a premium OJ. The brand also inspired a recent entrant into the fast-growing flavored alcoholic beverage (FAB) category through an agreement between The Coca‑Cola Company and Molson Coors. Simply Spiked Lemonade™ launched last summer.

These boundary-pushing beverages are part of helping raise Simply’s profile with younger generations. The new “Say Yes to Simple” campaign featuring actor Eugene Cordero, and humorous creative celebrating the benefits of simplicity in a fast-paced world has helped modernize the brand with both a more youthful and irreverent tone, along with stepped-up investment in digital marketing to meet younger consumers where they spend time.

*If adding alcohol, please drink responsibly. You must be 21+ to consume alcohol.

**Source: Mintel, Trending Flavors and Ingredients in Alcoholic Beverages – US – 2021)

***Source: Google Trends, latest 5 years (Feb. 17 – Feb 22)

****Source: Nielsen BASES Quick Predict, Optimal Variety Combination Analysis, November 2021)