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HONG KONG: 2021 Asia Spirits Challenge

Coladka Vodka ended 2021 achieving its first medal ratings at our first competitions entered. First, we achieved silver rating at the 2021 Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards. Then we followed that up with a gold rating at the 2021 Asia Spirits Challenge in Hong Kong. Coladka Vodkas first international accolade.

 


UK: 2022 International Wine & Spirits Competition

Exciting news, Coladka Vodka was awarded a gold rating of 95 at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in the UK. It was special to see Coladka Vodka receive this high of a rating internationally! This really validated that there is a niche in the market for Coladka Vodka. Around 3500 spirits were rated gold, silver, or bronze. Whiskey and Rum accounted for the majority of the entries. In the Vodka category only a few golds were given out.

Cheers to gold ratings!


RALEIGH MAGAZINE: Vodka Americana

Nostalgia goes on sale by the bottle as Coladka—a cola-avored vodka from Dram and Draught owners Drew Schenck and Kevin Barrett—hits bar and liquor store shelves this month.

After watching dierent avored liquors rise and fall in popularity over the years, Schenck thought he had a recipe for success.

“I had the idea that the person who came up with the next big popular shot wins and that a cola-avored vodka would be delicious and good as a shot,” Schenck says. He convinced Barrett to try his hand at recreating that cola avor and, after a dozen iterations or so, the two settled on what they thought was the perfect formula.

Versatile and surprisingly complex, Coladka goes beyond the traditional cola avor prole. It’s sweet but not syrupy, with a hint of spice and a botanical element that makes it interesting enough to sip on its own. Barrett won’t share the secret recipe but he says the 72 proof vodka is crafted with all natural ingredients, including real cane sugar and essential oils.

Nostalgia goes on sale by the bottle as Coladka—a cola-avored vodka from Dram and Draught owners Drew Schenck and Kevin Barrett—hits bar and liquor store shelves this month.

After watching dierent avored liquors rise and fall in popularity over the years, Schenck thought he had a recipe for success.

“I had the idea that the person who came up with the next big popular shot wins and that a cola-avored vodka would be delicious and good as a shot,” Schenck says. He convinced Barrett to try his hand at recreating that cola avor and, after a dozen iterations or so, the two settled on what they thought was the perfect formula.

Versatile and surprisingly complex, Coladka goes beyond the traditional cola avor prole. It’s sweet but not syrupy, with a hint of spice and a botanical element that makes it interesting enough to sip on its own. Barrett won’t share the secret recipe but he says the 72 proof vodka is crafted with all natural ingredients, including real cane sugar and essential oils.

“The bottle says, ‘This recipe is said to conjure memories of youth.’ That’s a nostalgic taste; the avor is probably closer to what cola was 50 years ago,” says Barrett. “You can sip this, you can savor it, you can shoot it. You can do whatever you want with it but it’s a great, easy shot, chilled right out of the bottle or as an all-purpose cocktail ingredient.”

The pair recommend serving Coladka on the rocks or over ice with soda water; mixed with a splash of fresh lime juice in a Coladka Rickey; as a slushie or paired with ice cream in a oat. They say it goes well in desserts— think chocolate cupcakes with cola-avored frosting.

“It could even be used in a reduction for a meat dish, something savory like pork,” Barrett says.

Cola was invented in the United States in the late 1800s and quickly became popular around the world. Barrett and Schenck say they hope Coladka will have a similar wide appeal; in fact, they’re already in talks with companies in Argentina and the Czech Republic.

“Coladka is a universal avor, a worldwide avor [and] we believe this is going to go global,” Schenck says.

But to go global, they need people to try their product rst. Look for them soon at bars, music venues and live events.

“We bought a van that’s all decked out,” Schenck says. “We’re going to be at events because it’s important to get liquid to lips and expose the public to the avor prole.”

Coladka will be be available at North Carolina ABC stores for $18.95 a bottle this month. Learn more at coladka.com.


WVVA: Oak Hill native introduces new drink ‘Coladka’

We were thrilled to recently be featured by WVVA with the release of our new cola-flavored vodka, Coladka.

View the PDF below.
Oak Hill native introduces new drink ‘Coladka’ – WVVA

Thank you, WVVA and Melinda Zosh!


NEWS & OBSERVER: Cola-flavored vodka from NC wants to be the shot you didn’t know you needed

There’s a new North Carolina liquor that asks only one question: Where’s the party at? Last month, Coladka, a cola-flavored vodka, debuted to the world, made by longtime veterans of the Triangle bar industry. Coladka is the creation of Drew Schenck and Kevin Barrett, owners of the popular downtown Raleigh cocktail bar Dram & Draught. Schenck said the 72-proof, virtually black vodka will take on the flavored shot market, invented by the likes of Jagermeister and Fireball.

“We watched Jager become the big shot and replace some other things, then saw it decline and Fireball become the big thing,” Schenck said. “The next Fireball wins.” The owners believe Coladka is that next thing, an idea cooked up at a beverage convention and then brought to life by Barrett, a career bartender who has crafted cocktails in downtown Raleigh for years.

“(Schenck) came up with the idea and dared me to come up with a good version,” Barrett said. “I was confident I could. …Years of working in bars and working with different flavors, that I could come up with that flavor, to kind of reverse engineer it. … This has not been a flavor that’s been available in the past.” Coladka uses a vodka base from a Michigan distillery and the flavoring is manufactured in the Triangle. Barrett said the cola taste doesn’t aim specifically for any one brand — Coke, Pepsi or RC Cola — but just that sweet flavor, created with brown sugar, orange, cinnamon and vanilla oils. Getting on liquor store shelves is always the hardest part for a new brand, but Coladka has existed for all of a month and already has distribution to nine states, Schenck said, including North Carolina. The company signed a distribution deal with beverage giant Southern Glazer’s, one of the country’s largest distributors. Coladka enters a drinking market currently enamored with spiked seltzers, still in love with craft beer and, particularly in North Carolina, exploring craft spirits. Schenck said Coladka will mainly be a shot in bars, but that it’s also made its way into cocktails. “Guys my age are drinking it on the rocks or with soda water and a squeeze of lime,” Schenck said. “You can mix it with Irish cream and shake it up. It’s called an ‘Irish Soda,’ and it’s dangerously delicious. It’s the kind of thing you could drink 10 of and not taste the alcohol.”

Barrett said he never planned to get into the liquor business, but is even more surprised that he’s in the flavored vodka market. Dram & Draught is one of Raleigh’s most popular cocktail bars, featuring a seasonally changing menu and a pricey selection of rare and collectible bourbons. “I thought it might be something with whiskey,” Barrett said, of ever creating his own spirit. “But the opportunity arose, and it’s been a fun challenge.” Schenck and Barrett said they started working on the product last year and brought it to market this summer. Bottles are currently for sale in local ABC stores and some Triangle bars, they said.


STARCOM: Coladka Partnership with StarCom Racing Team and Bos Klein for the Bank of America Roval 400

Salisbury, NC (9/26/2019)—StarCom Racing and Bos Klein, a collaborative agency that brings together experts in the fields of media, team up to assist in the launch of Coladka, a cola-flavored vodka at the Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sept. 29 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

“We are stoked to be launching Coladka and making our first entry into NASCAR, in North Carolina, on the same weekend,” said Coladka CEO, Drew Schenck. “Coladka was born right here in North Carolina. As we launch Coladka statewide this week, we’re proud to partner with BOS Klein to support StarCom Racing and Landon Cassill during this action-packed event at Charlotte’s home for racing.”

Created by Drew Schenck and Kevin Barrett, two veterans of the bar and restaurant industry, Coladka is made from all-natural ingredients, including real brown sugar and essential oils, and proudly sources all its ingredients and materials from the US. Fans can learn more about Coladka, which is available in North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, at www.coladka.com.

“Both Bos Klein and our client, Coladka, have grassroots in North Carolina,” said Bos Klein CEO, Jeff Robinson. “It’s important to us that we continue to partner with local businesses like Coladka and StarCom Racing. We can’t wait to see our co-branded Camaro on the track and are hopeful that this will be the first of many great runs with them.”

About Coladka Vodka
Coladka was created by Drew Schenck and Kevin Barrett, two veterans of the bar and restaurant industry. Years of pouring beers and mixing cocktails have inspired their signature liquor. Coladka is their way of expressing their attitude toward great service and high quality. The hope is that Coladka sparks a sense of adventure, curiosity and most importantly, camaraderie. This cola-flavored vodka is best served chilled, on the rocks, or in cocktails. It is also fantastic over ice with soda water. Bottom line, Coladka is versatile and fun. It’s a crowd-pleaser. Now available in North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan as the cola-flavored vodka continues to launch nationwide. For more information visit: https://coladka.com/

About Bos Klein
Bos Klein is a collaborative agency that brings together experts in the fields of media, design, communications and technology. We combine the power of technology and data with excellence in design, creativity and messaging to provide clients with the tools needed to disseminate their brands, stories, messages and strategies in order to succeed in their respective markets. For more information visit: http://bosklein.com/

About StarCom Racing
StarCom Racing, a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Team, based in North Carolina was launched in September 2017. SCR purchased a Charter in 2018 and runs a full schedule in 2019. SCR was formed by a collective group of seasoned NASCAR specialists, as well as successful business entrepreneurs from SCR’s parent company, StarCom Fiber. For more information on SCR or to purchase team gear, please visit www.starcomfiber.com.


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