New samples go down a treat!

The new Muddler Cocktails have got off to a flying start. Not only has the men in white coats given them the all clear (meaning that they are safe to drink!) but some taste testing at the end of last week confirmed that the new improved recipe is ticking all of the boxes!

• Not too sweet
• You can taste the alcohol like a real cocktail
• Deliciously fruity
• nothing artificial added!
• Look fantastic
• I could drink this on any occasion...

Now we just can't wait to get it out there and in the hands of people who can bring it to the masses and quick!

As part of our mission to achieve this on Friday we took a trip back to Manchester, where Rupert and I were at University, to meet up with a very innovative company who already distribute a well known premium bottled lager. It was great to meet people who had come from such a similar position as ours, share stories which were uncannily similar! as well as the energy, drive and passion to make things succeed. We hope more will come from this as it could be a powerful combination!

Manchester really is a buzzing city which has changed almost beyond recognition since we were there 8 or so years ago. Unfortunately we weren't up there long enough to sample the city delights, or Mojo, which we have been told is the place to go in town. Instead we caught up with one of our old uni house mates Will and his wife Sophie, who had kindly agreed to put us up for the night, although how much choice they had in the matter I'm not entirely sure! They've settled into suburbia proper with a local boozer and curry house opposite. I have to be honest it's not a bad little set up I mean what more do you need? Other than Muddler Cocktails of course!

This week it feels we are back on track, we've got the new product and it's delivering in all areas, so it's time to start cranking up the PR machine again and throwing everything we've got behind this. Bring it on is what I say, I reckon we've got a hot summer ahead of us and it's our mission that people should be able to enjoy the deliciously fruity flavour of real fruit cocktails wherever and whenever they want to in the form of Muddler Cocktails, 'The real fruit Cocktail'!

One year full time and the men in white coats arrive

Well they said it would never happen... we've survived a full year in business. Isn't there some statistic about how many businesses fail in their first year?

About a year and two weeks ago Henry and I both sat down at our desks and said... right, what do we do to make this dream a reality. Although we had done 8 months preparation, this was a different feeling... what do you actually do to get a business off the ground? Since then Muddler has had full time management (if you count Henry and I as management) and we've bounced through every challenge.

A year of highs (and certainly some lows) we are in a good state. We've only properly talked about jacking it in once (which we were easily convinced out of), have not invested as much money as we had thought we would need to, have a great core of suppliers who have supported us throughout this year, no one has sued us and after filling in every conceivable government tax form we've not been banged up. More importantly we are really looking forward to the year ahead.

Currently we are starting to approach suppliers in the on-trade (bars, pubs, clubs) with the revised product for this year. To go with this is some revised trade marketing material has been knocked up. There is a high degree of confidence from Henry and I that we have everything in place for the negotiations. We are slightly further down the line with a couple of supermarkets and some discussions this week could lead to us being in a position of getting down to specific details.

Also this week in the quest for perfection Henry and I are off to see the men in white coats... well scientists. They are going to take a look at our whole manufacturing process and mixes to give the scientists approval on taste and that we are getting the best possible real fruit cocktail to market. However, it is at a university... so maybe it will end up being the less scientific method of trial that we have ended doing up until now... drinking it. I have a feeling instead that it will all get a bit scientific, I'm going to have to dust down that A-Level Physics certificate to show that I'm up to the task of understanding it all, kind of.

If I can remember to, we'll take a camera so that we have proof of us with the men in white coats.

If I'm honest, I think the only chance of real straight jackets being required is if the conclusion to Muddler drinks is a full-time return to the city/ advertising, we've still got the passion for Muddlers and almost everyone we speak to (trade and non) has the feeling that.

Although there is a touch of insanity in Henry and I... there is no need for the straight jackets (yet).