spirits

The Beach Boys' Mike Love Launches 'Kokomo' RTD Cocktail Line

 

Above: Mike Love (right) with spirits formulator Geoff Longenecker.


Mike Love, of The Beach Boys rock-and-roll fame, is the latest celebrity to enter the ready-to-drink cocktail category.

Love’s venture is aptly named Club Kokomo Spirits—a nod to The Beach Boys’ 1988 hit song “Kokomo.”

Club Kokomo has just launched four RTD variations labeled Kokomojito, Mystique, Afternoon Delight—and, inspired by the lyrics of The Beach Boys hit “Good Vibrations,” Excitation.

Club Kokomo’s gin and rum-based beverages are produced by San Diego distillery Seven Caves Spirits, in which Love acquired a majority stake this year.

With 10% alcohol by volume, points of differentiation for Club Kokomo include that beverages are gluten-free and have no artificial ingredients.

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“Club Kokomo is an idea that I’ve had in mind for many years,” said Love, who still tours with the Beach Boys after more than 60 years. “The song ‘Kokomo’ was number one on the charts when it was released in 1988, and it’s still one of the most popular sing-alongs at our concerts today.”

Club Kokomo’s RTD line is available for online delivery in California and at retailers in San Diego. Plans call for national expansion in 2023.

Among other promotions planned for the brand is a sponsorship of The Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruise from Miami to Belize and Mexico scheduled for March 3-8.

Love’s immersion in RTD cocktails follows that of early mover reality TV star Bethenny Frankel (Skinnygirl Cocktails), Sean “Diddy” Combs (CÎROC Vodka Spritz) and musician Sammy Hagar (Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktail), among others.

In a recent survey of 250 independent liquor stores by online delivery platform Drizly, spirits affiliated with celebrities were cited by 53.7% of respondents as their reason for stocking them—second to locally made products (64.5%).

In a similar survey last year, celebrity affiliation ranked #3 behind locally made and organic/natural products.

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