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Libertine Blends Founders on Building a Premium Cocktail Experience Beyond the Bar

Libertine Blends is redefining the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail market, bringing sophistication and quality from behind the bar to a can in your hand. This premium brand, born from Casa Bonay’s acclaimed Libertine bar in Barcelona, is the creative brainchild of co-founders Inés Miro-Sans and Eric Stephenson, with Sofía Miró-Sans joining later as CEO. What started as a project to deliver bar-quality drinks to hotel guests quickly evolved into a distinct brand, with a strong focus on premium ingredients, balanced flavour profiles, and sustainable practices.

As the holiday season approaches, Libertine Blends proves to be the perfect companion for festive gatherings, whether it’s an intimate get-together, Christmas party, or New Year’s celebration. Their versatile range of RTD cocktails includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, making them suitable for a variety of settings and preferences. Whether you’re toasting to the New Year or enjoying a sunny afternoon by the coast in Spain, Libertine Blends bring the cocktail bar experience to any occasion—no bartending skills required.

Where are you from?

Barcelona, Spain & Dallas, Texas.

Describe Libertine Blends in 3 words.

Premium, Innovative, Accessible.

What inspired the creation of Libertine Blends, and how did the idea evolve from your initial cocktail offerings at Casa Bonay to a ready-to-drink format?

We first began working with bottled and draft cocktails in Casa Bonay in 2018. At Libertine, these RTD cocktails could be prepared very quickly, consistently, and with zero waste, all of which were hugely beneficial to the busy bar operation. Additionally, we made these cocktails available in the Casa Bonay hotel room minibars, so our guests could enjoy a cocktail bar experience any time of the day. Later, during Covid, we began to experiment with more interesting flavours, textures, and ingredients, which ultimately evolved into the full range of Libertine Blends.

The cocktails use high-quality, artisanal ingredients. Can you share more about the sourcing of these ingredients and how they contribute to the unique flavours of your cocktails?

When creating the range of Libertine Blends, we sourced from all over Europe, choosing from over 200 craft spirits, organic wines, and natural ingredients. In each case, the ingredients were selected because they were the best we could find, and their quality allowed us to focus fully on creating balanced recipes showcasing elevated flavour pairings.

 

Your range includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. How do you ensure that the non-alcoholic versions maintain the same level of sophistication and flavour as their alcoholic counterparts?

When creating new cocktails, we look at each drink from an ingredient-driven flavour-pairing perspective. In the references that contain alcohol, the alcoholic component is chosen because it contributes a distinct flavour. In the references that do not contain alcohol, the flavour combinations do not require anything alcoholic for them to work. For example, in our Fizzy Pear & Cardamom, the combination of fruity pear, nutty almond, fragrant cardamom, floral orange water, and sharp Sicilian lemon present a full-flavoured experience, which, we found, did not require the addition of alcohol to taste sophisticated.

Libertine Blends started as an in-house project. How has the collaboration between the founders and team members influenced the brand’s growth and direction?

Libertine Blends shares the same ethos as the Libertine bar program: the cocktails are created using premium spirits and natural ingredients, with a strong focus on elevated flavour pairings and clean presentations. The flavour is everything, and a drink is only as strong as its weakest ingredient; thus, every ingredient matters. Originally conceived as an in-house project at Libertine, we are now ready to extend its reach beyond the confines of the hotel. With the establishment of a distinct brand and identity, along with Sofía joining the team, the aim is to broaden the scope and appeal of Libertine Blends, taking our unique flavour philosophy all over the world and improving the category of ready-to-drink, much like what happened with craft coffee and beer before it.

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How do you envision customers enjoying Libertine Blends at home, and what are some recommended ways to serve these cocktails to get the best experience?

Libertine Blends are designed to be flexible – they can be consumed directly from the can, which comes in handy for a day at the beach, but they can also be given the cocktail bar treatment at home with fancy glassware, clear ice, and fresh garnishes.

Share your favourite cocktail bar. Can be anywhere worldwide.

We like cocktails in very different types and styles of bars, like the Kronenhalle in Zurich, 14 de la Rosa in Barcelona, and the vibes are always immaculate at Tropic City in Bangkok.

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