Tussock Jumper wines creates augmented reality experience for consumers, Rabbit launches a freezable cocktail mixer and S&D Coffee & Tea announced a new scholarship program.

Baby, it’s cold outside

Even though it’s cold outside, this doesn’t stop consumers from partaking in the consumption of their favorite frozen cocktails. This month, Rabbit launched a freezable cocktail maker that allows consumers to make Margaritas, frosé, piña coladas and other frozen cocktails using their own freezers. The set includes a silicone cocktail carafe, neoprene sleeve, lid, muddler, stir spoon and recipe booklet. The bar accessories are designed for the at-home mixologist who loves to throw parties anytime of the year, the company says.

Driving industry diversity

S&D Coffee & Tea and Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) announced that five coffee professionals will be participating in a new two-year Leadership Equity and Diversity (LEAD) Scholarship program. The scholarship is aimed at increasing leadership diversity within the global coffee community by allowing access to professional development resources to people from underrepresented or marginalized communities. The group will attend an SCA origin trip, a community professional event and complete their choice of a Coffee Skills Program course or AST Certification. Chosen from 60 applicants, the 2018-2020 LEAD Scholars are Karla Ly Quinones, Lisette Barbera, Smayah Uwajeneza, Stephanie Alcala and Taya Brown.

Bringing wine to life

After winning a silver medal for its mobile wine app at the HALO Awards that took place recently in Amsterdam, Tussock Jumper is creating a fun and useful way for consumers to learn more about wines from various wine regions through its portfolio of more than 20 wine varietals from 11 different winemaking regions. Created by AR4REAL and Doruk Eker, consumers can download the app and point any Android or IOS phone at the wine label, and watch each country’s animal ambassador spring to life, talk about wines in their local “accent” and make suggestions for food pairings. “Our goal is to help educate millennials and adventurous wine drinkers who seek new and unique experiences, by making wine exploration more approachable,” said Tussock Jumper founder Gert Jan van Arkel, in a statement.