Canned cocktails do not replace bars, but the number of bars using canned cocktails as a new entrance is increasing.
RTD pop-ups are a way to bring the bar experience out into the open.
For brand pop-ups, festivals and bar collaboration menus, RTD is a quick-to-serve and easy-to-remember format. Customers first experience the taste of the brand without complicated explanations.
Why it's important
Collaborations between liquor brands and bars are likely to be seen more frequently in Korea as well. Cocktails in cans or bottles are a connection that brings the bar's signature home.
Practical method
If you see an RTD you like at the pop-up, ask at the bar for the original recipe or base liquor. Conversely, choosing a home bar becomes easier if you check that the menu you drank at the bar is available in RTD.
Things to watch out for
Pop-up menus are often designed to be sweet because their strengths are atmosphere and speed. It is best to check the alcohol content and sugar content before purchasing.
Rather than being in competition, RTD and bars are becoming a format that connects the same tastes in different places.
