The secret to a good premixed cocktail is really not a secret at all: ingredients. Naming and story though have proven to be as important to the success of a cocktail. Most of the cocktails we are drinking today where born between the 1880 and 1930 and "Tales of" celebrates these stories (or legends, distortions, half-truths) to reinstate the “soul” of every cocktail and lift the ingredients they are made of.
Tales of (70cl)
Alcoholic Ready to Drink brands (RTD) have a reputation for being sweet, childish and artificial. The project was initiated by the department of innovation at Arcus Norway, who identified an opportunity to change the perception of the category by creating a series of crafted cocktails with natural ingredients for a more quality focused consumer with a renewed interest for process, origin, ingredients and taste-complexity. The first two cocktails in the rage are Sidecar and Oslo Mule (a Moscow Mule with Aquavit instead of vodka).
Sidecar – A bottled cocktail paying tribute to a captain, his motorcycle, and the barman who mastered the balance.
It was five years after the war when the 'Années folles’ had finally hit Paris. The café culture was sprouting with lingering artists in a dance of darting eyes, twirling moustaches & jazzed cocktails. It was in the midst of frivolities when a young American Captain broke the French aperitif protocol. For brandy was never to be drunk before dinner had been served. They say, those who knew the man, knew the drink. But it wasn’t until Fitzgerald & Hemingway took it to the Ritz that the American’s Sidecar became the latest barman's wink.
The sidecar
- The Paris School Recipe (1:1:1 ratio) 1 oz Cognac, 1 oz Cointreau, 1 oz Lemon Juice
- The earliest known recipe for the Sidecar appeared in two books published in 1922; Robert Vermeire’s “Cocktails and How to Mix Them”, and Harry MacElhone’s Harry’s “ABC of Mixing Cocktails”. There are two theories on the origins of the Sidecar recipe: The Paris School with the 1:1:1 ratio and the London School with a 2:1:1 ratio. Harry MacElhone first published the Paris School recipe.
- Sometime in Paris, during or shortly after World War I, an American Army captain often traveled around in a motorcycle sidecar. One day, when he was under the weather, he requested something that would help him feel better, and the drink was named the “Sidecar”, as a tribute to its original patron. The story also evolve into the captain going to the Ritz Hotel on a regular basis, and this was his favorite drink to ward off the chill of the winter nights.
- During the prohibition era, the likes of Cole Porter, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and other expats fled America to live it up in Paris. In 1921 César Ritz opened the Ritz Bar rue Cambon. At that time, it went by the name of “Le Café Parisien” and was reserved for men. But when the wife of César’s son Charles invite herself in, it was decided in 1926 to open a second bar just across the way. Originally for ladies only, the “Petit Bar” was renamed Bar Hemingway in 1994.
Oslo Mule – a bottled cocktail with a twist on fresh and spiscy "Moscow Mule" featuring a splash of Norwegian Aquavit.
The origin of Moscow Mule is based on two people, John and Jack. Two men, neither of major influence, neither of any importance. But both would sit and scheme, after all it was the 40’s and Hollywood favoured the bold. Jack had a restaurant, the Cock N’ Bull, where he made ginger beer. John was more exotic in nature and bought a russian vodka brand. We don’t know if it was John or Jack, if it was business or pure luck, but someone found a coppermug and blended the two together with a dash of lime all before Trumbo could put two words together and instigate the black list.
The Moscow Mule
- In the late 1930’s John G. Martin helped to get Smirnoff (a vodka anonymous in taste, appearance and reputation) into the barescene in Hollywood by teaming up with an esteemed barman Jack Morgan (owner of L.A. restaurant Cock’n Bull).
- John G. Martin purchased one of the earliest Polaroid cameras (invented in 1947) and put it to use crafting one of the most effective marketing campaigns in history. He would show up at a bar, entice the bartender to make and try his Moscow Mule and then take a picture of them with his Polaroid. He would leave one copy for the bar to display, and would take the other—along with many more like it—to his next stop to prove his legitimacy. It was a serious case of “all the cool kids are doing it” marketing, and it worked.
- Martin and Morgan came up with the Moscow Mule: a simple drink consisting of vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. By 1942, Hollywood was raving about the celeb-savvy drinking, writing: "There is a new drink that is a craze in the movie colony now. It is called Moscow Mule."
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Through the use of illustrations we're offering a contemporary take on the RTD category and a committed approach to quality ingredients with a factual and detailed back label. An overall masculine feel is injected in the products, assuring an independent feel and triggering curiosity to try the range. The brown bottle contributes to communicate a crafted product and helps to preserve the natural juices and ingredients.
An overall independent attitude is instilled in the products, triggering curiosity to try the entire range. The brown bottle contributes to communicate craft and helps to preserve the natural juice and ingredients.
2024
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Likeweiß Chardonnay
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Avamposto Gin
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Kokkeløren
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2023
Stereoscope Coffee Roaster
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2022
Himkok RTD
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2022
Chelan Beauty
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2022
The Cocktail Factory
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2022
Limonade
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2022
Becco Winebar
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2021
Pursue Hard Seltzer
A range of sparkling sodas for grown-ups. Made in India
2021
Château Picoron
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2021
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2020
Stavanger Ysteri
The cheese maker that made it to Maaemo
2020
Shake-it Mixer
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2020
Ambijus
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2020
Hovelsrud
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2019
Rekedal Pølsefabrikk
Traditional, family driven sausage factory in Follebu
2019
Nykr
Handmade and ecological skincare made by Cecilie F. Egeberg
2019
Himkok
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2019
Gullmunn Spritfabrikk
The creation of Marthe Bøhn, pioneering in a male-dominated business
2019
CF18 Chocolatier
A Norwegian engineer-turned-chocolatier
2018
Holmen Crisp
Bringing back the joy of baking to a gluten-free living
2018
Tales of (33cl)
These are the tales of Vodka, Gin and Rum
2018
Braastad Cognac
Cognac for special occasions that feels modern and accessible
2018
Pins
A selection of our projects made into pins
2018
Oslotre
Good and honest buildings sustainably produced in wood
2018
Sepoy & Co
Indian tonic, made in India, by Indians
2018
"Du, jeg, og Erik"
A naked and vulnerable first novel by the photographer Morten Andenæs
2018
Tales of (70cl)
A captain, a barman, a mule and two lucky friends
2017
Gilde Juleaquavit
Celebrating 30 years and giving honour to a master distiller
2017
Snåsa Water
Creating a contemporary vessel for the most humble of all drinks
2017
Babylife
A range of ecological products for the care of mother and child
2017
Hellstrøm Sommer
Medicinal plants are at their strongest if collected on Midsummer night
2016
Malbrum Parfums
Norwegian parfumes by Kristian Hilberg and nose Delphine Thierry
2016
Balholm Handverkcider
Craft cider from deep inside the Sognefjord
2016
Backe i Grensen
The last standing family-owned department store in Oslo
2016
Balholm Epledram 6666
The story of the gardener and his 6666 apple trees
2016
Balholm Fruktvin
The Medieval Scandinavian wine was made of fruit
2015
Lysholm No 52
After 52 trials of the recipe, distiller Ivan Abrahamsen was satisfied
2015
Cantina Zaccagnini
In Norway, this is called the "Pinnevin" – the 'stick wine'
2015
Territoriet Winebar
An unpretentious wine bar with serious wines in the center of Oslo
2015
Løiten Aquavit
Founded in 1855 as a collaboration between regional farm distilleries
2015
Hellstrøm Gløgg
A traditional Scandinavian winter beverage of warm wine with an infusion of spices
2014
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When you find the other half - a wedding invitation
2014
Fiin Gammel Portviin
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2014
Hellstrøm Juleaquavit
Recovering pagan agricultural symbols for the spirit of Christmas
2013
Pietro di Campo
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2013
Principiano
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2013
Bamsrudlåven Gårdsis
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2013
Bodega La Serrana
A rural organic wine from Bierzo
2012
Cuvée S
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2012
Animasjonsdepartementet
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2012
Alberto Fenocchio
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2012
Hellstrøm Aquavit
A Michelin starred Chef and his Aquavit - redefining a category language
2012
Villa Cafaggio
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