What exactly is a cocktail subscription?

It’s a good question – so we decided to explain the finer details of our cocktail subscription service to help you decide whether you want to become a member of The Cocktail Society.

There are many cocktail subscriptions available on the market, but we think ours is a little different.

In general, most of the cocktail subscriptions you will find online are essentially a top-up of cocktails from the brand offering the subscription at a set frequency – weekly, monthly and so on.

Where we think ours is different is we are offering a range of products, both from our team at The Cocktail Society as well as other brands.

We also offer DIY cocktails, snacks and a members magazine creating what we think is a one of a kind cocktail subscription.

In fact, we are not the only ones – BBC Good Food judged our subscription as the Best all Round Cocktail Subscription in a recent review and GQ Magazine said “The Cocktail Society is an absolute must-have subscription service” in their Best Subscriptions 2021.

It makes us feel great when people say nice things about us!

What Are The Benefits of Our Cocktail Subscription?

Our cocktail subscription has numerous benefits and we have created it with our members in mind, to try and give them the best experience.

Our Cocktail Subscription Is Exciting!

To be honest, any drinks subscription is (not just ours!).

From picking your cocktails (or leaving as a total surprise) to unboxing to see what other goodies are inside – who doesn’t like a cocktail surprise?

Our members have told us that they love the different ranges each month.

Our Cocktail Subscription Uses Premium Products

We have been in the drinks industry for 15 years and run a drinks agency called The Cocktail Service that works with brands and events all over the world.

Why is this relevant you say?

Well, it’s because of this background and love of quality drinks that we ensure every element of our cocktail subscription (and all our products!) are carefully curated.

Every product will be of exceptional quality and we are very particular about that.

Our Cocktail Subscription Has No Contracts or Small Print

The word “subscription” can make people feel uneasy.

Am I going to be locked into a contract? What happens if I don’t want it anymore? My circumstance has changed and I need to temporarily stop my cocktail subscription – am I able to?

The answer is YES.

You are in total control.

You can pause or cancel any time you wish. There are no contracts and no small print. If you want out, it couldn’t be easier.

Our Cocktail Subscription Is Available Monthly or Quarterly

Yep, you can choose either monthly or quarterly, and if you want to change from one to the other that’s also possible. Depending on how often you want to receive your cocktails you can decide the frequency.

Our Cocktail Subscription Is Great Value

Packed full of snacks, our members get some amazing products for a wonderfully low price.

Our media reviews say it all – BBC Good Food said we were ‘great value’, and we think so too!

Our Cocktail Subscription Has Free Shipping

Well, shipping is included or free depending on how you look at it. We think that’s a definite benefit.

Our Cocktail Subscription Can Be Personalised

If you want to.

We know that cocktails are a little like food – there are some things you just don’t like.

So we allow you to personalise some of the the 500ml bottled cocktail you receive each month.

For each month’s DIY cocktails, we provide alternative recipes for the ingredients we send.

If you don’t want to personalise it or forget (we will send reminders, though) our team will curate the box for you.

What’s in The Cocktail Box?

Our cocktail boxes typically have a minimum of 10 cocktails (sometimes 12 depending on what 500ml cocktail you choose), 3 snacks, and a magazine.

We listen to our members and are constantly seeking feedback to improve our cocktail subscription and your membership, so please share anything and everything with us if you join.

500ml Bottled Cocktail x1

This is from our own range of eight bottled cocktails.

• Coconut & Kaffir Lime Leaf Daiquiri
• Hibiscus & Elderflower Martini
• Negroni
• Oak Aged Sloe Negroni
• Passion Fruit Martini
• Tommy’s Margarita
• Salted Caramel Espresso Martini
• Smoked Old Fashioned

These cocktails have between 5-7 drinks per bottle (depending on which drink you choose) As always the ingredients are super-premium, with no nasty things in them.

You can choose one of these with each different month you receive.

Our drinks team are always working on new flavours, so if there is a cocktail flavour you’d like to see then do let us know.

DIY Cocktail Of The Month x2

Part of our mission is to introduce our members to great cocktails, but also to give them a helping hand in learning how to make their own.

Each month we send you to ingredients for two DIY cocktails of the month. Each DIY cocktail makes two serves, so that’s four delicious cocktails in total!

We include step by step instructions on how to make your DIY cocktail in each box.

There’s also the option to scan a QR code taking you to a video tutorial – here’s one from a previous box:

Ready To Drink Canned Cocktail (RTD) Of The Month x1

Ready To Drink cocktails (or RTDs as they are known) come in  cans and are carefully selected from the best brands we can find.

We work with cocktail brands such as MOTH Drinks, Ace & Freak and Bloody Drinks who all make delicious cocktails.

Each month you’ll receive a premium RTD with each delivery.

Bar Snacks x 3

Great cocktails are complimented with great bar snacks and we include three snacks from premium snack brands with every delivery.

Brands such as Serious Pig, Hippeas and Eat Real have all been included before.

Drink Up Magazine

Our member’s magazine is a mix of cocktail making instructions, recipes, great new brands for you to try our and articles. We produce Drink Up every month to compliment our cocktail subscription each month.

Free Gifts & Samples

We add some freebies with every subscription. This might be a piece of cocktail-making equipment or some extra cocktails. It varies each month.

Coming Soon

As we build our community we will be introducing various perks for our membership. Currently in the pipeline:

• Members discounts in our shop where you can buy extra cocktails, cocktail gifts and kits. We are constantly expanding our range here.
• Loyalty scheme – build up points to get free products or subscription boxes.
• Live masterclasses and tasting with our team and the makers of our amazing products.
• The Cocktail Concierge – a members hotline for assistance with anything to do with drinks from what whisky to buy a family member at Christmas, to what bars you should visit on a city break. Our drinks expertise will be on hand to help with any queries.

We listen to our members and are constantly seeking feedback to improve our cocktail subscription and your membership, so please share anything and everything with us if you join.

The Clubhouse

This is our online magazine.

It’s got all sorts of great articles, recipes and how-to guides about cocktails…and other stuff.

Food and drink are a pair, so we talk about our favourite pubs in the Cotswolds, the best new food products on the market and publish delicious recipes from top chefs.

The Clubhouse is the place to go to get food and drinks inspiration.

What Else Do I Need To Know About The Cocktail Society?

The Cocktail Society, we want to be at the forefront of a great at home drinking experience.

Alongside our cocktail subscription, we also develop cocktail gifts and experiences.

These maintain the same high quality as our subscription and are available in our shop.

These products really are ideal for gifting, in fact, the vast majority of our customers buy our products for a gift.

We are premium (the packaging, branding and contents are all top-notch – even the raffia!) and offer next day delivery as standard, with a gift message option at checkout.

We are always looking at new products and hope to build the UK’s best online cocktail shop.

We are passionate about what we do and are immersed in the drinks industry, so we can bring the best products to homes all over the UK (and who knows…one day maybe beyond these fair shores!)

Everything you need to know about Cocktail Subscriptions

What is a cocktail subscription?

A cocktail subscription is a service where cocktail ingredients and ready-to-drink cocktails are delivered to your home.

How do cocktail subscriptions work?

Cocktail delivery services allow you to enjoy great tasting cocktails at home.

Usually when you sign up, you’re able to tailor your preferences to suit you. For example, most cocktail services deliver a box each month, but some allow you to change the frequency of when each box arrives.

Generally, cocktail boxes contain ingredients for cocktails, bar equipment, and snacks to enjoy whilst making your drink. There will also be a guide to making the cocktail.

Many subscriptions also give perks like discounts with drinks brands, exclusive members-only content, and private groups on social networks.

Often there are the options to do live virtual tastings, and to hear about exclusive offers before they go live to the wider public.

Cocktail subscription services are growing in popularity, with demand doubling in the past four years.

This is expected to continue in the future, meaning lots more delicious cocktail options to choose from.

What do you get in a cocktail subscription box?

Cocktail subscriptions usually contain the ingredients to make cocktails at home. They may also contain ready-to-drink canned cocktails, or other pre-mixed drinks like hard seltzers.

Other boxes may include snacks to enjoy with your drink, leaflets for products you might like, games, and samples of products.

There are often other perks to having a cocktail subscription membership, like live virtual masterclasses and tastings, and access to exclusive online community groups where you can share tips and recipes.

How much do cocktail subscriptions cost?

The cost of a cocktail subscription varies from around £15 to £55 a month depending on the number of cocktails you would like to receive.

Most cocktail subscriptions sit within this range; however, some subscriptions have additional options like adding extra cocktail ingredients, for an extra charge.

Many subscriptions offer different tiers of membership, so you can choose the elements which you’re interested in.

Can I choose what I receive in my cocktail subscription?

Lots of cocktail discovery boxes include an option to customize your box, allowing you to pick between different options of cocktails. This is great, as it means you’re receiving a unique experience tailored to you and your interests.

Some boxes will allow you to choose a category like gin, vodka, or rum. Others will allow you to choose the individual cocktails which go into your cocktail box.

Some services simply send out recipe cards with recommendations of where to source stock; whereas more premium boxes will include all the equipment and services which you need.

What are the payment options for a cocktail subscription?

You can either pay for a cocktail subscription, via a direct debit or pay up front for a set number of boxes in advance.

Most companies include an option to temporarily pause your membership.

What cocktail subscriptions can I choose from?

There are a range of cocktail subscriptions to choose from, depending on what you want from your cocktail experience.

We rounded up the best cocktail subscriptions currently on offer. Whether you’re looking for the most cost effective option, or are looking for a luxury experience perfect to gift a loved one, there will be an option for you.

Can I give a cocktail subscription as a gift?

Many cocktail subscriptions are available to buy as a gift. You can usually choose between 1-, 2-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month subscriptions, or choose to send a one-off cocktail gift.

Can I cancel a cocktail subscription at any time?

Lots of cocktail delivery companies allow you to cancel at any time or pause your membership.

Pausing your membership can be a better option than cancellation as it gives you time for a break but means you can restart your cocktail service when you’re next in the mood for a treat.

It may also be possible to pay for a fixed term membership – for example for 3 months or 6 months. This means you can enjoy your cocktails and not have to worry about your membership renewing.

Most subscriptions will send a reminder message when your next shipment is due, especially if there are options to customize the box.

How do I pay for a cocktail subscription?

Most cocktail companies allow you to pay for your cocktail discovery box via direct debit. It also may be possible to pause your membership or change the frequency of when your cocktails are delivered.

Lots of companies have a gift card option allowing you to buy a fixed term membership to a cocktail subscription service.

Who Are The Cocktail Society?

As we mentioned, The Cocktail Society has been developed and is managed by the team at The Cocktail Service (our Team page is here)

We’ve been running our drinks agency from our Oxford HQ for over ten years now and we are lucky enough to work on some incredible projects across the globe.

The team here is amazing. They develop all of our products and drinks in house. They batch all the cocktails and pack all of our cocktail products. They manage the member services.

They also manage all of the logistics. In fact, we do everything in house which means we have total control over our product.