Today, co-founders RÜFÜS DU SOL along with their lifelong friends across the music and drinks industry, Justin Medcraft and Tom Appleton (ex-Diageo), announce a new Hard Kombucha brand in Mate Maker Co.
Mate Maker Hard Kombucha is an organic low-sugar and gluten-free alcoholic creation, crafted using only real fruit, green tea, botanicals and simple ingredients. With transparency and simplicity as key principles of the brand, backed by sustainable packaging and organic ingredients, Mate Maker is a refreshing, delicious and real fruit alternative for those who choose to ‘drink better’.
ARIA #1 and Grammy-Award winning trio, RÜFÜS DU SOL and their mates co-founded Mate Maker Co with a values-driven idea to develop a better drink option in every sense of the word. With a shift towards moderation and mindfulness, this group of friends asked themselves: if you choose to drink, why not ‘drink better’? So they set out to create a transparent drink made from better ingredients, that’s better for the world. Mate Maker is founded by Justin Medcraft, global drinks marketer (ex-Diageo and Pabst Brewing Co) and co-founded by the electronic trio and their artist manager Danny Robson, along with drinks trade expert (ex-Diageo and Four Pillars Gin) Tom Appleton.
Mate Maker Hard Kombucha is small-batch brewed, vegan and uses no artificial sweeteners, colours, flavours or hidden ingredients unknown to the drinker. Key to its success is the simplicity of the recipe. A light, crisp and refreshing combination of organic fruit and cold pressed botanicals are blended together with our green tea kombucha to create the ultimate sundowner bevvy made for summer. At 4% ABV and containing no more than 110 calories and less than 5g of sugar per can, Mate Maker launches in two flavours:
Mate Maker Mango Peach Smash Hard Kombucha: This light and bright beverage captures golden hour in a can. The tropical collision of mangoes and peaches with a citrusy splash of lemon anchors a smooth and balanced finish, ripe for kicking back over a drink with mates in a summer setting.
Mate Maker Citrus Mule Hard Kombucha: Spinning the tried and true Moscow mule on its head, this classic nod to bright citrus from real limes and cold-pressed orange peel throws in a subtle spicy kick of ginger to become the ultimate booch cocktail and enlivened crowd favourite.
“We felt there was a gap in the market for simple and delicious drinks made from real, organic ingredients without all the fake stuff. So our community of mates came together to build a drinks company that is founded on transparency, innovation and fun all while doing our best to give the planet a high five through sustainable actions.” says founder Justin Medcraft.
“When we discovered hard kombucha a couple years back in the US, we immediately thought people in Australia would get it. This is something we’ve put a lot of care and effort into and we’re stoked to be able to unveil it now right before we come home to play shows in Australia for the first time in three years. We think people will love it as much as we do.” says Jon George of RÜFÜS DU SOL.
“Drinks innovation is so important for our customers and with the rapid growth of seltzer these last two years we’re confident that Mate Maker Hard Kombucha delivers all of the same functional benefits with a liquid that tastes really great” says co-founder Tom Appleton.
More flavours in the Mate Maker Co range will arrive later next year, alongside innovation launches in 2023. In addition to sustainable packaging and organic ingredients, Mate Mater is a 1% for the Planet member, meaning they donate 1% of annual sales to environmental causes fighting climate change. Stay tuned for further information on Mate Maker’s sustainability efforts targeted at specific action groups with a focus on climate change and local level initiatives.
Meanwhile, make your next bev with your mates a smoother, brighter and tastier one with Mate Maker, founded by a group of mates with the same goal of creating a drink with better ingredients that’s better for the world.
MATE MAKER HARD KOMBUCHA (ABV: 4%)
Mate Maker Mango Peach Smash Hard Kombucha
Mate Maker Citrus Mule Hard Kombucha
Available at matemakerco.com, independent retailers, RÜFÜS DU SOL shows this December (NSW, VIC, QLD & SA) and upcoming summer festivals.
Connect with MATE MAKER CO
Connect with RÜFÜS DU SOL
With thanks to THINKING LOUD
