“No one drinks alone”

When you grow up, as long as it is legal and doesn’t harm others, you can have and do anything you want. No one is supervising your downtime. Unfortunately, as you get older, there are fewer and fewer purely whimsical products marketed to your demographic. Even toys are utilitarian in nature. They help make things you have to do, like commute to work or cook food, more enjoyable. It’s rare to find something marketed to adults that simply promises fun without purpose.

Unifying Spirits is different. Raymond Rozycki came up with the idea during the pandemic. Establishments had shut down, people were isolating, and alcohol consumption had risen dramatically. Rozycki wasn’t happy with the way things were and wanted to create a socially focused alcoholic beverage company that was centered on responsible drinking. In short, his goal was that no one should ever drink alone.

Alcohol-infused pops of cheer

To hit the ground running, Unifying Spirits acquired Cocktail Caviar, an award-winning brand that entered the market in 2015. Cocktail Caviar was the nation’s first and only alcoholic popping boba. To capitalize on the country’s growing obsession with boba tea, Unifying Spirits rebranded Cocktail Caviar as Boba Pops (stylized as Boba POPS) in March 2023. The company also moved production from Taiwan to the United States.

To strengthen the brand’s identity, Unifying Spirits made a few other changes. Specifically, the company modernized the bottle to tell a better story, brightened the color of the pearls, and enhanced the flavor.

Telling the tale with packaging

CF Napa was the strategic branding company that Unifying Spirits trusted to tell the story of Boba Pops at a glance. With decades of experience, CF Napa firmly believes that visual perception is the key with alcoholic beverages. In other words, people drink with their eyes.

To transform Cocktail Caviar from an elegant, almost elitist, experience to an exhilarating jaunt into social merriment and frivolity, the company redesigned the logo, upgraded the packaging, and created custom bottles. The goal was to capture the trending momentum of boba tea and transform it into packaging that promised a fun and trendy drink option.

To do this, CF Napa designed a larger bottle with a wider mouth that allowed the product to be easily spooned from the container without damage. The see-through label lets the colorful boba shine, while the vibrant white circle graphics echo the round shape and help the bottle pop off the shelf by giving it a positively perky personality.

The resulting design has won five packing awards over the past two years.

Add a colorful burst of fun to your holiday cocktails

While Boba Pops are flavorful enough to pop into your mouth straight out of the bottle — trust me, we’ve done this — the company states that these fun potent potable popping pearls are best used as an ingredient in your favorite cocktails. Our first thought was the raspberry flavor would make a great addition to a sweet wine. And, if you want to add a delightful snap of fruity flavor to your beer, a scoop or two in a pint is a game changer.

To help make your holidays pop a little more, Unifying Spirits graciously sent us a number of recipes to try out. Here are three of our seasonal favorites: Let It Snow Seltzer, Winter Wonderland Daiquiri, and Seasick Crocodile.

Winter Wonderland Daiquiri

2 oz rum
1oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
1-2 scoops lychee Boba Pops

Instructions: Add all ingredients to a martini glass. Stir gently and serve.

Let It Snow Seltzer

1 can of berry-flavored seltzer (hard seltzers, sparkling waters, etc. all work well)
3-4 spoonfuls blueberry or lychee Boba Pops (or both)

Instructions: Fill a tall glass (preferably a highball glass) with ice. Fill it close to the top with seltzer. Top with Boba Pops. Serve with a smoothie straw, a boba straw, or another thick straw.

Seasick Crocodile

Credit: johneatsanddrinks

1 oz blanco tequila
0.75 oz lime juice
0.5 oz mezcal
0.5 oz chili vodka
0.5 oz melon liqueur
0.25 oz green chartreuse
0.25 oz simple syrup
3-4 spoonfuls strawberry Boba Pops

Instructions: Add strawberry Boba Pops to the bottom of the glass. Fill the glass with ice. Shake all ingredients (except strawberry Boba Pops) in a shaker and strain into the glass of ice and Boba Pops. Serve with a smoothie straw, boba straw, or another thick straw.

Boba Pops FAQ

Do Boba Pops really contain alcohol?
Yes! The bottle says 12.5% ABV, which is about the same as wine. You can not purchase Boba Pops unless you are 21. And you should not drink Boba Pops and drive.

What are the Boba Pops shells made out of?
According to the Unifying Spirits website, the shells are made from tasteless, vegan, seaweed extract. The shells are easy to digest, and FDA and TTB approved.

How long do Boba Pops last?
While there is no expiration date, Boba Pops are best if consumed within 30 days of opening.

Are Boba Pops fragile?
Boba Pops’ shells are rugged enough to endure shipping. However, when adding them to a cocktail, Unified Spirits advises not shaking. If you need to shake your cocktail, do that before adding the Boba Pops.

What kinds of Boba Pops are available?
Currently, you can choose from strawberry, lychee, peach, raspberry, blueberry, and pumpkin spice Boba Pops. In 2024, Unifying Spirits will add margarita (lime and tequila), Manhattan (cherry and bourbon), and piña colada (pineapple, coconut, and rum) to its roster.

Where can I get Boba Pops?
While Boba Pops are available across the country, you can not get them in every state. To find out the best way to get Boba pops in your area, visit the online store locator. If there are no retailers in your region, you can purchase Boba Pops online.

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