You Do Yuzu

Auckland’s social set recently descended upon The Shy Guy to usher in the “Summer of Sour,” celebrating the debut of the BATCHED Lychee & Yuzu Sour. The venue, a private members’ club known for its velvet-lined luxury and a “no-photography” rule that usually keeps its secrets safe, made a rare exception to showcase quite the photogenic drink. While the club’s sound system pumped out the beats, the real noise came from the bar as the first bottles of this Asian-inspired blend were put to the test.

The cocktail is a punchy 725 ml bottled mix that manages to capture bar-quality sophistication without requiring a resident mixologist or a complicated grocery list. Its profile centres on a tug-of-war between the aggressive, bright tang of yuzu (a citrus often described as the love child of a mandarin and a grapefruit) and the mellow, floral sweetness of lychee. While the lychee provides a juicy, tropical base, the yuzu adds a complex, aromatic zing that keeps the drink crisp rather than syrupy. Spiked with smooth vodka and crafted for a heavy shake-and-pour serve, the result is a silky, refreshing sour that hits the palate with a sophisticated, zesty finish.

Matt Bruce, Managing Director of Premium Liquor, noted that the launch hits right as Kiwis are looking for exotic flavours that don’t require a chemistry degree to serve at a dinner party. Marketing Manager Jenna Lee echoed the sentiment, promising that even those sceptical of a “sour” will be won over by the fruit-forward balance. Now available nationwide for $49.99, it’s a high-end shortcut to looking like a pro host. As the BATCHED team puts it, sour never looked quite this sweet.