Ten Locks backs tasty AF craft canned cocktail brand Ace+Freak

Ace+Freak will join the Ten Locks portfolio from now in a move that marks its entry into the booming RTD sector and strengthens the company’s portfolio of brands working hard to drive positive change.

Ace+Freak Mint & Elderflower Spritz (5.5% ABV) Ginger & Lemongrass Mule (5.5% ABV) and Watermelon & Cucumber Sangria (4% abv) will be available to UK bars, restaurants, festivals and venues focused on outdoor spaces, and arrives ready to shake up drinking occasions.

Ace+Freak’s recipes are designed by Thomas Soden, a multi-award-winning mixologist and co-owner of Nine Lives cocktail bar in London. Soden co-founded the brand after writing two books, over 300 cocktail menus and racking up 15,000 hours of cocktail-making-experience. Far from the sugary, synthetic and low-quality drinks dominating the canned RTD sector, Ace+Freak appeals directly to the millennial consumer; bar quality drinks that look and taste great, made to the highest standard and in the most sustainable way possible.

Every can of Ace+Freak is made with high quality craft spirits, 100 percent natural ingredients, pressed fruit juices and purées, and wines sourced directly from co-operatives. The team at Ace+Freak distil their own botanical spirits specifically for each recipe, and continually assess and refine every aspect of their product, supply chain and distribution to ensure they operate to the highest standards and lowest possible carbon footprint.

The result is a contemporary, unrivalled drinks range of exceptional quality in a ready-to-drink format, with huge appeal for bartenders, festival organisers and consumers.

Becky Davies who heads up Ten Locks said: “Ace+Freak is bold in its proposition and in its ambitions. With so much competition in RTDs we needed to come to the market with a competitive proposition, while staying true to what we believe; brands can be an incredible force for good. In Ace+Freak we’ve found a kindred spirit. It offers a clear point of difference and demonstrates innovation. We’re confident the trade will embrace the brand above the competition.

“There’s a huge consumer thirst for exceptional quality, craft canned cocktails which have a clear, sustainable brand proposition[2], so Ace+Freak was created to give consumers bar-quality drinks in a convenient format.”

60 percent of RTD drinkers are millennials, with these consumers demanding more from the brands they choose than ever before. A huge 41 per cent of the market are happy to pay more for transparency when it comes to their drink choices, and 44 percent of consumers feel that there are too many synthetic ingredients in RTDs. 2

Thomas Soden, Ace+Freak’s co-founder and CEO, said: “Appetite is huge for RTDs, but wading through the lower quality products can be a job in itself. What we have created is something truly disruptive – the range has real stand-out in chillers but beyond that will keep consumers coming back because of the quality of the liquid. Ace+Freak really does provide the next level of RTDs for the millennial and Gen Z market - it’s the gold standard for canned cocktails.

“We strive to be as environmentally sound as possible, and since inception, we’ve reduced our carbon footprint by a third through mindful sourcing, logistics and packaging solutions, while ensuring that our cans are fully recyclable. Part of our DNA, these credentials also appeal to younger customers who want brands that are authentic and take physical steps to be better in terms of sustainability.

“We’re not just building a brand; we are building a community - placing the brand at the heart of live events and creating a social movement. Joining the Ten Locks team will be a gear shift and take our distribution plans to the next level.”

As well as striving for transparency in every aspect of the production process, Ace+Freak also supports The Great Oven Project, which builds giant community ovens in conflict zones and refugee camps in the Middle East. With every sale of Ace+Freak, 5p is donated to the project.

Three of Ace+Freak’s expressions – the gold award-winning Mint & Elderflower Spritz (5.5% abv)**, Ginger & Lemongrass Mule (5.5% abv) and Watermelon & Cucumber Sangria (4% abv) - are available now to the UK on and off trade via Ten Locks, perfect for refreshing serves and outdoor drinking occasions.

The Ace+Freak range joins premium spirits brands Salford Rum, Mary White Vodka, Nusa Caña Rum, Applewood Gin, Diablesse Rum, Banhez Mezcal, El Tequileño, Langley’s Gin, Redwood Empire and West Cork Irish Whiskey in Ten Locks’ progressive portfolio of drinks brands with a difference - visit

www.ten-locks.com for further information.