Beam Suntory invests in maker of at-home cocktail machine

Beam Suntory Inc. has signed on to be the exclusive spirits partner of Bartesian, the maker of an at-home cocktail machine.

The Deerfield-based liquor company announced Wednesday it had invested in the Ontario company. The amount of the investment wasn’t disclosed.

Bartesian’s countertop unit works like a single-serve coffeemaker. The machine uses capsules containing cocktail ingredients and has four reservoirs that hold basic liquors: vodka, rum, gin and tequila.

“At-home cocktailing is a multi-billion dollar market, and we’ve been exploring innovation in this space for quite some time,” Beam Suntory’s chief strategy officer Steve Fechheimer said in a news release. “We believe Bartesian will make it easier than ever for consumers to make their favorite cocktails perfectly every time.”

Bartesian The company is accepting orders for its countertop machine with expected delivery beginning late this year or early in 2017.

The machine, 12 capsules and a cocktail shaker is being offered on Bartesian’s website for $299. A pack of 12 capsules is $20. The company is launching with capsules for these cocktails: Cosmopolitan, Uptown Rocks, Margarita, Bartesian Breeze, Sex on the Beach and Zest Martini.

Cofounder Ryan Close said Bartesian is glad to have Beam Suntory as partner.

“As cocktail culture continues to grow and evolve, Bartesian is leading the way to simplify the craft, without sacrificing taste or shared experience,” Close said. “Beam Suntory shares our love of premium cocktails and our passion for delivering excellence to the consumer.”