There’s a new alcohol on the market that will go perfectly with your post-party breakfast.
Sven Liden, a 2002 electrical engineering graduate, is the co-founder of the new in-vogue alcohol product called Bakon Vodka, which is now available in 30 states and will be coming to Arizona in early March.
“We like to say we’re the No. 1 meat-flavored spirit in North America,” Liden said.
Bakon Vodka, which infuses peppered bacon flavors with a potato-based vodka, is joining the alcohol market and getting a mainstream and positive reaction, Liden said.
“I serendipitously fell into it,” said Liden on how he went from an engineering graduate to a carnivorous cocktail inventor.
Sick of redundant drink flavors like pomegranate and cherry, Liden and two friends, Chris Marshall and Stefan Schachtell, started experimenting in Seattle in 2007 by infusing bacon with different types of alcohol.
They achieved a savory taste, combined it with a Bloody Mary and knew something great was created.
“If this doesn’t work, we’re going to be bringing bacon-flavored vodka to every party,” Liden said.
The three friends did a local trial run in Washington and figured their supplies would last them at least two months, he said.
“It sold out in three weeks,” Liden said.
The trio created a website, Twitter account and a Facebook page, and it wasn’t long before the product started receiving national attention.
“We were contacted by the Conan O’Brien show on its first week after taking over for Leno,” Liden said.
The product was featured on the show in June.
Bakon Vodka also gained attention on The Today Show and has been featured in numerous magazines, including Maxim, Liden said.
“It was intended to be a Bloody Mary drink,” Liden said. “But it was brought around to bartenders; they were amazed at the versatility of it.”
Bacon combines with many things one wouldn’t expect, he said, including a bacon chocolate martini.
“It’s like cooking with bacon,” Liden said. “The smokiness and savoryness pull out other flavors ... the smokiness of bacon pulls out the flavor of chocolate.”
The bacon-inspired recipes don’t stop at chocolate. Liden said the product goes great with pickle-juice martinis and has been made into a BLT martini.
“You smell it, you get a lot of bacon essence,” Liden said. “Nine times out of 10, people will say, ‘Whoa, this tastes like bacon’ ... people really love it.”
Between bacon’s prominence in pop culture and the unusual mix of flavors, the idea of the drink drew varied reactions from students.
English senior Stacie Fraser doesn’t predict that she’ll become a Bakon Vodka fanatic anytime soon.
“That’s gross,” she said. “I wouldn’t try it ... I’m not a huge vodka person.”
However, English senior Shaadi Shoubaki could see Bakon Vodka becoming popular among the ASU student body.
“I know people like taking shots before class,” Shoubaki said. “It could be a morning shot; put it in your coffee.”
Reach the reporter at ktenagli@asu.edu