Big Sipz initially kicked off its first celebrity collaboration with Atlanta rap veteran Waka Flocka Flame in 2024, via his Purple Punch cocktail, and organically positioned themselves as cultural disrupters.
As a result, the ready-to-drink brand’s most recent launch for the interstellar flavor Blast Off Blue, which literally takes things to new heights, proves how good they’ve gotten at playing that role. A role in which saw Big Sipz serve as a helping hand in getting stars such as Xzibit, The Game, Too $hort and more to perform for the masses, for free, in Los Angeles, while also beating NASA at its own game.
Big Sipz’ Latest Big Launch Blurs Lines Of Experiential & Cultural Marketing
The latter part of the aforementioned was accomplished on October 16 when the wine-based-cocktail provider sent the new addition to its 16% ABV beverage lineup on a trip to the edge of space.
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To do so, Big Sipz, along with near-space flight specialists Filmed in Space, gave a cup of Blast Off Blue the type of lift off sequence which blast it into the stratosphere—turning the beverage’s arrival into an unconventional marketing spectacle. The campaign marks another ambitious move for Big Sipz, which has continued to connect its product launches with recognizable names and cultural experiences.
“Sending the product to the edge of space wasn’t just about making noise around a new flavor,” said Joey Parris, chief marketing officer at Patco Brands. “This was about creating a moment people would want to engage with and remember.”
The rollout also brought in the cult-following of Cole Steiner and Cenzo Hayes, founders of Dirtbag Clothing, who participated in a friendly competition to see who could get Big Sipz airborne first.
The creator duo helped extend the campaign beyond a traditional product announcement, building anticipation around a launch designed to generate conversation online as well as at retail.
Similar to Big Sipz strategy with Waka Flocka, Steiner and Hayes’ addition provided a social media-fueled sub-cultural element that acts as a breeding ground to help spread the messaging and lore of Blast Off Blue in real time.
How A Collaboration With Waka Flocka Flame Started A Domino Effect For Big Sipz
In essence, the 2024 launch of Purple Punch not only brought Waka Flocka Flame into the Big Sipz fold through a flavor collaboration that reflected the hitmaker’s high-energy persona, it provided the brand with the blueprint. In fact, the launch generated enough demand for the brand to reportedly triple production of the flavor, according to the company’s announcement at the time.
Now, Blast Off Blue is taking that same formula of strategic product development in a different direction. Featuring a sweet-tangy flavor profile, the latest addition expands the brand’s fruit-forward offerings while giving its rollout a literal lift-off.
“Big Sipz has always been about going big, Blast Off Blue gave us an opportunity to bring that mentality to life in a way consumers wouldn’t expect,” said Parris.
The wine-based ready-to-drink cocktail is now available at major convenience stores nationwide, with Big Sipz reporting distribution across 48 states.
Why Big Sipz’ Presence At Concerts Featuring Xzibit, The Game, Too $hort + More This Summer Is Just Scratching The Surface
The move comes after a busy summer for Big Sipz, which expanded its presence across Los Angeles through a series of live music events. Most notably, the brand sponsored The Happy Group’s Cali Love concert series at Pershing Square in downtown L.A., hosted by radio personality Big Boy.
Across four installments running from mid-July through late August, the concert series featured performances from Xzibit, The Game, Too $hort, Soulja Boy, Young Joc, Paul Wall and numerous other artists, bringing together West Coast Hip-Hop staples and familiar names from across the rap landscape and beyond.
As if that weren’t enough, Big Sipz continues its event sponsorships into the fall, supporting gatherings including Latino Carnaval, Funk Fest, Tropical Festival and Banda Fest throughout October. Additionally, Big Sipz has also teamed up with College Weekly, Tailgreeter and Yuengling for five massive tailgates at schools across the country through November as college football continues to heat up.
From the inaugural Purple Punch collaboration with Waka Flocka Flame, to a blue-hued cocktail sent skyward and a summer of live shows on the West Coast, Big Sipz has continued to explore ways to give its flavor releases a broader cultural footprint. And now, Blast Off Blue takes Big Sipz signature “go big” mentality beyond the stage and into the stratosphere.
Check out the launch of Blast Off Blue here and visit Big Sipz official website here for more details on their upcoming events and more.
