Getting customer’s attention is all about being unique and different.  [See 15 success tips from business veterans here]

Take for instance, ice cream. For some, the most adventurous choice they’ve ever made was choosing cookies-and-cream over vanilla. But with an interesting and ingenious twist to this popular dessert, the options are now even more fun and potentially intoxicating—literally.

“I just told them, ‘I want alcoholic ice cream.’ As simple as that,” says Patricia Gana on how Lickqueur Adult Ice Cream, the country’s first premium alcoholic ice cream, was born.  [Learn how to make ice cream here]

After returning from Bangkok, Thailand where she trained as a chef, Gana sought to bring a local version of their alcoholic ice cream to the country. Together with friends Pinky Jacob-Ileto, Mimi Manalo, and Earl Yu, they created M33 The Company, Inc. and created the most unique ice cream flavors yet.

Creating alcoholic ice cream, however, wasn’t as easy as simply adding vodka to store-bought ice cream.

“I wish,” says Gana. “Really, it would make my life a lot easier.”

Since alcohol is very difficult to freeze, they had to create their own ice cream formula. They began the delicious task of testing different formulations in 2007 and it was only in October of 2009 that they came up with the perfect alcoholic ice cream recipe.

Essentially, Lickqueur’s ice cream flavors are alcoholic cocktails in ice cream form. But just because it’s ice cream, doesn’t mean it’s safe. [Learn how to make tamarind fruit wine here]

“In the beginning,” says Gana, “we came up with as much as 15-percent alcohol content in a scoop.” That’s almost twice the alcohol content of a regular bottle of beer. “The moment you open the lid you could already small the alcohol. So we had to tone it down.” Now, with their six flavors, their alcoholic content range from 7 to 10 percent. “But it’s still pretty potent,” says Gana.

Since their launch, the public’s reaction to their product has been very warm. The alcohol may have something to do with it.

“At first it blew their minds because they can’t put the two (alcohol and ice cream) together,” says Gana. “But curiosity got the better of them so they try it. I think it’s unique enough to get people interested. But hopefully, it’ll keep them coming back.” [See 38 unique business ideas here]

For now, Lickqueur Adult Ice Cream has set up designated points within Metro Manila for customers to pick up their ice cream, “but eventually,” says Gana, “we would like to have our own outlet so we can come up with more things than just ice cream.”

M33 The Company, Inc.
http://www.lickqueur.com
(63)917-8502702; (02) 5022700