Bunsters has launched the country’s first spicy tequilana, made with a small inclusion: an Australian Witchetty Grub, aiming to wow investors in its Birchal equity crowdfunding capital raise and become the spirit of choice for Spicy Margarita fans.
However, not all bottles feature a critter. The Bunster’s Witchetty Grub Agave Tequilana Spirit is limited edition – reserved for those who invest $10,000 or more in its Birchal equity raise.
Other products unveiled by the company this week include three Australian made flavoured Tequila Liqueurs: Peanut Butter, Fruit Zingle and Fireballs, also currently only available to investors in the raise, which aims to assist the company in funding its U.S. supermarket expansion plans.
Founder Renae Bunster said the Agave Tequilana Spirit is made from imported cactus juice from Mexico with all production completed in Australia.
“Technically we can’t call it ‘Tequila’ as it wasn’t made in the region of Tequila in Mexico, so it’s called Agave Tequilana Spirit, made from the same blue agave cactus used in Mexico, and just to let everyone know it’s authentically Australian, we’ve even put a Witchetty Grub in there,” said Bunster.
The flagship spicy tequilana is a pure un-aged silver tequila with an ABV of 40 per cent and natural notes of caramel, vanilla and honey, with a spicy kick courtesy of Charapita chillies – which Bunster says are the most expensive in the world.
“Currently there’s only one other brand of spicy tequila on the market anywhere in the world – it’s American and includes a lot of other questionable flavours added, including sugar.
“I think purists will love our genuine silver tequila. Spicy Margaritas are the top selling cocktail in most bars these days yet no one is commercially producing a pure tequila with just chilli added. We are well placed to corner the entire Australian market for on premises and at home drinking for this cocktail,” said Bunster.
Bunster said the creature addition was an idea formed in the early development of the spirit.
“The Witchetty grub idea was a joke that we came up with after test driving too many of the early samples, but our production manager actually went and sourced a supply of Witchetty Grubs from Tasmania,” said Bunster.
Overseas, Bunsters recently secured major trials in several supermarket chains across the United States and Canada, the standout being a partnership with Fortinos, a retail giant owned by Loblaws.
“We’ve just been accepted in to seven different supermarket chains in the USA and Canada to trial our hot sauces. There’s nothing else like our hot sauces on the shelf in America, we’re probably the only Australian brand in some of those supermarkets and our price point is perfect. We’re competitive. It’s set up for a home run for us. It’s a really exciting time for Bunsters,” said Bunster.
Bunsters Hot Honey has also caught the attention of the American market, and has been embraced by a national food service distributor that serves 80,000 different commercial customers.
“Being signed up by that distributor is a really exciting deal. It opens the door to getting our Hot Honey into the mouths of hundreds of thousands of people at stadiums and restaurants. Hot Honey is the best-selling chilli condiment in the United States and not many brands are doing it and none are from Australia,” Bunster said.
Bunsters began as an entirely online brand, and is now ranged in more than 800 independent supermarkets across Australia, and internationally via Amazon in the USA, UK, Canada and Hong Kong.
October saw Bunsters first shipment of hot sauce delivered to Woolworths, and Coles Liquor begin a trial of its ready-to-drink cocktails in First Choice stores.
Bunsters Birchal equity crowdfunding capital raise is now open and will close 30 November.
