「冰結」是日本麒麟（KIRIN）推出的調酒系列，我第一次認識它，是在便利商店的保冷櫃內，那時候，冰結系列的調酒採用玻璃罐陳列，只用簡單的顏色來區別調酒口味，價錢介於中高價位，一口喝下去，很甜、很好入口、很好喝，但是，很容易讓人進入微醺狀態，因為它採用伏特加作為基酒，加上帶有甜味的水果風味與大量碳酸氣泡，掩蓋了酒精濃度高的事實。
後來，在家附近的量販店也可以看到用鐵罐封存的水果系列，常見的口味有白葡萄柚、檸檬、葡萄與青蘋果，可能是因為量販店以量制價的原因，價錢比在便利商店便宜一些，很適合大量採購，和朋友聚會時暢飲，就連我女生的朋友，也很喜歡喝。
沒想到，在鬧區閒逛時，遇到了冰結的大型推廣活動，因為新的口味要上市了，台灣麒麟於鬧區打造期間限定實體活動，現場以大型冰塊造景呈現入口清爽意象，並將果實氣泡元素延伸至整體空間設計，呼應產品濃郁果味與爽快氣泡特色，現場規劃一些拍照及打卡任務，完成任務可以試喝白桃口味冰沙，在這種悶熱的天氣，能夠吃個調酒口味的冰沙，真是太棒了，難怪一堆人排隊。
隨著夏季來臨，氣溫逐漸升高，陽光變得更加炙熱，無論是在海邊派對、露營烤肉、朋友聚會，或下班後的小酌，調酒總是能與夏天緊密地連結在一起，成為生活中的一部份，所以酒商會有這樣的活動，也不奇怪啦。
“Hyoketsu” is a ready-to-drink cocktail series launched by KIRIN in Japan. The first time I came across it was in the refrigerated section of a convenience store. Back then, the Hyoketsu cocktails came in glass bottles, with simple color schemes used to distinguish the different flavors. They were priced in the mid-to-high range, but after taking a sip, I immediately understood why people liked them so much. They were sweet, smooth, and incredibly easy to drink. The dangerous part, though, is that they can get you pleasantly buzzed before you realize it. Since they use vodka as the base spirit and combine it with sweet fruit flavors and lots of carbonation, the alcohol taste is well hidden, making the drinks feel much lighter than they actually are.
Later on, I started seeing the canned fruit-flavored versions at a hypermarket near my home. Common flavors include white grapefruit, lemon, grape, and green apple. Since hypermarkets usually offer better prices through bulk sales, they were a bit cheaper than buying them at convenience stores, making them perfect for stocking up before gatherings with friends. Even many of my female friends enjoy drinking them because they're fruity and easy on the palate.
To my surprise, while wandering around a busy shopping district one day, I stumbled upon a large Hyoketsu promotional event. A new flavor was being launched, so Taiwan Kirin created a limited-time pop-up experience. The venue featured giant ice-themed decorations to emphasize the refreshing image of the brand, while fruit and sparkling bubble elements were incorporated throughout the space to highlight the drink’s rich fruit flavors and crisp carbonation. There were also several photo spots and social media check-in missions. Visitors who completed the tasks could receive a sample of a white peach-flavored frozen slushie. In this hot and humid weather, getting to enjoy an alcoholic peach slushie felt amazing. No wonder so many people were lining up for it.
As summer arrives and temperatures continue to rise, alcoholic drinks naturally become part of the season. Whether it's a beach party, a camping barbecue, a gathering with friends, or simply relaxing with a drink after work, cocktails seem to go hand in hand with summer. So honestly, it's not surprising at all that beverage companies would organize events like this to promote their products during the hottest time of the year.
