Method and apparatus for flash frozen drink mixes

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method that formulates an alcohol-containing drink mixer according to a predetermined recipe and then flash freezing the mix into the form of small frozen pellets. The pellets are used by a person to make one drink or a batch of drinks by mixing a base beverage, or beverages, with the pellets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing a mixed drink comprising:
 combining one or more non-alcoholic ingredients with one or more alcoholic ingredients to form a liquid mix formulation;   cryogenically freezing the liquid mix formulation to form a plurality of cryogenically frozen beads of the liquid mix formulation by dripping the liquid mix formulation into liquid nitrogen; and   combining the frozen beads with a first alcoholic liquid to form the mixed drink without blending or ice.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid mix formulation includes more than one flavor component. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid mix formulation includes only a single flavor component. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising packaging the cryogenically frozen beads of the liquid formulation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more non-alcoholic ingredients of the liquid mix formulation includes one or more of the following ingredients: tomato juice, orange juice, fruit juice, vegetable juice, herbs, spices, essence oils, sugar, and salt.   
     
     
         6 . The mixed drink made according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The mixed drink of  claim 1 , wherein the flavor of the liquid mix formulation is a composite of multiple individual flavors. 
     
     
         8 . The mixed drink of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the plurality of cryogenically frozen beads include a first portion having a first flavor and a second portion having a second flavor, wherein the first and second flavors are different from each other.   
     
     
         9 . A method of making a mixed drink comprising:
 providing a first alcoholic liquid in a container; and   combining cryogenically frozen beads with the first alcoholic liquid in the container to form the mixed drink without blending or ice, the cryogenically frozen beads being formed by dripping a liquid mix formulation containing alcohol and non-alcoholic ingredients into liquid nitrogen.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the combining step further comprises:
 combining a second alcoholic liquid with the mixed drink.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 adding a non-alcoholic liquid to the mixed drink.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 resting the mixed drink for a period of time before serving to achieve a serving temperature.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 combining one or more non-alcoholic ingredients to form an additional liquid mix formulation;   cryogenically freezing the additional liquid mix formulation to form an additional plurality of cryogenically frozen beads of the additional liquid mix formulation by dripping the additional liquid mix formulation into liquid nitrogen; and   combining the additional plurality of frozen beads with the mixed drink.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid mix formulation and the additional liquid mix formulation have different flavors. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 packaging the plurality of cryogenically frozen beads and the additional plurality of cryogenically frozen beads by combining the additional plurality of cryogenically frozen beads with the cryogenically frozen beads into a same package to provide a combined plurality of cryogenically frozen beads in the package.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of cryogenically frozen beads and the additional plurality of cryogenically frozen beads are combined in a predetermined ratio. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 mixing the combined plurality of cryogenically frozen beads with an alcohol component to form the mixed drink.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 combining a predetermined ratio of additional cryogenically frozen beads as part of the mixed drink in the container, the additional cryogenically frozen beads being formed by dripping an additional non-alcoholic liquid mix formulation into liquid nitrogen.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the non-alcoholic liquid mix formulation and the additional non-alcoholic liquid mix formulation have different flavors. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising
 mixing the first alcoholic liquid and the cryogenically frozen beads,   wherein the mixed drink is shaken, not stirred.