Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is testing some changes to its beverage program, including a new mezcal-spiked margarita, organic sangria and high-fructose-corn-syrup-free Coke Life as a fountain drink, according to a report Thursday.
Westword interviewed master sommelier Richard Betts, who is working with Chipotle to rework the beverage program at one unit in the chain’s home market of Denver.
The goal, Betts said, is to better align the beverage program with Chipotle’s longtime “food with integrity” positioning.
Chipotle, which is working to recover from a foodborne illness crisis at the end of 2015, also came under fire last year for promoting a menu free of genetically modified ingredients, though the company admitted that some fountain drinks still contained GMOs.
The Denver unit is testing the addition of Coke Life, a lower-calorie option sweetened with cane sugar and stevia, as a fountain drink, as well as all-natural Blue Sky sodas, which are partially owned by Coca-Cola. Chipotle officials did not respond to questions about whether those sodas might contain GMOs.
Among non-alcoholic options, the unit is also testing a watermelon agua fresca drink and a new iced tea formulation under the In Pursuit of Tea brand.
The alcohol side, however, is Betts’ specialty, although Chipotle has never boasted huge alcohol sales. The company has offered margaritas and beer since the chain’s early days, but alcohol amounts to only about 2 percent of sales.
Both a winemaker and a mezcal producer, Betts developed a new margarita made with Sombra mezcal from Oaxaca, which is Betts’ label, as well as Astral Tequila, agave syrup, and fresh lemon and lime juices.
The organic sangria comes from California. Betts said the bottled product could be delivered in kegs to reduce waste.
On the beer menu, the unit is testing Oskar Blues Beerito on draft, a lager, which joins the Mexican beer Modelo Especial available in cans at the restaurant.
The report indicated that Chipotle has stated no set timeline for the test and any potential rollout.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @livetodineout
