Hey Ryan. Can you outline your role at tipple?
I run the general operations and technology, while overseeing the awesome team who run the logistics, supply, marketing and e-commerce areas of the business.
Can you tell us a little about your service, and what drove you to embark on every Melbournian’s wildest fantasy?
Gladly! tipple is Melbourne’s virtual bottle shop, delivering on-demand in under 60 minutes, or when your future self is thirsty. Our drop zone delivers to over 75 inner-Melbourne suburbs, with plans to expand across all of Melbourne in 2016. Watch this space.
The concept came out of running liquor stores and food and delivery outlets around Melbourne for the past 11 years. As a business operator and liquor industry diehard, creating and building tipple seemed like the most natural next step, given the community demand for a service like this.
Our credo is “drink. different.”, and our pillars of success are based on speedy delivery, expansive range, competitive value, and a strong technical platform. We have a mobile app launching in a matter of weeks, really bringing to life the concept of having your bottle shop in your pocket.
You guys also deliver snacks. Nothing goes hand in hand like booze and snacks. What kind of food do you offer, and, what’s your personal favourite alcohol/snack combination?
You’re spot on. You can’t entertain with drinks alone. Along with building on our range of liquor, we are constantly growing our range of snacks to cater to the appetite of Melburnians. We’re currently delivering a range of Shale Point gourmet cheeses and crackers, Nobby’s nuts and pork crackle, a range of chips like Doritos, Smiths, and Red Rock Deli varieties, and new to the virtual snack isle is Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream.
Personal favourite? You can’t beat a good bottle of red with cheese. I go for Wynn’s The Banker because it drinks like a $50 bottle at more than half the price, with the Shale Point Cracked Pepper cheese and crackers. Although, this summer my go-to is Louis Perdrier French sparkling that drinks like a $40, but again, less than half the price.
You guys boast an incredibly speedy delivery time. How quickly can we expect you to come and alleviate our desire?
We promise to alleviate desires with delivery in less than 60 minutes. We take ‘on-demand’ seriously, and so far we have been averaging around 30 minutes for a delivery. However we allow a one-hour window because Melbourne is such a buzzing city with non-stop events and activities, which makes traffic unpredictable at times.
You have over 800 alcoholic beverages in stock. What are some of the more obscure drinks we can order through you guys?
If you’re into your beer, the original Fruh Kolsch beer is a great pick for something different. The Gentlemen’s Collection red is a great intro to wine as it has 5% fortified wine, which gives a smoother finish on the palette. A big seller for us is the Little Fat Lamb cider and ginger beer, because it’s 1.25 litres, 8% alcohol volume, and only $7.50. And tasty too.
Most obscure winners go to our range of spirits though, of which there are too many to mention. Most popular has been Ron de Jeremy Spiced Rum, Purity Vodka (the purest vodka in the world, distilled 37 times), and SX Cha Cha Cha Lemon & Honey tequila. Staff pick is the Diplome Dry Gin, which has a vintage, authentic taste, staying true to the original recipe which was perfected in the era of WWII.
