THIS summer, the girls want to stay cool, but they also want to keep the party going, and that’s where IcedJA comes in.

The Jamaican brand is taking the familiar freezer pop, known locally as Kisko, and giving it an adult upgrade. Instead of juice or syrup, the bag holds a frozen cocktail, creating what founder and CEO Dana Guscott calls “liquor-infused icicles”.

The tequila-infused mojito, one of IcedJA’s frozen cocktail offerings (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

“It’s something that keeps you cool and gives you a buzz,” she said in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

The result is a cold, convenient way to enjoy a cocktail while beating the Jamaican heat. The idea was inspired by the familiar childhood treat, but with a different purpose for an adult audience. Guscott recalled watching a younger cousin enjoy Kisko and began thinking about why she no longer reached for the frozen treat herself.

IcedJA founder and CEO Dana Guscott shares the story behind the frozen cocktail brand. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

“I had a little cousin, and you know, you see them drinking kisko as a child. Like kisko and all. But I no longer drink it. And I was wondering why, and then I realised that it doesn’t give me the same effect,” Guscott shared.

A partygoer enjoys an IcedJA frozen cocktail at the Zimi Seh Beach Party.

IcedJA was subsequently developed around the idea of combining a frozen refreshment with a cocktail in a format that can be easily consumed at parties and other social occasions. The business has since developed a range of frozen cocktails using different spirits, including Hennessy, tequila, white rum and Appleton. The white rum and Hennessy options are currently among its top sellers. One of the tequila offerings is a mojito, while the business also develops flavours with mixologists and tests the combinations before adding them to its range.

The product line can also be customised for events. Where a liquor sponsor is involved, IcedJA can develop a frozen cocktail around that particular spirit. But before taking the product to larger events, the company started small, its first trial was at View Bar, where Guscott gave a small number of products to patrons to gauge their reaction. The initial response created an opportunity for the business to take the product into larger event spaces. IcedJA later collaborated at Best Weekend Ever after approaching the organisers about participating. The business was also able to develop its tequila offering through the event.

IcedJA frozen cocktails are kept chilled at the Zimi Seh Beach Party.

“We asked if we could be there [Best Weekend Ever] to collaborate, and they loved it; they loved the idea,” Guscott told the Sunday Finance.

The move into larger events required IcedJA to significantly increase production. For a breakfast party in Ocho Rios, the business prepared 500 units, which represented a major production stretch at that stage of its development.

Partygoers and social media personalities Jordan Thompson and Daindra Harrison pose with IcedJA frozen cocktails at the Zimi Seh Beach Party.

“So we had 500 for a breakfast party, we gave them out, we were finished within half-an-hour, and persons came back.”

But scaling up production also exposed one of the biggest challenges facing the business: keeping the frozen cocktails frozen. At its first event, IcedJA deliberately started with just 30 units before increasing production to 50 and then 100 as the business gained confidence in the demand. The frozen format means the timing of events can directly affect sales. A late start to an event meant some of the products would melt before they could be sold. As a result, IcedJA is now looking at investing in more durable portable freezer storage that can help the business maintain the products during transportation and at events. Despite the logistical demands, IcedJA has received a positive response from venues.

The drink of choice for the ladies looking to keep cool at parties in the Jamaican heat: IcedJA frozen cocktails. 

“They actually loved it. They loved it,” she told the Sunday Finance.

The positive response from venues has been matched by interest from women attending the events, who Guscott said have been particularly receptive to the product. The regular-sized product sells for $1,000, while the smaller version retails at $700. Both sizes are available in the same flavours. Now, the company is looking beyond events and towards direct sales to consumers, preparing to offer packs of five for $3,000 through its social media page. The initial selection will include Hennessy, tequila and white rum. The business has been working with mixologists as it explores ways to strengthen the cocktails and improve their suitability for longer-term storage. The longer-term goal is to get the frozen cocktails into supermarkets, allowing customers to purchase them for home consumption and keep them stocked in their freezers.

.