Venue hire and catering case study
We Created a Bespoke Cookie Milkshake to Launch Au Vodka Cookie Dough in Manchester
Most brands hire BLACK MILK for the space. Au Vodka hired our kitchen too.
To launch its limited edition Cookie Dough vodka, its new winter flavour, our kitchen developed a bespoke cookie milkshake. On Saturday 7 November 2026 our team served 400 of them free at our Northern Quarter café. The queue started at 6am. The shakes were gone by 4:30pm.
- Client
- Au Vodka
- Product
- Cookie Dough, limited edition
- Date
- 7 November 2026
- Our role
- Venue, bespoke shake, catering and staff
- Shakes served
- 400
- Sold out
- 4:30pm
The pop-up
The frontage went gold. Au Vodka signage ran above the windows and cookie vinyl covered the glass, so the pop-up stood out from across Oldham Street. Door security managed the queue, and Au Vodka's in-house marketing and content team captured the day.
Alongside the shakes, the first 25 people through the door got a free full-size bottle of Cookie Dough, with free Au merch and samples, a spin-the-wheel prize game and a live DJ through the afternoon.
On the Friday, NQ Manchester, EatMCR, The Manc and creator Cissy Jones were invited down for a preview. Both brands also promoted the day to their own email lists in the week before.
More from the day on Instagram
The bespoke cookie milkshake
A launch needs a reason to queue. For Au Vodka, that reason was a shake created in our own kitchen to celebrate the new flavour.
- Inside: a 25ml shot of the new Au Vodka Cookie Dough in every shake.
- On top: whipped cream, a chocolate drizzle and a whole cookie.
- Branded: an Au Vodka Cookie Dough label on every jar.
- Made at scale: our team made and served all 400 on the day, one per person, 18+ only with Challenge 25 ID checks.
Social content
How it went
- 400 bespoke shakes: created in our kitchen and served by our team.
- Queue from 6am: six hours before the doors opened.
- Sold out by 4:30pm: ninety minutes before the pop-up was due to close.
- Social coverage: NQ Manchester, EatMCR, The Manc and Cissy Jones covered the launch on their socials.
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Venue hire and catering
Want a bespoke drink or dessert for your launch?
Our kitchen can create it and our team can serve it in our café. Fully licensed, so drinks brands are welcome. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll come back with ideas and a price.
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