Pernod Ricard announces ‘world’s first connected cocktail library’

Its Opn system - an intelligent system to enhance the drinking experience though a holistic, user-friendly ecosystem of devices, applications and services - is being showcased at CES in Las Vegas this week (January 5-8). Pernod Ricard plans to launch the system in early 2018. 

The Opn system allows users to learn and customize cocktail recipes, adapting them to available ingredients. It includes coaching features to help users navigate recipes and techniques to build skills, as well as ordering spirits online for home delivery. Its role even extends to helping create social calendars and offering tips on hosting. 

“​Opn​ will simplify and enhance the way we organize events at home, and help us prepare our favorite cocktails, in the smoothest possible way,”​ said Alain Dufossé, managing director, Breakthrough Innovation Group, Pernod Ricard. 

“We are utterly committed to developing the future of entertaining at home: an experience that is connected, engaging, tailored and responsible.”​

Opn was originally unveiled in 2014 under the working title Project Gutenburg. Trials and interactions are currently taking place with 200 people in Paris, which will help Pernod Ricard further develop the system over the next 12 months. 

Over the last three years Opn has developed features such as:

• The Opn Cartridge: a container that completely replaces the bottle. With a  ‘clean contemporary look’, it is designed to optimize space and be unobtrusive, while still containing the standard 70cl of spirit. Integrated technology allows it to communicate with the rest of the Opn system.
• The Opn Tray: an intelligent tray that acts as the cartridge-housing dock station. It releases measures from the cartridges through a pour application, and also monitors spirit levels.
• The Opn Application: A database of more than 300 cocktail recipes with step-by-step instructions. The application also puts together shopping lists and cartridge orders.
• The Opn website: allows users to share insights and advice on hosting and creating a successful social gathering.