Our Brighton Festival: Lilo

The theme of this year’s festival is Rebuilding. How have you been rebuilding following the events of the past two years? 

To be honest we’ve just been building. Creating and launching a new brand (Lilo) in a new category (Hard Seltzer) outside our day jobs during lockdown has been anything but easy but we’ve had some great wins. Won awards. Got listed in Harrods. It’s early days and still very few people have heard of Hard Seltzer (effectively alcoholic sparkling water that is lo-cal, vegan, zero sugar, zero carb) - but is has taken America by storm over the past 4 years. As a category, it outsells vodka! We’ve been busy making sure Lilo is the best hard seltzer around...even if you don’t know what that is right now!

You’re a new sponsor of Brighton Festival. What made you want to support the Festival? 

A couple of things really. With a name inspired by summers at the beach, Lilo feels like it’s natural home is beside the seaside. One of the four founders, Greg, and our amazing artist in residence, Maria Rivans also live in Brighton. Another of the founders, Drew, grew up in Worthing. He and Greg met studying theatre - and have always had a soft-spot for the arts. Supporting this brilliant arts festival in one of our home cities (along with Glasgow - where the liquid comes from and the product is made) felt totally right.

What are you most looking forward to at Brighton Festival 2022? 

Too much to list! An exciting festival in a Covid-free summer is exactly what everyone desperately needs. More specifically... Tristan Sharps has a track record of utter brilliance - so Unchain Me will be something we will be talking about for years to come. Witness Stand taking place along the shoreline will be amazing (if the weather holds) and a commentary on Islamophobia taking place in a car park (Peacophobia) sounds both bonkers and important...but literally...flick the festival brochure open on any page and you’ll find something amazing.

Which Lilo drink would pair best with the following shows and why? 

Wuthering Heights: Lilo Rosehip & Cranberry flavour was one of only a handful of hard seltzers to win the highest accolade of ‘Master’ at the revered ‘Spirits Business Awards’ in 2021. Truly the ‘height’ of hard seltzer - but thankfully you won’t feel too much ‘wuthering’ (thanks to being just 3.5% ABV). Just serve with some ice and a slice of pink grapefruit.

Unchain Me: We have just launched Lilo Botanical Spirit - using the base spirit from our White Grape & Elderflower hard seltzer. It’s just 25% ABV, vegan, lo-cal, zero sugar...so perfect for some unchained experiments to create some lighter & lower summer drinks. Juniper-bored gin-lovers and Spritz-experimenters come hither.

Sacre: Lilo hard seltzer is perfect for acrobats looking to unwind (sometimes literally) after a show. Lilo White Grape & Elderflower is a light and refreshing revelation for those keen to have a slightly less guilty tipple. In acrobatic terms, the citrus notes and delightfully soft finish make this the perfect transition into a summer’s evening without the hurdle of calories, gluten and carbs... or a heavily alcoholic headspring!

Riot Ensemble: Creators of “innovative, vibrant and rewarding” experiences... much like ourselves. Looking for a creative ensemble in your glass? Try Lilo as part of a lighter, lower spritz. Fill a wine glass with ice, add 125ml Sauvignon Blanc, top with Lilo White Grape & Elderflower hard seltzer and garnish with a slice of green apple. A riot of flavour perfect for the summer months. 

But why not try yourself - as Lilo are offering all Brighton Festival fans 15% off their hard seltzers. Just visit www.lilodrinks.com and use the code BF2022 at the checkout.