Bandoeng’22 on the Road

Last month, Marc Pieplenbosch traveled to Nevada on behalf of Bandoeng’22 to spend several days on the road with distributor Pacific Edge, joining their sales reps in the cities of Reno and Las Vegas.

At Bandoeng’22, we believe in building strong, personal connections with the people who represent our brand locally. By sharing the stories and individuals behind our product, we create authentic relationships that go beyond business.

Reno
Known as “the biggest little city in the world,” Reno boasts impressive hotels, buzzing casinos, and a vibrant bar and restaurant scene. The city’s bartenders are highly skilled, with a strong focus on agave-based spirits like tequila and mezcal.

The flavor of pandan was still unfamiliar to many in Reno’s bar scene, but the curiosity was unmistakable. Bartenders were fascinated to learn about its Southeast Asian origins, traditional uses, and the way Bandoeng’22 incorporates these flavors into a uniquely Dutch-crafted liqueur.

Once shown the modern twists on classic American cocktails featured on our website, many bartenders were eager to start experimenting with Bandoeng’22 right away.

As is standard across much of the U.S., bars and restaurants source their spirits through distributors, while consumers buy through liquor stores. So, the visit also included stops at key local retailers to introduce and promote the product.

The trip concluded with a special industry night at cocktail bar Rum Sugar Lime, where fellow bartenders were invited to sample a menu featuring Bandoeng’22 cocktails.

Las Vegas
Famous from film and TV, Las Vegas is often associated with flashy casinos and the iconic Strip — but there’s far more to the city’s cocktail culture than just glitz and glamour.

Upon landing, Marc was welcomed by the VP of Pacific Edge Nevada, and they hit the ground running, visiting both liquor stores and top cocktail venues across the city.

Much like in Reno, many bartenders were unfamiliar with the pandan flavor profile — often described as the “Asian vanilla.” But once they tasted our pandan liqueur, their interest was immediately piqued.

With a strong cocktail tradition and a love for agave spirits, Las Vegas proved to be an ideal environment for showcasing Bandoeng’22. Bartenders quickly recognized how well the liqueur pairs with tequila and mezcal, sparking inspiration for creative new drinks.

In the evening, an exclusive Bandoeng’22 tasting event was hosted at bar Liquid Diet where cocktails and shots featuring our liqueur were served to an audience of bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts eager to explore this intriguing new flavor.

The Experience: Enthusiasm, Orders, and Inspiration
The trip generated strong positive reactions, new orders, and creative momentum. It marked a key step in building brand presence on-trade (in bars and restaurants), with a view toward expanding into retail (liquor stores) in the near future.