Skip to main content

The Walking Reds: New AR App Pits You Against the Walkers on these ‘Walking Dead’ Wines

walking dead wine
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Remember when we told you about how you could interact with criminals while drinking wine (outside of sitting in a dive bar and having the nerve to order a glass of Pinot Grigio, which we’re pretty sure would might also put you in contact with unsavory individuals)? Well, this wine label is going to make that one look like a kid’s birthday party (if that birthday party took place in the Wild, Wild West).

Now, thanks to two new wines brought to you by The Last Wine Company — a partnership between Skybound Entertainment and Treasury Wine Estates — you can feel like a character in The Walking Dead.

Yeah, that’s right. You can now interact with zombies.

Walking Dead Living Wine Labels app

Building on the success of the 19 Crimes wine labels, Living Wine Labels — a company that has taken augmented reality to the next, slightly tipsy level — has just come out with two new bottles, both tied to The Walking Dead. Whereas before you could learn the stories of the criminal who populated the labels of the 19 Crimes wines, now you can interact with the stars of the hit comic book/AMC show.

On Blood Red Blend, you’ll see Sheriff Rick Grimes. If you launch the app and point it at Grimes, he will fight off walkers, all while you stand idly by in the wine aisle, dreaming about what you would do if you were in Grimes’ situation.

On The Walking Dead Cabernet Sauvignon, you’ll see Grimes’ main problem in life (other than mental stability in an increasingly volatile world): a horde of zombies. When pointing the app at the zombies, they break out of the label onto the screen. If you’re really looking to live the life of your favorite The Walking Dead characters, put the two bottles side-by-side. When you do, Grimes will then fight the zombies.

walking dead wines bottle
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Beyond the AR component, the corks used for the wines are collectibles. You’ll find corks emblazoned with barbed wire, walkers’ hands, and heads of the undead (who wouldn’t want to bring some undead head to your next dinner party?)

For some real fun, though, we recommend buying a few bottles of each, drinking them, then trying the augmented reality. Nothing will show your true colors (whatever the color of a G-D hero is, obviously) like pounding half a case of wine and fighting off a horde of zombies.

Living Wine Labels is working to expand their line beyond these initial offerings and hopes to have labels from Chateau St. Jean, Beringer Brothers, and Gentleman’s Collection all interactive in the coming months.

To interact with The Walking Dead wine labels (or 19 Crimes), you can download the Living Wine Label app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Both wines are available in the U.S. for around $19.

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
What is a cortado coffee? All about this smooth, velvety drink
Everything you ever wanted to know about cortado coffee
cortado

Said to have originated in the Basque region of Spain, the cortado is gaining popularity across coffee shops worldwide. This Spanish coffee beverage is a simple beverage made of warm espresso and steamed milk, creating a velvety, smooth espresso drink to sip on at any time of the day. But what exactly is a cortado, and how does it compare to other espresso beverages? We break it down below.
What is a cortado coffee?

A cortado is a warm espresso drink that is made with equal parts warm, steamed milk and espresso. The 1:1 ratio makes this drink smooth and velvety, but it does not contain the milk foam that is found in other Italian espresso drinks. Adding steamed milk on top of the freshly brewed espresso helps to counteract the acidity of the espresso.
Understanding what's in a cortado
With many espresso beverages on the board, it's fairly easy to get your espresso drinks mixed up since they all have many similarities. Here's what you need to know about the cortado.
Is cortado the same as flat white?
A cortado and a flat white are not the same. The cortado is smaller in size than a flat white and also has a stronger taste. This is because a cortado has equal parts espresso to steamed milk, whereas a flat white has a ratio of 1 to 2-3 ratio of espresso to steamed milk. Additionally, the cortado has little to no milk foam, whereas the flat white has a larger amount of foam. This is why the flat white has a thicker, creamier consistency to it.
Is a cortado one or two shots?
A cortado is typically made with two shots of espresso (about two ounces), also known as a double-shot espresso. Considering the average espresso shot contains about 64 milligrams of caffeine, you can expect a cortado to contain about 128 milligrams of caffeine. However, this can vary depending on the type of espresso shots used in the cortado drink.
What is a cortado at Starbucks?
The cortado hasn't quite yet made it to Starbucks' menu in the U.S., but you can order this new coffee drink if you happen to find yourself at a Starbucks in the U.K. Starbucks makes their cortado with two shots of ristretto espresso, topped with warm, silky milk and served in a 6-ounce cup. We hope the cortado hits U.S. Starbucks soon.
Cortado vs. macchiato

Read more
A bourbon inspired by the Allman Brothers Band uses peach wood
The brand unveils its 2024 release for its Backstage Series
three chord bourbon allman brothers band 10a831fc c80e 3086 832f 98bd1df5786d

Plenty of spirits brands collaborate with musicians, but the Three Chord Bourbon brand is taking that a step further: it has an entire Backstage Series in which it works with bands and artists to create custom bourbon blends. Now, the brand has announced this year's entry into the Backstage Series, and it's a collab with rock icons the Allman Brothers Band.

Inspired by the band's album Eat a Peach, the bourbon has a toasted peach wood finish and has aromas of spice and vanilla with flavors of caramel sweetness.

Read more
The Oklahoma Martini and 9 more drinks: The best cocktails you’ve never heard of
Here are some of the best unknown drinks
Boilermaker

While there's nothing wrong with a classic cocktail recipe or a reliable glass of cabernet sauvignon, sometimes you want a change of pace. Who knows, your favorite beverage might be one you've never tried, let alone ever heard of.

Some of these wild drinks come from different parts of the U.S., offering regional twists on signature drinks. Others, like smoothie sour beers, are the work of creative producers looking to shake up the game. Others still are from faraway parts of the planet — places you may never reach, but you can at least visit in mind with the appropriate drink in hand.

Read more