WINKY Cocktail Keg

Relax, WINKY is perfectly legal. The empty, clean stainless steel keg and tap head can travel around the world in your hand luggage or checked baggage. However, you absolutely must leave the gas cartridges at home! Air security authorities take a very dim view of compressed gas containers on board, whether in hand luggage or the cargo hold. Pack the keg and simply buy the standard cartridges at the nearest supermarket or bar shop at your holiday destination. This will save you any annoying discussions at check-in.

Take a deep breath, your keg isn't broken. The problem is usually sitting in front of the tap.

• The number one mistake is a lack of patience: Warm liquid immediately repels carbon dioxide, so cool your drink down properly beforehand.
• Mistake number two is hesitancy. If you only tentatively tap the tap, you'll churn the flow and end up with a foamy head of death. Always pull the tap firmly and all the way forward!
• If it's still foaming, the pressure gauge is too high: turn the regulator down a little, briefly vent at the ring and pour cleanly.

Now, please take off your superhero cape for a moment and engage your brain, because physics, unfortunately, doesn't joke around. Gas capsules are under brutal pressure – anyone who screws things in rashly here will end up with freezing fingers or send parts flying across their living room.

1. Everything must come out: Pull the pull ring of the safety valve until the keg has audibly exhaled, no more pressure escapes, and the capsule is completely empty.
2. To close: Turn the dial all the way to the left to DECREASE.
3. Safe disassembly: Only unscrew the tap head and capsule holder once the keg is 100% depressurized. Turning a pressurized holder risks nasty frostbite from escaping gas – so take it slow and give your WINKY a well-deserved rinse!

No need to panic on the dance floor, you don't have to throw away your liquid gold! You can easily swap the gas capsule right in the middle of the action without opening the keg:

1. Pull the emergency brake: Turn the pressure regulator all the way to the left to DECREASE until it stops (this will close the valve).
2. Relieving pressure: Briefly and firmly pull on the pull ring of the safety valve to release the residual pressure in the head.
3. Capsule replacement: Unscrew the capsule holder, insert a new capsule with the head pointing forward, and quickly tighten the sleeve clockwise. A short hissing sound is perfectly normal; don't be alarmed, simply continue turning until it's snug!
4. Action: Slowly turn the regulator back to 5–8 PSI and refill the glasses.

You thought you had to blow that valuable gas into the atmosphere now? Absolutely not – we're wasting nothing here except bad moods:

1. To seal: Turn the pressure regulator all the way to the left to DECREASE.
2. Venting: Pull the pull ring of the safety valve until the keg is completely depressurized.
3. The life hack: Just leave the capsule exactly where it is – securely in the holder! Simply unscrew the entire tap head assembly from the keg. The capsule remains sealed and won't lose a single molecule.
4. Round Two: Pour in your next cocktail creation, screw the tap head back onto the keg by hand, turn the regulator to 5–8 PSI and let the show continue!

In an open glass carafe, any good cocktail turns into stale sadness after two hours. WINKY on the other hand, maintains bunker-like conditions. As soon as you pressurize the system, the oxygen is expelled. Without contact with air, neither alcohol nor citrus juices oxidize. You can safely store your leftovers in the refrigerator for several days or even over a week. If you fancy a drink next Sunday, it will taste just as vibrant as it did on Friday night. WINKY saves your good alcohol from going to waste.

The recommended operating pressure for dispensing is 5 to 8 PSI (approx. 0.35 to 0.55 bar):

• Adjustment: After inserting the capsule, slowly turn the pressure regulator clockwise until the pressure gauge reads 5–8 PSI.
• Adjustments: If the cocktail flows more slowly towards the end, gradually increase the pressure on the regulator.
• Tap: Always pull the tap lever firmly all the way forward.

Well, hello, that's exactly why you bought it! You don't need to force-fizz your drinks even more, unless you're into foam parties. Simply pour your Spritz, Prosecco, or premium Pilsner gently and at an angle into the chilled keg to retain the carbonation. Then, adjust the pressure regulator to a smooth flow rate. The protective gas keeps the bubbles trapped and prevents nasty oxidation. The result: The last sip tastes just as fresh as the first.

The WINKY 's capsule holder is designed for standard gas capsules measuring approximately 22 × 88 mm (approximately 21 ml volume). You can use both threaded and unthreaded capsules.

• CO2 capsules (16 g / ~21 ml): The best choice for sparkling cocktails, spritz drinks, highballs or fresh beer.
• N2O & N2 capsules (usually 2 to 4 g / ~21 ml): Due to the capsule size of 21 ml, standard nitrogen or nitrous oxide capsules fit. They ensure fine foam and velvety textures in drinks such as Espresso Martini or Nitro Cold Brew.

WINKY keeps your drinks ice-cold for up to 24 hours. Thanks to its double-walled stainless steel vacuum insulation, the keg laughs off the sweltering heat by the lake, while everyone around you sips lukewarm swill from plastic cups. If you want to pre-chill before the party, WINKY fits upright in most standard refrigerator doors. If your shared fridge is more of a shoebox type, simply screw on the included lid and lay the keg sideways on the shelf. The sturdy tap only comes into play when the party starts.

A 16g CO2 capsule is usually sufficient for approximately two keg loads (around 4 liters of beverage). If you are serving cocktails with very little natural carbonation or using a consistently higher dispensing pressure, one capsule will be enough for a full 2-liter fill of the WINKY .

Nobody wants to spend a night washing up, but WINKY hates sticky liqueur residue just as much as you hate a hangover the next morning. Luckily, the quick and easy cleanup is a breeze:

Rinse the 2-liter stainless steel drum and the suction hose thoroughly with warm water and a squirt of mild dish soap. Then let both air dry. The most important rule for a lasting shine is: WINKY and its components should never be put in the dishwasher! The harsh salts and tablets will damage the finish and attack the delicate seals.

If you've been serving creamy espresso martinis or sticky sour drinks, it's worth giving your tap a little TLC every now and then. Don't worry, you don't need an engineering degree, just an ordinary Phillips screwdriver.

First, release the lever and pull off the front assembly. To remove the internal spring, simply unscrew the screw with your screwdriver. The internal components will then be exposed, and you can clean all parts with warm soapy water to remove any residue. After drying, reinsert the spring, tighten the screw by hand, and the tap will work as smoothly as the day it was new.

Please leave the toolbox exactly where it is. The solid tap head is a permanently attached unit and does not need to be disassembled for cleaning. To prevent sweet syrup residue from clogging the lines, we have a brilliant trick straight from our development kitchen:

Simply rinse clean, warm water through the openings. Now, gently press the small, spring-loaded plunger at the front center of the tap connector, and the internal valve will magically open. The rinse water rushes unimpeded through the entire channel, taking every last drop of your drink. It doesn't get any faster or cleaner than that.