(Photo: BuzzBallz)
Reader, beware: the following article will repeat "ball" more times than a bewildering sports-centric tongue twister.
On Monday, BuzzBallz announced it has joined forces with Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball for its largest offering: a 116-ounce basketball affectionately dubbed the "Big Blue." Touted as the first drinkable basketball in history (we don't doubt it), the release is designed to be filled with the brand's Berry Cherry Limeade as fans prepare for the beginning of March Madness next week.
Each ball — both basketball-sized and basketball-textured — is big enough to house the equivalent of 17 regular-sized BuzzBallz. If you're a fan of the brand's 1.75-liter "Biggies," the Big Blue fits a little less than two of those. Whatever way you look at it, the vessel clocks in at $20 and is slated to release in limited quantities over the following month. Alcohol is not included with purchase, so you'll have to stock up on your pre-mixed cocktail of choice separately.
“I’m thrilled to team up with BuzzBallz and launch something innovative. I focus on making impactful moves and elevating experiences, and this drinkable basketball is exactly that,” Lonzo said in a news release. “I also appreciate that the Big Blue BBallz are blue, reflecting my alma mater’s colors. Overall, this partnership resonates all-around for me.”
Ball's aforementioned alma mater is UCLA, which bears the colors blue and gold.
The basketball is one of the first big splashes from the brand following its acquisition by Sazerac last May. The Louisiana-based alcohol powerhouse is best known for two very different kinds of products. On the one hand, it operates pricy bourbon staples like Buffalo Trace, Van Winkle and Blanton's. On the other, it sells wildly successful party fodder like Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Southern Comfort and Parrot Bay. Suffice it to say that BuzzBallz falls neatly into the latter category.
Since its founding in 2009, Buzzballz has built a spherically-shaped empire teeming with enough flavors to make other brands blush. Its Berry Cherry Limeade, apparently known among fans as "blue ballz," became the latest in over two dozen flavors when it launched in late 2024.
“BuzzBallz is all about bringing epic fun to every moment – and there’s nothing more epic than basketball in the U.S. every spring. Our fans dubbed the Berry Cherry Limeade flavor ‘blue ballz’ and when we heard that we knew there was a fun act to be had during March’s big tournament,” Jess Scheerhorn, BuzzBallz vice president at Sazerac, added. “Whether your team just nailed a buzzer-beater or you're anticipating the rush of a big win, BuzzBallz are the perfect way to enjoy the sweet taste of competition.”
