How to Use the Distilled Cocktails Acrylic Mixer Tokens in Play

Quick answer

Treat the Distilled Cocktails acrylic mixer tokens exactly like the cardboard mixer tokens they replace: set them out during setup, place them on the matching cocktail recipe when a round calls for it, and return them to the supply when the round resolves. The upgrade changes how the tokens feel and hold up, not how the game plays.

The Distilled: Cocktails expansion adds a layer of drink-making decisions to your distillery, and the acrylic mixer tokens are the pieces you will touch most often. They are a straight upgrade to the punchboard tokens, so the rules do not change. What changes is how quickly you can read the table and how well the tokens survive repeated play.

This guide walks through the full process, from sorting the tokens before your first game to storing them so the acrylic does not scuff. Each step includes the mistake that trips up new players most often.

What the acrylic mixer tokens actually replace

The Distilled: Cocktails expansion ships with cardboard mixer tokens. The acrylic set is a component upgrade that swaps those punchboard pieces for thicker, printed acrylic. Everything printed on the acrylic matches the function of the cardboard version, so you do not need to learn a new subsystem or rewrite your reference sheet.

Because the tokens are thicker, they sit slightly higher on the table and are easier to slide across a playmat without catching an edge. That matters in a game where you may be moving several tokens in a single round.

• Keep the original cardboard tokens as a backup if you ever misplace an acrylic piece.
• Do not mix cardboard and acrylic tokens in the same supply pile if you want a consistent table look.

Setup: build the mixer supply before the first round

Sort the acrylic mixer tokens by the cocktail or mixer type printed on them, then place them in a central supply within reach of every player. In a 1-5 player game, central placement keeps the tokens from drifting toward one side of the table. If your group plays on a large surface, use a small bowl or tray so the tokens do not slide off the playmat.

Check the expansion rulebook for the exact number of tokens each player should start with or draw. The acrylic set does not change those counts, so follow the printed setup for the Cocktails expansion. If a token count looks wrong, count the acrylic pieces against the cardboard originals before you start.

• Common mistake: leaving the acrylic tokens in the box insert and pulling them out mid-game, which slows every round.
• Checkpoint: every player should be able to reach the supply without standing up.

During play: placing and resolving mixer tokens

When a card or round instructs you to take a mixer token, pick it from the central supply and place it on the matching cocktail recipe or player board space. The acrylic tokens are printed on both sides in most sets, so orient the token so the icon faces you and your neighbors. Resolve the token's effect when the recipe or round step tells you to, then return it to the supply unless the rules say to keep it.

The most common rules mistake is treating the acrylic token as a permanent upgrade that stays on your board. It does not. It is still a mixer token, and it follows the same return-to-supply timing as the cardboard version. If you are unsure, check the Cocktails expansion rulebook rather than guessing.

• Slide tokens rather than lifting them to reduce wear on the printed surface.
• If a token lands on the floor, check it for scratches before returning it to the supply.

Storage and care between sessions

Acrylic scratches when it slides against other acrylic, so store the mixer tokens in a small bag or a compartment that keeps them from rattling. The Distilled: Collector's Cask is designed to store your entire Distilled collection, including the base game and expansions, and it fits sleeved cards. If you own the Collector's Cask, use its dedicated compartments rather than dropping loose tokens into the main box.

Wipe tokens with a dry microfiber cloth if they pick up oil from hands. Do not use alcohol-based cleaners, which can cloud the printed surface over time.

• Keep the acrylic tokens out of direct sunlight for long storage periods.
• If you travel with the game, pack tokens in a rigid container so they do not bend or chip.

Your mixer token workflow, step by step

1. Sort before you play: Separate the acrylic mixer tokens by type and place them in a central supply tray within reach of every seat. Checkpoint: no player should have to ask where the supply is after round one.
2. Follow the Cocktails setup counts: Use the expansion rulebook to confirm how many tokens each player draws or starts with. The acrylic set does not change those numbers. Common mistake: assuming the acrylic tokens add extra draws or a new setup step.
3. Place tokens on the matching recipe: When a round instructs you to take a mixer token, place it on the matching cocktail recipe or board space and orient the printed icon toward the table. Keep the token flat so it does not catch on sleeves or playmat edges.
4. Resolve, then return: Resolve the token's effect at the timing printed on the card or rulebook, then return it to the central supply unless the rules say to keep it. Common mistake: leaving tokens on your board between rounds and running the supply dry.
5. Store tokens separately: After the game, bag the acrylic tokens or place them in a dedicated compartment such as the one in the Distilled: Collector's Cask. Checkpoint: tokens should not rattle against each other in the box.

Components that support this setup

• Distilled: Collector's Cask (with Cocktails): This bundle includes the Distilled: Cocktails expansion packed inside the Collector's Cask, along with a dice tumbler, and is designed to store your entire Distilled collection, including the base game and all expansions and promos. If you want one box for the base game, Cocktails, and your acrylic mixer tokens, this is the storage solution that keeps everything together.
• Distilled Board Game: Distilled is a highly-thematic, medium weight euro game about crafting alcoholic spirits in a distillery for 1-5 players, using resource management, recipe fulfillment, tableau building, and mitigate-your-luck mechanics. The Cocktails expansion and its mixer tokens build on the base game, so you need the core set before the tokens have a table to sit on.
• Distilled Metal First Player Token: This solid metal upgrade to the cardboard first player token is designed to sit atop your glencairn glass and weighs 1.5 oz with a 51mm diameter and 4mm thickness. If you are already upgrading components, this pairs naturally with the acrylic mixer tokens and gives the first player a marker that will not slide off the table.

The acrylic mixer tokens are a simple swap, not a rules change. Set them out centrally, follow the Cocktails expansion timing, and store them so the printed faces stay clean. Do that, and the upgrade earns its place at the table.