Abstract:
A drink sample apparatus having an elongated stick, an indicia of the drink mixture marked on said stirring stick, a small mixture of an mixed drink or oil extract of the same, an edible bond to affix or cover said small mixture of an alcohol drink to said stirring stick that functions to provide a sample taste of a drink or beverage before making the decision to purchase the drink or beverage.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    To the full extent permitted by law, the present U.S. Non-Provisional patent application claims priority to and the full benefit of United States Provisional patent application entitled “Mixer Liquor Drink Sample on a Stick”, filed on Apr. 6, 2012, having assigned Ser. No. 61/621,307, incorporated entirely herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates generally to drink products and more specifically it relates to a sample or taster stick for a specific beverage and still more particularly the disclosure relates to preselected flavor(s) bonded or laminated to the sample stick. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Different beverages and packaging for beverages are known in the prior art. For example, there are different flavored of alcoholic beverages, sodas, fruit drinks, teas, beers, sports drinks, coffees, hot chocolate, and more recently vitamin and electrolyte waters. The different beverages are packaged in cans, bottles, and/or cartons and come in an assortment of flavors. 
         [0004]    With such a wide assortment of beverages and drinks available, especially mixed drinks or alcoholic beverages, a consumer would like the ability to sample or pre-taste the beverage prior to purchasing to determine if the consumer actually likes the taste of the beverage or drink. Moreover, since it is illegal to have an open container in a liquor store, thus prohibiting sampling of mixed drinks or alcoholic beverages, and a patron of a club or bar is obligated to purchase the entire drink to sample the drink the ability to sample or pre-taste the drink is prohibitive. 
         [0005]    It is known to provide drink flavoring sticks and straws. In particular, known flavoring sticks such as hard candy sticks may be licked or used to stir a flavor into a drink to give the drink an added or new flavor or to sweeten such drink. The beverage is prepared by placing the hard candy stick in the beverage and allowing the hard candy stick to dissolve into the beverage. Moreover, the hard candy stick may be used to stir the beverage assisting in dissolving the flavoring or sweetener into the beverage. In addition, drink flavoring straws are known, and utilized to draw a liquid such as milk through the straw having self-contained inner flavor structures within the straw to impart dissolved flavoring or sweetener to the associated fluid as it is drawn through the straw. 
         [0006]    Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a recognizable unmet need for a drink sample apparatus and method of use thereof, wherein such drink stick enables a consumer to sample or pre-taste the drink or beverage before making the decision to purchase the entire drink or beverage or purchase the ingredients to make the drink or beverage. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Briefly described, in example embodiment, the present apparatus overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantage, and meets the recognized need for a drink sample apparatus and method thereof, including in general, an elongated stick or member, a small sample mixture of a beverage or drink or oil extract of the same, an edible bond to affix or cover said small sample mixture of a beverage or drink to said stirring stick, and, thus, functions to enable a consumer to sample or pre-taste the drink or beverage before making the decision to purchase the entire drink or beverage or purchase the ingredients to make the drink or beverage. 
         [0008]    According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the a drink sample apparatus and method thereof, in general, includes the following elements an elongated stick or member, an indicia of the drink mixture marked on said stick, a small mixture of a beverage or drink or oil extract of the same, an edible bond to affix said sample mixture of the beverage or drink to said stick that functions to provide a sample taste of a drink or beverage, such as an alcoholic beverage, before making the decision to purchase the drink or beverage. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the drink sample apparatus for use in taste testing by positioning on a user&#39;s tongue, the drink sample apparatus includes an elongated member, the member having a surface, a flavor sample disposed on the surface, and a thin film disposed on the surface, the thin film configured to cover the flavor sample. 
         [0010]    In a further exemplary embodiment, the drink sample apparatus for use in taste testing by positioning on a user&#39;s tongue, the drink sample apparatus including an elongated member, the member having a surface, a flavor sample, and a thin film formed with the flavor sample integrated therein, the thin film disposed on the surface. 
         [0011]    In still a further exemplary embodiment of the method of taste testing a sample beverage, by positioning on a user&#39;s tongue, before making a decision to purchase the beverage, the method including the steps of providing drink sample, the drink sample having an elongated member, the member having a surface, a flavor sample disposed on the surface, and a thin film disposed on the surface, the thin film configured to cover the flavor sample, selecting the drink sample, gripping the surface of the drink sample, positioning the flavor sample disposed on the surface on the user&#39;s tongue, tasting the flavor sample, and determining whether the user likes the flavor sample. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, a feature of the drink sample apparatus and method thereof is its ability to enable the consumer/user the opportunity to sample or pre-taste any given drink or beverage before making the decision to purchase the entire drink or beverage or purchase the ingredients to make the drink or beverage. 
         [0013]    Another feature of the drink sample apparatus and method thereof is its ability to function as a stirring stick to stir or evenly distribute the drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0014]    Still another feature of the drink sample apparatus and method thereof is its ability to enable the consumer/user the opportunity to sample or pre-taste any given drink or beverage to determine whether or not the consumer/user likes or dislikes the drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0015]    Still another feature of the drink sample apparatus and method thereof is its ability to provide indicia of the drink mixture marked on the sample apparatus to educate the consumer on the ingredients and/or quantities of a given drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0016]    Yet another feature of the sample apparatus and method thereof is its ability to provide indicia of the drink mixture marked on the sample apparatus to provide instructions to the drink mixer or consumer as to the ingredients, quantities, and/or step to make a particular drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0017]    Yet another feature of the sample apparatus and method thereof is its ability to provide indicia of the drink mixture marked on the sample apparatus to promote the sale of drinks or beverages, especially a mixed drinks or alcoholic beverages. 
         [0018]    Yet another feature of the sample apparatus and method thereof is its ability to provide a method of affixing a sample or pre-taste portion of a drinks or beverages, especially a mixed drinks or alcoholic beverages to the apparatus. 
         [0019]    Yet another feature of the sample apparatus and method thereof is its ability to provide a thin film or coating of gelatin, alginate, xanthan gum, guar gum, chitin, chitosin, gellan gum, agar, carrageenan, albumin, starch, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), mixtures thereof, similar polymers, or the like to affix the sample or pre-taste portion of a drinks or beverages, especially a mixed drinks or alcoholic beverages to the apparatus. 
         [0020]    These and other features of the drink sample apparatus and method of use thereof will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and Claims when read in light of the accompanying Drawings or Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The present the drink sample apparatus and method of making and use thereof will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying Drawing figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of an example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus; 
           [0023]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of an example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of another example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of an example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of another example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of an example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3C  is a side view of an example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus of  FIG. 3A , shown with sealant strip partially removed; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4A  is a top view of another example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of an example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5A  is a top view of another example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5B  is a side view of an example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a user tasting the contents of an example embodiment of a drink sample apparatus; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of the steps of making a drink sample apparatus and for a user to sample taste a portion of any given drink or beverage before making the decision to purchase. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 , more specifically  1 A,  1 B,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A,  3 B,  3 C,  4 A,  4 B,  5 A,  5 B,  6  and  7  specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples, and are merely examples among other possible examples. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , by way of example, and not limitation, there is illustrated a top and side view of a Popsicle stick, stirring stick, drink taste test apparatus, or tasting stick, such as drink sample stick  10 . Specifically, in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , drink sample stick  10 , preferably includes element, stick, or surface area, such as elongated member  12  having first end  12 . 1 , second end  12 . 2 , first side  12 . 3 , and a surface, such as top side  12 . 4 . It is contemplated herein that elongated member  12  may be configured in other shapes and sizes, including a disc or wafer. Elongated member  12  is preferably formed of a suitable rigid material, such as wood, plastic, metal, rubber, foam, or the like, capable of providing structure, taste testing, tongue contact, and beverage stirring capability to drink sample stick  10 . Preferably, the material includes other suitable characteristics, such as durability, water-resistance, tastelessness, insoluble, light weight, heat-resistance, chemical inertness, oxidation resistance, ease of workability, or other beneficial characteristic understood by one skilled in the art. Moreover, elongated member  12  maybe configured as a stick, tube, rod, spoon, disc, wafer or other elongated configuration capable of providing structure, a surface, taste testing, tongue contact, and beverage stirring capability to drink sample stick  10 . Elongated member  12  may be configured in a variety of lengths and configurations to function as a drink stirring stick and to function as a sample taste of a drink or beverage, such as an alcoholic beverage, and most preferably drink sample stick  10  may have a length between approximately four and approximately twelve inches. Other lengths are contemplated herein depending on the depth of the fluid or liquid to be stirred. 
         [0038]    First end  12 . 1  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12  preferably includes information, branding, trademark, instructions, especially drink preparation instructions, ingredients, recipe, and the like such as indicia  16  to provide promotional information, instructions to the drink mixer or consumer as to the ingredients, quantities, and/or preparation steps to make a particular drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage and the like. The drink mixer, consumer, or purchaser preferably utilizes indicia  16  of drink sample stick  10  to purchase the listed ingredients, to prepare a particular drink or beverage from the listed ingredients by following the instructions set forth in indicia  16  for a particular drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0039]    Still further, first end  12 . 1  of elongated member  12  may be finger graspable, such as capable of being grasped between a user&#39;s thumb and finger to position drink sample stick  10  on a user&#39;s tongue, to position in a glass, to remove drink sample stick  10  from a glass and/or used as a stirring stick to evenly distribute the flavor of a particular drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0040]    Second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member preferably includes coating, bonding agent, sealant, adhesive, layer, edible paper, thin strip, oral film, or edible film, such as thin film  14 . Preferably, thin film  14  is composed of or based of gelatin, alginate, xanthan gum, guar gum, chitin, chitosin, gellan gum, agar, carrageenan, albumin, starch, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), mixtures thereof, similar polymers, or the like capable of adhesion, covering, sealing, bonding, peeling, removal and/or dissolving on contact with heat or moisture, especially saliva from a user&#39;s tongue. 
         [0041]    Moreover, second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12  preferably includes a test sample or a taste portion of any drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage, such as flavor sample  18 . Preferably, flavor sample  18  is formed from a derivative of the actual ingredients of a specific drink or beverage in the form of dehydrated powder, crystalline, concentrate, distillate, extract, oil or the like, artificial flavors, or actual natural ingredients or combinations thereof in portions to provide an accurate taste or flavor sample of the specific drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. It is contemplated herein that flavor sample  18  and/or thin film  14  may include a preservative compound, such as citric acid or the like, to preserve freshness of flavor sample  18 . It is further contemplated herein that flavor sample  18  may be integrated into thin film  14  by mixing. It is further contemplated herein that integrated flavor sample  18  and thin film  14  may be sold or used individualy or sold or used in multiples and made available in a dispenser, such as dissolving strip(s), shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  3 C as thin film  14  with integrated flavor sample  18 . 
       EXAMPLE 1 
     Margarita Mixed Drink Flavor Sample  18   
       [0042]    Tequila (containing sample flavor(s) comparable to Margarita levels, such as 6 parts) 
         [0043]    Triple sec (containing sample flavor(s) comparable to Margarita levels, such as 2 parts) 
         [0044]    Lime Juice (containing sample flavor(s) comparable to Margarita levels, such as 4 parts) 
       EXAMPLE 2 
     Whiskey &amp; Cola Mixed Drink Flavor Sample  18   
       [0045]    Whiskey (containing sample flavor(s) comparable to Whiskey &amp; Cola levels, such as 4 parts) 
         [0046]    Cola (containing sample flavor(s) comparable to Whiskey &amp; Cola levels, such as 6 parts) 
         [0047]    Included herein is any other exemplary drink or beverage, or more specifically mixed drink or alcoholic beverage set forth in a bartender&#39;s reference, such as The New York Bartender&#39;s Guide incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
         [0048]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , flavor sample  18  is preferably combined, integrated, or incorporated into thin film  14  and formed, disposed, or affixed to second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of sample stick  10 . It is contemplated herein that combination flavor sample  18  and thin film  14  may be positioned elsewhere on elongated member  12 . In use, referring now to  FIG. 6 , first end  12 . 1  of elongated member  12  preferably may be positioned and grasped between a user&#39;s thumb and finger of hand H to position drink sample stick  10 , especially to position second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12 , on a user&#39;s tongue T. Upon contact with user&#39;s tongue T, preferably thin film  14  dissolves on contact with the user&#39;s saliva or heat releasing flavor sample  18  on the user&#39;s taste buds of tongue T to enable user to taste flavor sample  18  and to determine whether or not the user likes or dislikes the represented drink or beverage of flavor sample  18 , especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , by way of example, and not limitation, there is illustrated a top and side view of an alternate exemplary embodiment drink sample stick  10 . 1 . Specifically, in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , drink sample stick  10 . 1 , preferably includes one or more or a plurality of divots, nooks, reservoirs, or recesses, such as cavities disposed proximate second end  12 . 2  and formed or configured in top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12 . It is contemplated herein that cavities  20  may be positioned elsewhere on elongated member  12 . Preferably cavities  20  are layered or filled with flavor sample  18  and one or more thin film  14  may be utilized to cover, seal or encapsulate cavities  20  filled with flavor sample  18 , to preserve and prevent dehydration of flavor sample  18 . It is contemplated herein that one or more thin film  14  may be affixed to top side  12 . 4  to cover, seal or encapsulate cavities  20 . It is recognized herein that cavities  20  may be filled with flavor sample  18 , such as Example 1, Example 2, or the like. In use, referring now to  FIG. 6 , first end  12 . 1  of elongated member  12  preferably may be positioned and grasped between a user&#39;s thumb and finger of hand H for positioning drink sample stick  10 . 1 , especially second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12 , on a user&#39;s tongue T. Upon contact with user&#39;s tongue T, preferably thin film  14  dissolves on contact with the user&#39;s saliva on tongue T releasing flavor sample  18  from cavities  20  on the user&#39;s taste buds of tongue T to enable user to taste flavor sample  18  and to determine whether or not the user likes or dislikes the represented drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, by way of example, and not limitation, there is illustrated a top and side views of an alternate exemplary embodiment drink sample stick  10 . 2 . Specifically, in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, drink sample stick  10 . 2 , preferably includes divot, channel, furrow, cavity, reservoir, or recesses, such as trough  20 . 1  disposed proximate second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12 . It is contemplated herein that trough  20 . 1  may be positioned elsewhere on elongated member  12 . Preferably trough  20 . 1  is layered or filled with flavor sample  18  and one or more thin film  14  may be utilized to seal or encapsulate trough  20 . 1  filled with flavor sample  18 . It is contemplated herein that one or more thin film  14  may be affixed to top side  12 . 4  to cover, seal or encapsulate trough  20 . 1 . It is recognized herein that trough  20 . 1  may be filled with flavor sample  18 , such as Example 1, Example 2, or the like. In use, referring now to  FIG. 6 , first end  12 . 1  of elongated member  12  preferably may be positioned and grasped between a user&#39;s thumb and finger of hand H for positioning drink sample stick  10 . 2 , especially second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12 , on a user&#39;s tongue T. Upon contact with user&#39;s tongue T, preferably thin film  14  dissolves on contact with the user&#39;s saliva on tongue T releasing flavor sample  18  from trough  20 . 1  on the user&#39;s taste buds of tongue T to enable user to taste flavor sample  18  and to determine whether or not the user likes or dislikes the represented drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0051]    It is contemplated herein that thin film  14  may be peeled off or removed R, as shown in  FIG. 3C , prior to inserting and positioning second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12  on a user&#39;s tongue T. 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , by way of example, and not limitation, there is illustrated a top and side view of an alternate exemplary embodiment drink sample stick  10 . 3 . Specifically, in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , drink sample stick  10 . 3 , preferably includes divot, channel, furrow, cavity, reservoir, or recesses, such as trough  20 . 1 A disposed proximate second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12  and trough  20 . 1 B disposed proximate second end  12 . 2  of underside  12 . 6  of elongated member  12 . It is contemplated herein that trough  20 . 1 A/B may be positioned elsewhere on elongated member  12 . Preferably trough  20 . 1 A and  20 . 1 B is layered or filled with flavor sample  18  and one or more thin film  14  may be utilized to cover, seal, or encapsulate trough  20 . 1 A and  20 . 1 B filled with flavor sample  18 . It is contemplated herein that one or more thin film  14  may be affixed to top side  12 . 4  and/or underside  12 . 6  to cover, seal, or encapsulate trough  20 . 1 A and  20 . 1 B. It is recognized herein that trough  20 . 1 A may be filled with flavor sample  18 , such as Example 1 and trough  20 . 1 B may be filled with a different flavor sample  18 , such as Example 2. In use, referring now to  FIG. 6 , first end  12 . 1  of elongated member  12  preferably may be positioned and grasped between a user&#39;s thumb and finger of hand H for positioning drink sample stick  10 . 3 , especially second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12 , on a user&#39;s tongue T. Upon contact with user&#39;s tongue T, preferably thin film  14  dissolves on contact with the user&#39;s saliva or body heat on tongue T releasing flavor sample  18  from trough  20 . 1 A/B on the user&#39;s taste buds of tongue T to enable user to taste flavor sample  18  and to determine whether or not the user likes or dislikes the represented drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0053]    It is contemplated herein that thin film  14  may be peeled off or removed R, as shown in  FIG. 3C , prior to inserting and positioning second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12  on a user&#39;s tongue T. 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , by way of example, and not limitation, there is illustrated a top and side view of an alternate exemplary embodiment drink sample stick  10 . 4 . Specifically, in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , drink sample stick  10 . 4 , preferably includes a reservoir, cavity, or ladle, such as spoon  20 . 2  disposed proximate second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12 . It is contemplated herein that spoon  20 . 2  may be positioned elsewhere on elongated member  12 . Preferably spoon  20 . 2  is layered or filled to fill line  20 . 3  with flavor sample  18  and one or more thin film  14  may be utilized to cover, seal, or encapsulate spoon  20 . 2  filled with flavor sample  18 . It is recognized herein that spoon  20 . 2  may be filled with flavor sample  18 , such as Example 1, Example 2, or the like. It is contemplated herein that one or more thin film  14  may be affixed to rim  20 . 4  of spoon  20 . 2  to cover, seal, or encapsulate spoon  20 . 2 . In use, referring now to  FIG. 6 , first end  12 . 1  of elongated member  12  preferably may be positioned and grasped between a user&#39;s thumb and finger of hand H for positioning drink sample stick  10 . 4 , especially second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12 , on a user&#39;s tongue T. Upon contact with user&#39;s tongue T, preferably thin film  14  dissolves on contact with the user&#39;s saliva on tongue T releasing flavor sample  18  from spoon  20 . 2  on the user&#39;s taste buds of tongue T to enable user to taste flavor sample  18  and to determine whether or not the user likes or dislikes the represented drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0055]    It is contemplated herein that thin film  14  may be peeled off or removed R by gripping and pulling tab  14 . 1 , as shown in  FIGS. 5B and 3C , prior to inserting and positioning second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12  on a user&#39;s tongue T. 
         [0056]    It is contemplated herein that elongated member  12  may be configured as various shapes other than the rectangle configuration shown. 
         [0057]    It is contemplated herein that drink sample stick  10  may include a two ended flavor sample  18 , as in flavor sample  18  positioned on second end  12 . 2  of elongated member and flavor sample  18  positioned on first end  12 . 1  of elongated member  12 . 
         [0058]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , by way of example, and not limitation, there is illustrated a user of exemplary embodiment drink sample stick  10 . In use, referring now to  FIG. 6 , first end  12 . 1  of elongated member  12  preferably may be positioned and grasped between a user&#39;s thumb and finger of hand H for positioning drink sample stick  10 , especially second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12 , on a user&#39;s tongue T. Upon contact with user&#39;s tongue T, preferably thin film  14  dissolves on contact with the user&#39;s saliva or body heat on tongue T releasing flavor sample  18  from thin film  14  on the user&#39;s taste buds of tongue T to enable user to taste flavor sample  18  and to determine whether or not the user likes or dislikes the represented drink or beverage, especially a mixed drink or alcoholic beverage. 
         [0059]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated a flow diagram(s)  700  of a method of making drink sample stick  10  and/or taste testing drink sample stick  10  before making the decision to purchase the drink or beverage. In block or step  711 , fabricating elongated member  12 , as set forth herein in  FIGS. 1-6 . In block or step  712 , marking elongated member  12  with indicia  16 . In block or step  714 , affixing flavor sample  18  and thin film  14  to elongated member  12  to form drink sample stick  10 . In block or step  710 , providing drink sample stick  10 ,  10 . 1 ,  10 . 2 ,  10 . 3 ,  10 . 4  or the like, as described above in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A,  3 B,  3 C,  4 A,  4 B,  5 A,  5 B, and  6  and steps  711 ,  712 ,  714 . In block or step  715 , selecting drink sample stick  10 ,  10 . 1 ,  10 . 2 ,  10 . 3 ,  10 . 4 . In block or step  720 , removing thin film  14  from second end  12 . 2  of elongated member  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3C  to expose flavor sample  18 . In block or step  725 , gripping elongated member  12  between a user&#39;s thumb and finger of hand H for positioning drink sample stick  10 . In block or step  730 , inserting and/or positioning second end  12 . 2  of top side  12 . 4  of elongated member  12  on a user&#39;s tongue T. In block or step  735 , tasting flavor sample  18  of drink sample stick  10 , by a user. In block or step  740 , determining whether or not the consumer/user likes or dislikes flavor sample  18 . In block or step  745 , making a drink or beverage purchasing decision based on the decision or information in step  740 . 
         [0060]    The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one ordinarily skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Moreover, the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.