Imbibe will be closed on October 3, 4, 17, 18, 25, and 26. Please expect delays in responses during this time.

Using Sensory Science to Create the Drinks You Love

Meet Nikki Wollak — a flavor explorer, trend tracker, and the ultimate taste tester. As a Senior Manager, Insights and Innovation at Imbibe (yep, she’s also a food scientist!), Nikki’s job is all about making things taste incredible. Think of her as the bridge between science and cravings—where chemistry meets creativity.

From hosting taste tests to turning viral TikTok food trends into real-life drinks and snacks, Nikki’s work is at the heart of what we’ll all be sipping and snacking on next. She helps her team bring bold new flavors to life, keeping a close eye on what people love—and what they might not know they love yet.

Catch Nikki on an episode of the Women With Cool Jobs podcast hosted by Julie Berman.

Imbibe’s sensory science capabilities support market success by aligning products with consumer preferences and expectations. Our team of experts uses sensory analysis to enhance flavor profiles, optimize sweetness and mouthfeel, and mask unwanted notes, ensuring a superior sensory experience. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, we partner with manufacturers to drive differentiation and growth in the competitive food and beverage landscape. By integrating sensory insights into product development, brands can improve consumer satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, market share. Partner with Imbibe to harness the power of sensory science and elevate your products to new heights of consumer appeal.

Check out more content from Imbibe

Keep Reading:

Decoding Flavor: Imbibe’s Lauren Senne on Taste Modulation, Bitter Blockers, and What It Really Takes to Formulate Great Beverages

Taste modulation is its own discipline. Maskers and bitter blockers aren't the same thing — bitter blockers work at the receptor level, physically blocking the signal, while maskers shift the overall flavor system.
READ MORE

What’s Driving Flavor in 2027 — And What It Means for Beverage Innovation

Explore Imbibe's 2027 Flavor Trends report and discover how formulation complexity, functional ingredients, and evolving consumer expectations are changing the role of flavor in beverage innovation.
READ MORE

Why Relaxation Beverages Require a Different Flavor Strategy

Ingredients commonly associated with calm and relaxation — including ashwagandha, magnesium, valerian root, reishi, l-theanine, and other botanicals — can introduce earthy, woody, bitter, savory, sulfurous, or lingering off-notes.
READ MORE

Notice: Holiday Closure

Imbibe will be closed April 2, 3, 8, and 9. Please expect some delays in our response during these dates.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.