What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches - from tequila soda to raspberry gin

White Claw Lemonade​

Hard seltzer brand White Claw is launching White Claw Lemonade in Canada.

The beverage innovation is described as a delicious twist on the classic beverage, offering a full-flavored, better-for-you sparkling lemonade seltzer at 5% ABV with 100 calories and 1g sugar per 355ml can.

White Claw Lemonade comes in four flavors: Limón, Strawberry, Blood Orange, and Blackberry.

Meanwhile, White Claw is also launching a new flavor – White Claw Surge Green Apple – and White Claw Strawberry as a standalone flavor.

Truly Tequila Soda

Truly Hard Seltzer has launched Truly Tequila Soda: made with real fruit juice, sparking water and premium Tequila Blanco.

Following a successful regional pilot in 2023, the brand is now rolling out nationwide in four flavors: lime, grapefruit, watermelon and pineapple guava.

Packaged in sleek 12oz slim cans, the drink is 5% ABV and contains 110 calories per can, and is naturally gluten-free.

Truly Tequila Soda is available now in an 8-pack variety of all four flavors (MSRP $17.99 - $19.99), plus

4-packs of Lime and Pineapple Guava single flavors (MSRP $9.99 - $11.99).

Poolside DDH IPA

Big Drop Brewing has launched a 0.5% ABV double-dry hopped India Pale Ale in the US.

‘Poolside DDH IPA’ is a naturally brewed classic hop fest that fuses fruity tropical flavors to recreate the intensity of a double IPA. Azacca, Chinook, Mosaic & Motueka hop varieties combine to give the beer ‘a tempting mix of pineapple, citrus and stone fruit aromas underpinned by a big slap of mango’.

Dry hopping is the process of adding hops to a brew after the boil so that only aromatics are extracted rather than the volatile oils which would make the beer taste overly bitter (Poolside’s IBU = 62). 

Poolside is the fifth NA beer that Big Drop has launched in the US since it entered the market in 2021 and is brewed in partnership with DESTIHL® in Illinois, with whom it also distributes across the US.

Established in the UK in 2016, Big Drop has pioneered a process called Reduced Amylase Brewing that allows for a fully-fermented brewing cycle without ever rising above 0.5% ABV. (This means that nothing has to be extracted from the beer, allowing it to retain the flavour and characteristics of its full-strength equivalents).

Other beers in the US range include Coba Maya Cerveza; Pine Trail Pale; Galactic Dark and Paradiso IPA.

Prevented Ocean Plastic bottle

NEO WTR – a new drink from the UK’s Brookfield Drinks – claims a European first with a ‘100% Prevented Ocean Plastic’ bottle.

Every 500ml bottle of NEO WTR stops the equivalent of 1.7 plastic bottles entering the ocean and is made using discarded plastic that has been collected along coastlines at-risk of ocean plastic pollution.

100% Prevented Ocean Plastic is a certified recycled plastic material: and NEO WTR uses material sourced from Indonesia. The plastic meets regulatory health and safety standards, is traceable back to source, and can be identified by a triangular logo.

The Somerset-sourced spring water will be stocked in 250 Tesco stores from June.

NEO WTR managing director Nigel McNally said: “The pressure is mounting on soft drinks manufacturers to provide solutions to prevent a global disaster.

"NEO WTR is a first for the category and a massive advancement in packaging for soft drinks. Our 100% Prevented Ocean Plastic™ bottle, with its recyclable cap and label, offers an environmentally positive option that actively tackles the growing problem of ocean plastic.

“I'm proud knowing that we are helping combat ocean-bound waste plastic in regions that do not have the infrastructure to manage it, whilst also supporting the collectors in these areas to earn a fair and reliable wage.

“Consumers deserve a solution which allows them a more sustainable option to purchase bottled water when they are out and about and can’t use a refillable bottle to stay hydrated.”

Mini-aluminum bottles for airlines

The UK’s Penrhos Spirits is launching its flagship Wonky Raspberry Gin in a 5cl format on easyJet flights: packaged in 100% recycled aluminum gin bottles.

Helping to curtail waste and enhance storage use for easyJet’s fleet, a full Alumini 5cl weighs less than a glass 5cl and can fill a trolley drawer with 90 bottles compared to 54 glass 5cl bottles.

Penrhos Spirits are all made from ‘imperfectly perfect’ fruit from Penrhos’ farm, that would otherwise go to waste as it is unable to be sold to supermarkets. The raspberry spirit was created following a glut of raspberries in summer 2022: with a 70cl glass bottle weighing 750g moved to a 100% recycled aluminum bottled at 80g. This swap helped Penrhos Spirits cut its packaging carbon footprint by 91%, and overall footprint by 25%.

The easyJet version has been launched in partnership with sustainable drinks travel company Sustainaholics.

Waterloo Sparkling Water: Raspberry Nectarine

Waterloo Sparkling Water has announced its latest flavor – Raspberry Nectarine – alongside the year-round return of previous limited edition Tropical Fruit. Perennial favorite Summer Berry is also gaining expanded distribution.

Like all Waterloo varieties, the flavors are free of calories, sugar, and sweeteners. All flavors are made with Non-GMO Project Verified natural flavors and purified carbonated water.

Waterloo Raspberry Nectarine and Tropical Fruit have begun rolling onto shelves nationwide with assortments that vary by retailer, including at Target, Kroger, Walmart, Whole Foods, Amazon, Meijer, HEB, Central Market, select Costco regions, Walgreens, Hy-Vee, GoPuff, Jewel and many more. Waterloo Summer Berry is adding Kroger, Whole Foods, Walgreens, select Albertsons Safeway divisions and more to its list of retailers with year-round availability.  

To support the launches, Waterloo has teamed up with cookbook author, country singer and lifestyle expert Jessie James Decker to create three exclusive recipes inspired by and infused by each of the flavors (Summer Berry Pancake Mini Muffins featuring Summer Berry; Razzy Crispy Fried Chicken and Sweet and Sour Glaze with Raspberry Nectarine; and Tropical Shrimp Mango Salad with Tropical Fruit).

Essentia Hydroboost

US ionized alkaline water pioneer Essentia has launched its first-ever innovation in the flavored and functional water space with the debut of Essentia Hydroboost.

Each bottle contains hydrolytes: a blend of B-complex vitamins as well as 400mg of electrolytes — with 30x more electrolytes than the leading premium still water.  ​It is free from artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors.

Hydroboost is available in three flavors: Lemon Lime, Peach Mango, and Raspberry Pomegranate.

"Essentia Hydroboost expands the Essentia Water portfolio to deliver more ‘Supercharged Hydration’ than ever before," said Zola Kane, head of marketing at Essentia Water. "As our lives get busier and busier, hydration becomes even more important. Essentia Hydroboost, created without excessive ingredients and complicated claims, makes it easier for people to choose a water that is not only delicious, but provides a boost of hydration when they need it most."

Essentia Hydroboost is rolling out across retailers in the US for an MSRP of $1.99 for a 15.2-fluid ounce bottle and $21.48 for a 12-pack of 15.2-fluid ounce bottles.

Flecha Azul Tequila launches in Australia

Flecha Azul Tequila – a US tequila brand backed by entrepreneur, actor and producer Mark Wahlberg – is launching in Australia.

It launches the brand’s third significant foray into the global market, after launches into Mexico and Canada last year.

The additive-free tequila is crafted from 100% Blue Weber Agave that is always harvested at full maturity and produced according to traditional methods at Orendain Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico.

Australia is now a top-10 import market for tequila and primed for continued growth, according to brand-owner WES Brands. The expansion into Australia is done in partnership with Vanguard Luxury Brands, an importer, marketer and distributor of premium spirits.

Flecha Azul will launch widely with three variations in Australia: Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo, with limited bottles of the Añejo Cristalino and Extra Añejo found at some of Australia's top bars. Flecha Azul Tequila Blanco ($120 RRP), Reposado ($130 RRP), Añejo ($160 RRP), all of 40% ABV are now available exclusively in retail at select First Choice Liquor Market & Vintage Cellars stores and on-premise venues.

More NPD!

Read about more of the latest beverage innovations in last week's round-up of beverage NPD​: including:

• Starbucks' lavender lattes (pictured right)
• Absolut's Orange Peel shot
• Vodka soda
• and more!