What’s hitting the shelves? Ginger Coca-Cola, pumpkin spiced rum, and lemon drizzle gin
Ginger Coke
Coca-Cola Amatil is gearing up for the launch of a new Coca-Cola flavor – described as a cross between regular Coke and ginger beer – in Australia.
The flavor is reported to be ready to hit shelves within the next few weeks.
Coca-Cola envisions that Ginger Coke will help keep adding interest to the category. More details about the launch are expected soon.
Gin meets wine
Ginking - a concept that ‘melds the botanical aromatics of gin with the zesty nature of English wine and spring water’ – has been launched by Litmus Wines.
The beverage is targeted at both millennial drinkers and ‘traditional yet adventurous’ gin consumers.
The 8.5% ABV beverage is packaged in a 75cl sparkling wine bottle with cork and metal cage, with a design created to emulate traditional British Victorian-style gin cues.
John Worontschak, founder and director of Litmus Wines, said the idea for the drink was born when he was sat in the garden with his wife, who was struggling to choose between a G&T and English fizz.
“We’ve been experimenting with different botanicals and proportions of gin, spring water and sparkling wine.
“The final result is based on pink pepper, star anise, juniper and cardamom and, of course, grapes.”
ProNourish from Nestlé Health Science
Nestlé Health Science has launched ProNourish, a drink for people with digestive sensitivities, in the US.
The drink is designed and marketed as being low in FODMAPs (an acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols, which classifies certain types of short-chain carbohydrates that are sometimes poorly absorbed in the small intestine).
“Research shows that a diet low in FODMAPs can significantly reduce symptoms of digestive discomfort for some people living with digestive sensitivities,” says Nestlé.
An 8 fl oz drink contains 170 calories and 6g of sugar, 15g of protein, 3g of low FODMAP fiber, and 25 vitamins and minerals.
The drinks are suitable for people with gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, and lactose intolerance.
Starbucks Canada Nitro Cold Brew
Starbucks Canada is launching Nitro Cold Brew at Brookfield Place in Toronto, with more locations to follow over the coming months.
“Nitro Cold Brew is the newest take on our signature Cold Brew, infused with nitrogen for a smooth, creamy texture,” says the company.
“After handcrafting the Cold Brew recipe, baristas perfect the pour by pulling the tap and allowing the Cold Brew coffee to mix with the nitrogen to deliver an entirely new cold coffee experience.”
Nitro Cold Brew is served cold out of the tap and without ice. Like Cold Brew, it is served unsweetened to emphasize the flavor the cold brewing process brings out in the coffee.
Plum and Madagascan vanilla liqueur
Edinburgh Gin has launched its Plum and Madagascan Vanilla liqueur this month.
The gin is made with Scottish plums and Madagascan Vanilla, and is ‘great for cocktails, after dinner drinks and desserts.’
The limited edition run of 12,000 bottles are available in John Lewis, independent drinks retailers, the Edinburgh Gin Distillery Shop and Edinburgh Gin Distillery shop online.
Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast
Captain Morgan is ‘spicing up the shots category’ this fall with Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast, a limited edition pumpkin spiced rum (see pictured as the main image to this article).
Jack-O’Blast blends Caribbean rum with seasonal flavors such as fresh pumpkin, cinnamon and other autumnal spices. It can be enjoyed as a chilled shot or in seasonal drink recipes.
Packaged in a round bottle, Jack-O’Blast’s packaging uses colors of orange and green and lights up under a black light to simulate the look of a jack-o’ lantern.
The rum (60 proof, 30% ABV) has a suggested retail price of $15.99 for a 750 ml bottle and is available nationwide in the US.
Lemon Drizzle gin
Lemon Drizzle gin, from UK spirits company Sipsmith, is now available in the UK in M&S stores.
Sipsmith describes the gin as “delectable, naturally sweet, and brightly citrusy… really reminiscent of a slice of lemon drizzle cake.”
Lemon Drizzle Gin can be enjoyed on its own, in cocktails or as a Lemon Drizzle G&T.
Strawberries for summer
Lewis Road Creamery, a New Zealand dairy, has launched a limited flavored milk for summer: Lewis Road Creamery Fresh Strawberry Milk.
It is made in collaboration with OOB (Omaha Organic Berries).
The dairy has also launched Lewis Road Creamery Strawberry Ice Cream, which is a permanent addition to Lewis Road’s ice cream portfolio.
Carlsberg’s craft addition
Carlsberg UK will add two gluten-free craft Czech lagers, Celia Organic and Celia Dark, to its portfolio next month.
Celia is traditionally batch brewed by Žatecky Pivovar, a microbrewery co-owned by the Carlsberg Group.
The beers are gluten free and suitable for vegans (they are brewed using a patented de-glutenisation process, and a silicon filtration technique ensures the range is suitable for vegans).
Hard soda launches
Diageo and Philadelphia-based Quaker City Malting Co. have partnered to launch two hard sodas.
Lemon Shrub and Old Dutch alcoholic sodas are described as being “somewhere between a beer and a cider.”
The 5.8% ABV beverages are packaged in 12-ounce cans and will only be available in two test markets: Denver and Philadelphia.
Launching a new product? Email a product description and image to rachel.arthur@wrbm.com