What’s hitting the shelves? New product launches: May
Global Brands canned cocktails
UK independent drinks producer Global Brands has developed two new canned cocktails, Shake Baby Shake and Beviamo, specifically for supermarkets.
Beviamo is reminiscent of an Italian spritz, combining bitter liqueur, Italian wine and soda water. It has 5.5% ABV per 250ml can and is available now at Sainsbury’s.
Shake Baby Shake launches with two flavors, Raspberry Mojito and Passion Fruit Martini. The drinks are non-carbonated, with a 4% ABV, sold in Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons.
Christian Sarginson, brand controller at Global Brands, said “We expect spritz drinks to again be ‘the’ drink of this summer. They were massively popular last year as drinkers moved more towards bitter-sweet tastes and looked to moderate their alcohol intake.”
“Premiumisation, craft and experimentation have swept through the spirits and beer categories. They’ve changed how people drink, with more emphasis placed on quality, flavour and the ingredients.”
St. Peter’s Brewery alcohol-free beer
St. Peter’s Brewery’s Without range of alcohol-free beer is adding a fourth option, the Without Elderberry & Raspberry. The UK-based brewer started the line three years ago in response to the growing demand for health and wellness-focused products.
John Hadingham, MD at St Peter's Brewery, said “There is a large and growing group of people looking for delicious craft beers that are 0.0% alcohol.”
“Very few brewers have been able to create delicious, rich and full-bodied beers that are truly alcohol-free or that aren't de-alcoholised. And yet we now produce four bona fide 0.0% alcohol beers that are meeting the demands of consumers who either can't, or don't want to, consume any alcohol, but still want to enjoy a real pint.”
The latest Without drink is described as sweet and tangy, with a “fruitiness of elderberries and the lingering taste of raspberries.” The other three flavors include Without Original, Gold and Organic.
Diageo Villa Ascenti
A new premium Italian gin from Diageo is launching in 14 European countries. It coincides with the opening of a new distillery in Santa Vittoria which will source local ingredients for the Villa Ascenti gin.
Tanya Clarke, general manager of Diageo Reserve Europe, said “Gin has been the runaway success story of the industry over the last decade and its growth trend shows no signs of slowing down. Villa Ascenti Gin is rooted in provenance and brings local, fresh ingredients from Piemonte to life.”
“Its use of locally grown ingredients from the foothills of Piemonte, alongside some of the more classic botanicals associated with gin, has allowed us to create a high-quality liquid, which we hope existing and new gin drinkers will love.”
Master Distiller for Villa Ascenti Gin Lorenzo Rosso said, “On the nose, the mint and thyme are vibrant and refreshing alongside the spice of the Tuscan juniper berries, whilst on the palate, the Moscato grapes really come to life. Enhanced through copper distillation, the smooth, fruity flavour of this distillate rounds off zesty juniper notes to create a velvety, slightly sweet gin.”
Heineken Mexico Canijilla
A new launch from Heineken Mexico is its first venture into the RTD category. Canijilla has two canned varieties, Mango Picosito and Lemon Cucumber with a 5% ABV.
Alejandro Berman, brand director of the Craft Beer and New Categories Portfolio at Heineken Mexico, said: “With Canijilla we are going to expand our market and get closer to consumers, young adults, who like to party and have fun.”
Heineken says the drink is 100% inspired by Mexican culture, reflected in its colorful packaging. It is not categorized as a beer, but composed of locally sourced ingredients malt and dextrose with 130 calories per can.
“The alcohol contained in Canijilla is the result of the fermentation of sugars extracted from dextrose and malt,” Heineken said.
El Rayo Tequila
El Rayo brings its premium tequila from Mexico to launch in the UK, distilled from a blend of highland and lowland agave. Two expressions are being released, an unaged No.1 Plata and a No.2 Reposado, which is aged for 7 months in American white oak whiskey barrels.
According to El Rayo, “it harnesses both the citrus and floral notes of the highlands alongside the peppery, vegetal flavours commonly associated with the lowlands. It will be the first tequila of its kind on the UK market.”
El Rayo partnered with Maestro Tequilero Oscar Garcia for this launch and grew the agave blend over the course of eight years. They are then roasted for 12 hours before being shredded and crushed to release the juices, distilled twice in 105-year-old copper stills.
Teavana Sparkling Craft Iced Teas
The Sparkling Craft Iced Teas launched in the Northeast and Midwest US last year with Blackberry Lime Green Tea and Unsweetened Sparkling Peach Nectarine Green Tea. It’s now expanding nationwide and adding Sparkling Blood Orange Mango White Tea.
Teavana said the sparkling RTDs are “refreshing, bubbly iced teas made with fine tea, botanicals, and no artificial flavors.” It shared that more than 15 million bottles of Teavana Craft Iced Teas in partnership with Anheuser-Busch.
The three sparkling flavors add to Teavana’s portfolio of nine craft iced tea RTDs, sold in retailers across the US in 14.5oz bottles.
Lowlander Wit Beer
Lowlander Beer from the Netherlands is adding a non-alcoholic option to its lineup. The 0.00% Wit (White) Beer will be available in the Netherlands, the UK and Germany this summer, brewed with reclaimed citrus peel from bars and restaurants.
The company already sells five beers in its core range as well as two botanically brewed low alcohol 2.5% beers.
Lowlander Founder Frederik Kampan said, “With more than a quarter of young people considering themselves non-drinkers and 1 out of 20 beers being no low or no alcohol, we felt the time was right to launch our 0.00% Lowlander Beer.”
“We’re also delighted to be able to reuse natural botanical ingredients to brew our beer. Every year 250 million kilos of orange peel are discarded in The Netherlands and we are working with PeelPioneers who pick up and process this 'waste' in a circular, eco-friendly way.”
Happy Moose Juice Smoothie
The Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco and Happy Moose Juice, a local cold-pressed juice company, have teamed up to develop a new smoothie to benefit the Club and the youth participants.
The ‘Hella Berry’ smoothie consists of strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, apple, banana, beets, lemon, coconut milk and water. It’s available at California retailers like Bi-Rite Market, Boudin Bakery Cafes, Rainbow Grocery and The Mill, returning 20% of all profits to the Club.
“Happy Moose Juice’s CSR program focuses on teaching entrepreneurship, community building, and healthy living to local youth. This program marks another new development for the young business which supplies signature recipe, cold-pressed juices via wholesale to natural grocers, as well as various food service retail businesses throughout California, and directly to Bay Area corporate offices,” Happy Moose Juice said.
Rokit Pods new flavors
Matcha and coffee pod producer Rokit has launched five new flavors: Matcha & Cacao, Matcha & Turmeric, Barley Coffee, Hotter Chocolate and Turmeric Delight.
The pods are compatible with Nespresso machines and available in the UK. Rokit nicknames them ‘Superpods’ and says they are comprised of “locally sourced ingredients, ethically farmed by local people from all over the world.”
The pods are sold in packs of 10 on Rokit’s website, and the new flavors join its three existing flavors Matcha Green Tea, Ultimate Coffee and Yerba Mate.
UV canned vodka
UV Vodka has launched a new line of RTD canned cocktails, UVGO. The flavored sparkling drinks will debut with Blue Raspberry, Lemon Lime, Black Cherry and Pink Lemonade.
With a 5% ABV and under 150 calories per can, it will be sold in four-packs of slim 12oz cans at nationwide retailers this summer.
Mike Duggan, CEO of Phillips Distilling Company, said "Our consumers want great tasting, convenient options to satisfy their busy lifestyles. Now they can have flavorful, grab-and-go cocktails that are ready for anything."
