What's hitting the shelves? Festive special
Captain Morgan gingerbread flavour
Captain Morgan has launched a limited edition flavour, Gingerbread Spiced, in the UK for the Christmas period.
The rum is available exclusively at Greene King pubs, where parent company Diageo suggests serving a hot Captain Morgan Gingerbread & Apple.
“With consumers ordering everything from gingerbread martinis to eggnog cocktails, there has never been a better time of year to stock this popular flavour,” says the company.
“With the festive period a key time for the on-trade, with 5.8 million UK consumers trying new or different drinks during the Christmas period in 2018, versus 3.2 million in the average month, there is an opportunity for outlets to cater for this demand for more adventurous flavors.”
Genesee Brewery seasonal beer
New York state’s oldest brewery brings back its holiday favorites--the 12 Horse Ale heritage brew and the Schwarzbier dark lager. The 12 Horse is the most requested Genesee beer of all time, according to the brewery, and is crisp, clean and smooth to pair with holiday meals.
The English Blonde Ale is being packaged for the first time since 2012, and is brewed with six-row barley malt, hops from the Yakima Valley and Genesee's proprietary top-fermenting ale yeast. The Schwarzbier is better suited to dessert pairings.
It’s a German-Style Black Lager that is lightly hopped and medium-bodied with subtle dark malt characters and aroma.
Dean Jones, Genesee Brew House Pilot Brewmaster, said "For a sessionable beer, it doesn't look the part. Schwarzbier is highly drinkable with some slight roasted undertones.”
Wolves Whiskey Winter Run
A second luxury whiskey variety from partners James Bond and Jon Buscemi launched in time for the holidays. Winter Run builds off the brand’s First Run whiskey, with only 1338 bottles produced out of Los Angeles.
The blend is distilled from craft Stout beer, aged in French Oak for 8 years, whiskey distilled from craft Pilsner beer, aged in New American Oak for 5 years, a Rye and a single malt whiskey aged for 9 years in used French Oak.
Winter Run has the same hoppiness, chocolate, and citrus notes of First Run, but also adds oak, toasted almonds and orange marmalade to the palate. Sweet notes of honeysuckle, cherry cola and warm vanilla finish off the profile.
“We took some cues from First Run while incorporating a really earthy single malt - I like single malts all year round but enjoy them most in the colder months. It took a lot of work to get this right, but the result is special and I'm happy we were able to crank out a few more bottles this time in production," Bond and Buscemi said.
Gin crackers
Supermarket ALDI has launched a pack of Christmas gin crackers in Australia.
Each cracker has an individual miniature bottle of premium British gin inside, putting a ‘grown-up spin’ on the festive tradition.
The Bartenders Collection contains six 50ml bottles of various gins.
Smirnoff Ice gift box
Smirnoff Ice announced a faux-partnership with ‘Cremsiffino,’ a fictional home goods brand of Smirnoff’s own creation. For a limited edition holiday gifting option, the company will package Smirnoff Ice bottles in fake home appliance boxes.
Said to be ideal for holiday white elephant gift exchanges (where participants exchange gifts for based on their entertainment value) the ‘collaboration’ is available online for $20, including shipping.
Krista Kiisk, brand director at Smirnoff, said "Since its launch which defined a new category, Smirnoff Ice has a history of being unconventional and adding fun to any occasion, which is why we created the Cremsiffino gift boxes as the perfect white elephant gift this holiday season.”
"With the Cremsiffino boxes, we've turned what can be a boring gifting moment into delicious, unforgettable fun, and the gift giver into the party legend.”
(Cremsiffino, by the way, is an anagram of Smirnoff Ice).
Nc’nean spirit trio
A limited edition trio set of Aged Botanical Spirits is available from Nc’nean this holiday season. An organic distiller from Scotland, Nc’nean says its products sit “somewhere between whisky and gin.” The trio was matured in three different casks and inspired by classic cocktails.
Mondino, Bourbon and Vermouth are the three varieties of the spirits, and Nc’nean said they are perfect gifts for spirit lovers, mindful drinkers and eco-conscious consumers.
“As millennials become increasingly eager to try new products, the Aged Botanical Spirit is the latest offering from Nc’nean which delivers a superb alternative to whisky and gin drinkers,” Nc’nean said.
“The flavours in Nc’nean’s Botanical Spirit, the base to the limited edition trio, are inspired by wild herbs and flowers that grow at the distillery in the remote Scottish Highlands: thyme, heather, sorrel and wild bog myrtle.”
Bière de Garde
French beer brand Jenlain, owned by Brasserie Duyck, has released its limited edition Biere de Noel 2019.
The brew is a Bière de Garde – a strong pale ale traditionally brewed in the North of France. In the 18th century, the beer was given by the brewer in Northern France to its clients as a Christmas gift.
The beer is bottled in a champagne shaped bottle and the 2019 brew is packaged in a white sleeve – referencing the cold of winter – with festive golden decoration and a picture of a winter fox.
The 9.5% brew is available in 75cl bottles.
Holiday Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola and Sprite have launched holiday editions in the US with limited edition flavors inspired by the festive season.
Coca-Cola Cinnamon and Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry are available nationwide: options that bring “refreshingly unique twists on familiar tastes for some yuletide cheer.”
Coca-Cola Cinnamon blends the taste of Coca-Cola with the warm spice of cinnamon (a zero-sugar version launched last year in the UK). Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry, meanwhile, infuses the lemon-lime taste of Sprite with a warm spice blend and tart cranberry. The new flavor adds a tasty twist to fan-favorite Sprite Cranberry, a seasonal edition that has been on offer since 2013.
Just add gin
London-based premium cocktail mixer maker Tipplesworth has added a new seasonal product to its portfolio: Festive Punch.
The new variant – which is ‘jam packed with festive fruits, spice and everything nice’ – is designed to be mixed with gin and served hot.
It is available in 203 Waitrose stores across the UK as well as online.
Pitched as the perfect punch for party season, each bottle offers a group serve for five when mixed with gin, water and served warm (RRP. £6.99, 500ml / 5 serves).
Founder Frankie Snobel said: “Hot gin cocktails are tipped as the drinks trend of the season, and our new Festive Punch means consumers can easily make a great tasting quality cocktail, from the comfort of their own home.”
Candy Cane Mojito Gin
Scottish distiller Eden Mills has made a Christmas addition to its Mixology Project range: Candy Cane Mojito.
The mojito is described as a ‘festive take on the classic cocktail with warm bilberry sweetness and a tingly peppermint freshness from our Candy Cane Gin’.
Candy Cane Mojito Mixology Project (5.8%ABV/ 250ML) cocktail is available for £2.50 at www.edenmill.com/christmas and in Scottish Sainsbury’s stores, as well as independent and specialist retailers.
Candy Cane Mojito joins the festive line up by Eden Mill, which includes the 12 Gins of Christmas – a gift set with a selection of twelve gins and gin liqueur miniatures as well as the re-release of last year’s festive Candy Cane Gin (70CL/ 40%).
TGI Fridays cocktail menu
In a partnership with food media brand Delish, TGI Fridays has a new line of holiday cocktails available at its chain restaurants across the US. Three signature cocktails will be sold throughout December--the Mistletoe Margarita, the Santa Clausmopolitan and the Jack Frostie.
TGI Friday’s also has a menu of $5 holiday drinks for the festive season, including Holiday Sangria, Candy Cane Shake and Bacardi Rum & Coke.
Cindy Syracuse, TGI Fridays VP of marketing, said "In today's world, we believe we can create more happier hours when we come together over delicious cocktails based on the holiday's favorite flavors. This is a way to bridge the gap between the online and social world of Delish and the inclusive atmosphere of TGI Fridays."
