What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches: December
Botanical rum
Botanical rum distillery, The Spirited Union Distillery in Amsterdam, has launched three new expressions in the UK, Queen Pineapple & Spice, Sweet Orange & Ginger and Pink Grapefruit & Rose (pictured above).
The new rum flavours are already available in the Netherlands and are rolling out internationally this month. The three expressions are the latest in the range which launched in 2019 with Spirited Union Spice & Sea Salt and the world’s first white botanical rum, Spirited Union Lemon & Leaf.
Spirited Union Founder, Ruben Maduro says, “We are continuing our quest to produce rums with real flavor; creating union between the vast and colourful world of botanicals to produce a range of exciting naturally-flavoured rums.
"Having lived and worked in Aruba in the Dutch Antilles, I looked to warmer climates for inspiration for our botanicals for these new expressions. Our Queen Pineapple & Spice has a taste of the tropics and the Sweet Orange & Ginger has a bite of ginger for Jamaican heat.
“We’re really proud to have been able to launch three new expressions during these difficult times. It’s great to see the love that’s out there already in Amsterdam where our fully sustainable, solar-powered distillery and brand home is located. We produce and package our rums in the most sustainable way possible.”
Kevita: ginger colada and kombucha
PepsiCo kombucha brand KeVita is launching two new products in the US: ginger colada KeVita sparkling probiotic drink; and mango lime KeVita master brew kombucha.
Ginger Colada is a bubbly and effervescent beverage featuring a sweet blend of coconut and pineapple flavors complemented with a kick of ginger; while Mango Lime is a bold brew that combines mango with the crisp taste of lime.
Ginger Colada is currently available at Whole Foods and Sprouts stores and Mango Lime is available at Sprouts stores – both available in 15.2oz bottles for an SRP of $3.29 - and will be in mass market stores in early 2021.
Pentire Seaward
UK non-alcoholic spirit brand Pentire is launching a new limited edition: Pentire Seaward.
The drink from the Cornish company includes a blend of sea rosemary, woodruff, sea buckthorn, pink grapefruit and wild seaweed.
The brand’s original flavour, Pentire Adrift, was launched in May 2019, and has seen its sales increase throughout this year as people have been trying alternatives to alcoholic drinks during lockdown.
A 70cl bottle is priced at £26.80, including free next-day carbon offset delivery on all orders at pentiredrinks.com.
Hydration drink
IVUSION Beverage Co. has launched its first hydration drink formulated with electrolytes, vitamins, and essential minerals: designed as a recovery solution for hangovers, exercise-induced dehydration, and most other forms of dehydrations.
IVUSION offers a premium hydration drink with essential vitamins, and anti-nausea and anti-inflammatories, it says. Each of the ingredients have been chosen for a specific function (‘replenish lost fluids and vitamins, boost energy, support immunity and cardiovascular health, metabolize alcohol, detoxify liver, enhance mental alertness, and even improve physical appearance’).
“Our goal was to create a cost effective and time efficient hydration drink that does more than taste good. A hydration drink that supports both physical and mental health of our consumers. And so, IVUSION was born. IVUSION is a multifunctional hydration beverage that is transparent, convenient and cost effective,” says the brand.
IVUSION comes in two flavors: Mixed Berries and Citrus Orange. The drinks each contain 11g of organic sugar, 60 calories, and no caffeine. It is packaged in 12-ounce cans, with a suggested retail price of $3.99 per can and $15.96 for a four-pack. IVUSION hydration drink is available in the US via Amazon, Alibaba, Social Media platforms, and selected retailers; with a percentage of proceeds fighting animal cruelty,
Australian hard seltzer
Saintly Hard Seltzer – a new brand with a ‘irreverent attitude ready to freshen up summer’ – has launched in Australia.
The drink contains zero carbs and zero sugar, and is gluten-free, vegan-friendly and made from all-natural ingredients. It comes in four flavors: hail mango (4% ABV); watermelon and mint (4% ABV); blessed lime (6% ABV) and forbidden pink grapefruit (5% ABV).
“Hard seltzers have exploded in the US, especially in states with better weather, among health-conscious millennials who still want to party,” says co-founder Kieron Barton. “We have very similar consumers in Australia, arguably better weather and in addition, sparkling water is such a huge sector within the soft drinks category, this is why we think hard seltzers will be a huge success here.”
The brand is backed by Chilli Marketing, which was responsible for building up the Rekorderlig Cider brand globally. The drinks are available across 6,500 locations across Australia including BWS, BoozeBud, Dan Murphys, Jimmy Brings and Liquor Legends.
Singapore low and no sugar innovations
Singapore food and beverage brand Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) is celebrating the 120th anniversary of its founding with the launch of two new variations of its Chrysanthemum Tea drink.
The new variations of the brand are less sugar and no sugar. Yeo’s Group Chief Executive Officer Samuel Koh said: “To celebrate our 120th anniversary, we wanted to introduce new variations of our beloved Chrysanthemum Tea. This caters to our increasingly health-conscious consumers, allowing them to enjoy the refreshing floral soothing sensation of the beverage without compromising both the taste and nourishing benefits of the Hangbaiju flower.
“As one of the oldest homegrown brands in Singapore, we look back at our accomplishments with pride and would like to celebrate these moments of joys with our consumers.”
Yeo’s chrysanthemum teas are freshly brewed using real Hangbaiju flowers and contain no flavouring, colouring or preservatives.
Vittel infused
Vittel has launched a new flavor to its organic infused water line in France: with Vittel & Fruits Bio Infusés Framboise-Cassis.
The 'irresistable infusion of red fruits' - which draws on organic fruits and is free from sweeteners, flavors and preservatives - is positioned as an ideal alternative to juice and sugary beverages. It is sweetened with a pinch of organic cane sugar.
According to a 2020 study, French consumers are increasingly turning to organic products with 71% choosing organic products at least once a month.
The new launch joins Vittel & Fruits Bio Infusés citron & menthe (lemon and mint) on shelves.
