What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches
Aprch Sparkling Wellness Water
Aprch Beverage Co, a US maker of wellness beverages, has expanded its portfolio of functional beverages with the introduction of its first non-CBD infused product, Aprch Sparkling Wellness Water.
Aprch Sparkling Wellness Water is infused with a proprietary blend of an vitamins and antioxidants including Vitamins A, B3, B5, B12, C and L-Theanine. It is available in three flavors: Piña Colada, Black Cherry, and Tangerine. It does not contain any artificial coloring, flavoring, sugar, or calories. Sold in a 16oz can, the suggested retail price is $2.99.
Aprch Sparkling Wellness Water launched throughout the West Coast in partnership with KeHe, and 16oz cans are now available on shelves for a suggested retail price of $2.79.
Chilli bacon vodka
Independent London distillery, Doghouse Distillery, has launched its 40% ABV Baller ‘Chilli Bacon’ Vodka.
The brand wants to tap into growing demand for exciting, flavored vodkas with a first-of-its-kind chilli and bacon combination.
The drink uses super premium wheat vodka, Baller; Mexican grown Habanero chillies; and a ‘secret ingredient’ for bacon smokiness.
Baller ‘Chilli Bacon’ Vodka can be enjoyed with dry ginger ale and squeezed lime over ice.
Alternatively, the drink can be used to create a punchy twist on a Bloody Mary cocktail.
New flavored rum
Mallows Bottling Ltd has launched a new range of flavored rums to tap into the fast-growing premium rum market.
The new distillery is bringing its first spirit to market with The Rummers: a brand developed in partnership with Dutch Rum specialist Scheer.
The Rummers offers five flavours: golden rum, banana, citrus and sea salt, pineapple and spiced rum. The 70cl bottles have an ABV ranging from 35% to 40%.
Andy Mallows, co-owner of Mallows Bottling, said: “The premium rum market continues to grow in the UK and internationally. Consumers are always on the hunt for new, innovative flavours, and we’ve developed a range that provides a rum for every palate.
"The rum can be drunk straight or with a mixer and provides a great base for cocktails.”
The rum is available in France and Poland via Auchan and Carrefour; as well as the UK.
Dead Sea Whisky
Israel distillery, M&H Distillery, has launched APEX Dead Sea Whisky in the UK, France, US, the Netherlands, Taiwan and Germany.
The 56.2% ABV whisky is the first result of the distillery’s R&D program: which spotlights Israel’s distinct terroir and environment by experimenting with different climates for cask maturation while staying faithful to Scottish whisky traditions and legacy.
The Dead Sea experiment began in October 2018, when M&H Distillery placed 20 ex-bourbon, ex-red wine, and ex-STR casks on the rooftop of a hotel at approximately 423 meters below sea level. The casks matured in the Dead Sea for a year before being returned to the Tel Aviv warehouse and bottled in July 2021.
The final result is a one-of-a-kind whisky that captures the Dead Sea's distinct characteristics, including low annual precipitation, an arid and dry desert climate that can reach 50° in the summer, and a salt content 9.6 times that of the ocean, resulting in 'angel's share' of up to 25% per year, compared to only 2% in Scotland.
Tomer Goren, M&H Distillery's head distiller, explains, "Due to the evident rapid wood effect and maturation in this very hot and intense climate, we had to inspect the casks more frequently and thoroughly. Understanding the impact of the desert climate on the cask was a fascinating experiment and study project."
BrewDog spirits
BrewDog Distilling Co, the new spirits brand from craft beer giant BrewDog, has launched a spirits range ‘The Spirit of Tomorrow’.
Seven Day Vodka comes in original, raspberry & lime, rhubarb & lemon, passionfruit & vanilla flavors; 500 Cuts Rum comes in original spices, pineapple & mango, coconut & vanilla, and cherry & dark chocolate flavors. The re-launched LoneWolf Gin comes in original, cloudy lemon, cactus & lime and peach & passionfruit.
The spirits are produced at BrewDog’s carbon negative distillery, which removes twice as much carbon from the air than it emits.
Steven Kersley, Managing Director and Master Distiller, BrewDog Distilling Co. said: “Launching one new spirit is always a challenge, but launching eight across two categories is one of the most exciting things we’ve ever done; we love breaking barriers and challenging conventional wisdom. We built this distillery on a backbone of innovation and experimentation, pushing boundaries, and our new range is our finest yet.”
Infinite Session revises alcohol-free craft beer recipe
UK brewer Infinite Session has launched a revised recipe and new pack design for its alcohol-free craft beer range.
“By using an improved speciality malt selection, Infinite has created a beer with better body, a fuller mouthfeel and a more complex flavor,” notes the brand. “By using a lighter filtration process during the brewing process less body is lost and the beer retains ‘haze’ which results in a more hoppy flavor. Not only that but the entire range is now gluten free.”
Each product in the range contains 75% less calories than regular strength beer and is low in sugar.
Following its UK launch in 2018, the brand launched into the US market in March 2020, exclusively into the state of Wisconsin where it now brews the UPA and Pale Ale with a local craft brewery. The range is now sold in three of the biggest chains in Wisconsin including Woodman's Markets, Piggly Wiggly and most recently Festival Foods. This month has seen the launch of Infinitesession.us allowing national distribution across the US.
Glass bottles for Topo Chico Hard Seltzer
Topo Chico Hard Seltzer is introducing 12oz glass bottles for its strawberry guava flavor in select US markets.
The hard seltzer segment is dominated and defined by slim cans. “Packaging the hard seltzer in bottles is an aggressive play to court drinkers in the on-premise, where the brand is seeking to put its stamp on a channel that’s still figuring out how best to sell hard seltzer,” notes Molson Coors, which produces, distributes and markets the product as part of a brand authorization agreement with The Coca-Cola Company.
The bottles debut this month in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and Chicago.
RTD cocktails in pouches
Pouch RTD cocktail brand Soho Street Cocktails has launched Piña Colada: joining Passionstar Martini, Espresso Martini and Raspberry Daiquiri in the UK.
Founded by Paul Scarratt, who has over 27 years of experience in the drinks industry, Soho Street Cocktails aims to bring about the premiumisation of at-home cocktails. “Soho Street Cocktails came about as an inspired alternative to the overly sweet and low-quality cocktails available on the market,” he said. “They are perfect for anyone who wants a high-quality drink without all the ingredients and equipment that comes alongside it.”
The Soho Street Cocktail version of the Piña Colada is made using premium coconut milk, NFC (not from concentrate) pineapple juice and Caribbean rum. The Piña Colada, as well as all other flavours, contains no allergens, artificial colours or flavourings and is vegan and gluten free.
All Soho Street Cocktails are available in a 1.5L pouch and are between 9.5 – 12% ABV.
