What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches
Honey infused spirits
UK artisan drinks label, The Apiarist, has expanded its signature collection of honey-infused spirits with the introduction of an exclusive blended aged whisky.
Keen beekeepers (and husband and wife) Alex and Natalie Conti founded The Apiarist in September 2020 after they expanded their home apiary during the first lockdown and used the surplus of honey to embark on the production of a small batch of the original honey-infused Apiarist Gin. The Apiarist Whisky joins three unique gins, a 100% British rum and a limited-edition malt spirit dubbed ‘The Drunken Bee’ which was created especially for the festive season in 2021.
“Due to the ongoing success of The Apiarist range over the last 16 months, we wanted to introduce a brand-new product with yet another inspiring story behind its creation and distillation process,” Alex Conti explained. “Our honeybees gathered the nectar of over 100,000 flowers to make the honey needed for one bottle – that’s more than 4,500 miles in flight! We enjoy knowing that once more, our bees have made something to be proud of and we can’t wait to see how The Apiarist Whisky is received by both new and existing customers alike.”
Bottled at 40% ABV, The Apiarist Whisky and all other Apiarist spirits (except The Drunken Bee) are available in a 70cl bottle (RRP £39) from the brand’s online store.
Oriental Spiced Gin
UK premium gin brand Whitley Neill Gin has launched a new Oriental Spiced Gin variant.
The latest launch has been inspired by founder Johnny Neill’s travels to the Indian subcontinent in the late 1990s, and is distilled with a focus on the exotic flavors and aromas of the Orient. The juniper is complemented by warm, gentle cardamom with bright sweet citrus, offering a juicy character followed by notes of cumin. All of which is rounded off with a long, elegant, balanced finish full of pepper and savory spice.
James Stocker, marketing director for Whitley Neill Gin, comments; “The City of London Distillery and Bar, the home of Whitley Neill Gin, provides us with a fantastic tool to listen to what gin fans are looking for and experiment with new botanicals & flavour combinations. We’re seeing tremendous scope for growth within the Dry Gin category, and our new Oriental Spiced Gin plays perfectly into this area, with peppery and savory spice notes – perfect for people with a more savory palate”.
Botanicals and spices used include coriander, turmeric, ginger, chilli, cumin, grains of paradise, saffron and star anise.
The 43% ABV Whitley Neil Oriental Spiced Gin is rolling out across Tesco, Morrison’s, Asda and Sainsbury’s over the coming weeks.
Flavored bourbon
New Holland Brewing Co’s Dragon’s Milk brand is launching a pair of brand-new flavored bourbons.
The two new flavors, Sweet Heat and Baked Apple Pie, are both finished in New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk barrels, which provide ‘naturally smooth, soft flavor’.
“Flavored whiskeys are a burgeoning segment of the spirits industry, so we’re excited to add both of these bourbons to our Dragon’s Milk portfolio,” Dickerson said. “Baked Apple Pie and Sweet Heat are unique, delicious options for bourbon drinkers looking for new ways to enjoy their favorite drink. Both recipes are versatile and open up more occasions for our fans to enjoy our whiskeys.”
Baked Apple Pie ($29.99 MSRP) features ‘rounded flavors, while real cinnamon and apple juice add notes of freshly baked pie’.
Sweet Heat ($29.99 MSRP) is a bourbon ‘built for sunsets and evenings on the back porch. Featuring real Arbol chiles, white peach and hints of smoked oak, this bourbon starts sweet and finishes with a subtle spice.’
Gin brand expands
Sir Edmond gin is continuing its European expansion with launches in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
The Dutch Bourbon vanilla-infused gin launched in Italy and Slovenia earlier this year and has now partnered with Brza Distribucija for distribution in Croatia. As well as its network in the on-trade and off-trade markets, it also has a strong presence in e-commerce and is behind two of the leading wine and spirits websites in the country, tipsy.hr and wineandmore.com
“We are thrilled to be present from Zagreb in the North all the way along the irresistible coastline to Dubrovnik in the very South”, says Sir Edmond co-founder Dominique Makatita.
Flower Power
Organic kombucha and tea brand Brew Dr. Kombucha has announced a special limited release of its Flower Power flavor: available now through summer 2022.
The return of Flower Power is part of Brew Dr.’s Founder's Series where the brewing team revisits recipes of favorite limited edition kombucha flavors from over the years.
“The Founder's Series is a wonderful chance to re-try our most beloved limited edition flavors that have come and gone over the years,” says Brew Dr. Founder, Matt Thomas. “Flower Power is a re-release of our 2018 limited flavor, Power Flower. It’s a dynamic blend of hibiscus, orange, lemon thyme, and green tea. A tasty citrus refresher."
Non-alcoholic RTD drinks
Non-alcoholic aperitif brand Everleaf is launching its signature serve, the Everleaf Spritz, in 250ml slimline cans for the first time this spring.
The cans will be available to purchase from Everleaf’s website in 12 packs for £30 in each of the brands three expressions - Forest, Mountain and Marine.
The launch into cans puts Everleaf in the ready-to-drink category for the first time, a market which has recently seen significant growth and is expected to continue to increase its market share over the next few years.
Each complex spritz is created using Everleaf and light tonic, ideal for the on-the-go drinking occasion.
Paul Mathew, who launched Everleaf in 2019, said: “Since the launch of Everleaf in 2019, the brand has come a long way, starting out with one expression, to launching two new SKUs in 2020 with a full rebrand, and expanding into several different markets around the world. Everleaf is delicious served in a spritz, so ready-to drink spritzes in cans seemed like the next logical step for us as a business, especially with the category continuing to grow.”
Innocent juices
Fruit juice and smoothie brand innocent is launching two new juice recipes in the UK.
Launching in supermarkets this month is strawberry, watermelon and apple with a twist of mint; and mango, passionfruit and apple with a twist of vanilla.
The juices have a RRP of £2.99 for a 750ml bottle and are designed to provide an alternative for people after a chilled evening drink.
Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot
Red Bull has launched the latest drink in its Red Bull Edition series in the US: with Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot.
“As temperatures climb and sunny days become longer, embrace a summer of ‘yes’ and take advantage of any adventure with an icy cold can of Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot in hand,” says the brand.
“Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot offers the wiiings of Red Bull Energy Drink with a special summer taste of strawberry, apricot and a touch of peach and can be enjoyed on its own or in a seasonal mocktail with friends.”
Available in 8.4 fl oz and 12 fl oz orange colored matte cans, Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot will hit shelves at Walmart beginning April 4 and will be sold at retailers nationwide starting May 1, while supplies last.
New canned cocktail flavors
Boardroom Spirits has debuted two new vodka and soda flavors in its canned cocktail collection: cherry berry vodka & soda and pineapple mango vodka & soda.
“Cherry Berry Vodka & Soda marries the tart notes of fresh cherries against a sweet berry twist making for a light and juicy cocktail perfect for sipping after a long hike,” says the brand.
“Pineapple Mango Vodka & Soda blends tropical fruit flavors that transport drinkers to an ideal sunny oasis. All the vodka & soda flavors are gluten-free, made with real fruit and Boardroom Spirits’ premium vodka. The newly launched flavors embody one of the core sustainability missions to make clean products with clean ingredients and clean energy.”
The line of vodka and soda canned cocktails – which also include cranberry lime and grapefruit citrus – are available for $12.99 for a 12oz four pack. The drinks are 4.5% ABV and contain 99 calories per can.
