What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches - from rum to tequila
Altos Tequila: ready-to-serve
Pernod Ricard’s Altos Tequila has announced the launch of new ready-to-serve margarita: ‘the perfect solution for when you want a delicious Margarita in the comfort of your own home, but don’t want the hassle of making one from scratch.’
The drink is made from premium ingredients, combining Altos Plata tequila with triple sec, natural lime flavoring and agave syrup.
Josh McCarthy, Brand Director at Pernod Ricard UK, said: “With our new Altos Lime Margarita ready-to-serve, Brits can enjoy quality cocktails at ease, in the comfort of their homes - perfect for those that have run out of limes or are pressed for time when elevating an evening in or a dinner party.”
“Fuelled by the at-home cocktail boom during lockdown, consumers have developed a real taste for quality cocktails which is here to stay. We’ve seen a huge spike in popularity for tequila-based cocktails and are excited for the UK to experience the new Altos Lime Margarita ready-to-serve.”
Altos Lime Margarita ready-to-serve is available now in the UK in a 750ml glass bottle (RRP: £15, ABV: 14.9%) at Amazon, Tesco, Asda and Go Puff, before rolling out to other grocers this spring. Altos Lime Margarita ready-to-serve offers five to six servings and is best enjoyed over ice.
Coca-Cola K-Wave Zero Sugar
Coca-Cola Creations is debuting Coca-Cola K-Wave Zero Sugar: a new limited edition flavor for K-Pop fans.
The series is designed to engage with Gen Z with unexpected flavors and experiences.
“Unlocking the shared experience of Real Magic, Coca-Cola K-Wave Zero Sugar creates an electrifying universe that brings K-fans and idols together to celebrate the unique expression of every unrivalled devotion,” according to Coca-Cola. “When fans open a can of Coca-Cola K-Wave Zero Sugar, they will experience the excitement they felt when they first became a K-Pop fan. With every sip of Coca-Cola K-Wave Zero Sugar, fans will recognize the refreshing, Coca-Cola taste infused with a burst of fruity-flavored K-Pop magic.”
Three of the hottest K-Pop groups – Stray Kids, ITZY and NMIXX, as well as the founder of JYP Entertainment, J.Y. Park – have joined forces with Coca-Cola to create experiences for K-Pop enthusiasts to take part in. These include a new K-Pop anthem song, music video, AI-powered experiences and a live concert in June.
Malibu RTS
Malibu has launched ready-to-serve cocktails: a line of cocktails coming in strawberry daiquiri, pineapple bay breeze and rum punch flavors.
The cocktails are packed in a 1L carton, designed to make it easier to put the cocktails in a cooler or fridge or take on the go.
The RTS category has grown more than 70% in the past year, including with a rise in rum drinks, says Bacardi, quoting Nielsen figures.
The Malibu RTS (12.5% ABV) will be available across the US from spring with a SRP of $14.99.
Powerade new flavors
Powerade has launched two new flavors in its sports drink portfolio: Island Burst and Strawberry Smash Zero.
The Coca-Cola brand claims the new product has 50% more electrolytes compared to Gatorade Thirst Quencher, along with Vitamin C and B12 (both of which are new to the Powerade formula and not found in Gatorade).
RTD alcohol -196
Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I is bringing Japanese RTD alcohol brand ‘-196’ to Great Britain.
The brand was launched by Suntory Holdings (the parent company of SB&F GB&I) in Japan in 2005: and has since rolled out to Australia (2021) and China (2023). This year will also see a launch for the product in the US, Germany and Southeast Asia.
The -196 brand name is a reference to the use of Suntory’s proprietary freeze crush infusion technology. This unique process freezes the whole fruit by using liquid nitrogen at -196°C and the frozen zest, pulp and juice are then crushed into powder and infused with vodka.
The 6% ABV brand brings something new and different to the RTD alcohol category in Great Britain, ‘combining a traditional Japanese spirit with modern technology to deliver an exciting new taste and experience for consumers’.
SB&F GB&I – which is focused on household name soft drink brands such as Ribena and Lucozade – counts the launch as its first alcoholic drink.
“This launch marks a significant move for us into the ready to drink alcohol market and is part of a much bigger strategy for portfolio growth,” said Carol Robert, Chief Operating Officer, SBF GB&I. “We’re very proud of our Japanese heritage and honored to be launching one of Suntory’s iconic brands in our business for the first time.”
Salud Viking
Indian global urban lifestyle brand Salud Viking is launching a 15% ABV RTD mead-based beverage.
The RTD is a blend of pure honey and all natural ingredients offering consumers a unique carbonated wine-in-a-pint format that introduces consumers to the ancient world of mead.
With its unique IPA-style, hop-infused flavour, the beverage promises a smooth, easy and distinctive experience. It is available in the states of Kerala and Goa.
Ajay Shetty, CEO and Founder of Salud, said “Tourism plays a significant role in Kerala's economy, and tourists have their own drinking habits. It has created pockets of increased alcohol consumption in the Kerala market. Our team has been working behind the scenes all year to develop a unique range of products to add to its catalogue of traditional and sparkling meads and honey.
“Salud Viking is our thoughtful response to the growing trend of celebrating everyday moments. Crafted as a unique celebration in a bottle, it embodies the changing preferences of our consumers.”
“We take pride in being a 100% Indian product, sourcing everything locally and working closely with local suppliers. The Viking theme adds a layer of history and authenticity, drawing inspiration from the original mead makers, the Vikings. As we explore the market, our curiosity is centred on how our flavour, style and story resonate with consumers and establish us as true differentiators in the industry.”
Viking is best paired with steaks, chicken or fish. Its rich notes complement desserts like almond or lemon tart, drizzle cake or baked cheesecake. It also pairs wonderfully with peaches and cream, shortcake or mature cheese.
Berczy hard tea
British brand Berczy is launching two new products in the US ahead of the summer months: Juicy Peach Tea and Lemon Tea vodka cocktails.
The launches take hard tea to ‘the next level’, with quality ingredients designed to be the star of the show. The drink is made with five-times distilled vodka, real fruit juices and organic tea, coming in at 7% ABV. There is 25% real fruit juice in each drink, making the cocktails particularly juicy.
Nick Graham, Berczy Co-Founder, said: “We've spent the last 18 months developing these products, working closely with our recipe developers, and renowned alcoholic beverage creative agency, Sip Studio.
“We've made a range of products that truly stand out in the market, with a high ABV providing a real cocktail feel to hard tea. Whilst using our signature five-times distilled vodka and 25% juice, this is truly a unique experience for our customers.”
Berczy’s Peach Tea and Lemon Tea vodka cocktails will be available in single SKU 4 packs (4x 12 fl.oz cans), and will be stocked across major retailers in 7 states including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and for the first time, Connecticut, with wine and spirits distributor Brescome Barton.
Kirsty Holton, Founder and Creative Director at Sip Studio added “When developing the packaging we knew that it was essential that we captured Berczy’s Spirit of Britishness in line with the brand's strategy. With vibrant royal blue hues, a Union Jack tea tag and playful illustrations of hands holding tea cup cocktail glasses, the cans are designed to capture the attention of Berczy's target audience by reflecting the brand's cheeky personality and British charm. Fitting seamlessly alongside the existing spritz range, these cans not only stand out from their competitors but also reinforce the brand's distinct British identity in the competitive US market.”
