Beverage innovators are expanding into flavour‑driven line extensions, wellness‑led shots and premium non‑alcoholic options.
Brands are positioning new products around clean formulations, functionality, sustainability narratives and cross‑category inspiration.
Producers are also widening retail reach and building on momentum in fast‑growing segments including ready-to-drink (RTD) tea and lemonade hybrids, craft mead and flavoured barista milks.
Across categories, launches reflect a focus on versatility, authenticity and trade‑friendly SKUs that speak to modern consumption occasions.
This week’s trends highlight a wider push to meet demand for crafted, flavour‑forward products made with simple, recognisable ingredients.
The breadth of launches underlines a consumer shift toward variety and quality, as well as retail appetite for differentiated formats that bridge wellness, indulgence and premium drinking experiences.
Boutique-y five
That Boutique-y Whisky Company (TBWC) has released a limited edition collection of five single cask expressions, selected from more than 300 samples assessed at the end of 2025. The bottlings span nine to 33 years and are presented at 45.8% ABV, a reference to the UK’s historic 80 proof standard.
The line-up covers single malts from Islay, Speyside and the Highlands, alongside a 33-year-old Dumbarton single grain and a 22-year-old Irish single malt from Bushmills. TBWC says the selection reflects the casks that most clearly stood out for balance, flavour and character.
The collection includes a 13-year-old Caol Ila finished for two years in a fresh ex-American rye barrel, priced at £69.95, offering coastal smoke, brine and spice. A nine-year-old PX-finished Glen Elgin follows at £49.95, positioned as a bright, sweet Speyside option with citrus and raisin notes.
Other releases include a 27-year-old Glen Garioch matured in a single refill sherry butt (£199.95), an aged Dumbarton single grain distilled in 1992 (£124.95), and a 22-year-old Bushmills re-racked into ex-Maury wine in 2023 (£249.95). All expressions are available now in 70cl formats with outturns ranging from 198 to 438 bottles.
Oatly flavours
Oatly has expanded its Barista range in the UK with three new flavoured variants positioned to tap rising demand for customisable hot and cold beverages.
The new Barista Edition Coconut Flavour, Vanilla Flavour and Caramel Flavour build on the established Barista base, retaining its texture and performance for frothing, steaming and use in iced formats.
The additions are designed to meet interest in flavoured plant‑based drinks influenced by international coffee trends. Coconut is targeted at consumers seeking tropical notes, while Vanilla adds everyday sweetness and Caramel delivers a light caramel profile, suited to lattes and iced serves.
All three products are plant‑based and dairy‑free, with the same fibrous oat base, vitamin and calcium fortification found across the Barista range. They are positioned for versatility, spanning coffee, matcha, smoothies and overnight oats.
The new Barista Edition flavour range is available now in one‑litre packs, rolling out initially in UK retailers Morrisons and launching on Ocado next week.
Perrier sparkle
Maison Perrier has entered the UK market with a three‑range portfolio positioned around premium, alcohol‑free refreshment.
Already launched in 80 markets globally, the UK rollout introduces the Forever flavoured sparkling line, the Chic mocktail collection and the brand’s unflavoured sparkling water. The launch is framed around the brand’s “Step Inside Our Maison” platform and supported by brand ambassador Lily Collins.
The Forever range delivers sugar‑free, no‑calorie sparkling beverages in lime, passion fruit and blackberry. The line is positioned as a clean‑label, fruit‑forward offer intended to tap demand for healthier carbonated alternatives.
Chic adds a trio of low‑calorie mocktails designed to replicate classic serves, blending fruit juices and plant flavourings to approximate traditional cocktail profiles.
The UK Chic line-up includes Roséllini, inspired by a Bellini; Lemonjito, based on a Mojito; and Daiqui’red, which takes cues from a red Daiquiri.
Manufacturer, Nestlé describes the launch as a move to broaden its premium drinks offer for consumers seeking quality and style without alcohol.
Sun Cruiser blueberry
Sun Cruiser has added Blueberry Lemonade and Vodka to its US RTD line-up, expanding its flavoured lemonade offer with a variant developed in response to strong consumer requests.
The new flavour combines blueberry, lemon peel and mixed berry notes and keeps the brand’s established profile of 4.5% ABV, 100 calories, 1g of sugar and a still format. It will replace Half and Half in the Lemonade Variety Pack, which now includes Blueberry Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade and Classic Lemonade in eight‑ and 12‑pack cans.
The Blueberry Lemonade variant will also be available in standalone eight‑packs and 570ml single‑serve cans in New England and the wider Northeast.
Sun Cruiser has also launched a Sampler Variety Pack that brings together its leading tea and lemonade SKUs in a single 12‑pack, featuring Classic Iced Tea, Half and Half, Pink Lemonade and Classic Lemonade.
Parent company Boston Beer says the additions build on strong early demand for the Sun Cruiser brand, which entered the market in 2025 with a focus on low‑sugar, vodka‑based iced teas and lemonades.
Hive Mind cherry mead
Hive Mind Mead and Brew Co has launched a Dark Cherry Traditional Mead, positioned to appeal to younger, UK drinkers shifting away from sweet, synthetic‑tasting fruit ciders.
The melomel blends British honey with dark cherry and a tart finish, drawing on Norse‑style fruit‑infused mead traditions. The company frames the release as a modern take on a heritage drink that historically featured in ceremonies and seasonal gatherings.
Co‑founder Kit Newell says category momentum in the UK now mirrors growth seen in North America, with mead reaching an £11.6m value domestically and developing into a £650m market in the US. He adds that consumers are increasingly choosing small‑batch drinks with provenance and environmental benefits, with mead offering both complexity and a sustainability narrative due to its reliance on local honey and pollinator‑supportive agriculture.
Hive Mind reports growing uptake across retail and hospitality, with listings in Co‑op in Wales, M&S, independent food wholesalers, farm shops, garden centres and delis. The brand also supplies venues including the National Trust, Shakespeare’s Globe and a widening group of Michelin‑listed restaurants.
Daily Dose shots
Daily Dose has expanded its UK offer with a new Apple Cider Vinegar Shot and three cold pressed smoothies, launching across Whole Foods Market stores.
The ACV shot combines apple, lemon, apple cider vinegar, ginger, agave and thyme, and has been introduced exclusively at Whole Foods at £1.99 as the brand looks to meet rising consumer interest in natural digestive and wellbeing-led functional formats.
Alongside the shot, Daily Dose has added Berry Boost, Golden Glow and Super Greens smoothies, all in 250ml bottles and retailing at £4.29. The SKUs bring together fruit and vegetable blends aimed at offering nutrient‑rich, cold pressed options with no concentrates, preservatives or fillers. The expansion strengthens the company’s presence in the premium juice aisle, building on its reputation for ingredient simplicity and cold pressing.
Founder George Hughes‑Davies says the latest launches align with the brand’s focus on flavour and clean ingredients, noting that Whole Foods is a strong fit for the range. A certified B Corp, Daily Dose manufactures in Corby and uses surplus produce from UK farms, processing whole fruit and vegetables to minimise waste.
