Health-led drinking continues to shape new product development, with brands responding to demand for moderation, functionality and better-for-you credentials.
Non-alcoholic, coconut water and sleep supplements are all focuses for many beverage makers as they aim to tap into consumers’ changing lifestyles.
RTDs remain a key battleground as spirits and soft drinks brands look to capture more occasions with higher-quality, premium canned formats. At the same time, limited editions and scarcity-led launches are being used to stand out in increasingly crowded retail environments.
Sustainability is also moving from messaging to material change, with lighter packaging, recycled materials and energy-efficient production becoming more visible in mainstream launches. These shifts reflect retailer pressure as well as consumer expectations around environmental impact.
Across beer, spirits and functional drinks, brands are balancing innovation with accessibility, focusing on flavour, format and purpose to secure repeat purchase rather than one-off trial.
Whitley Neill RTDs
Halewood Artisanal Spirits has entered the ready-to-drink category with the launch of its first Whitley Neill RTDs, extending the established gin brand into canned formats for the UK market.
Two variants are available: Rhubarb & Ginger Gin with Ginger Ale, and Yuzu & White Strawberry Gin with Lemonade. The move marks a strategic expansion for Whitley Neill as RTDs continue to outperform many other alcohol categories in the UK.
Both products are packaged in 250ml cans with an RRP of £3.25 and are bottled at 8.3% ABV, delivering a double measure of gin per serve. Rhubarb & Ginger Gin with Ginger Ale is rolling out to around 130 Sainsbury’s stores, while both flavours are available through Morrisons, Amazon and The Drop Store, with on-trade listings expected to follow. Multipacks are also available for the trade, supporting both impulse and take-home occasions.
Atom Wormtub Series
Atom Brands has launched a new limited edition Wormtub Single Cask series, spotlighting Scotch whisky from distilleries that continue to use traditional worm tub condensers.
Fewer than 20 distilleries in Scotland still operate the method, which has largely been replaced by more efficient shell and tube condensers. The series is positioned as a celebration of heritage production techniques and heavier spirit styles, aimed at specialist retailers and premium whisky consumers.
The inaugural release features five single cask expressions: Knockdhu 10 Year Old, Glen Elgin 11 Year Old, Mortlach 12 Year Old, Craigellachie 13 Year Old and Balmenach 24 Year Old. All are sherry cask matured, primarily in PX hogsheads, with the Craigellachie finished in a PX Octave and the Balmenach in an Oloroso butt.
The whiskies are bottled at natural cask strength, ranging from 49.8% to 61.6% ABV, with outturns tightly limited from 93 to 386 bottles per expression.
Prices range from £79.95 to £199.95 per 70cl bottle, positioning the series firmly in the premium and super-premium segment.
High Noon Transfusion
High Noon has launched its first limited flavour drop with the introduction of High Noon Transfusion, a golf-inspired vodka seltzer rolling out nationwide in the US from 29 April, while supplies last.
Made with real vodka and real juice, the flavour blends grape, lime and ginger and is packaged in High Noon’s core Vodka Seltzer format. The launch marks the brand’s first use of a scarcity-led “drop” model, with finite allocations released by market to create urgency at retail.
Positioned around high-affinity daytime occasions, particularly golf, Transfusion is designed to tap into the sport’s growing influence as a lifestyle and social culture. According to parent company Gallo, the release is intended to differentiate High Noon in an increasingly crowded RTD category by combining limited availability with the brand’s established real vodka and real juice credentials.
Little Brown Dog debut
Independent Scotch whisky producer Little Brown Dog has launched its first permanent core expression, Aberdeenshire Single Malt, marking a significant milestone for the business since its founding in 2018.
The whisky represents a strategic shift from a cult independent bottler focused on limited releases to a brand with a repeatable, scalable core SKU designed for long-term growth in the UK and export markets.
Distilled at nearby Glen Garioch, just ten minutes from the company’s Aberdeenshire base, the 12-year-old unpeated Highland single malt is matured in a combination of 60% first-fill bourbon barrels and 40% Oloroso and PX sherry casks. Bottled at 46% ABV, it is presented at natural colour and non-chill filtered.
Batch One consists of hand-numbered runs of around 2,000 bottles, intentionally large enough for wider distribution while retaining batch character and variation. The whisky was developed over several years, informed by research with UK retailers, distributors across nine international markets and more than 200 consumers.
Trip Dream Blend
TRIP is expanding into the fast-growing sleep supplements category with the launch of its new Dream Blend range, targeting consumers looking to support evening routines and improve sleep quality.
The launch builds on the brand’s existing calm portfolio and responds to sustained consumer demand for a dedicated night-time product, as sleep becomes an increasingly central pillar of modern wellbeing.
The Dream Blend range launches in two formats: Dream Powder and Dream Gummies. Dream Powder combines tart cherry with magnesium glycinate, L-theanine, chamomile and lavender and is designed to be mixed with hot or cold water as part of a pre-bed ritual. Dream Gummies offer a more convenient format, blending magnesium and vitamin B6 with chamomile, lavender and a broader botanical mix.
Both products are low in sugar, free from artificial colours and additives, and positioned as lifestyle-friendly options within the natural sleep supplements segment, which is growing faster than the overall sleep aids market.
Innocent Coconut
Innocent drinks has expanded its coconut water range with the UK launch of a new 500ml single-serve format, aimed at meeting rising demand for convenient, on-the-go hydration.
The new pack complements the brand’s existing 1L SKU and is designed to help retailers and operators tap into growing consumer interest in healthier soft drink choices, particularly within convenience and impulse channels.
The 500ml format is positioned as a practical option for shoppers looking for natural hydration outside the home, while giving retailers a higher-value single-serve SKU suited to food-to-go missions. The product will launch from 18 May in Tesco Express, with wider availability via Amazon and across convenience outlets, at an RRP of £2.50.
McGuigan sustainability push
McGuigan Wines has extended its lightweight packaging strategy with the introduction of a 300g Burgundy bottle, following the rollout of a 300g Bordeaux bottle in 2024.
Developed in partnership with Greencroft Bottling and glass manufacturer Verallia, the new bottle will be used across approximately 3.5 million bottles this year, equivalent to around 596,000 cases. The move supports the B Corp brand’s ongoing efforts to reduce glass usage and cut emissions associated with wine packaging.
The 300g Burgundy bottle delivers a 25% reduction in weight compared with the standard 400g Burgundy bottle, resulting in an estimated annual reduction of 82,000kg of CO₂ from glass production. Made with around 30% recycled glass, the bottle is designed specifically for the wine sector and retains the traditional Burgundy appearance while achieving a reported 25% CO₂ saving versus conventional formats. Wines using the new bottle will be packed at Greencroft Bottling, a UK facility powered predominantly by renewable energy, including wind and solar generation.
