Doghouse Distillery sees double with new aperitivo
London-based Doghouse Distillery has added an aperitivo to its spirits portfolio. Doppelgänger is a British take on popular Italian aperitivos with a bitter-sweet flavour profile of citrus, rosella (hibiscus), mountain roots and herbs. The Battersea-based company suggests mixing the 20% abv drink with prosecco, elderflower cordial, soda and strawberries to make a Brit Spritz or mixing it with gin and sweet vermouth to give a British twist to a classic Negroni. It launch follows that of Baller chilli bacon vodka that the company launched at the end of last year. Doppelgänger comes in 70cl bottles with a price tag of £21.50.
Heineken strikes Silver with new light beer
Heineken is making a move into the light lager category with the launch of Silver. The company’s biggest innovation since its zero alcohol Heineken 0.0, the 4% abv beer is brewed at -1°C, which the company says makes for a crisp flavour and subtle finish and offers a lighter drinking profile. The new beer, which is being launched into the on trade next month, is targeted at the premium end of the light lager category, which Heineken says is currently underrepresented. While premiumisation is one of the most powerful drivers of market growth, it says that light lager is priced too low for customers to consider it premium with the majority of pubs and bars selling it at 10p more per pint than the cheapest lager on the bar. The light lager category has grown market share by 40% in five years, according to Heineken, driven by Generation Z and Y drinkers looking to drink less but higher-quality beverages.
Britvic’s tonics are in the pink
Britvic is following up the launch of its first flavoured tonic last year with a second variant. Pink raspberry tonic builds on the success of its elderflower tonic and is available exclusively to the on trade. Flavoured mixers make up 11% of total mixers, according to Britvic, and are growing in popularity. “Pubs and bars have the opportunity to stand out from the crowd by offering a new flavoured variant from a trusted brand, at a time when more people are on the lookout for premium mixing options,” says Adam Russell, director of foodservice and licensed at Britvic. The 200ml bottles are available in packs of 24.
Belvoir goes botanical
Belvoir farms is heralding the passing of winter with its new Botanical Sodas range of adult soft drinks. Bridging the gap between soft drinks and mixers, three botanical-forward drinks kick off the range - Floral Fizz, Bitter Orange Spritz and Spicy Ginger Fizz. Floral Fizz is made with Belvoir’s signature elderflower infusion and hibiscus and can be used to make a non-alcoholic alternative to a floral G&T; Bitter Orange Spritz is a blend of Sicilian blood orange juice, pressed rhubarb juice, bitter gentian root and cinchona bark extracts which can be drunk as a non-alcoholic alternative to an Aperol Spritz; and Spicy Ginger Fizzbis made with pressed ginger juice, lemon juice, yuzu juice, Japanese Sancho peppercorn, Thai lime leaf and gentian root extract that can be used to make a booze-free Dark & Stormy.
Courvoisier shows its joie de vivre
Cognac house Maison Courvoisier given its spirits range a new look that it says embodies the French belief of ‘joie de vivre’. The new branding sees the Cognac brand show off clean, simple white labelling in a departure from its purple and gold colour scheme. “We are entering a new era for Courvoisier,” said managing director for Maison Courvoisier Jon Potter. “This is an exciting time for our Maison, as we go back to our roots and embrace what Courvoisier was founded on by Félix Courvoisier. From our home in Jarnac to our portfolio of beautiful, floral cognacs, our house believes in being welcoming to all.”
Luck of The Irishman
Walsh Whiskey has added to its The Irishman range of premium Irish single malt whiskeys. The collection now includes the Irishman Caribbean Cask in addition to the renamed and relaunched The Harvest bottling. First released as a limited edition bottling in 2018, The Irishman Caribbean Cask is being added to the portfolio’s core expressions which also include The Harvest; Single Malt; 12-Year-Old Single Malt; 17-Year-Old Single Malt and the Vintage Cask. The Irishman Caribbean Cask Finish is a rare vatting of single malt and single pot still whiskeys finished for six months in Chairman’s Reserve rum casks from the tiny tropical Caribbean island of St Lucia, before being bottled at 46% abv.
Mr Black heads for the dance floor
Australian coffee liqueur brand, Mr Black has launched a special edition bottle that has been inspired by Italian espresso. Mr Black Italo Disco is made with dark, espresso roast Brazilian coffee beans and has tasting notes of caramel, honeycomb, anise, dark spice, cacao and hints of orange zest. “Our last releases have been nuanced, intricate stuff for coffee nerds. This is not that,” says Mr Black founder Tom Baker. “This is a celebration of the original pioneers of coffee in Australia: a big, brash, bitter-sweet Italian dark roast. This is a coffee liqueur for proper coffee drinkers.
Schweppes taps into grapefruit's garnish popularity
Schweppes has launched a Grapefruit Slimline Tonic having noted “the growing trend amongst bars to garnish drinks with grapefruit, as an alternative to lemons or oranges”. Billed as a refreshingly dry and crisp tonic with a deep citrus taste, the drink is currently available in one-litre PET bottles only. Schweppes recommends serving its latest product with tequila and a squeeze of fresh grapefruit juice.
Tobermory adds to its Hebridean Series
Tobermory Distillery has added a second expression to its Hebridean Series of limited edition single malts. Tobermory 24 follows the success of the distillery’s award-winning 23-Year-Old; the first in the Hebridean Series. It is the first special release whisky to be created under Cara Gilbert, the world’s youngest distillery manager. Inspired by Mull’s 300-miles of stunning coastline and sea air, the Oloroso cask finish whisky has dark berries on the nose and blackcurrant jam on the palate – all of which can be found in abundance across the island’s diverse ecosystem. Nutmeg and cinnamon are “beautifully balanced” with a salty tang, alongside vanilla with toasted oak and a hint of cocoa.