What's hitting the shelves? Heineken zero alcohol, SodaStream infusions & Baileys Almondmilk
Heineken zero-alcohol lager
Heineken has launched a zero-alcohol lager in the UK this month, aimed at health-conscious younger drinkers.
Created by global master brewer Willem van Waesberghe, Heineken 0.0 has ‘refreshingly fruity notes and a soft malty body’ and 21 calories per 100ml.
Heineken 0.0 is available in two SKUs: 4 x 330ml bottles at £3.25 and 6 x 330ml cans for £4.50.
SodaStream infusions chilled brew line
SodaStream International has announced what it heralds as its biggest innovation to date: a product line featuring blends of herbs and fruits for cold and fizzy water.
The new infusions chilled brew product line features single-use sachets. When suspended inside a freshly carbonated SodaStream bottle of cold sparkling water, the infusion sachet allows herb and fruit flavors to permeate the water.
SodaStream says its new launch represents the launch of a new category within the booming flavored water industry.
Daniel Birnbaum, CEO, SodaStream, said, “Infusions mark the most significant innovation of recent years in the global water industry. SodaStream is the first beverage brand to use the innovative concept of infusion, to enrich fresh carbonated water with herb and spice blends.”
The SodaStream infusions come in four blends: citrus fruits; lemongrass and verbena; wild rose, hibiscus and berries; and wild orchid and spices.
SodaStream Infusions retail at $6.99 for 32 servings (8 bottle-size sachets), and will be available from retailers and online in the third quarter of 2017.
Baileys Almande Almondmilk liqueur
Baileys has launched its Almande Almondmilk liqueur in the US, a dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan liqueur that 'blends the luscious, nutty flavors of real almondmilk with delicious vanilla for an incredibly versatile treat'.
A serving contains the same calorie count as an average 5 ounce glass of wine, and mixes particularly well with coconut water, says the brand.
Alcoholic condiments
Just A Splash, a range of alcoholic condiments for use in cooking, was launched at IFE in the UK this month.
The 100ml pouches are designed to offer cooks a way to use spirits and fortified wines in their cooking, without buying larger and subsequently unused bottles of spirits and fortified wines.
The condiments can be used for sauces, casseroles, stews, baking and sweet dishes.
Captain Morgan Coconut shot
Captain Morgan has launched Captain Morgan LocoNut, which blends Caribbean rum and spices with coconut liqueur.
The product is packaged in a round bottle like its predecessor Captain Morgan Cannon Blast, with the bottle ‘boasting the appearance of a coconut that gives off the sweet aroma of coconut when you scratch the bottle’.
LocoNut can be served as a chilled shot or in drinks recipes. It has a suggested retail price of $14.99 for a 750ml bottle (40 proof, 20% ABV) in the US.
Royal Botanical Garden Sydney partnership
Premium Australian artisan spirit, Distillery Botanica Gin, has partnered with the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to create a gin using botanicals from the garden.
The limited edition ‘Rather Royal Gin’ features Pope John Paul roses, mandarin leaf, lemon verbena and chamomile.
“Drinking this gin is the equivalent of a visit to the Gardens themselves,” says the distillery.
Proceeds from sales of Rather Royal Gin will go towards the Garden’s conservation programs, which help preserve biodiversity through seed collection, seed banking and conservation research and training.
Strawberries and clotted cream milkshake
Premium milkshake maker, Shaken Udder, will introduce a new flavor to its UK lineup next week: Strawberries & Clotted cream.
The milkshake combines strawberries, British Milk, and Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream to ‘create a fruity yet luxuriously creamy combination’.
Jodie Farran, co-founder of Shaken Udder, said, “It's been fantastic working with Rodda’s [clotted cream makers] to create a new flavor that captures the spirit of British summertime and includes fantastic British ingredients.
“Our brand is all about promoting delicious dairy, so what better way to do that than to launch a product that is engrained in British tradition? We think Strawberries & Clotted Cream will be a perfect choice for summer picnics, days out and as a much-needed calcium and energy boosting pick-me-up throughout the day.”
Strawberries & Clotted Cream will be available from Waitrose stores from April 4 in 330ml bottles, RRP £1.49. It joins the existing range of 330ml bottles in Chocolush, Vanillalicious, Top Banana and Salted Caramel flavors; Uber Udder Cartons in Chocolush and Vanillalicious; and 220ml kids cartons in Chocolate and Strawberry.
Frozen cocktails
MBWS (Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits), a French wine and spirits group, is launching a range of frozen cocktails.
The pouches are frozen for eight hours, then the pouch can be squeezed into a glass ready to consume.
MBWS says the products have been designed to offer consumers ‘trendy and tasty cocktails for a fresher and more fun drinking experience’.
The frozen cocktail range will be available from May in France, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Eastern Europe, the UK and Africa.
The alcohol content is 5.5% and a 200ml pouch has a recommended selling price of €2.30.
Honest tea: Unsweet peach ginger
Honest tea has added Honest Organic Unsweet Peach Ginger Tea to its lineup in the US: a combination of organic black tea, honeybush leaves, peach puree and ginger.
The beverage is USDA certified organic, uses Fair Trade certified ingredients, does not contain GMOs, is gluten free and kosher.
Craft soda
Dalston is expanding its range with the introduction of new natural, low calorie canned craft sodas.
The premium drinks come in orangeade; lemonade and cola. They are made from fruit, spring water and beet sugar, as well as ingredients such as Sicilian lemons and oranges and cola nuts and a blend of spices.
Duncan O’Brien, founder of Dalston’s, said, “The result is a range of refreshing and clean tasting soft drinks, which contain all of the flavor and enjoyment of a fizzy drink, with none of the harsh chemicals or vast amounts of sugar found in alternative brands.
“We think it's the perfect time to offer premium soft drinks in cans. Our range is made from carefully sourced ingredients, and blended with the adult palate in mind. Cans give us a great canvas for communication so we've decided to put calorie content on the front of pack and highlight the attention we place on sourcing with our trademark Dalston’s 'D'.”
The drinks all contain under 100 calories are available in Whole Foods and Ocado.
Gin-based fruit liqueurs
Edinburgh Gin’s Raspberry Liqueur, and its Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur, have been launched in supermarket Tesco across the UK.
Neil Boyd, Commercial Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, owners of Edinburgh Gin, said: “As the portfolio of Edinburgh Gin has expanded, we have worked to secure new listings with UK wide retailers and are excited to announce our newest listing with Tesco.
“Our range of gin-based fruit liqueurs are incredibly popular with consumers who are looking for something a bit different from your average gin & tonic. The liqueurs add a touch of elegance to sparkling wines and a variety of cocktails.”
Both products are 20% ABV and retail in Tesco at £18.
PepsiCo’s ‘next generation’ of soda
PepsiCo is rolling out IZZE Fusions and Lemon Lemon in the US and beyond.
IZZE Fusions is described as ‘sort of soda, sort of juice, sort of sparkling water’. It comes in three flavors: orange mango, lemon lime and strawberry melon. It is free from artificial sweeteners or flavors, and is sweetened with a blend of cane sugar and stevia. IZZE Fusions contains 60 calories per 12oz can.
Meanwhile, Lemon Lemon is launching in the US alongside France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, and additional markets are to follow. Outside the US, Lemon Lemon will come under the 7UP trademark.
Available in original, blackberry and peach flavors, the drink is ‘a sparkling lemonade that’s a modern take on an old tradition with bubbles, real lemon juice and a touch of sweetness’.
Like IZZE Fusions, it is free from artificial sweeteners of flavors, and sweetened with cane sugar and stevia. It contains 70 calories per 12oz can.
Launching a new beverage? Email rachel.arthur@wrbm.com with a product description and image and we'll do our best to include in next month's new product roundup.
