What’s hitting the shelves? Jam & gin, drinking vinegar and hard iced tea

KeVita builds on drinking vinegar trend​

KeVita, a US producer of fermented probiotic and kombucha beverages, has launched three new flavors in the Cleansing Probiotic Apple Cider Vinegar Tonics line.

Meyer Lemon has been launched in retailers nationwide, while Ginseng Mandarin and Elderberry will roll out this fall exclusively with Whole Foods Market.

Apple cider vinegar has seen a recent resurgence among health-conscious consumers, and KeVita says it has brought the first sparkling drinking vinegars to the modern marketplace.

The drinks contain KeVita's proprietary water kefir culture, 4 billion colony forming units (CFUs) of live probiotics, 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, and 25 calories per 8-ounce serving. 

Fever-Tree’s natural cola​

UK premium tonic water and mixer drink brand, Fever-Tree, has launched an all-natural cola created for mixing with spirits.

Fever-Tree Madagascan Cola has been introduced in supermarket Sainsbury’s this month at £1.69 ($2.20) /500ml. Its natural ingredients include Nigerian kola nut, Indonesian cassia, Mexican lime and Madagascan vanilla.

Such ingredients enhance the complex flavors found in premium dark spirits, says the brand.

Mongolian yogurt ball drink​

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group has released two UHT yogurt drinks, which contain alginate balls filled with juice. These balls burst in the mouth when gently chewed, offering “​an extra portion of fruity drinking pleasure.”​

The Baoquzhu-branded beverages are available in apple and strawberry flavors, and are packed in 250ml combiblocSmall cartons from SIG Combibloc.

The drinks were developed for teenagers, as they value fun and new experiences.

The launch of the products is accompanied by a marketing campaign on TV, magazine and social media, with actor and singer Jay Chou, who is known in Asia for his R&B and rap songs.

Mix your own cocktail bottle​

YUMIX, a two compartment bottle which allows consumers to mix their own cocktail, has launched in Texas this month.

The consumer can separate the bottom container from the base of the primary bottle; remove the seal; and then pour the alcohol into the juice.

Having worked with fresh juices, founder Alex Garner decided that adding alcohol to juices would make a good concoction for adults. However, he discovered that an ‘off the shelf’ pack for what he wanted did not exist.

“If we tried to premix the juice and alcohol, the refreshing nature of a cocktail would be lost,” ​said Garner. “You would have to add preservatives for stability, which alters the flavor profile.  ​

“That’s not what we wanted to do and that’s why we expended significant effort to develop the right pack.” ​

Yumix is available in Texas three flavors: strawberry lemonade with vodka, cosmopolitan with vodka, and pink grapefruit with vodka.  With a 12-month shelf life, the beverages retail at $3.99-$4.99. National distribution is planned for 2017.

Jam and marmalade meet gin​

English gin brand Haymans has collaborated with Wilkin & Sons to create a fruit-flavored liqueurs line for Wilkin & Sons’ Tiptree jam and marmalade portfolio.

The liqueurs are being rolled out this month in 60 Co-Op stores in the east of England, in English Raspberry, English Damson and Little Scarlet Strawberry flavors at a RSP of £19.99 ($26.20) / 33cl.

Fruit from Wilkin & Sons’ farm is sent to Haymans’ gin distillery where it is steeped in London dry gin.

It is the first time Wilkin & Sons has produced alcoholic drinks, although it has produced a range of conserves with alcohol for some years.

Stubborn Soda reaches shelves​

PepsiCo has launched its craft soda line, Stubborn Soda,​ in major retailers across the US.

Stubborn Soda was originally launched in select foodservice locations on fountain in 2015.​​​

The five ‘unexpected twists’ on traditional flavors are Black Cherry with Tarragon, Orange Hibiscus, Agave Vanilla Cream Soda, Classic Root Beer and Lemon Berry Acai.

Packaged in 12 oz (355ml) glass bottles, Stubborn Soda contains 90 - 100 calories and is sweetened with Fair Trade certified cane sugar and stevia.

The sodas are made with natural flavors and without high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), artificial sweeteners, and azo dyes.

Craft tequila expands range ​

Dulce Vida Tequilas (which was recently acquired by alcohol beverage investor, Milestone Brands LLC) has introduced 70-proof Dulce Vida Lime Tequila and Dulce Vida Grapefruit Tequila.

Dulce Vida has also added an 80-proof portfolio (Blanco, Reposado and Añejo) to its existing lineup of 100% blue agave, organic, Los Altos tequila.

Dulce Vida Lime and Dulce Vida Grapefruit hail from the Los Altos region of Jalisco in Mexico. The company says that both are low-carb, low-calorie and simplify mixology for an easy Margarita or Paloma.

Dulce Vida was formed in 2009 in Austin, Texas, and is now sold in 17 states.

Hard Iced Tea​

MillerCoors has launched Easy Tea Co this month: a lightly carbonated, hard iced tea with 5% ABV (alcohol by volume). 

The company describes the iced tea as a ‘refined, brisk and less sweet’, with a ‘simple, yet crisp and citrusy taste.’

Packaged in 24 oz cans and available at select liquor and convenience stores, Easy Tea is being introduced in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. 

Stevia sweetened Shloer​

Adult soft drinks brand Shloer, from SHS Drinks, has introduced a no added sugar mango and passion fruit variant, sweetened with stevia leaf extract.

The new flavor contains 30% juice and 22 calories per 100ml, and is free from artificial ingredients.

The variety is a limited edition and joins the brand’s permanent stevia-based variants (light red grape and white grape) in the UK in Tesco, Asda and Waitrose.

Purple Heart Wines​

Purple Heart Wines is releasing its second vintage, 2014 Purple Heart Red, on September 1.

Produced under C. Mondavi and family, Purple Heart Wines pays tribute to American military veterans by supporting the Purple Heart Foundation.

The 2014 vintage of Purple Heart Red introduces the collaborative efforts of Napa winemaker and Iraq War veteran David Grega. He and Vietnam veteran winemaker Ray Coursen worked together on the vintage to create a “bold American red wine, stylistically ripe with soft tannins and a plush mouthfeel.”​

New flavor for Henry’s Hard Soda​

MillerCoors is launching a new flavor for Henry’s Hard Soda this month: the third variety in the ‘hard soda line developed for Gen-Xers’.

Henry’s Hard Soda, a 4.2% ABV drink, launched in the US in January with Hard Ginger Ale and Hard Orange Soda. The new flavor is Hard Cherry Cola.