Health-Ade Berry Lemonade
Health-Ade kombucha is adding a new flavor to its US offering: Berry Lemonade Health-Ade kombucha.
“Continuing its push for tasty and fun beverage reverie, Health-Ade has created a new summer-inspired brew that is flavored with organic, cold-pressed blueberries and raspberries and infused with ice cold lemonade to offer a thirst-quenching kombucha that everyone can love,” says the brand.
“Health-Ade's Berry Lemonade inspires nostalgia that harkens back to long summer days and all the things that make the season so special: rocket pops, roadside stands, and fresh-picked berries.
"Lemonade is consistently a flavor that our consumers ask us to create. When we make the decision to add something new to our product assortment, we want to make sure we will not only create a delicious new kombucha that Health-Ade fans have come to expect but that we can also look to reach new audiences that might not know what kombucha is or think it is not for them. With a tasty and familiar flavor such as Berry Lemonade, we know that both current and new fans will be delighted."
The new flavor is available nationwide in retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Target and Kroger; as well as its ecommerce platform.
Double vodka soda with a splash of cranberry and squeeze of lime
Indiana craft distillery Cardinal Spirits has launched its first ever Canned Cocktail Variety Pack: bringing together two of its best-selling canned cocktails with a brand new cocktail: double vodka soda with a splash of cranberry and squeeze of lime.
The Cardinal Spirits Canned Cocktail Variety Pack features 8 canned cocktails: 3 cans of Maui Mule, 3 cans of Bramble Mule, and 2 cans of the new vodka soda.
“This box is coming to shelves in 12 states and Washington D.C., and the timing couldn’t be better: consumers’ thirst for canned cocktails is at an all-time high,” says the brand.
“Premixed cocktails were the fastest-growing spirits category in 2021, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., stealing share from beer and hard seltzer. Sales of premixed cocktails surged 42.3% to $1.6bn compared with a year earlier.”
Frisky Whiskey
Premium flavored whiskey Frisky Whiskey has launched in the US.
Produced in Charleston, South Carolina, Frisky is infused with pure caramel and raw vanilla. It was originally created as an extension of Landis’ William Wolf Whiskey line; but has been rebranded and relaunched with its own identity.
“In stark contrast to typical flavored whiskeys, which tend to skew fruity and overly sweet in an attempt to mask whiskey’s true flavor, Frisky’s flavor profile intentionally leans into our premium aged whiskey’s most sought after notes of caramel and vanilla,” explains the brand.
“Crafted from 100% premium whiskey (as opposed to “spirit whiskey” used in most other flavored whiskey offerings), Frisky’s breakthrough formula uses the purest caramel and natural vanilla to accentuate and enhance these organically occurring whiskey notes. The result is an ultra-smooth and extremely palatable taste at 70 proof, with a uniquely familiar but delicately enhanced flavor that is unmatched.”
Frisky Whiskey was founded by Nicole Young, the only Black female owner of a flavored whiskey on the market and one of only two Black female CEOs in the whiskey business; and James Landis and Ken Donarski.
Lemonade Stand at Main & Vine
The Wine Group, America’s second largest winery by volume, announced the launch of Lemonade Stand at Main & Vine, a new line of wines blended with ‘natural flavors of freshly-squeezed lemonade and ripe sun-kissed fruit.’
The wine is available nationally in two blends, Lemonade Moscato and Strawberry Lemonade Rosé, with a suggested retail price of $6.99 for 750mL and $11.99 for 1.5L.
“Lemonade Stand at Main & Vine is the first mainstream wine brand to enter the lemonade category with varietal wines," says the company. "Lemonade-flavored products have already taken off in other alcoholic beverage categories and accounts for over $1.1bn combined in the beer, seltzer and spirits segments.
“By bringing wine into this growing category, Lemonade Stand at Main & Vine is projected to bring new consumers and occasions to the brand and to the broader wine category, as, according to shopper data, flavored wine is a key driver for new buyers in the alcohol category.”
Lemonade Stand at Main & Vine wines are lower in alcohol at 6.5% ABV and 90 calories per 5 oz serving, as well as vegan-friendly and gluten-free. The ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage is best enjoyed cold and served over ice.
Boost Drinks Mocha
Boost Drinks has added Mocha to its RTD coffee range in the UK.
“Developed with a delicious blend of indulgent chocolate, South American coffee beans and superior milk content recipe, the Mocha flavor uses exclusive production techniques to guarantee a silky taste and a quality product,” says the brand. Furthermore, the new flavor offers extended shelf life for retailers compared to other brands, and the £1 PMP format provides strong cash margins for retailers.
The Mocha SKU joins the existing Caffe Latte, Double Espresso and Caramel Latte SKUs offered by Boost, which makes up for 75% of category sales within the independent iced coffee market. The iced drinks market is already worth £194m and growing at +30% volume and +31% value YOY – making it the current fastest growing category within Soft Drinks.
Adrian Hipkiss, Marketing and International Business Director at Boost Drinks at Boost, said: “Last year we marked our 20th year in the business, so seeing us fulfil our commitment to selling exceptional value products with no compromise on quality - such as our new Mocha iced coffee - is extremely rewarding.
“Investing in new flavor development is key to staying ahead of the curve and ensure we’re continue to offer high-quality functional drinks – which we’re confident this new Mocha flavor will offer.”
Marlish Waters tonics and mixers
UK drinks business Marlish Waters has introduced a new tonics and mixers range.
Following on from the successful launch of the UK’s first canned Spring Water range back in June 2019, the Northumberland-based drinks producer is now looking to capitalize on the ever-growing alcohol sector with a range of sugar-free, sustainably produced tonics and mixers.
The range consists of English Tonic Water, Ginger Ale, Premium Lemonade, Raspberry Tonic Water, Rhubarb & Ginger Ale, Soda Water, Dandelion & Burdock Tonic Water, Distillers Choice Tonic Water and Elderflower Tonic Water.
“Created to enhance and compliment, rather than mask the taste of fine spirits, Marlish tonics and mixers combine Marlish’s traditional spring water with natural flavorings and champagne-like bubbles, to deliver a mixer that lengthens any spirit it is paired with,” says the brand.
“Free of sugar, saccharin and aspartame, this unique combination of flavorings promises a naturally light and well-balanced beverage that doesn’t compromise on taste, or overpower.”
All products are produced and packaged on-site at Marlish Farm in the Northumbrian Hills; tapping into a spring water source at the farm. Producing and packaging everything at the water source allows the brand to keep its carbon footprint to a minimum; while the brand plants at least 500 trees every year to cover the onward supply chain.
Marlish Tonics & Mixers are now available in 24 x 200ml cases via wholesalers.
Astral Tequila
Diageo has launched Astral Tequila, a super-premium tequila crafted with 100% Blue Weber agave.
Astral – which means ‘of the stars’ – uses a production process ‘steeped in tradition’: featuring a unique million process using the tahona, a stone wheel which crushes the juices of the agave fibers. Those crushed fibers, or bagazo, are then used in the fermentation process to make use of more of the agave plant.
This technique ‘embraces the true character and flavor of the agave to create a complex yet smooth tequila with notes of crisp citrus, clover honey, and bright white pepper, with underlying agave and an abundance of tropical fruit’, according to Diageo.
Leftover agave fibers are upcycled into adobe bricks to be used to construct buildings in local communities in Mexico.
Astral Tequila (40% ABV) launches in the US this month with a SRP of $35 per 750ml bottle.
Corona Hard Seltzer Seltzerita
Constellation Brands has launched Corona Hard Seltzer Seltzerita in the US ‘to shake things up and refresh your perspective on hard seltzers!’
Inspired by popular margarita flavors, Corona Hard Seltzer Seltzerita is made with a splash of real Mexican lime juice, sweetened with agave and cane sugar, and comes in four bright flavors: Classic Lime, Peach, Mango, and Strawberry.
“We’re excited to provide our fans with an innovative product that fuses the traditional flavors of a classic margarita with a refreshing Corona perspective,” said Ryan Anderson, Director, Brand Marketing, Corona. “Seltzerita speaks to our exceptionally bold and authentic heritage, inspiring drinkers of Corona to live La Vida Más Fina wherever they may be.”
Available at retailers across the US, the hard seltzer is sold in a 12-pack of 12 oz. slim cans and contains 130 calories, 4g carbs, and 6% ABV, per serving. Seltzerita is the most recent addition to the Corona Hard Seltzer portfolio, which includes Corona Hard Seltzer Tropical Pack, Corona Hard Seltzer Berry Pack and Corona Hard Seltzer Limonada.
Light alcohol spirits DECEM
Masterchef 2016 finalist Billy Wright is launching a new range of 10% ABV spirits in the UK.
DECEM, directly translated to ten in Latin, is a new range of spirits which contain a blend of ten natural ingredients for a light alcohol drinking experience. The range consists of three light spirits: London Dry, made with distilled botanicals, Spiced Blend, made with Caribbean rum, and Aperitif made with heritage botanicals.
The range provides an alternative to the typical 40% ABV spirits.
“Drinking is at the very heart of our society yet so many of us still can’t enjoy it without that slight fear of enjoying it a little too much,” said Wright. “By reducing the alcohol content in our drinks it makes for a more enjoyable drinking experience yet still allows us to retain all the flavors.
“DECEM has been three years in the making, working tirelessly to find the most interesting combinations of fruits, herbs and botanicals to blend genuinely different liquids that hold complex flavors yet are easy to drink with the simplest mixers. We’re proud to launch the first three spirits in the DECEM range and give drinkers lighter alternatives to be enjoyed all day or all night.”
Mortal Power
Mortal, a Colorado-based beverage company that got its start in probiotic packed kombucha, is now entering the canned sparkling prebiotics water world with the debut of Mortal POWER.
“Mortal POWER is power in a can. It’s pumped up bubbly water infused with a healthy smackdown of prebiotics to boost immunity and strengthen your gut – plus additional functional ingredients to power your day," says the brand.
“Mortal launched this functional beverage in four options: Watermelon Prickly Pear with prebiotics and magnesium to chillax your mind, body and chaos. Hibiscus Ginger with added electrolytes and prebiotics. Green Tea Lime is loaded with 60mg of caffeine from green tea and prebiotics. Cherry Berry has prebiotics plus a blast of collagen to promote bone health and give you a glowing complexion and disposition.”
Each 12 oz. can of Mortal POWER is gluten-free, certified organic, 1% For The Planet certified, and Kosher; and has 30 calories or less and between 2 and 4g of added sugar (all from fruit).
The new line is available in Colorado and will follow-up with a nationwide rollout.