What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches
Bodyarmor enters rapid rehydration category with launch of Bodyarmor Flash I.V.
BODYARMOR Sports Nutrition debuts its first-ever rapid rehydration beverage, BODYARMOR Flash I.V.
Flash I.V. is the brand’s first new product since the premium sports drink company was fully acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 2021.
“Designed to deliver the latest in active hydration and functionality for consumers without compromising on taste, BODYARMOR Flash I.V. is scientifically formulated to ensure the perfect balance of carbohydrates and electrolytes for faster absorption and replenishment,” says the brand.
“Developed with the same great-tasting, coconut water base as BODYARMOR Sports Drink, BODYARMOR Flash I.V. offers consumers the ability to refuel, replenish and recover with more electrolytes than the competition, added functionality with Zinc, Vitamins B and C to support a healthy immune system, and the same BODYARMOR promise of no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or dyes.”
BODYARMOR Flash I.V. comes in a 20oz, square bottle and contains over 2200mg of electrolytes – more than traditional sports drinks – for rapid and sustained rehydration for quick recovery. It will launch in four flavors including Grape, Strawberry Kiwi, Orange, and Tropical Punch. New packaging for BODYARMOR Flash I.V. will feature vibrant flavor colors and highlight key functional benefits to create an eye-catching lineup at retail.
“BODYARMOR transformed the sports drink category with its better-for-you hydration options and now we’re excited to do the same in rapid rehydration with BODYARMOR Flash I.V.,” said the brand's CEO, Federico Muyshondt.
Launching in retail stores regionally in the US this month, Flash I.V. will be available in-stores nationwide and online via Amazon nationally in 2024.
Bacardi launches TAILS Cocktails in the US
Bacardi has announced the US launch of TAILS Cocktails, a line of pre-mixed cocktails.
Over the last three years, cocktail awareness and making premium cocktails at home has skyrocketed among American consumers with 82% of prepared spirit cocktails occasions being at home (NielsenIQ Consumption Moments Alcoholic Beverages Pilot, November 2022).
“Made using the Bacardi portfolio of premium brands blended with top quality ingredients, TAILS Cocktails liberates the host from bartending duties while still impressing guests with bar quality cocktails that simply require ice, a shaker and your favorite glassware…and if you’re feeling fancy, add a garnish. No bartending skills required,” says Bacardi.
TAILS Cocktails are already available in Europe. The brand launches in three varieties in the US: Lime Daiquiri made with BACARDÍ rum, as well as Espresso Martini cocktail and Passion Fruit Martini cocktail, both made with ERISTOFF vodka. The Pomegranate Margarita, made with CAZADORES tequila, joins the lineup later this year as an exclusive cocktail for the U.S.
Each 375ml bottle makes approximately 3-4 cocktails, each with 20% ABV and includes a QR code that links to a 30-second ‘how to’ video explaining the serving steps.
New ultra-premium tequila brand
In the UK, former Big Brother contestants Sukhvinder and Imran Javeed have founded Sphynx Tequila, an ultra-premium tequila brand.
The Sphynx Tequila range encompasses four expressions: Blanco Tequila, Añejo Tequila, Añejo Cristalino, and Extra Aged Añejo Black Oak.
Founder Sukhvinder said: "Tequila has such a special place in my heart, my husband and I love the history, culture and traditions of Mexico and of course, their official spirit became our favorite. We wanted to create a legacy brand and creating a tequila was a natural choice for us. We are lucky to be working with a brilliant female-led distillery in the lowlands of Jalisco where we age our tequila in custom wine barrels for a completely unique flavor profile.
“Sphynx Tequila embraces the natural flavors of the finest agave, grown for a minimum of seven years. We chose to age our tequila in various French oak barrels that allowed us to create custom profiles just for Sphynx Tequila giving our drinkers a unique smooth flavor that allows you to simply pour it over ice, sip and enjoy.”
All the tequilas in the Sphynx Tequila range are made with 100% Blue Weber Agave and contain zero additives.
The new expressions are available to purchase directly from the brand’s website and Master of Malt starting from £70 for 70cl for their Sphynx Tequila Blanco.
Non-alcoholic sparkling rosé
North American brand Proxies has launched a new can format for its non-alcoholic sparkling rosé: ready for summer activities.
“As the brand’s first canned beverage, this new blend is available just in time to kick off the season, making Proxies easier to pack, drink and take on the go to the pool, picnics, beach bbqs and beyond,” says the brand.
“With inventive ingredient blends - such as the new canned sparkling rosé - Proxies has brought a new category of the beverage experience to life by providing the highest quality taste that captures what makes wine a great pairing—acidity, body, and tannin—allowing for the ingredients to tell their own story. Proxies’ sparkling rosé blends riesling and strawberries with white tea and a zest of lime, designed to be dry, high-acid and just slightly savory.”
Launch Hydrate
New sports drinks Launch Hydrate has launched in the US.
The drink features Kyowa Hakko’s Cognizin Citicoline and a blend of electrolytes and essential vitamins and minerals.
Launch Hydrate is available in four flavors: Fruit Punch, Orange, Tropical and Lemon Strawberry. Each 16oz bottle contains 1200mg electrolytes, 125mg Cognizin, and 90 calories.
“With a unique blend of electrolytes and essential vitamins and minerals, athletes will be able to hydrate quickly, focus better and recover faster,” says the brand.
Barbadillo
Barbadillo Mixed Rebujito: a pre-mixed wine cocktail from Bodegas Barbadillo, S.L., is launching in Spain.
A rebujito is a long mixed drink enjoyed at springtime holidays and festivals in the southern Spanish region of Andalucia. In the traditional context, revellers mix Manzanilla wine with lemonade or lemon-lime soda and enhance its zingy impact with a sprig of peppermint.
The Barbadillo Mixed Rebujito (4.9% ABV), which is filled by Refresco Iberia and packaged in a specialised wine can from Ardagh Metal Packaging, now offers a ‘perfect version of this exciting cocktail in a convenient pre-mixed format for the first time’.
Forest gin
Portland, Oregon’s Freeland Spirits is launching its new Forest Gin.
“While the blue bottle gin features the best of Oregon's farm fields, Forest Gin gets its name and inspiration from Forest Park, one of the country's largest urban forest reserves, just five blocks from Freeland’s distillery,” explains the company.
“All ingredients (e.g. chanterelle mushrooms, douglas fir tips, salal berries and nettle) are gently distilled via rotovap in order to preserve their freshness.
“Scents of new needles on trees and forest floor transport gin connoisseurs to the spirit’s place of origin: a vast, green Oregonian woodland. With hints of florality and fresh greenery, complemented by deep notes of earth, berry, and fresh rain, Forest Gin - bottled at 45% ABV - offers consumers a taste of summer, year round!”
Non-alcoholic craft beer variety pack
Kit NA Brewing - a Portland, Oregon non-alcoholic craft beer company – has launched its first ever variety pack.
Each 12-pack includes four cans of each: On Your Mark (American Blonde), Get Set (IPA), and Here We Go (Hazy IPA).
“Consumers can now enjoy the light and citrusy notes of On Your Mark, the juicy and hoppy notes of Get Set, and the tropical and hazy notes of Here We Go all in one pack!,” says the brewery.
“With this exciting release, Kit NA Brewing continues to drive innovation in the non-alcoholic beer market, redefining unapologetically good-tasting beer and appealing to an even broader audience no matter the occasion.
“Variety pack is one of the fastest growing package variants in beverage and there are so few options in NA beer. We are lucky to be aligned with great partners who can help Kit answer the consumer demand.”
Rosé-inspired non-alcoholic aperitif
De Soi – a premium, non-alcoholic sparkling aperitif brand founded by pop star Katy Perry and master distiller Morgan McLachlan – has launched Très Rosé, a new rosé-inspired, ready-to-drink canned apéritif.
The drink is deigned to be a lighter alternative to a more traditional bitter aperitif.
“Bold and balanced, Très Rosé evokes the ritual of sparkling brut rosé while offering notes of bright red fruits and subtle florals,” explains the brand. “With a blend of adaptogens including lively lion's mane combined with soothing saffron, this refreshing new drink imparts balanced flavors and feelings.”
Très Rosé joins De Soi’s current flavor lineup, including zesty Golden Hour made with lemon balm and L-theanine, Champignon Dreams, a bitter but balanced pour made with reishi mushroom and passion flower, and Purple Lune, a ‘rich and sensual elixir’ made with ashwagandha and tart cherry.
