What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches: from non-alcoholic aperitifs to coconut rum
De Soi: Spritz Italiano
De Soi, the line of premium non-alcoholic aperitifs co-founded by Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan, has debuted its latest flavor: Spritz Italiano (pictured above).
Timed for the beginning of US summer, the new sparkling drink ‘harmoniously blends premium, nourishing botanical and citrus flavors with natural adaptogens for a rich and relaxing experience’.
Spritz Italiano is more approachable than its alcoholic counterpart, from which it draws inspiration, with an emphasis on not-too-sweet orange citrus flavors and lighter use of gentian, cinchona, and other bittering agents.
Keeping true to De Soi’s brand ethos for flavor and functionality, the new flavor is infused with adaptogens such as L-theanine, lion’s mane, and reishi mushroom to promote relaxation and tranquility, collectively providing a ‘mind-mellowing buzz’ without the booze.
Spritz Italiano is gluten-free and non-GMO while also using pure extracts, and never artificial colors or flavors.
Spritz Italiano comes on the heels of De Soi’s most recent flavor launch, Très Rosé, landed in select Target locations in April. Reminiscent of traditional cocktails and aperitifs, De Soi is available in five flavors: Spritz Italiano, Très Rosé, Golden Hour, Purple Lune and Champignon Dreams which are available to purchase direct-to-consumer as well as select Total Wine, Fresh Thyme, and Harmons stores nationwide, plus additional local retailers.
The brand will have further expansion in the summer to select Sprouts Farmers Market and Target locations nationwide. All De Soi non-alcoholic aperitifs are sold in 8 fl. oz for $20.00 per 4-pack.
Cali by Snoop
Cali by Snoop - the wine brand by Treasury Wine Estates and Snoop Dogg - is expanding its portfolio with the launch of the brand-new Cali Blanc into the UK.
The Sauvignon Blanc is described as ‘fresh and fruity, with pear drop and tropical notes of honeydew melon, alongside a zingy, pleasing elderflower finish’.
Created in collaboration with American rapper Snoop Dogg, the brand sets out to challenge the convention of wine with a ‘unique narrative and sense of personality’, underpinned by the wines’ approachability and suitability for consumption occasions inspired by Snoop’s west coast lifestyle.
Cali Blanc is Snoop Dogg’s first move into the white wine category, following the launch of the Cali by Snoop Cali Red in 2022, and the Cali Rosé in 2023.
Consumers are looking for easy to drink fruity white wine styles (Wine Intelligence 2022), which is a perfect match for Cali Blanc. The launch of Cali Blanc will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign, across the UK which will include a series of in-store activations, out of home, PR and digital activations to drive significant momentum for the launch.
The brand will also be using augmented reality technology, with consumers invited to ‘Ask the Doggfather’ by following a QR code on the back label where the D.O.G.G. will respond to their questions.
Cali Blanc launches in ASDA stores nationwide, as well as online via Amazon with a RRP of £12 for 750ml.
Powerade Sour
Powerade has debuted the newest innovation to the brand’s sports drink portfolio: Powerade Sour.
The new Powerade Sours are a limited-time-offer and available in 28 fl. oz. bottles exclusively in major retails stores and online in the US throughout the summer while supplies last.
The drink comes in three flavors: Blue Razz, Watermelon Lime, and Green Apple.
The new flavor launch is the brand’s latest innovation since February, when Powerade announced the addition of two new flavors to its sports drink portfolio: Island Burst and Strawberry Smash Zero.
Coconut Cartel Blanco
Embodying the spirit of Latin America, Coconut Cartel has launched its newest creation: Coconut Cartel Blanco.
Capturing the essence of the Dominican Republic's finest sugarcane and locally harvested coconuts, Coconut Cartel says it is the only brand to use fresh coconut water in the process of proofing rum, resulting in a distinctive and refreshing flavor profile.
This blend, curated by sibling-duo Dani and Mike Zig, contains no added sugar or flavoring.
Coconut Cartel's craftsmen blend unaged pot still rum sourced from the distillery’s own sugarcane farms in the Dominican Republic, with one-year-old column still rum aged in American White oak ex-bourbon barrels. The blend is cut to proof with fresh coconut water sourced from locally harvested Brazilian Green Dwarf coconuts, achieving a ‘rich and interesting balance of flavors and a smooth, approachable profile’.
Coconut Cartel Blanco boasts complex aromas of fresh cane, white pepper, and tropical fruits like unripe banana and dried pineapple while delivering a distinct minerality on the palate that leads to a clean and crisp finish. With a proof of 92 (46 percent ABV), Coconut Cartel Blanco it can be used as the foundation for tropical cocktails, such as the classic Daiquiri comprised of rum, lime and sugar. Rum drinking professionals will enjoy Coconut Cartel Blanco neat as well.
In 2018, Coconut Cartel introduced its first spirit, Coconut Cartel Special Añejo, a premium aged Guatemalan rum cut to proof with fresh coconut water. Inspired by the growing popularity of coconut water and their cultural ties to rum-producing regions, Dani and Mike envisioned reshaping rum's perception, akin to the transformation witnessed in the tequila industry.
New Sprizzi flavors
Restauranter Jennie Dobbs, along with her winemaker partner Simon Rafuse, are expanding their Canadian RTD cocktail Sprizzi into four new flavors and will open the doors to their first retail outlet in June.
Three new flavors include Rose, Berry and Tropical and will be sold in variety packs with the original Limonata. Sprizzi Limonata cocktails are each made with real juice and premium vodka. Rose and Berry both use local Nova Scotia juices. Gin Fizz Lemonade which is the exclusive Gin Lemonade of the Wanderers’ soccer team.
The ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail industry is expanding as market demand rises, boasting a 104% growth rate over the past two years (NIQ). The demand for an elevated ready-to-drink product with natural ingredients continues to rise. Part of this growth can be attributed to the friction-free convenient purchasing of these products.
Dobbs is expanding retail presence with the opening of a Sprizzi retail outlet at 620 Nine Mile Drive in West Bedford. Products at the store will include the full range of Sprizzi products.
Drink Sprizzi will be sold in four-packs for $19 as well as single 355 ml cans for $4.75.
Alcohol-free
UK alcohol-free wine Wednesday’s Domaine has announced a new permanent addition to its range, a rosé called Elan.
The 0.0% wine starts with a blend of de-alcoholised Airen and Tempranillo grapes from the La Macha region of Spain. Combined with a handful of natural ingredients, the drink is described as a ‘beautiful balance of crisp acidity and light, herbaceous notes that signal sunshine and long afternoons enjoyed outdoors’.
“Once the preserve of a few sparse summer days, people are drinking rosé more and more frequently” says founder Luke Hemsley. “We want to make sure we have something for those occasions, whatever time of year".
The drink is vegan and comes in at under 20 calories per glass.
Lost Sheep Coffee
Lost Sheep Coffee - the brand behind the UK’s first speciality grade airtight Nespresso Compatible Eco Pods - is launching a new range of barista quality, speciality grade ready to drink canned iced coffees that can be traced from farm to can.
Lost Sheep Coffee Iced Latte and Iced Mocha RTD cans are made using the brand’s Get To The Hopper speciality grade coffee, a blend of beans from Paranaiba in Brazil and Huila in Colombia (rated Grade 1a on the coffee industry’s standardised scale of 1 to 5) which are hand-roasted at the brand’s dedicated roastery in Whitstable to create a ‘super smooth, chocolatey caramel blend’.
Both drinks are made with skimmed milk and are under 85 calories a can, appealing to consumer demand for lighter options.
Stuart Wilson, Founder of Lost Sheep Coffee said: “With Gen Z consumers more likely to drink ready to drink coffee than hot coffee [Mintel 2023] the category is buzzing, yet right now in the UK there isn’t another brand using ‘farm to can’ traceable, speciality grade beans in a ready to drink milk-based coffee format.
“We want to be the first to do this, making fully traceable, speciality grade coffee more accessible to a new generation of coffee lovers.
“Many other ready to drink coffee products on the market use instant coffee as an ingredient, but ours uses speciality grade coffee beans, which are the highest grade you can get in the world.
“The blend we use is ‘Get To The Hopper’, our award-winning coffee that combines the finest beans from Paranaiba in Brazil (grown at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level) with carefully sourced beans from Huila in Colombia (grown at altitudes of 1500 to 2000 metres.)”
The brand also plans to expand the range with functional benefits in the second half of 2024.
Lost Sheep Iced Latte and Iced Mocha RTD cans are available online from the brand, via Amazon, independent retailers and distributors Lansdell Soft Drinks and Chapple & Jenkins from June 2024 with more stockists to follow. RRP £2.20 for a 250ml can.
Looking for more beverage innovation?
Protein water, prebiotic soda and lower-sugar smoothies all feature in last week's round-up of new beverage launches.
