The monthly round-up of what’s new in low/no, beer, cider, wine, spirits, RTDs and mixers.
SPIRITS & LIQUEURS
Dead Man’s Fingers Blue Raspberry and Black Cherry
15% abv each
£13 (50cl)
USP: Halewood has added two new tequila cream liqueurs to its Dead Man’s Fingers range. Poppy Williams, marketing manager at Halewood Spirits, said both the cream liqueur and tequila category are experiencing strong growth, adding: “Our existing Mango and Strawberry Tequila Cream Liqueur fusions have already performed well in the market, so we’re confident that there’s a significant sales opportunity for our Black Cherry and Blue Raspberry additions.”
Dead Man’s Fingers x KFC 11 Herbed and Spiced Rum
37.5% abv
£25 (70cl)
USP: Available now to pre-order ahead of its launch in September, the limited-edition rum marks KFC’s first venture into the spirits industry. The spiced rum is inspired by KFC’s secret seasoning blend of 11 herbs and spices and has notes of caramel, vanilla, treacle toffee and nutmeg.
Oxford Rye Whisky 2018 Harvest
50% abv
£55
USP: The recipe of mixed populations of heritage grains is 90% Maslin (rye and wheat grown together) and 10% malted barley. This whisky is double-distilled in both pot and column stills and laid down in American oak casks and a selection of ex-wine casks. With the warmer and drier spring and summer seasons in 2018, yields were slightly lower compared to 2017.
Glencadam 18 Years Old
46% abv
£145
USP: Following a limited-edition run, the single malt whisky is set to become a permanent part of Glencadam’s range with this relaunch. Master distiller, Robert Fleming, said: “It’s great to have the expression back. Beautifully balanced and creamy, it’s clear to see why there is such demand for Glencadam 18 Years Old Single Malt.”
Maison Courvoisier – Courvoisier Mizunara
£2,500
USP: Created as a collaboration between Maison Courvoisier’s chief blender, Thibaut Hontanx, and House of Suntory’s chief blender, Shinji Fukuyo, the second edition of the Cognac has been aged in both Cognac oak and Japanese Mizunara oak casks. It will be available from Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Selfridges.
Goalong whiskey range
40% – 48% abv
£37.75 – £59.95
USP: The Whisky Exchange has added Goalong’s range to its portfolio, making them the first Chinese whiskies available to the UK market. The range consists of three products: the 5 Year Old Bourbon & Brandy Cask Single Malt Chinese Whiskey, the 5 Year Old Bourbon Cask Single Malt Chinese Whiskey, and the Blended Chinese Whiskey. Head of buying at The Whisky Exchange, Dawn Davies MW, said: “We have recently seen a growing interest in whiskies that come from all over the world, not just those that from traditional whisky producing countries, so to add the first Chinese whisky to our range and introduce it to the UK is very exciting.”
The Balvenie – A Revelation of Cask and Character whisky
47.5% abv
£307
USP: The 19YO limited-edition single malt whisky has been released as part of The Stories Collection by The Balvenie. It is the first whisky in The Balvenie range to have been spearheaded by the distillery’s new sole malt master, Kelsey McKechnie, who previously held the role as a joint position with David Stewart MBE.
Tamdhu Batch Strength 008
55.8% abv
£87
USP: Sandy McIntyre, Tamdhu distillery manager, said: “Batch Strength No. 008 encapsulates our unwavering commitment to crafting exclusively sherry-matured whisky, presenting a captivating deep natural copper hue and a complex flavour profile. With each Oloroso sherry cask carefully hand-selected, this expression delivers an exquisite and nuanced flavour, leaving a memorable and gratifying finish that embodies the essence of Speyside.”
Edwards Bottlegreen Elderflower Liqueur
20% abv
£26 (50cl)
USP: Cordial brand Bottlegreen has partnered with potato vodka brand Edwards 1902 to create an elderflower vodka liqueur. The liqueur is initially available from Amazon, Master of Malt and “selected high-end retailers”.
Lochlea Harvest Edition Second Crop
46% abv
£51.60
USP: “Farm-to-cask” distillery Lochlea in Ayrshire has released the second batch of its seasonal whisky. Harvest Edition Second Crop has been matured in a combination of tawny and ruby Port casks, STR barriques and first-fill bourbon barrels.
The Guard Bridge blended malt Scotch whisky
46% abv
£45
USP: St Andrews-based Eden Mill has launched The Guard Bridge. With a natural colour and non-chill filtered, the new blended malt Scotch whisky features Eden Mill St Andrews’ single malt, along with a selection of single malts from the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland.
Ardbeg Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale
46% abv
£141
Islay distillery Ardbeg has unveiled the first release in its new Anthology Collection – Ardbeg Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale. The whisky is aged for 13 years in a combination of ex-bourbon and Sauternes wine casks.
Circumstance Distillery’s Single Grain Rye Whisky
42.7% abv
£55
USP: The mash for this whisky used 51% malted English rye and 49% malted English barley. The grains were fermented on a mead yeast for 14 days. It was distilled using a copper pot still with a 4 plate copper column and was aged in first fill ex-bourbon, new European oak, and sherry conditioned casks for 3 years.
BEER & CIDER
Aunt Bessie’s x Northern Monk beers
4.5% abv
£5.50 (4-pack promotional price)
Morrisons has launched a four-pack which includes three new beer flavours from Aunt Bessie’s and Northern Monk brewery. Apple Crumble & Custard Pale Ale, Roast Dinner Brown Ale and Sticky Toffee Pudding & Custard Porter join Jam Roly Poly & Custard Pale Ale, which launched last year.
Artesian
4.2% abv
£3 (44cl can)
Timothy Taylor’s has chosen to work with Thornbridge for the first collaboration beer in their 165-year history to create Artesian, an Elderflower and Gooseberry Pale Ale. Artesian will be launched at Thornbridge’s Peakender Festival in the Peak District over the weekend of August 18-20, and will be available to trade and consumers from August 21 for “a limited time only”.
WINE
Everflyht Rosé de Saignée 2020
£40
USP: Everflyht’s new wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from the winery’s single estate vineyard in Ditchling, East Sussex. It is described as “fruit-forward” with notes of “ripe cherries and summer red fruits, balanced with subtle layers of patisserie and candied notes”.
Laithwaites Kew Series
£14.99 each
USP: A collaboration between Laithwaites and Kew Gardens, the collection features three wines: Rosso Incognito, Carricante and Blanc de Cabernet Brut. The wines are made using what Laithwaites described as ‘forgotten’ native grape varietals to promote the protection of plant diversity.
Joy wine range
£7.50 each
USP: Launched by Concha y Toro with the aim of engaging younger drinkers, the new wine range consists of four products: Fruity Rosé, Bright White, Juicy Red and Orange Spritz. Brand owners are looking to promote a “shareable new wine-drinking experience”, with a focus on social drinking occasions.
Insieme Orange, Santa Tresa 2022
£14.75
USP: Organic Sicilian estate Santa Tresa has made its first orange wine. Insieme Orange, Santa Tresa 2022 is now available to the trade via Vintage Roots. Insieme (which translates as “together”) is a blend of Inzolia (80%) and Zibbibo (20%). Each grape variety is vinified separately, the Inzolia is macerated for two to three weeks, while the Zibbibo spends around six weeks on the skins, with gentle regular punching down. The two wines are blended and then left on the fine lees for about three months before bottling.
Codorníu Gran Cremant
£10
USP: “As the first non-French brand to embrace the Crémant appellation, Codorníu proves that excellence knows no boundaries,” the company said. Codorníu Gran Cremant Brut Cava is available from Co-op.
When in Rome Sekko
10.5% abv
£2.65 (20cl can)
USP: Having recently launched in both Ocado and WH Smith, Sekko is the latest wine from Italian wine brand When in Rome. The sparkling white is made from the Glera grape.
Andrew Peace wines
£6.50 – 17
USP: Andrew Peace has expanded its UK portfolio of Australian wines and introduced six new skus.
The range includes two designs – Andrew Peace Black Label and Andrew Peace White Label. Andrew Peace Black Label includes a new-to-market Shiraz (11% abv) and Chardonnay (11% abv) in 75cl and 2.25l bag-in-box formats. Andrew Peace White Label includes the brand’s existing 75cl Signature Shiraz and Chardonnay while introducing both wines in 1.5l BiB format.
MEAD
Jack Ratt Meads
11% abv
£12.99 (75cl)
USP: Lyme Bay has added two new meads under its Jack Ratt brand. The first, Apple Mead, is said to work as an aperitif or as a pairing with charcuterie and cheese. The second, Strawberry Mead, can be served over ice, in a cocktail or alongside a fruity dessert.
RTDs
John Paul Jones RTD
4.5% abv
£39.99 (12x25cl)
USP: John Paul Jones Rum has launched its first canned cocktail – Lowland Rum with mixer brand Double Dutch’s Cucumber and Watermelon.
Black Lines Rum Punch
8.5% abv
£19 (75cl)
USP: The Black Lines Rum Punch includes five key ingredients: Two Drifters rum, pineapple, passionfruit, ginger and bitters. Rum Punch has been part of the Black Lines on-tap portfolio since 2019 and it is now available as an RTD.
Soopa Hooch
8% abv
£2.89 (44cl)
USP: Soopa Hooch is a caffeinated beverage that comes in three flavours: Electric Lemonade, Darkest Berry, and Twisted Tropical.
LOW/NO
Chouffe Alcohol Free
0.4% abv
£1.80
USP: Chouffe Alcohol Free is now available in Asda stores nationwide, joining its flagship counterpart La Chouffe, which is stocked in major UK supermarkets. Chouffe is brewed in the Belgian Ardennes and Chouffe Alcohol Free is brewed with a “special type of yeast” that does not turn sugars into alcohol during fermentation.
