On-trade exclusive from Brooklyn Brewery, new offerings from Old Mout and BrewDog

Brooklyn Brewery launches Pilsner exclusive for on-trade 

Leading this week’s new products round-up is a new Pilsner form award-winning Brooklyn Brewery, part of Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, which will be officially launched on Monday (28 March), exclusively for the on-trade followed by an off-trade launch later in the year.

Brooklyn Pilsner (4.6% ABV), a crisp and pale golden lager, will be available for the on-trade nationwide in 50-litre kegs and will be available in 20-litre DraughtMaster form from May, with listings already secured with Young’s, Marston’s and Byron Burger, and is expected to be available to the off-trade from September.

Brooklyn Brewery confirmed it is extending its reach into the premium world beer category. 

The latest offering from Brooklyn Brewery sits alongside other award-winning beers in the companies portfolio including premium craft Brooklyn Lager, Defender IPA and low-alcohol Special Effects.

Grey Goose announces botanical vodka infused with fruit essences 

The premium vodka ​company has this week announced the launch of its new variant, Grey Goose Essences (30% ABV), containing natural flavours, real fruit and cold distilled botanicals.

Following a successful launch in the US, Essences will include a range of three flavoured vodkas, Strawberry & Lemongrass, White Peach & Rosemary and Watermelon & Basil, which will be available for the UK on-trade from April, with a ready to drink version, Essences Vodka spritz (4.5% ABV), expected to launch in June.

Designed for those who sip mindfully, each Essences flavour contains 82 calories per 50ml with no artificial ingredients and, as with other Grey Goose products, Essences is gluten-free.

The new offering will be available in 700ml bottles at RRP £39 with select on-trade accounts from this spring and nationwide across the off-trade.

Serving suggestion:​

Fill a chilled glass with cubed ice and add Grey Goose Essences in Strawberry & Lemongrass, White Peach & Rosemary, or Watermelon & Basil. Top with soda water or tonic and add a signature garnish according to the flavour: 

• Strawberry & Lemongrass: lemongrass, fresh strawberry, and a lemon twist 
• White Peach & Rosemary: white peach, rosemary, and an orange twist 
• Watermelon & Basil: basil, fresh watermelon, and a lime twist 

Just the tonic 

Premium mixer brand London Essence Co, owned by Britvic, has launched its latest flavour, Pink Grapefruit, which is currently only available for the on-trade.

Joining the brands existing range of tonics, ales and crafted sodas, the new offering will be available from Friday 8 April from key national wholesalers.

London Essence's Pink Grapefruit tonic blends crisp and zesty high notes with savoury undertones, notably the addition of lime leaf distillate which delivers a contrast to the sharp grapefruit.

The result is a flavourful soda recommended to pair with Tequila, Vodka or Rum, to provide a light yet elegant take on the popular Paloma, Vodka Soda or Mojito.

Meantime Brewery launches charity brew 

Award-winning brewery, Meantime Brewing Company, has launched a limited edition brew in collaboration with Record Store Day, B-Side (4.8% ABV), to celebrate the 15^th​ anniversary of the UK’s biggest vinyl event on Saturday 23 April.

Created to support independent record shops around the world and to raise awareness of the rights of children in war with charity War Child, B-Side is a No Coast IPA with a tropical, earthy flavour, and is available online now in 440ml cans at £15 for packs of six and £30 for packs of 12.

The new offering will also be available at select record stores on 23 April with all proceeds from the sales of B-Side to be donated to War Child, the official charity partner of Record Store Day.

GlenAllachie Distillery launches three new oak finished whiskies 

The GlenAllachie Distillery, winner of Icons of Whisky’s Visitor Attraction of the Year, has added three new bottlings to their Virgin Oak Series; the 15-year-old Scottish Virgin Oak Finish, 10-year-old French Virgin Oak Finish, and the 10-year-old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish.

Made to explore the influence of ageing whisky in a variety of different oak species from around the world, the limited-edition range showcases the expert cask sourcing and wood management skills of master distiller Billy Walker, who this year celebrated 50 years as a blender and distiller in the Scotch whisky industry.

All three whiskies are 48% ABV and available at specialist retailers.

Tasting notes:​

GlenAllachie 15-year-old Scottish Virgin Oak Finish (RRSP £175)

• Colour: Golden Sunset.
• Nose: Bursting with honeycomb, vanilla pods and citrus fruits, with butterscotch, orange zest and white chocolate.
• Taste: Lashings of heather honey, caramelised pine nuts, cinnamon and toffee, followed by orange peel, lemon zest, banana and ginger.

GlenAllachie 10-year-old French Virgin Oak Finish (RRSP £61.99)

• Colour: Golden Bronze.
• Nose: Waves of orange peel, heather honey and soft spice, followed by caramel, orchard fruits and mocha.
• Taste: Layers of heather honey, mocha and brittle toffee, with grapefruit, cinnamon, earthy tannins and notes of ginger on the finish.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish (UK RRSP £61.99)

• Colour: Rich Bronze.
• Nose: Bursting with orange zest, heather honey and pecan, with notes of butterscotch, nutmeg and liquorice.
• Taste: Lashings of cinnamon, barley sugar and toasted biscuits, followed by rose hips, orange peel and heather honey.

Gin with a twist 

Sustainable British spirits brand, Sapling Spirits, has announced the launch of its Climate Positive British Gin.

Created by working with regenerative farming company Wildfarmed, the gin is distilled with climate-positive grain, with Wildfarmed using climate-positive farming methods, and Sapling planting a tree for every bottle sold at its various planting projects across the UK.

Sapling Gin offers a classic twist on a London Dry: bold on the juniper, refreshingly zesty, with hints of rosemary for a herbaceous finish, best enjoyed in a classic G&T, or mixed to make a Negroni or gin Martini. 

Following its official launch in December 2021, Sapling Gin (40% ABV) is available online and retails at £35 for a 70cl bottle.

Old Mout releases two ‘bold’ new flavours 

Heineken UK has announced the launch of two new Old Mout Cider flavours​, Strawberry and Apple (4% ABV) and new alcohol-free offering, Pineapple and Raspberry.

Both new variants will be available for the on-trade in 500ml bottles from March and build on the success of the company’s popular fruit cider portfolio. 

Old Mout Cider marketing director Rachel Holms said: “Heineken UK is a cider category leader and always looking to bring drinkers new and exciting flavours.

“Our latest flavour launches hit the market for consumers looking for fresh, bold new flavours of cider.

“Operators stocking drinks that appeal to this demand set themselves up to win additional sales from drinkers seeking alternative choices.”

Ellers Farm Distillery’s debut vodka 

Ellers Farm Distillery has launched its first ever product, Dutch Barn Vodka (40% ABV), with two pillars in mind: to make the world's best vodka and do it in the most sustainable and ethical manner.

Developed by Master Distiller Jamie Baggot, who has multiple awards to his name, including winning Best-in-the-World Vodka at the San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition in 2010, Dutch Barn Vodka is tasted every 20 minutes as it evolves from British apples, balanced with a touch of potato spirit, until it develops into a crisp, clean, and smooth vodka.

On the side of sustainability, the farm uses 100% renewable electricity, British apples sourced locally to help minimise the carbon footprint as well as supporting British apple farmers, and a closed loop cooling system, which enables the distillery to recycle 97% of the water used in the cooling processes, saving roughly three days’ water per week compared to alternative cooling methods.

Dutch Barn is available now from major retailers and online at Amazon and the Dutch Barn website for RRP £29.

Cheers to mums this Mother’s Day with Camden Brewery 

To mark Mother’s Day, Camden Town Brewery has released a new ‘Cheers’ Lager (5.2%ABV).

The Helles lager, which was launched exclusively on the Camden webshop, uses Lorien hops to create a fresh citrus zestiness and wildflower flavours for a subtle floral finish which the brewery suggest serving ice cold to raise a glass to those who deserve it this Mother’s Day (Sunday 27 March).

Camden Cheers Lager is available to purchase in packs of 4 at RRP £10 from the Camden Webshop.

Balvenie launches first French Oak cask whisky 

Balvenie distillery has unveiled its new cask finished whisky French Oak 16 Year Old (47.6% ABV), the distilleries first use of French Oak casks in its 129-year history. 

Inspired by the flavours and memories from The Balvenie team’s travels to Europe’s wine making regions, the new offering explores Pineau, a fortified wine which Cognac eau-de-vie is added to and then matured, from the French Charentes vineyards, while embodying the Speyside distillery’s signature honeyed character with notes of grapefruit, geranium, glazed fruit, and ginger.

The new offering joins its two further new variants of cask finished whiskies, Madeira Cask 15 Year Old and PX Sherry Cask 18 Year Old alongside its core range of cask finished whiskies, including DoubleWood 12 Year Old, Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old and PortWood 21 Year Old.

Balvenie French Oak 16 Year Old is available in 70cl bottles from Clink* and select retailers, including Master of Malt and The Whisky Shop, for RRP £123.

Hot cross beer

Wild Beer Co has started its Easter celebrations early with the launch of new vegan offering inspired by the flavour of a Hot Cross Bun, One For A Penny (5% ABV).

Available now via the Wild Beer Co website, local bottle shops and the Bristol Wapping Wharf bar at RRP £2.75, One For A Penny boasts a smooth, full, hazy body, much like a New England IPA without the hops, with sweetness from vanilla and a distinct fruitiness from raisins, citrus peel, and the slightest hint of complimentary spice. 

The new offering, which according to Wild Beer pairs beautifully with an actual hot cross bun, joins the companies other variants including Brazen Raisin, inspired by classic ‘figgy pudding’ flavours, Champurrado, Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout, POGO, a fruity pale ale with orange and guava and Millionaire, a salted caramel and chocolate milk stout.

Wild Beer Co Co-Founder Andrew Cooper said: ​“At The Wild Beer Co. we love to get creative with our flavour combinations and produce beers that pair harmoniously with and are inspired by food.

"Experimentation is a major part of what we do and after 10 years of brewing we love to keep things fresh, so when we had the idea to create a brew for Easter we couldn’t resist making a beer version of the much loved hot cross bun."

Ten Locks ventures into vermouth 

Drinks distribution company Ten Locks has taken Cucielo under its wing and added the Italian De Torino vermouth brand to its portfolio of premium drinks.

Cucielo Rosso (RRP: £25) and Cucielo Bianco (RRP: £24), both 16.8% ABV, are created using Italian-produced alcohol from quality molasses, naturally sourced botanicals and Italian wine from carefully selected Trebbiano di Abruzzo with Grillo and Ansonica from Sicily to create an authentic vermouth which works as a core component in classic or aperitivo cocktails or on its own over ice. 

Available now in 70cl bottles to the UK on trade via Ten Locks, Cucielo is geared towards professional bartenders and retailers.

Cucielo Bianco Di Torino Vermouth​

On the nose:​

Crisp green apple, elderflower and vanilla, light floral and herbaceous aromas, rounded with subtle notes of maraschino cherries, bitter orange and raisins.

On the palate:​

Warm, soft, still sweet with vanilla and ripe summer fruit, but balanced by a pleasant bitter note, with notes of wormwood, green apple, cardamom, pink pepper, elderflower and pomegranate shine through.

Cucielo Rosso Vermouth Di Torino​ ​

On the nose:​

An intense cornelian gemstone colour with aromas of caramelised orange and rhubarb; subtle vanilla, anise and cloves, balanced by warm peppery notes, orange and raisins.

On the palate:​

Smooth with bursts of fresh pomegranate and ripe red fruit, notes of wormwood, Sicilian bitter orange, cloves, yarrow, vanilla and China Gentian, is a complex yet classic Vermouth di Torino.

BrewDog launches new spirit offering 

Scottish brewery BrewDog ​has launched its new rum, 500 Cuts Spiced Rum.

Available for the on trade now at RRP £24, BrewDog 500 Cuts Spiced Rum (40% ABV) is available now from the breweries website and all UK BrewDog bars.

BrewDog source sun-baked molasses from the Caribbean to their state of the art carbon negative distillery in Ellon, where the 500 Cuts Spiced is loaded with fresh orange zest, Madagascan vanilla and ripe fig which give it its natural sweetness, then balanced with spicy ginger, citrusy lime and kola nut to give it a kick of spice. 

Every batch of 500 Cuts Spiced is double-copper-pot-distilled at the distillery in Aberdeen, an area famed for its spirit distilling heritage, and turned by hand. Aged rum that’s been matured in ex-bourbon barrels is then added to the mix, providing a depth and roundness ensuring the resulting spiced rum is a cut, or 500, above the rest. 

Serving suggestion:​

The Mildly Stormy:

• Build over ice
• 50 ml 500 Cuts Spiced Rum
• Top with Ginger Beer
• Add 2 squeezed wedges of lime and 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
• Garnish with an orange slice and mint sprig

Black Sheep Brewery springs in April with new seasonal beer

Black Sheep Brewery has announced the launch of its latest seasonal cask beer, Refresher (3.9% ABV), available for the on-trade from April.

A ‘fresh’ take on the classic British Blonde Ale, Black Sheep’s newest beer combines a blend of British hops to provide a sessionable, lightly-floral and fruity pint with a clean finish.

Refresher is the third beer to be launched as part of Black Sheep’s 2022 Seasonal Cask Beer Range, its biggest range yet, to mark the brewery’s upcoming 30^th​ anniversary in September. 

The new offering follows March's relaunch of Black Sheep's popular Black Sheep IPA for the first time in cask format.

Despite cask beer being the ‘original craft beer’, the category has experienced a steady decline for several years due to changing consumer habits, the growth of other drinks categories, and pub closures as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.

In response to this, Black Sheep Brewery recently launched its Drink Cask Beer campaign to grow the category as a whole and to encourage young people to move past misconceptions surrounding cask beer.

Black Shep Brewery brand and communications manager Jack Scott Paul said: “We hope with the launch of Refresher, people will be encouraged to try cask, and enjoy one of our lighter, fruiter pints without hesitation."

World of Zing release Easter-themed bottled cocktails

Another Easter treat for this week’s round up, Pritesh Mody, founder of World of Zing and Channel 4 Sunday Brunch cocktail expert has unveiled two new cocktail flavours for 2022: the Hot Cross Bun-Hattan and Chocolate Orange Negroni, available to purchase now in sets of 4x50ml RRP £16 form the World of Zing website.

The new flavours join the seasonal cocktail range, which comprises of the Hot Cross Bunhattan (24% ABV), Chocolate Orange Negroni (24% ABV), Black Forest Sour (15% ABV) and the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini (20% ABV).

Founded by Mody in 2014, World of Zing creates its serves from a mixology lab in South London, where the team make hand-crafted cocktails for some of the UK’s most famous hotels and venues. From the minibars of the The Langham Hotel and the luxury carriages of Belmond British Pullman to national groups such as Curzon Cinemas, Tonkotsu and Bill’s.

New fizz on the block

Closing this week’s new products round up is Boco (11.5% ABV) by House of Coren, a new English Sparkling wine made in West Sussex, 

Made using the Charmat method, which is how Prosecco is made, the secondary fermentation that occurs under pressure creates carbon dioxide and gives the wine its natural fizz.

By fermenting in a tank rather than a bottle, the wine can be released earlier, so it is bursting with fruit-driven flavours yet still showcases the crispness of English-grown grapes.

Pale in appearance with ultra-fine bubbles, House of Coren's Boco boasts notes of ripe pear, stone fruit and fresh citrus on the nose with the taste of peaches, ripe pears, a hint of raspberry and a long, clean, citrus, green apple finish, and is one of the first Charmat method wines to be made in the UK using English grown grapes. 

Boco is available for the on-trade now in 75cl bottles at RRP £26  from the House of Coren website.

If you have any new products being released to the on-trade, email the details with high resolution images before Thursday at midday for potential inclusion on Friday’s article to rebecca.weller@wrbm.com​​​​​​​​​​​​​.