KBE Drinks enters spirits category with new rum
Leading this weeks round up is KBE Drinks, the premium world beer and cider company, with the launch of its spirits portfolio with new serve Makai Spiced Rum (40% ABV), inspired by the heritage of Polynesia.
Best served neat or with a premium cola or ginger ale, Makai, which means ‘towards the ocean’ in Polynesian, is blended with pot and column-still rums to deliver flavours of rich, dark molasses elevated with a unique blend of Polynesian spices, including Vanilla, Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, and tropical fruits.
KBE Drinks chief operating officer Shaun Goode said: “We’re so excited to be entering the spirits category and are very confident Makai will be extremely well received by the trade and consumers alike.
“We think there is a clear gap in the market for a more modern rum brand that plays into the premium cues consumers are looking for and Makai certainly fits the bill.
“Working closely with a master blender, we’ve been able to develop a spice-forward rum that enters us into the category with a bold liquid to really set us apart from the crowd.”
Makai Polynesian Spiced Rum will be available from July at RRP £30.
Serving suggestions:
Spiced Sangria Spritz
- 50ml Makai Polynesian Spiced Rum
- 25ml Aperol
- Fever-Tree Spiced Orange Ginger Ale
- Cinnamon stick and orange wedge to garnish
Jungle Bird
- 50ml Makai Polynesian Spiced Rum
- 25ml Campari
- 50ml pineapple juice
- 15ml lime juice
- 15ml Demerara syrup (or plain simple syrup)
Hawkes cider announces two new serves
South London based taproom Hawkes Cider has released two new serves for the on trade, Gold Trader (5.4% ABV) and Stairs (6.3% ABV).
Gold Trader, available now directly from the cidery on Druid Street at RRP £6 per pint, offers notes of minerality and a distinctly wine-like finish, while Stairs, available now at RRP £6 for a 2/3 pint, serves up flavours of white wine yeast with sweetness from real pear.
Vitória Régia launches in the UK
Award-winning South American artisanal organic gin brand, Vitória Régia, has launched its full range in the UK.
Named in honour of Queen Victoria’s Amazonian lily pad and the Brazilian symbol of botany, Vitória Régia uses natural ingredients and sustainable techniques, available in four flavours: Organic Dry (44% ABV), Organic Rose, Organic Tropical and Organic Citrus (38% ABV).
Organically certified and handcrafted in 350L copper pot column stills, each gin features base botanicals of juniper, cardamom, lime, coriander, and all spice, with exotic fruits and spices added to create the different flavours and infuse the essence of Brazil into each and every sip.
All variants of Vitória Régia are available from Master of Malt now priced between £29.95 and £33.95.
Rosé fuelled by good times
From the iconic Rosé region of Provence, France, comes new Pink Diesel Rosé, an easy-drinking blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah grapes, all hand-picked from a family-run vineyard in Bandol.
Crisp and dry while offering notes of honey with peach and citrus undertones, Pink Diesel, rated 4.4 stars on wine app Vivino, is available now from the company's web shop at £14.95 per bottle in cases of 6+ and Magnum, Jeroboam or Methusala sizes.
Founded by British entrepreneurs Amy Gatehouse and Marina Ayton less than a year ago, Pink Diesel has already sold more than 10,000 bottles and secured listings at venues such as, the Barn’s Larder in Chichester, the Surprise in Chelsea, London, the Phoenix in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, and the Horse & Groom, East Sussex.
Gatehouse said: “We wanted to create a quality Rosé built on a pure love to #fuelgoodtimes and evoke nothing but memories.
“We spent time finding the right grape producers and finally settled on a family-run vineyard in Bandol, where the grapes are picked by hand, in low yields, to ensure only the best are chosen.
“Their attention to quality and detail very much matched our ethos and values too.”
CleanCo new flavoured serves
Award-winning gin alternative brand CleanCo has announced the launch of three non-alcoholic variants, Clean G Classic, Clean G Pink and Clean G Rhubarb, all sugar-free and less than 15 calories per serve as well as being lactose and gluten free and vegan.
Replicating a London Dry Gin, CleanCo uses an innovative extraction method to give a more intense signature juniper flavour balanced with botanicals, best served with lemon and fresh mint to create a classic G&T or to create fruity cocktails with the flavoured serves.
All variants are available to the on-trade now direct from CleanCo at RRP £19.
Serving suggestions:
Signature Serve
Ingredients:
- 50ml of Clean G,
- 150ml of a light tonic
- Lemon
- Fresh mint leaves to garnish
Method:
Mix ingredients together and serve in a highball glass with ice, lemon, and fresh mint leaves to garnish.
Clean Pink Spritz
Ingredients:
- 50ml Clean G Pink
- 150ml Elderflower tonic water
- 15ml Cranberry juice
Method:
Add Clean G Pink, elderflower tonic water and cranberry juice to a tall glass, then add ice along with seasonal berries so the garnish is layered throughout the length of the drink. Save one strawberry slice to place on the top.
Atom Brands new spiced rum
Atom Brands, the company behind Bathtub Gin, Boutique-y Drinks Company and Drinks by the Dram, has released Depth Charge, a new spiced rum (40% ABV).
Offering notes of brown sugar, rich honey, old fashioned cola and fresh citrus on nose alongside cinnamon, lime, orange, peppercorn, allspice, caramel and apple on the palate with a vanilla and citrus finish, Depth Charge rum is available now to the on-trade form Master of Malt in 70cl bottles at RRP £23.95.
High Water Hard Seltzers announces three new variants
Closing this weeks round up and made with all natural ingredients, High Water Hard Seltzer (5% ABV) is available now at RRP £2.99 per serve or £25.99 for 12x500ml packs from Amazon and Fortnum & Masons.
High Water Hard Seltzer offers three variants Mango and Peach, Lemon and Elderflower, or Cucumber and Mint, all between 93 and 99 calories per serve with no artificial ingredients or sweeteners and vegan and gluten free.
Furthermore, High Water has partnered with marine conservation charity, Just One Ocean, to donate 1% of profit to ocean conservation as well as reducing its impact through plastic free packaging.
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.
