Pick of the Launches
Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International magazine August edition
HUDSON
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Brand owner William Grant & Sons
RRP £40 (UK on-trade exclusive)
Markets UK-only for the 70cl
Contact wgrantPR@saltlondon.com
Hudson claims to be the first American whiskey distillery in New York since Prohibition. Founded in Tuthilltown in the Hudson valley in 2004 by friends Ralph Erenzo and Brian Lee, Hudson is an original pioneer of craft spirits. The Tuthilltown distillery produces an ultra-premium range of hand-crafted and small-batch whiskeys.
Now owned by William Grant, Hudson (46% abv) is introducing a bigger bottle size in response to demand for a larger format from the UK on-trade.
Said to be staying true to its craft and entrepreneurial nature, the brand will leverage the existing US 75cl bottle, under-filled to 70cl to meet EU standards. The underfill method reflects how the brand previously bottled Hudson Baby Bourbon in a 35cl format using the US 37.5cl bottle when it launched in the UK four years ago.
Grants says due to the exclusivity of the liquid, Hudson is only available in a small selection of top whisky bars, hotels and restaurants, and premium whisky specialists in the UK.
KILBEGGAN SINGLE GRAIN
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Brand owner Beam Suntory
Market US
RRP US $29.99 (75cl)
Contact beamsuntory.com
Distilled at 86 proof (46% abv), Kilbeggan Single Grain is described as a delicate spirit that absorbs the flavours of the casks in which it is aged. After ageing in ex-bourbon barrels, it is finished in a marriage of ex-bourbon and various fortified wine barrels.
The company says it possesses Irish whiskey’s trademark versatility and smoothness, making it ideal for modern or classic cocktails.
ADNAMS COPPER HOUSE DRY GIN & TONIC
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Brand owner Adnams
RRP £1.99 (25cl can. £21.99 for a pack of 12 online)
Markets UK
Contact adnams.co.uk
Adnams, the UK-based brewer and distiller, has launched its Copper House dry gin in a ready-to-drink gin & tonic 25cl can.
Adnams head distiller John McCarthy, said: “We have created this 5% abv canned G&T with our award-winning Copper House dry gin for convenience as well as those occasions when it’s impractical to take a whole bottle of gin and tonic.
Made from East Anglian malted barley using the ‘London dry’ method, the gin is distilled with six botanicals including sweet orange, hibiscus flower and juniper berries. To complement the gin McCarthy has developed a bespoke tonic water to create a ready-to-drink gin and tonic that is best served chilled.
AUCHENTOSHAN, THE BARTENDER’S MALT
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Brand owner Beam Suntory
Produced in Lowland, Scotland
Markets Global
RRP €50, £45, US$60
Contact maxxium.co.uk
Auchentoshan, The Bartender’s Malt (47% abv) is a single malt said to have been created by 12 bartenders from around the world.
The winning bartenders of The New Malt Order 2016 were invited to Glasgow, the home of Auchentoshan, to join the master blender for technical and laboratory sessions, sensual experiments and personality pairings with whisky casks, alongside a blending session of maturing Auchentoshan whiskies.
Tasting notes
Gold copper in colour with subtle grassy reflections, it offers dried apricots, milk, chocolate, honey and green tobacco leaf on the nose.
On the palate the single malt reveals delicate floral cherry blossom and buttery brioche, undercut by zesty notes of ginger, resulting in an edgy and expanding whisky with a long-lasting warmth.
GLEN MORAY MASTERY 120TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASE
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Brand owner Bardinet/La Martiniquaise
RRP €900, £800, US$1,030
Markets UK. Global in September
Contact Glen Turner +44 (0)1506 468550
This 120th-anniversary limited edition (52.3% abv) was made from five vintages of Glen Moray matured in madeira, port and sherry casks in a nod to the traditions of Glen Moray – experimenting with maturation techniques.
The blends of aged single malts was by master distiller Graham Coull.
M DE MAGNOL
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Brand owner Barton & Guestier
RRP €12, US$15
Markets Global
Contact petra.frebault@barton-guestier.com – Philippe.marion@barton-guestier.com
Barton & Guestier has produced a fruity Bordeaux AOC wine blended and packaged to appeal to younger consumers. A blend of Merlot (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), it is made by the winemaking team led by Laurent Prada using the vinification guidelines for Château Magnol.
BOTONIQUE
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Brand owner Genius Drinks
RRP £5.99
Markets UK only
Contact Genius Drinks, +44 (0)20 7373 6470
Botonique claims to be a new and unique British-made natural, dry, sparkling non-alcoholic drink alternative for lovers of wine.
It has been made by wine merchant Hilary Marsh, who has perceived the growing demand for a good non-alcoholic beverage with the complexity and long finish associated with white wine.
Best served chilled in a champagne flute, Botonique doesn’t include grapes or alcohol. Instead, notes of herbs, spices and citrus blended with sparking water and pear juice create a flavour reminiscent of dry white wine, gin and vermouth.
It is said to contain the beneficial elements of Prelixir, a blend of vitamins, minerals and amino acids which alcohol is known to deplete. This means, claims the producer, that Botonique is able to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, alkalising, detoxifying and hydrating benefits.
Botonique has no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, flavours, colours or preservatives.
LES DAUPHINS BLANC DE BLANCS
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Brand owner Union des Vignerons des Côtes du Rhône
RRP £12.99
Markets UK, then other markets
Contact Dedicated Wines +44 (0)1235 512278
This is the first sparkling wine by leading Rhône producer Union des Vignerons des Côtes du Rhône in collaboration with UK-based French wine specialist Dedicated Wines.
The company says the team behind the brand believes the time is right to launch Les Dauphins Blanc de Blancs, which comes in a classic deep-punted bottle, labeled with the recognisable Les Dauphins blue and red label.
The new sparkling wine was created by winemaker Guillaume Valli, using traditional grapes such as Marsanne and Rousanne from the group’s southern Rhône vineyards. The emphasis is on bright and refreshing flavours, in keeping with the Les Dauphins brand style and its Rhône heritage.
It is made by the Charmat method.
MANGAROCA BATIDA DE CÔCO
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Brand owner Henkell & Co Sektkellerei
RRP €9.49, £8.40, US$10.80
Markets Europe and global travel retail
Contact Vanessa Keis, +49 (0)611 63231 E. vanessa.keis@henkell-global.com
Mangaroca Batida de Côco (16% abv) is described as a “true cult beverage, combining a seductively exotic, original Brazilian recipe with its high and reliable quality”.
It comprises an infusion of coconut and water, mixed with pure alcohol. Later, milk, sugar and other ingredients are added. Henkell says: “The kiss of the coconut, has long been a classic among liqueurs, enjoyed straight, on the rocks and as an exotic, refined cocktail.
TOM OF FINLAND ORGANIC VODKA
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Brand owner Spirit of Tom (ex-advertising creatives from One Eyed Spirits)
RRP £32.50, €36.75
Markets Finland, UK, Denmark and Sweden
Contact sarah@ldrlondon.com
Tom of Finland vodka has been inspired by the pioneering Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen (1920-1991, aka Tom of Finland).
The organic vodka is said to be a “new super-premium spirit artistically crafted in Finland from the finest organically grown wheat, rye and pure arctic water”. Bold but smooth, the 40% abv vodka is said to be full of character, where the spiciness of the rye is balanced by the softness of wheat and arctic water.
The “masculine bottle liberates the liquid from traditional vodka packaging, reflecting the daring and playful character of the art associated with Tom of Finland”.