Top 10 new products: January

Tumeric super Mixer ‘DRGN’

Independent founder Vishal has unveiled “smart” mixer Drgn, made with “superfoods” including turmeric and ginger. The brand is targeting health-conscious millennials looking to enjoy alcohol as part of a balanced lifestyle. Additional ingredients of the inaugural citrus-flavoured turmeric-infused drink include black pepper, ginseng, electrolytes like magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium, amino acids and fructose. Each can contains 80 calories. The brand claims its ingredients boast properties such as supporting normal liver function, while the company says the vitamins, electrolytes and amino acids can help reduce fatigue and help hydration.

RRP: £1.85 per 250ml.

Contact: DRGN Global Ltd, drgndrink.com

Patrón Single Estate Tequila

Patrón has launched its first single estate Tequila, made exclusively using Blue Weber agave grown and harvested on the grounds of its hacienda. While the wider Patrón range is created using agave cultivated throughout the highlands of Jalisco, Patrón Estate Release, a blanco Tequila, uses only crops grown on the grounds surrounding its distillery in Atotonilco el Alto. According to the brand, this land is “filled with a nutrient-dense fertiliser compost that comes from agave fibres remaining from the Patrón production process”. The 42% ABV Tequila offers “herbal and citrus notes” from its unique harvest.

RRP: US$100.

Contact: Patron Spirits, patronspirits.com

Dow’s 10, 20, 30 and 40 tawnies

Symington has revamped its Dow’s 10-, 20-, 30- and 40-Year-Old Ports, aged in both small oak vats and 550-litre casks that date back to the 19th century. Winemaker Charles Symington has maintained a dry finish, the hallmark of Dow’s Vintage, but has evolved these tawny Ports to give them “additional concentration and structure, with darker hues of polished mahogany, by using wines that have been aged in small seasoned oak vats, as well as in cask”. Presented in classic Port bottles with new labels, grapes are selected from two of the producer’s top top vineyards: Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira.

RRP: £21, £45, £65, £115.

Contact: Fells, +44 (0)1442 870 900

Freixenet 0% sparkling wine

Spanish Cava company Freixenet have entered the zero-alcohol market with the launch of a 0% range of sparkling wines. Available in both White (70cl and 20cl) and Rosé (70cl) variants, the white is made from Moscato, while the rosé is a blend of Moscato and Tempranillo. Both are produced using a low-temperature distillation system to preserve the natural aromas of the grapes, and are described as a substitute for the “often much sweeter alternatives” in the non-alcoholic sparkling wine category. Freixenet 0% Alcohol Free Sparkling Wine will initially be available at Tesco, with other retailers to be announced.

RRP: £5 (70cl) and £1.50 (20cl).

Contact: Freixenet Copestick Limited, +44 (0)1672 519 390

El Coto Blanco and Crianza

Rioja’s El Coto has unveiled the results of a project three years in the making, releasing its new Blanco and Crianza wines. Following significant vineyard investment to increase its holdings, El Coto’s ambition is to produce wines with a stronger identity and personality. Its Los Almendros vineyard, which is Rioja’s biggest estate in one single piece, with 279 hectares in production, is where its Garnacha Crianza 2015 is produced. Its Blanco is made with Verdejo grapes grown at Finca Carbonera, Rioja DOCa’s highest-altitude vineyard.

RRP: Verdejo £10.99, Garnacha £13.99.

Contact: Lucy Perbellini, Liberty Wines, +44 (0)20 7819 0332

Noki & Co. alcohol-free G&T

Proving the continued interest and investment in non-alcoholic alternatives, Irish drinks company RTM Beverages has created an alcohol-free gin and tonic flavoured drink. Noki & Co. is made using natural botanical flavours to create an “authentic” gin and tonic flavoured drink. “More and more people are choosing not to drink alcohol for a variety of reasons,” says Stephen Dillon, founder of RTM Beverages. “While there a number of alcohol-free options in the beer category, there are still relatively few choices for the non beer drinker.” Noki & Co. will launch in new markets in 2019.

RRP: €2.

Contact: RTM Beverages, +353 (1)961 8922, hello@nokidrinks.com

Woodford reserve cocktail syrup

Bourbon brand Woodford Reserve has launch a bitter orange Old Fashioned cocktail syrup in the UK aimed at bartenders in a hurry.
Due to be on back bars this month, the syrup recreates the flavour of the core ingredients of the classic serve – bitters, sugar and orange essence. The brand worked with some of the UK’s leading mixologists to develop the syrup, conducting tasting workshops to create a liquid that would complement the signature notes of Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select. The recipe uses bitters, sugars and botanical extracts that blend with the fruit, caramel, spice and vanilla notes of the Bourbon.

RRP: Wholesale only, POA.

Contact: Alex Freeman, Bacardi Brown Forman

Stone Brewing Uniqcan ‘Kveik’ IPA

California’s Stone Brewing has released the last in its range of UNIQCAN small-batch beers, brewed by Stone Brewing Berlin. Packaged in 500ml cans, the sixth release is the series sees Stone team up with Norwegian brewer Lervig to create a 6.2% hot-fermented IPA called Kveik – a Norwegian word for yeast, specifically used in farmhouse brewing. “The yeast we used in this beer ferments hotter than most, and brings in strong pineapple, tangerine and other tropical flavors,” the team said. “We topped the recipe off with a typically Stone lupulin boost, creating a hoppy and deliciously complex IPA.”

RRP: £4.50.

Contact: stonebrewing.eu

Gordon & Macphail 1954

Single malt Scotch whisky distiller Gordon & MacPhail has released two additions to its Private Collection range, including a 64-year-old single malt from Glenlivet Distillery – the 1954. The Private Collection includes rare and exclusive single malt whiskies from celebrated, little-known, or closed distilleries. Matured in an ex-Sherry butt, this 64-year-old malt was bottled at a cask strength of 41% ABV, and is said to balance the sweetness of golden syrup, stewed fruit, and dark chocolate with notes of spicy black peppercorn and mature oak. Only 222 bottles are available.

RRP: £9,950.

Contact: Gordon & Macphail, +44 (0)1343 554801

Six Bells Lemon Gin

The City of London Distillery has launched a zesty new gin celebrating its history in the Square Mile. Six Bells Lemon gin comes in a yellow bottle, shaped like St Paul’s Cathedral, which is only half a mile from the distillery, and is named after the six bells surrounding the City of London in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons. The distillery uses classic London dry gin botanicals, with extra dried lemon peel in both the pot still and in the vapour chamber/carterhead still to capture more lemon flavour, resulting in a gin with notes of lemon sherbet and aromas of a classic dry gin.

RRP: £35.

Contact: Halewood Wines and Spirits, +44 (0)151 480 8800

Mrs Cuthbert’s gin liqueurs

Inspired by one of its founder’s late aunt, Dorothy Cuthbert, Mrs Cuthbert’s gin liqueurs range was created by North Yorkshire’s Hellshire Club, and evokes the 1940s and 50s era of frugal home baking. Targeting demand for low-alcohol and sugar drinks, the range includes six iconic British flavours: Victoria Sponge; Blueberry Muffin; Rhubarb & Custard Crumble; Lemon Drizzle Cake; Black Forest Gateau; and Parma Violet Cupcake. The range will launch in the UK with Greene King, and is aimed at female customers with a taste for spritz-style serves or flavoured G&Ts.

RRP: £13.99.

Contact: Mangrove, adam.wright@mangroveuk.com

Aber Falls Welsh Gin

Welsh distiller Aber Falls has added a premium small-batch Welsh gin to its portfolio, made using water from the Rhaeadr Fawr – the famous Aber Falls waterfall. Produced and bottled at the distillery in Abergwyngregyn, it is said to exude floral aromas of lavender and juniper with background notes of peppery spice. Housed in a pretty blue bottle, the gin will launch in Booths stores in northern England, with listings also secured with Ocado and Tesco. James Wright, managing director at Aber Falls Whisky Distillery, said: “The launch marks another major high point as we extend our range to capitalise on the premium gin trend and demand.”

RRP of £32.

Contact: Aber Falls Whisky Distillery, sales@aberfallsdistillery.com

Arran Distillers 21 yo malt

The Isle of Arran distillery has released its first 21-year-old malt as part of the core range of Arran Malts, with just 9,000 bottles released worldwide. The expression is the latest, and oldest, addition to the range, which already comprises the 10-year-old, 14-year-old and 18-year-old Arran Malts. In keeping with its traditional style, this 21-year-old expression is described as “rich and sweet”, with flavours of dark chocolate, grapefruit and ginger, which give way to a finish of soft spices and figs.

RRP: £115.

Contact: Arran Whisky, +44 (0)1786 431 900

Chapel Down Great Minds trio

English wine producer Chapel Down has launched its new Great Minds Drink Alike partnership for 2018, releasing three red wines made by head winemaker Josh Donaghay-Spire in collaboration with three European wineries. The collection includes: No.1. Syrah by Domaine Gayda in the Languedoc-Roussillon; No.2. Crianza by De Bardos in Ribeira Del Duero; and No.3. Sass’alSole by Tenuta Tondaia, a 100% Sangiovese from Civitella Marittima in Italy. “Making Chapel Down wines is an enormous privilege, but it is also hugely enjoyable to meet like-minded producers in other regions and to collaborate,” said Donaghay-Spire.

RRP: Syrah by Domaine Gayda: £13; Crianza by De Bardos £15; Sass’alSole by Tenuta Tondaia £15.

Contact: Chapel Down, +44 (0)1580 763 033

Castelnau Oenothèque magnums

Shining a light on its Oenothèque Collection of limited-edition magnums, Champagne Castelnau has released a range of vintages for the first time; the 1995, 1996 and 1998. Boasting a brand new minimalist label, each vintage Champagne is left on its lees for a minimum of 12 years to create the “generous, yet fresh and balanced” signature style of the house. Magnums further benefit the ageing process as the ratio of wine to surface area means maturation is slower and more even, resulting in more complexity, structure and freshness.

RRP: 1996 as pictured, £295.

Contact: Castelnau Wine Agencies, +44 (0)20 7751 2490