The Black Monk bottle launched

French liqueur Bénédictine D.O.M is celebrating its 500th anniversary this year. The brand, which dates back to 1510, is marking the occasion by releasing a special limited edition black bottle, which will be available worldwide (although not in the UK) and to the travel retail sector in Asia.

The limited edition bottle has been dubbed ‘The Black Monk’ in reference to the recipe for Bénédictine D.O.M having initially been devised by a Venetian monk called Dom Bernardo Vincelli. The liqueur, which has its roots in the Abbey of Fécamp in Normandy, is still distilled in the town at the Bénédictine Palais, which houses a museum dedicated to Bénédictine as well as the distillery.

Bitter sweet Aussie liqueur wins international acclaim

Tamborine Mountain Distillery’s Quandong & Gentian bitters liqueur scooped Gold at the ISW World Spirits Competition in Germany, bringing the overall total of awards won by this family-owned Australian distillery to an impressive 117 this millennium.

Company director Michael Ward said: “Brisbane bartender Ryan Lane, spoke of the need for a Maraschino type liqueur, popular for its bitter sweet characteristics.

"With European products generally dominating the shelves in cocktail bars, the gap for an Australian made product of this type lead to extensive research and the ultimate end result of a unique high quality and distinctly Australian flavoured product. Bitter for the significant component of Gentian and sweet for the juicy Australian Quandong berry.

“Quandong’s are a traditional Aussie bush tucker. They’re found in arid regions of Australia and have been an important source of food for the Aborigines. The fruit and trees are greatly valued for the versatility of their medicinal properties. The berries are high in vitamin c and add a beautiful fruitiness to this liqueur which balances perfectly with a bitterness from Gentian root and Hyssop leaves and subtle hints of bitter almond from crushed cherry pits.”

First Ireland Spirits, a newcomer to the Irish Bord Bia stand at the TFWA show in Cannes this year, launched The Dubliner, an Irish whiskey liqueur.
A blend of honeycomb, caramel and whiskey flavours marry together to create the products’ unique taste profile.

Dubliner Irish Whiskey Liqueur is designed to capture the essence of Dublin culture. Labelling and bottle design plays an important role here, combining images of grain with a strong, decisive description of the product, brought together by the immortal words of James Joyce: "When I die, Dublin will be written in my heart"’.

While this is The Dubliner’s launch into travel retail markets, First Ireland Spirits is not completely new to the market. Its Feeney’s Irish Cream liqueur is already a familiar name in Irish airports, while the company is also a part –owner of Brogan’s Irish Cream.

Dubliner is available to travel retail in 70cl bottles

The increasing global spread of the cocktail lifestyle is boon to the liqueurs sector. The traditional role as a sweet after-dinner tipple for ladies to sip, has being rapidly eroded as mixologists seek out the latest flavours to create fashionable cocktails in the world's top style bars. Felicity Murray reports

The global liqueurs market has been growing slowly but steadily over the past five years to reach a value today of some 80 million 9-litre cases with a similar pattern of growth predicted over the next five years.

Despite a severe decline in the category’s traditional role as an after-dinner drink the sector is, in the main, in good health thanks to the rise of the cocktail culture.

Although the largest import markets for liqueurs will remain the western European countries and the US, exciting new markets are emerging in cities across the world – in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Asia – where cocktails and style bars are becoming an essential part of the lifestyle. This movement in the market has encouraged producers to reposition their brands in stylish new packaging as back-of-bar mixers and target their marketing campaigns at bar managers and mixologists in key cities.

• Read the report

Spain's favourite liqueur comes to UK coctail bars

Distributor J Wray & Nephew is giving its Licor 43  brand a major push in the UK this year. Targeting key elements of the on-trade, the company has produced a cocktail guide featuring the legend behind Licor 43, Spain’s top selling liqueur, and 43 cocktails for the solera-aged drink.
Benefiting not only from remarkable domestic sales in the Spanish market, but increasingly the buoyant ‘bring back’ market of those Europe-wide travellers and holiday-makers, Licor 43 is set to increase sales growth in the UK.
• Read the report

Ibiza's Hierbas liqueur now in UK

Mari Mayans Hierbas Ibicencas, the Ibizan Herbal liqueur that has been produced in Ibiza for over 125 years, is now available in the UK and Ireland exclusively through Leeds-based importer Taste of Ibiza.
Distilled from 18 local herbs & plants including rosemary, thyme, aniseed, fennel, chamomile, juniper and mountain mint, the 26% ABV liqueur can be drunk as a digestif, in cocktails or as a chilled shot.
Daniel Audley, marketing and promotions manager at Taste of Ibiza says: “There’s not a single bar, club, restaurant, cafe or hotel on the island of Ibiza which does not keep a stock of Hierbas, such is its popularity with the locals and those visitors lucky enough to discover it.”
Taste of Ibiza will be present at Bar 09 at London’s Earls Court, June 23-24.

Organic Sloe Gin launched by Juniper Green
London & Scottish International, the English producer of organic spirits  – Papagayo white and spiced rums, Highland Harvest Scotch whisky, UK 5 vodka and Juniper Green London Dry Gin – has introduced a sloe gin to its range. Made from Juniper Green organic gin that has been infused with organic sloes, it can be enjoyed “as a sipping drink in the countryside” or mixed with sparkling wine as “a refreshing Sloe Royale”.

Mekhong brings Asian spirit to UK summer
Mekhong, a premium Asian liqueur distilled with all natural Thai herbs and spices and fused with fragrant citrus, is being launched by ThaiBev into the UK this summer at a RRP of £14.99 for a 70cl bottle.
• Read the report

Apricot and Mojito syrups introduced by Giffard
The Giffard Syrup range has two new syrups: Apricot - with a flavour of stewed apricot, reminiscent of homemade apricot marmalade; and Mojito - with a fresh aroma of chlorophyll mint and a touch of lime. This syrup provides a quick and easy version of a Mojito: 20ml Giffard Mojito syrup, 40ml Clément rum, 10ml lime, add ice, top with sparkling water and garnish with a: sprig of mint

First cream liqueur to be a'best in show'
Coole Swan has become first cream liqueur to be awarded the coveted 'Best of Show Liqueur' in the  World Spirits Competition in San Francisco. This year, Coole Swan, which is produced in Ireland, was also bestowed a 'Double Gold' medal for excellence.