Russian vodka invests £1.2m in UK market
Russian Standard aims to recruit more than 45,000 new drinkers in the UK through a £1.2m marketing campaign.
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Beefeater reinterpreted
Beefeater 24 helped commission fresh talent from top London design schools to demonstrate how they would reinterpret the uniform of the Tower of London’s Yeoman Warders, or ‘Beefeaters’ – which featured on Beefeater Gin bottles. Three of these inspirational uniforms will be on show at Super Contemporary in the ‘tank’ outside the London Design Museum
Single mash release
The Spirit Drink that dare not speak its name from The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company will be available internationally from leading specialists at a RRP of £30 for a limited edition 50cl bottles at 50% abv.
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Indulgent vodka
A new luxury brand company founded by Richard Wallace and based in Illinois, US, is launching Diamond Vodka. Retailing at US$95, this heavy but elegant, tall bottle is embedded with a 25mm Swarovski crystal “diamond”
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Gin with style
Produced by G&J Greenalls for start-up company Brockmans, this stylish new entry into the gin market is targeted at high-end on-trade establishments.
Ten botanicals are seeped in a copper pot still for 24 hours prior to distillation. The flavour profile has orris, liquorice and angelica at its base while juniper remains donimant. Hints of Corriander and gingery orange flavours marry with blueberries and blackberries.
RRP £27; 40%abv.
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Tyrrell’s is now Chase
This, the only UK vodka distilled from potatoes, was first launched in May 2008 as Tyrell’s Vodka. It has now relaunched with a new name and bottle design.
The vodka was the brainchild of UK potato farmer Will Chase who, when looking for equipment for his Tyrrell’s Potato Chips, discovered a still for vodka production.
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Beefeater
24 is the new super premium expression by Beefeater master
distiller Desmond Payne. The bottle design was inspired by a Royal Doulton
Arts & Crafts era ceramic flask used by James Burrough at the turn
of the 20th century.
•More
A blend of teas is at the heart of the new Beefeater 24 gin.
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| White Spirits | News May – Dec 09 |
| Sauza’s tequila trio launched in the UK Maxxium UK has introduced Tres Generaciones, a trio of tequilas from Sauza, on the UK market. The super premium range of triple distilled 100% agave tequilas includes Plata (£41.99), an un-aged silver tequila; Tres Reposado (£43.99), whichhas been rested in oak barrels for two months; and Añejo(£47.99), the smoothest and most complex tequila having been stored in charred American oak for at least a year. Bartender incentives include bottles from the range and a VIP trip to the distillery in Mexico. |
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Flavours get £3.65m roll out Diageo GB is spending £3.65m on a marketing campaign to support the national roll-out of its Smirnoff flavoured vodkas. The flavours, Lime and Green Apple, which have been on trial for 12 months (The Drinks Report – March 09) are now available to the off-trade. Steve Hamilton, innovation commercialisation director at Diageo GB, says: "Smirnoff flavours differ to other flavoured vodkas in that they are very much focused around the long mixed drink serve as opposed to being a cocktail base." • Read the report |
| Mexican tequila art travels to Europe Mexican tequila producer Tequilas Premium is launching its multiple award winning ultra premium Clase Azul tequilas into European markets over the coming months. Export director for Europe Maximiliano Garcia told The Drinks Report that the Distil exhibition in London in May was the first step in a pan European marketing drive. Produced from 100% Tequilana Weber Blue Agave the tequila is presented in handcrafted, hand painted and individually numbered carafes designed by Tomas Saldivar, a famed Mexican artist. The brand has been established 12 years and collected many Gold Medals from internationally recognised awarding bodies. (Clase Axul translates as “blue blonde”).  |
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| Belvedere vodka launches members club Belvedere has created a members club called Luxury Reborn to allow bars listing Belvedere to communicate directly with their target customers. Supported with an on-line magazine and blog, membership benefits include film previews, festivals, parties and events at top UK bars. |
| No name spirit launched by Scotch distillery Not old enough to be Scotch or carry the distillery name, the first release from the reopened Portsoy distillery is called "The Spirit Drink that dare not speak its name” The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company has released 8,160 individually numbered 50cl bottles of a 50% abv spirit drink under the title “The Spirit Drink that dare not speak its name”. This is the first new product from the distillery since it reopened under new management in 2008 after being mothballed for 22 years. Managing director Stuart Nickerson explains: “These 8,160 bottles are the entire output from a single mash. We felt it was an interesting concept to turn normal practice on its head and, for the new spirit, release a single mash rather than a single cask. • Read the report |
| Beefeater supports contemporary London design exhibition Beefeater 24, the new super premium expression from Beefeater distilled in the heart of London, has collaborated with the Design Museum to present Super Contemporary, a new exhibition celebrating the spirit of London design; past, present and future. The exhibition, which runs from June 3 to October 4, will showcase 15 new commissions from London’s most dynamic and creative minds, inviting them to give something back to the city that has inspired so much of their work. • Read the report |
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 “I am very selective about what products I choose to associate myself with,” says Willis. “Sobieski Vodka impressed me because of its quality, authenticity and affordability.” |
Bruce Willis partners Sobieski in ad campaign Belvedere has entered a multi-year partnership with Bruce Willis to promote its Sobieski Vodka. The promotion follows the brand’s “Truth in Vodka” campaign theme, which asks consumers to focus on what’s in the bottle– not "gimmicky marketing or fancy packaging". "It's a straightforward message that debunks the myths surrounding overpriced vodkas," says Krzysztof Trylinski, general manager Groupe Belvedere. The new advertising campaign featuring the movie icon will appear in print and digital media in selected markets across Europe and China. |
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| Whyte & Mackay loves big cats Whyte & Mackay has added Snow Leopard vodka to its portfolio to help save the cats from extinction. A donation of 15% of profits from the sale of the vodka goes to the Snow Leopard Trust. Launched three years ago by Stephen Sparrow, the vodka sells 1,000 cases a year but needs to sell nearer 100,000 to meet its aim. Commenting on the partnership, Stephen said: “I've worked as a safari guide and I'm a keen conservationist, so when I launched a vodka it made sense to tie into a cause that I love. I've raised more than £15,000 for the charity, but it's nowhere near enough. So it was time to get help.” |
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Brands recession-beating strategy |
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New gin category regulations now in force Ketel One wins placement on American Airlines High proof edition for Martin Miller anniversary |
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The stage is set at dusk Bombay Sapphire gin is staging a Bombay Sapphire Dusk "drinking experience" on the terrace of London’s Somerset House over-looking the River Thames. The blue bar, which has been designed by Tom Dixon working with interior design practice Design Research Studio, will be open to the public until October 18. |
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Smirnoff, Skyy and Finlandia and Belvedere vodkas have new fruit flavours. Report and cocktails on Mix & Match pages |
Grey Goose still tops the US charts having grown market share by a further two points year-on-year (Nielson) |  |
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Vroom vroom vodka The new vodka spirit X4 was the “pure” spirit that was used to power a Radical sports car on the BBC2's “Oz & James Drink to Britain” programme earlier this year. Created by distilling director Jim McEwan at Islay's Bruichladdich distillery, the first bottling of 6,000 bottles (50% ABV, RSP £39) was sold out immediately upon release. |
Tequila talk |
Gin education tour |
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| Gin is in the pink The messages coming out of the industry are quite contradictory in regard to the health of the gin sector. Volume sales statistics indicate a market that has been static or in slow decline for a number of years, with little change predicted for the future. But talk to global players and there is tremendous optimism, with premium brands seeing double-digit growth and a plethora of boutique-style products in imaginative packaging entering the market. •Report by Felicity Murray published in Drinks International Flavour trials successfully completed |
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Bols Genever re-launches in glass Lucas Bols has re-introduced Bols Genever to appeal to a new generation of bartenders and consumers |
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