Drinks maker stands by new Sailor Jerry's

Related tags Sailor jerry Flavor

First Drinks said it has no plans to revert back to the old Sailor Jerry's recipe despite a 15,000-strong Facebook campaign threatening to boycott...

First Drinks said it has no plans to revert back to the old Sailor Jerry's recipe despite a 15,000-strong Facebook campaign threatening to boycott the product.

First Drinks relaunched Sailor Jerry's in February toning down the sweetness of the rum and its vanilla and lime flavours.

The company said this brought it back to the original classic recipe and made it easier to mix.

At 15,292 fans, the Facebook protest site has more than double the number of members than the official Sailor Jerry's Facebook page.

Protesters are threatening to bombard First Drinks with bottles of vanilla essence or limes.

Adam Chudley wrote on the Facebook site: "I might just use it [the new recipe] to wash my patio and send them the photos."

Protesters argued that the new drink tastes like many rums already on the market and claimed that J D Wetherspoon also disaproved of the change.

Many of those posting claimed to be employed by the pub giant. Séana Majella Hume writes: "Haha half the fans are Wetherspoon employees!"

JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "Sailor Jerry's is an extremely popular drink within the Wetherspoon pubs.

"We have told the company that we would not have backed a change in the flavours and that our customers have been telling us quite clearly that they prefer the original flavour."

An official statement from First Drinks read: "We would like to reassure all those concerned about the change, that we will be working hard to demonstrate first hand the benefits of the versatility of the new Sailor Jerry Spiced.

"We will be sampling the brand at a series of music events in London, Brighton, Manchester and Glasgow during April and May.

"This will be followed by further experiential and sampling activity at music festivals over the summer."

It added: "The new taste profile has been well received in taste tests.

"Consumers and bartenders with whom we researched the product prior to its launch, approved of its improved versatility in a wider range of serves."

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