New products round-up: the latest products on the market, including UK music pioneer Kano’s tie-up with Duppy Share rum

Music star Kano launches Duppy White Caribbean rum

Duppy Share Caribbean rums and UK music pioneer Kano, also known as Kane Robinson, has launched a new white rum called Duppy White.

The brand’s first 100% Jamaican rum is the latest addition to the Duppy Share family and is a white rum with a smooth taste profile.

Kano has worked across the production of every element of the spirit. The genesis of Duppy White came about in October 2016, when Duppy Share founder George Frost spotted a post from Kano on Instagram and took some rum to him personally.

The forthcoming partnership saw the pair focus on the creation of a white rum with the complexity of the world’s best gins.

Unusually for a white rum, the company claims the rum is delicious when consumed neat or as a shot. Describing the process of creating a rum as similar to mixing a track, constantly tweaking the blend to get the perfect result, the creation of the distinctive Duppy White taste was personal for Kane.

It is said that, on the nose, you get bright banana, mango and green thyme, while, as you taste, smooth caramel sweetness and lively tropical fruits give way to pimento spice and a lively pot still rum finish.

Duppy White co-founder and creator Kano said: “For me, whatever I do has to be the real deal. This drink comes from me. This is my life, my family’s story inside this bottle, and wrapped around this bottle. This is something I believe in and genuinely love as a product.”

Duppy Share’s founder George Frost added: “Making a rum is all about creating a great tasting liquid and standing out from the crowd. Working with Kano felt like a natural and authentic fit for The Duppy Share and his genuine enthusiasm for the brand made it really exciting to create something from scratch together.”

Focus on sustainability from Drop Bear Beer Co

Leading alcohol-free brewery Drop Bear Beer Co has launched a range of cans as it eschews bottles as part of its commitment to the environment.

The switch from bottles to cans further increases the brand’s drive to sustainable beer production and takes the brewery a step closer to achieving key environmental accreditation.

Already an eco-friendly business, Drop Bear’s move to 330ml cans is central to becoming Wales’s first ‘B Corporation’ brewery (and one of fewer than 10 in the UK) – an essential goal for Drop Bear’s business ethos.

Attaining the status will identify the brewery as meeting the “highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability”.

Founded by Joelle Drummond and Sarah McNena, Drop Bear is proud of its sustainability credentials. Among its initiatives, the company uses a 100% renewable energy powered vehicle, plastic-free packaging, organic cotton T-shirts and operates a paperless office.

Through supporting numerous projects worldwide, Drop Bear claims to have carbon offset 60.08 tonnes of greenhouse gasses (CO2e) and planted more than 730 trees – an average of 12 trees per employee per month.

Joelle Drummond said: “Drop Bear is passionate about driving authentic positive change in this world. Businesses of any shape, size, or industry can and should do their part. Our transition to cans from bottles is the next natural step in Drop Bear’s sustainability journey as we continue our rapid growth.”

The Drop Bear range currently consists of four beers: Tropical IPA, Yuzu Pale Ale, Bonfire Stout, and New World Lager – all of which are below 0.5% ABV.

Non-alcoholic cocktail Scai launches

Scai is a non-alcoholic cocktail that has been launched this month.

Its owners say Scai is an acronym for S-assy, C-ourageous, A-uthentic and I-ndividual.

The brand says: “A reflection of the modern female of today who is still sassy, sexy and confident, but without the alcohol. Scai is a sophisticated botanical blend of natural quality herbs and fruit, without the high sugar content.”

The cocktail claims to be low-calorie, low-sugar, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian friendly, and has natural flavourings and naturally sourced sweeteners. 

The business added that Scai is a “a guilt-free indulgence and a healthier alternative to cocktails” with “no more sickly sweet mocktails, no more feeling left out or branded as a ‘kill joy’ for not drinking, Scai simply is the new norm, so we can all enjoy the party.”

Liberation Cocktails tie-up offers consistent serve at festivals and events

On-tap, canned, bottled and kegged cocktails producer Liberation Cocktails has joined forces with festival and event provider Peppermint to supply on-tap cocktails to some of the UK’s leading festivals and outdoor events.

Liberation Cocktails, the growing premium pre-mixed cocktail brand, has partnered with award-winning festival and event provider Peppermint to supply on-tap cocktails to some of the UK’s leading festivals and outdoor events. The partnership facilitates a faster alfresco festival service for event attendees while also providing Peppermint with an easy way to offer RTD cocktails at the roster of events they supply, including All Points East Festival, British Summer Time in Hyde Park, Carfest, Henley Regatta and Camp Bestival to name just a few.

The additional on-trade listing will see Liberation Cocktails supply Peppermint with a range of cocktails such as Pisco Sour, Strawberry Daiquiri, Espresso Martini, Gin Garden and Pornstar Martini.

It promises a large range coupled with a less labour-intensive service.

Peppermint co-founder and director Alex Brooke said: “We are always looking for new and innovative ways to work with our client portfolio and being able to provide premium yet convenient pre-mixed cocktails at leading events and festivals felt like the perfect solution to extend our offering and meet our client needs.

“The speed at which the serves can be consistently poured and served in busy front-of-house environments is an exciting next step and helps drive volume, sales and speed of service for both operators and customers.”

Liberation Cocktails managing director George Workman added: “Our partnership has enabled us to broaden our reach and take our brand to the next level in the growing RTD category by extending our offering to festivals and outdoor events.

“As the UK continues to open up with live events resuming, there is an increased demand from consumers to enjoy in-person experiences without compromising on quality.

“We are now able to fulfil this need by providing a convenient cocktail offering for both consumers and suppliers. We look forward to continuing our work with Peppermint and are excited to see how we can look to broaden our offering further in the future.”

Luftballon to take flight

Signature Brew is launching Luftballon – a 5.5% ABV beer – which it says is “a moreish, golden festbier with refreshing bitterness and an aroma of lightly toasted bread”.

It will go live at the company’s Blackhorse Road Beer Mile Brewery and Bar on Friday 24 ​September for its Oktoberfest celebrations. The celebrations will also see bratwurst from Dingley Dell served along with live brass music.

The name Luftballon comes from the song 99 Red Balloons​, which was originally written and recorded by Germany Nena as 99 Luftballons​ as a “perfect name for Signature Brew’s German-style festbier”.

The Walthamstow brewery, formed in 2011, has also made a name for itself regarding band collaboration beers, having brewed with Idles, Mogwai, Alt-J, Slaves, Mastodon, Frank Turner, Rodney P, Enter Shikari, Sports Team and more.  

Ruby port Blend No12 released by Graham’s

Graham’s Port has announced an innovative new ruby port, Blend No12, made predominately with the famous Touriga Nacional variety, which is specifically intended for the bar scene and non-traditional port drinkers. 

Blend No12 takes its name from the fact that the high-altitude grapes are hand-picked in the middle of the night to ensure maximum freshness.

These grapes are then cold fermented to preserve their primary aromas and intensity. Unlike most ruby-style ports, Blend No12 was not aged in oak and is bottled young to maximise concentration and flavour.

Graham’s brand manager Vicky Symington said: “We are excited to launch Blend No12 as we believe ruby port is a very versatile category that has not yet been fully explored.

“Port has an original and interesting profile that lends itself to creativity and experimentation – both at home and in the bar scene. At 19%, port is less alcoholic than many spirits and fits with the lower ABV trend, especially in long serves with tonic or other mixers.”

Chocolate Orange Gin Liqueur joins TW Kempton range

TW Kempton, part of the ICB (Intercontinental Brands) brand portfolio, has announced a new addition to its collection of flavoured botanical gin liqueurs.

The Chocolate Orange edition arrives ready for the festive season as consumers look towards Christmas parties and gifting occasions.

TW Kempton marketing director Clare Gibson said: “It offers customers who missed out on gatherings with family and friends last year another reason to get together, to celebrate over new food and drink. Our new liqueur provides them with an exciting and popular flavour to try this festive season – it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.”

Wine range from across France

Fête des Flaveurs is a new range of wines for those wishing to explore French wines and all that regional France has to offer. 

The collection is inspired by the regional food markets around France, where buying fresh, local and seasonal produce at a market is a traditional way of life.

The Fete des Flaveurs range includes: Fête des Flaveurs Bordeaux Merlot – which is said to have generous amounts of plum fruit, notes of chocolate, vanilla and spice; Fête des Flaveurs Touraine Sauvignon Blanc – which pairs well with goats’ cheese, seafood or fish and chips; Fête des Flaveurs Beaujolais Villages – which is bursting with cherries, alongside notes of blueberry; and Fête des Flaveurs Picpoul de Pinet – which has crisp and refreshing citrus flavours, with delicate lime blossom.

The wine range is available via Bibendum and Matthew Clark.