Kopparberg announces limited-edition summer cider

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New products: this week's round-up features Bombay Sapphire, Kopparberg and Greene King

This week's round-up features new products from Kopparberg, Schweppes, Peroni, Salcombe Distilling Co, Greene King, Three Drinkers and Bombay Sapphire.

Kopparberg launches limited-edition peach cider

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Premium Swedish cider brand, Kopparberg, has announced the release of its limited-edition Summer Punch variant (4% ABV).

The new serve pairs Kopparberg’s original apple cider with hints of peach.

Kopparberg head of marketing Rob Salvesen said: “Peach as a flavour has been trending across social media and our limited-edition Summer Punch delivers the goods when it comes to flavour and summer vibes.

“The creative idea behind Summer Punch is to echo Sweden’s sophisticated simple line designs and illustrations while giving Summer Punch a story and expression of its own that tells the story of the Swedish summer on the lakes, with music and friends.”

Kopparberg Summer Punch is available to the on-trade from LWC nationally.

Schweppes releases two new soda variants

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Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has expanded the Schweppes soda portfolio with two new flavours, Melon Watermelon and Peach Coconut.

Set to be rolled out from the middle of March, the new variants join the brand’s original and pink soda serves and will be available in 200ml glass bottle formats.

The new melon flavoured soda has a fresh, fruity flavour with a dry and crisp finish while the peach coconut serve boasts a tropical peach flavour with subtle hints of coconut, finished with floral notes.

CCEP GB away from home sales director Karen Yates-Hills said: “The new Schweppes flavoured sodas and signature serves are arriving just in time for the warmer trading period whereby consumers often look for lighter, fruitier refreshments like spritzers and mixed drinks with white spirits.

“We will continue to keep the Schweppes brand front of mind with consumers with a multi-million-pound campaign in 2023 and more exciting news to follow throughout the summer.”

Schweppes Melon Watermelon variant is available now direct from Coca-Cola at RRP £14.50 in 24x200ml packs. 

Read more here.

Suggested serves:

Watermelon Rouge Twist:

  • Schweppes Melon Watermelon Soda
  • Gin
  • Campari
  • Sprig of rosemary to garnish

Peach Opal Fizz:

  • Schweppes Peach Coconut
  • Vodka
  • Peach puree

Salcombe Distilling Co announces special edition gin

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Award-winning Devonshire-based Salcombe Distilling Co has launched a new small batch Victuallers Special Edition Rhubarb & Bergamot Gin (38% ABV).

Victuallers Special Edition Rhubarb & Bergamot Gin has been crafted using nine botanicals including rhubarb, bergamot and kumquat, balanced with juniper, and lemongrass.

Salcombe Distilling Co distiller Andy Stafford said: “We’ve used rhubarb in an elegant and sophisticated way which isn’t overly sweet or reliant on artificial flavours and colours. 

“Combining our love of gin with a dryer and zestier finish, we’ve created something special.  It’s got all the layers and complexity you find in a traditional gin, with a sharpness from the bergamot that balances beautifully with the bittersweet and tart flavours of rhubarb.”

The soft-pink coloured serve boasts sweet and sharp flavours with aromas of bright and fruity rhubarb alongside an unexpected earthiness and sharp citrus on the palate culminating in a dry and refreshing finish.

Stafford added: “Unlike many rhubarb gins it’s been distilled to the one-shot method and blended to bottling strength with unfiltered pressed rhubarb juice in place of blending water, giving it a sharp earthy freshness and its natural pink hue.”

The new serve is available now in 50cl bottle format at RRP £40 direct from the brand’s webshop and flagship stores in Salcombe and Dartmouth.

Asahi release new Peroni variant 

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Asahi has expanded its Peroni portfolio with the release of Peroni Nastro Azzurro Stile Capri.

Featuring a subtle spritz of Italian lemon with a lightly aromatic flavour, the new lighter serve offers a lower bitterness and a lower ABV at 4,2% than the original Peroni ​Nastro Azzurro.

The new serve comes just in time for Spring and Summer and will be available in 24x330ml bottle packs from wholesalers including C&C Group, Drinks Warehouse, HB Clark, LWC, and Matthew Clark amongst others.

Stile Capri will also be available in on-premise outlets such as Drake & Morgan, Greene King​, Oakman Inns​, and Young’s from end of March onwards with the new brand expected to be nationwide by the summer.

Asahi ​UK sales director Steve Young said: “Launching under the instantly recognisable and much-loved Peroni Nastro Azzurro brand portfolio, Peroni Nastro Azzurro Stile Capri is a strong proposition for all operators and retailers to gain value from the high-potential and lucrative sunshine beer category.”

Read more here

Greene King to launch apprentice-collaboration cask 

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Brewer and pub operator Greene King is set to release its limited-edition Spring Break cask beer (4.4% ABV)

Marking its return as a seasonal ale, the golden ale was created last year in collaboration with the National Brewing Apprentice Programme, Future Brewers.

Greene King described the serve as a “full bodied, hoppy ale that includes delicious malty characters, which are perfectly balanced with citrus flavours” and claimed to be “great for the time of the year as the temperature starts to rise”.  

The new cask release is part of the wider Fresh Cask Releases​ calendar, a portfolio of 18 limited-edition cask beers available at specific times throughout the year ahead.

Read more here.

Bombay Sapphire expands RTD offering 

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Following the launch of its Citron Pressé last year, Bombay Sapphire has expanded its RTD portfolio with the introduction of Bombay Pressé Citrus Collins (6.5% ABV), inspired by the classic Tom Collins cocktail.

The serve features a blend of 100% natural and vibrant citrus flavours, including Mediterranean lemons, with the brand’s signature London Dry Gin mixed and premium soda water.

Bombay Sapphire UK & Ireland brand director Claire Layfield said: “Packed with vibrant, zesty, citrus notes, the Bombay Pressé Citrus Collins promises to be unrivalled when it comes to taste.

“It has been skilfully crafted to showcase the signature juniper and citrus notes of Bombay Citron Pressé gin.

“The beauty of our ready-to-drink portfolio is that the emphasis is placed on convenience, but not at the expense of taste.”

Bombay Pressé Citrus Collins is available now direct from the brand's webshop in packs of 6 or 12x250ml recyclable cans at RRP £13.50 and £24 respectively, or £2.50 per single can serve. 

Drinks travel show launches Irish Whiskey 

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Aidy Smith and Helena Nicklin, presenters of award-winning drinks travel show The Three Drinkers in Ireland, on Amazon Prime, have launched a limited-edition Irish Whiskey.

Hailing from County Donegal, the new serve is finished in red Pomerol wine barrels and crafted in collaboration with Sliabh Liag Distillers, a partner distillery of the show.

Rose gold to amber in colour, the whiskey offers rich and velvety notes of red fruits, candied orange peel and tarte tatin with pipe tobacco, liquorice and lightly smoky salted caramel

Smith said: “We always had the idea to create a product for every Three Drinkers series we produce.

“Meeting James and Moira, founders of Sliabh Liag Distillers, in episode two of the Ireland show and seeing the amazing work they’d done with wine finishes before, confirmed they would be the perfect partner to create our own version, and we love the result.

“Whether sipping neat or creating some signature cocktail serves, it offers the best of both worlds.”

This is the second product from The Three Drinkers, which launched a 17 year Scotch whisky to celebrate their first show, The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky, which sold out within a couple of days.

Additionally, £1 from every bottle sold will be donated to mental health charity My Black Dog.

Nicklin added: “James and Moira have captured that wonderful balance of dried fruit spice and moreish salinity topped off with deliciously complex, ripe, red fruit flavours coming from the wine casks.

“It’s so approachable and easy-drinking, yet with such elegant complexity, you could sit with it for hours.”

Three Drinkers Limited Edition Red Silkie Irish Whiskey (46% ABV) is availble now in 70cl bottle format from the shows webshop at RRP £49.99.

If you have any new products being released to the on-trade, email the details with high resolution images before Thursday at midday for potential inclusion on Friday’s article to ​​​​​​​Rebecca.weller@wrbm.com​​​​​​​​​​​ and for any upcoming King's Coronation on-trade launches, please send details and images to Gary.lloyd@wrbm.com​​​ by Thursday 6 April.