Kingfisher Drinks unveils new cider flavour
Kingfisher Drinks has unveiled a new flavour for its Peacock cider brand - Peacock Passion Fruit & Guava.
The new variant has been described as “bright, tropical and fun”, tapping into the trend for flavour combinations and passion fruit.
Kingfisher senior brand manager Andy Sunnucks said: “Peacock is an Asian-inspired cider that prides itself on its exotic outlook, both in terms of flavours and attitude.
“We’re confident this new flavour will prove popular with younger cider drinkers looking for something different in their packaged cider and will perfectly complement the crisp apple and mango & lime variants in the Peacock portfolio.”
The new variant will be available to the on-trade this month with an RRP of £6 for a 500ml bottle.
New spicy soda brand launches
Picoso, a new premium soda brand, has been launched to spice up the non-alcohol and spicy cocktail categories.
The brand has launched with two flavours; Zesty Lime and Tropical Mango.
Picoso is the Spanish word for ‘Spicy’ reflective of its brand origins in Mexico where much of its flavour inspiration comes from.
The soda is low in sugar, has no artificial sweeteners, and gets its sweetness from natural agave. Each drink also contains electrolytes.
The two fiery flavours, work well as standalone drinks or mixed with clear spirits – from vodka and tequila, to gin and rum.
Picoso Zesty Lime is cut with scotch bonnet, sourced from the UK, while Picoso Tropical Mango is a fruity option, cut with habanero.
Founder Tom Bowerman-Wake said: “Picoso promotes ‘a new way of mixing’ - pushing inclusivity for drinkers and non-drinkers, ensuring that no one feels left out.
“Our unique element of spice brings excitement to the no-alcohol market, whilst providing a kick to the mundane mixer market.”
New Jamaican single rum from Hampden
Hampden Estate, the Jamaican-based distillery, has unveiled a new rum in honour of its founding year - Hampden Estate 1753.
The rum (59% ABV) has a lower ABV than its other products making it an ideal starting point for rum enthusiasts and is suitable for sipping and mixing.
This new release is aged for three years in ex-bourbon barrels and produced using pure spring water drawn from a nearby spring, with a long fermentation triggered by natural indigenous yeasts.
Distillation then takes place in double-retort copper pot stills, tropical ageing in the distillery’s own warehouse. The serve has no added sugar or colouring.
The rum has the flavour of ripe fruit notes, including pineapple and banana, with hints of spices and nuts. There is also a zesty freshness from lemon and grapefruit with sweet spices and light stone fruits.
Devil’s Botany launches Rose Absinthe Liqueur
Devil’s Botany, the UK’s first dedicated absinthe distillery, has unveiled its Rose Absinthe Liqueur.
This new variant joins Devil’s Botany’s Mettlesome Libations range, a collection crafted for adventurous palates.
With its lower ABV of 24%, the liqueur offers a more approachable introduction to absinthe, perfect for sipping neat or mixing into cocktails such as a Rose Spritz or Rose Margarita.
It offers a vibrant nose of rose and aniseed and the taste of candied rose, white chocolate, and Turkish Delight, complemented by light spices and a cooling peppermint finish.
The Leyton-based distillery was founded in 2020 by Allison Crawbuck and Rhys Everett.
Devil’s Botany Rose Absinthe Liqueur is available in 700ml bottles at RRP £27.95 from Master of Malt.
Nirvana pursues ‘Long Pour’ strategy
No & low brewery, Nirvana, has taken another step in providing its beers in larger formats, making its best-selling IPA (0.5% ABV) available in 500ml bottles.
The move is part of the brewery’s ‘long pour’ strategy – ensuring drinkers can enjoy no-low beers in as ‘normal’ a format as they can full-strength ones. The Nirvana IPA also remains available in keg and 330ml bottles.
The brewery said it has also ‘subtly tweaked’ the Nirvana IPA recipe to deliver more body, flavour and head retention. This has been achieved by switching both malts (to Vienna and Munich) and hops (to Mosaic, Nectaron and Simcoe) and changing the beer’s yeast.
Becky Kean, founder and brand ambassador, said: “Now & low beers are predominantly in smaller-sized cans or bottles, but we know that these drinkers often want a more satisfying serve - whether that’s a pint on draught when out, or pouring a beer at home.
“There’s also a strong visual element that matters tono & low drinkers - being seen with a ‘normal’-sized serve! So, we want to normalise long-pour in this category - it’s also a commercially attractive strategy for stockists in any trade sector.”
Hook Norton launches Sundial IPA
Hook Norton Brewery, the Oxfordshire brewery, has revealed the launch of Sundial IPA (4.2% ABV).
Described as “vibrant, refreshing, and full of flavour”, Sundial IPA offers bright citrus and tropical hop notes. It is a pale, golden beer with light grapefruit notes and lemon zest.
The new brew has been produced with a blend of Admiral, Motueka, and Mosaic hops, and dry-hopped with Amarillo and Citra.
Sundial IPA will be available in 30L and 50L kegs with plans to roll out in cans later this year.
Sundial IPA will be available at the brewery’s bars and in Hook Norton pubs across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire and discerning free houses.
“Sundial marks another chapter for Hook Norton,” said managing director James Clarke.
“Whilst cask ale is and will always remain our core, brewing these lighter, flavour-packed beers and creating something that bridges our rich brewing tradition with today’s tastes is exciting.”
Arkell’s pale ale makes seasonal comeback
Arkell’s Brewery has announced the return of Spring Hopper, its seasonal pale ale.
The beer, back by popular demand, was recently reintroduced at a selection of Arkell’s pubs across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire.
Brewed at 4% ABV and packed with hops at every stage of the process, Spring Hopper has been described as a “bright and refreshing pale ale.”
It delivers vibrant notes of tropical fruit with a clean, rounded finish and gentle bitterness. The beer was designed as a lighter, livelier alternative to the darker ales of winter, perfect for easing into the warmer months.
“Spring Hopper is all about freshness and flavour,” said head brewer Alex Arkell.
He continued: “It has become a real favourite. We pack it with hops from start to finish to deliver those bright, tropical notes, but keep it smooth and easy drinking. It’s the perfect pint for spring afternoons and sunny pub gardens. Seeing it return and seeing how much people look forward to it is always a real joy.”
Spring Hopper will be available in cask throughout May and June while stocks last.
Nomuss cocktail brand makes UK debut
A new cocktail brand called Nomuss has made its UK debut with a portfolio including a range of all natural, alcohol-free, premium mixers and alcohol-free, vegan Nomuss Foam Drops.
There are seven mixers in the range – Cosmopolitan, Margarita, Mojito, Basil Smash, Pornstar Martini, Espresso, Sour – with 15 serves per 75cl bottle.
The Nomuss Foam Drops can be used across all alcohol-based and alcohol-free cocktails by simply adding four to six drops to a shaker before shaking to achieve an expert foam layer. There are 200 serves per 5cl bottle.
David Relph from DrincX Management, which is responsible for the UK launch, said: “Nomuss is already being welcomed by bartenders and venues who have stepped into the no/low space but know there’s room to elevate their offering, and those that want to take classic cocktail menus to the next level without increasing staff costs.”
Bluntrock reveals two new brews
Cornish nanobrewery, Bluntrock, has expanded its portfolio with the introduction of two new serves, Freshly Squeezed Lemon Radler (2.8% ABV) and King Louie Pale Ale (4.4% ABV).
Freshly Squeezed boasts sprightly lemon notes and has been brewed with a sprinkling of Cascade hops to provide grapefruit flavours, which are backed up with additions of fresh lemon zest in the dry hop.
Meanwhile, King Louie Pale Ale is a collaborative beer brewed with New Bristol Brewery. Both beers are vegan friendly.
The new brews are available direct from Bluntrock’s webshop in canned format, priced at £72.96 for a 24x440ml pack of Lemon Raddler and £4.40 per 440ml serve of King Louie.
Belgium beer with refreshed look
Belgian beer brand Chouffe has introduced a refreshed new look across its portfolio.
Its Chouffe Session, a 4% Belgian blond draught beer that has been designed to meet growing demand for flavourful lower-ABV options, has been rebranded as part of the new look. The beer, which is brewed in the Ardennes, was described as “light, crisp and subtly spiced.”
Duvel Moortgat UK general manager Steve Behan said: “The Chouffe rebrand is all about staying true to our roots while bringing something fresh and exciting to today’s drinkers.
“We’ve retained the magic of Marcel and the quality of our brews – now with a visual identity that’s ready to stand out on the bar. It’s fun, it’s confident, it’s still Chouffe – just better dressed for the adventures ahead.”
Greene King celebrates women’s football with new beer
Greene King Brewery, based in Bury St Edmunds, has launched Back of the Net Pale Ale in time for the UEFA Women’s Championship and reintroduced its Amplified Pale Ale cask beer as part of a partnership with a radio station. Read more here.
Black Sheep Brewery unveils seasonal cask ale
Yorkshire-based Black Sheep Brewery has announced a limited release of its seasonal cask ale Velo.
The seasonal favourite is said to be a “sessionable blend of citrus flavours”, balancing soft, sweet malts with zesty, cascade hops, orange peel and a touch of coriander. Read more here.
Captain Morgan launches ‘alternative to beer’
Captain Morgan, the Diageo-owned spiced rum, has launched a new variant into pubs called Captain Morgan Muck Pit, described as evoking “the body of a beer but with the finish of a spirit.”
The new flavour is made by blending Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold, brewed mangoes and a dash of hop flavours together for the first time. It is described as a “new rum-based innovation” that provides a “delicious new alternative to beer.” Read more here.
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