As one of the top-selling flavored malt beverages (FMBs), Mike’s Hard Lemonade has found a niche with consumers. Yet, Seattle-based Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co. is not resting on its flagship brand and recently created new products to extend to new usage occasions, demographics and category niches.
Dill pickles, cookie dough, and peanut butter and jelly hardly sound like inspiration for adult beverages, but each of the aforementioned flavors were launched by vodka-makers within the last year. As these new product introductions show, one of the largest trends in the spirits category is unusual flavors, analysts say.
Chicago-based Technomic’s Adult Beverage Resource Group reported that the Top 250 spirits brands grew 3.1 percent in total volume in 2011, which is slightly lower than the total market’s 3.5 percent increase. Deerfield, Ill.-based Beam Inc.’s Skinnygirl Cocktails outpaced all other brands with a 388 percent gain to break the 500,000 case mark and rank as the fastest-growing brand, according to Technomic.
Bacardi Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda, released its Corporate Responsibility Report that documents the family-owned, privately held spirits company’s improved global environmental efficiencies and increased engagement with responsible suppliers. In addition, the company also announced professional tennis player Rafael Nadal as the new Bacardi Ltd. Global Social Responsibility Ambassador and face of its “Champions Drink Responsibly” program.
Bacardi announced U.S. bartender Shingo Gokan was named the winner of its second annual Global Legacy Cocktail Competition. Gokan of New York City won with his drink “Speak Low,” which was inspired by his grandmother’s Japanese tea ceremony.
Skinnygirl Cocktails, a brand of Deerfield, Ill.-based Beam Inc., announced new additions to its line of low-calorie cocktails that will be available in May. Joining Skinnygirl Margarita, Sangria and White Cranberry Cosmo, the brand introduced Skinnygirl Pina Colada, Skinnygirl Vodka with Natural Flavors and Skinnygirl, The Wine Collection.
South African wine brand Two Oceans has been repackaged in lightweight 350-gram bottles that are fully recyclable and decorated with biodegradable labels, inks and adhesives.
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