As consumers prepare for the holidays, their thirst for cocktails continues. In the Readers’ Choice: New Product Poll for November, Beverage Industry readers selected Sebago Lake Distillery’s Barrel Rested Portland Rum as their favorite new product release.

Phoenix-based Shamrock Farms announced it has partnered with professional basketball player DeAndre Ayton, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick out of the University of Arizona, the company says. Ayton will represent the company’s Rockin’ brand of protein-milk beverages and be featured in Shamrock advertising, social media and public relation campaigns.

The American Red Cross, Washington, D.C., announced it accepted a $1 million donation from the St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Foundation to support Red Cross disaster relief through the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP).

San Francisco-based hint Inc. announced its new hint water for kids. Available in four fruit flavors — Watermelon, Cherry, Blackberry and Apple — the new line is packaged in 200-ml Tetra cartons. Hint waters are non-GMO certified and WHOLE30 approved. They are vegan, and contain no MSG, nuts, soy or gluten. Like all hint waters, the kids’ version is free from juice, sugar, diet sweeteners, colors, calories and preservatives, the company says.

Strongbow Hard Ciders, a brand of White Plains, N.Y.-based Heineken USA Inc., announced the launch of 100-calorie, 8.5-ounce slim cans in a 12-can variety pack with three flavor varietals. Available beginning January 2019, the Strongbow 100-calorie slim cans are positioned at the intersection of hard cider, canned wine and hard seltzer to offer alternative refreshment, the company says.

LIFEWTR, a brand of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, and Bethesda, Md.-based Marriott Hotels announced a new augmented reality (AR) collaboration that invites guests to personalize their hotel rooms with bold, colorful and visual artwork, the companies said.

Smirnoff, a brand of Diageo North America, Norwalk, Conn., and its Smirnoff Seltzer brand announced the launch of a national contest for those traveling via airplane and the “middle seat” this holiday season. Smirnoff Seltzer saw an opportunity to bring its campaign hashtag #FunofaKind experience and take a stand for middle-seaters, it says.

In collaboration with Twitch star Mike "Shroud" Grzesiek, Madrinas Coffee announced the launch of its newest flavor of cold brew coffee: the Shroud Insane Cappuccino. Madrinas Coffee has made this collaborative brew available for purchase via their online webstore.

Gancia Sparkling Wines, a brand of New York-based Roust Americas, announces the launch of its new marketing platform drink beauty, which was created to appeal to millennial consumers. 

Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo released its limited-time snack and beverage offerings for the holiday season. New holiday products this year include Mnt Dew Merry Mash-Up, Mtn Dew Ice Cherry, Pure Leaf Apple Cider Flavored Iced Tea and the bubly holiday pack available online, the company says. Returning this year is the Starbucks Peppermint Mocha ready-to-drink (RTD) Iced Latte.