Mixers alcohol-free

SOFT DRINKS | MIXERS | NO- & LOW-ALCOHOL The softer side

Here’s our picks of the latest launches in mixers, so drinks and the growing no- & low- sector

By Lauren Phillips

Jeffrey’s Tonic has moved into the premium tonics sector with its latest For a punchier Bloody Mary try Tongue in Peat’s tomato juice infused with peat smoke. Available in bottles, RRP £2.49 each) and for six bottles, RRP £4.79).

syrups and cordials. The range comprises: Sicilian Lemon & Warm Spices, and blossom honey, it is available in 480ml bottles (trade £13) and a new 120ml limited edition bottle (trade £4.50, RRP £8.90).

Oriental Lime, Yarrow, Rosehip & Elderflower and Classic Premium Indian Tonic Syrup. Available in 200ml and 500ml bottles sold to the trade in cases of 6 x 500ml bottles (£41.94) or 12 x 200ml bottles (£46.80), with RRPs of £12 and £6.99, respectively.

jeffreystonic.com

Tonic brand Gallybird has added a Classic Blend Indian tonic variety to join its original Botanical Blend tonic water. It is sweetened with stevia to create a premium tonic with no sugar and zero calories. Available in 200ml (RRP £5, per 4 x 200ml packs) and 500ml bottles and new 150ml cans.

gallybird.com

Soft drinks company Dalston’s has entered the low- or noalcohol category with a new range of gin-free G&T sparkling drinks. The drinks come in two flavours – Classic and Rhubarb – that both feature a blend of juniper, coriander and lemon balm. Launched at the beginning of the year, the range is available to independents and on-trade stockists nationwide. RRP £1.99- 2.99, 250ml.

dalstons.com

Benefit Water is a new range of canned unsweetened, sparkling spring water. Launched in April this year by The Benefit Brand, it comes in three flavours – Mango & Coconut, Lemon & Elderflower, and Apple – and is pitched as a refreshing mixer alternative. Available to the trade at £9 per case of 12 cans (RRP £1.49 per can).

thebenefitbrand.com

Copenhagen-based non-alcoholic spirit brand, ISH Spirits, entered the market in 2018 with its GinISH and RumISH products. Two years later and the company has returned with two ready-to-drink slimline canned cocktail lines: GinISH & Tonic and a SpritzISH. The latter is a nonalcoholic take on the Aperol Spritz. RRP between £2.50 and £3, per 250ml can.

250ml glass bottles (trade £15.36 for 12 500ml glass bottles (trade £14.70

tongueinpeat.com

Ginger Switchel is a non-alcoholic aperitif from Mother Root. Made with ginger juice, apple cider vinegar,

ishspirits.com

motherroot.london

Wilfred’s Drinks has a new alcohol-free Orange & Rosemary flavoured aperitif. The drink serves 10 spritzes (with tonic) per 500ml bottle and has an RRP of £18.

wilfredsdrinks.com

Aiming to shake up soft drinks is Jitterbug with its sparkling apple cider vinegar tonics. cider vinegar tonics. Packaged in retro labels, the range comes in three flavours: Lemonade Swing, Orange Jive and Berry Hop. RRP £2.99, 330ml bottles.

jitterbuglife.com

Brod Kvas is a naturally fermented drink originating fermented drink originating from Russia. The Kvas Company produces a Brod produces a Brod Original Rye (Russian rye bread, sultanas) along with Rose (rosebuds, cardamom pods), Ruby (beetroot, turmeric and ginger), and Green (hemp and manuka) varieties.

thekvascompany.com

NO- AND LOW-ALCOHOL IS A CATEGORY WITH POTENTIAL

By Chris Mercer Demand for no- and low-alcohol spirits, beer and wine has surged as part of what marketers are calling “moderation” trend.

Concrete proof of this is Waitrose’s launch of a pre-mixed “Nogroni” in March and the retailer has recently reported sales of low and non-alcoholic drinks are up by 64% year-on-year.

The Nogroni is produced by Seedlip, a pioneer of “distilled non-alcoholic spirits”, whose founder Ben Branson told FFD at the end of 2019 that the producers have barely “scratched the surface” of the category’s potential. “In the last year, we saw a volume growth of +270% and are today stocked in more than 7,500 accounts globally.”

Those involved see the sector as a way of offering premium drinks to a growing number of consumers who wish to cut down on alcohol, but don’t want to replace booze with the usual sweetened soft drinks.

Sarah Yates, co-founder of Devon-based brand Sea Arch, says that it’s important to give nondrinkers “a quality experience” to stop them from feeling like second-class citizens at the bar or party.

“You get a botanical hit but you don’t get the alcohol,” says Yates of the company’s non-alcoholic distilled spirit, which is made with botanicals including blood orange, sea kelp, juniper berries, cucumber and cardamom. Each one is distilled separately before being blended later.

While some observers question the use of the term “distilled” to describe these kinds of drinks, there is also plenty of debate around using the terms “alcohol-free” (which must legally be 0.05% ABV or lower) and “low alcohol” (1.2% ABV or below) and the vaguer “non-alcoholic” on labelling.

Regardless, no- and low-alcohol has emerged as a category in its own right Seedlip’s Branson suggests retailers should have “a dedicated alcohol-free section so it’s a clear destination instore”.

It might just be worth making some shelf space.

New to the market is soft seltzer brand, Something & Nothing. The New to the market is soft seltzer brand, Something & Nothing. The non-alcoholic carbonated water drink has a base of grape juice and non-alcoholic carbonated water drink has a base of grape juice and lemon juice and is flavoured with either Yuzu, Hibiscus & Rose, or Cucumber. They can be enjoyed straight from the can, as a mixer or in a spritz. It is available wholesale at £9.60 as 12 cans per case or in a spritz. It is available wholesale at £9.60 as 12 cans per case (RRP £1.80).

somethingandnothing.co

KVIST is a new Nordic-inspired premium non-alcoholic spirit. Distilled with eight botanicals including juniper, silver birch and rhubarb root, it comes in two varieties: Classica and Rosa (RRP £12-14, 70cl). It is made by distilling the macerated botanicals in neutral grain spirit and water before the alcohol is removed, which the company says ensures the juniper flavour is retained.

kvistspirit.com

Cherry & Plum, Raspberry Lemonade and Rhubarb Lemonade are the three new flavours joining Franklin & Sons’ soft drinks collection. Naturally pink in colour, the drinks include less than 5g of sugar per 100ml. To coincide with the launch, the company has also refreshed its 275ml glass bottle labels to include illustrated designs and silver

The distillers at Yorkshire-based Raisthorpe Manor developed Yorkshire Tonics to complement its wellknown fruit gins, vodkas, and liqueurs. The tonics are made with quassia, an alternative to quinine, which the producer says results in a drier, crisper mixer with a rounder finish. Available in six flavours: Strawberry & Pomegranate, Apple & Elderflower, Pink Grapefruit, Citrus, Premium, and Skinny Premium.

raisthorpemanor.com

The Soho Juice Co’s non-carbonated spirit mixers are pitched as an alternative to fizzier varieties. The range includes flavours like Cucumber, Mint, Classic Blood Orange, and Apple, Honey & Lemon. The brightly packaged drinks come in 200ml cans and bottles but will soon be launched in new 250ml single serve cans. Available for wholesale via LWC and Matthew Clark (RRP £1.50).

sohojuice.co.uk

foiling. Trade price £2.89 per 275ml bottle.

franklinandsons.co.uk

SWEET SUCCESS FOR LOW-SUGAR TONIC

Twelve Below entered the mixer market in May last year and has already established itself in the category as the first producer of low-in-sugar tonic waters.

Founder Ross Smethurst launched the brand after spotting a gap in the market for a tonic with lower sugar content.

“I’d pick up a bottle of our competitors’ tonic and couldn’t believe the sugar content in it,” he says. “Even a low-calorie flavoured tonic has about 5% sugar.”

This strong USP proved fruitful and the brand is now stocked by high-end supermarket Booths and hundreds of independent retailers across the UK.

Twelve Below tonics are sweetened with a small amount of agave so have less than 2.5% sugar per 100ml. There are four flavours in the range: Classic Premium, Rhubarb & Ginger, Pear & Cardamom, and Apple & Garden Mint.

“They pair with gin, vodka, rum or can be drunk on their own,” says Smethurst. “Our tonics are subtle in taste so don’t overpower the spirits.”

The brand now wants to build on its success and become the tonic of choice for the indie retail market. “Independents are looking for indie brands that are unique to the sector all the time,” says Smethurst, “and we definitely fit into that.”

twelvebelow.co.uk Chu Lo Drinks

has launched a series of premium Japanese-inspired sour soft drinks. It hopes to disrupt the market in the UK with its Apple, Lemon and Peach sour flavours in 330ml cans.

chu-lo.com

The UK’s first coffee kombucha brand Good Koffee has unveiled a range of Social Coffee Tonik mixers. Customers can choose from Black Kardamom or Saffron Gold. RRP £24.95, 500ml.

goodkoffee.co

Newcomer Love Tonic entered the market at the beginning of the year. It is made without quinine, meaning it doesn’t have the bitter taste associated with classic tonic waters. RRP £1.65.

lovetonic.com

Middle Way has launched its soft drinks with new labels and bottles. The products – in flavours like Apple & Ginger and Blackcurrant – are available via The Cress Co at £1.08.

middle-way.co.uk

Jun-Kombucha is brewed with honey instead of the usual cane sugar to limit the vinegar taste associated with its cousin, kombucha. Nunc Living makes its version in three flavours – Hops Monster, Juni-Purr and Rose Blush. Trade price for 12 x 330ml is £15.08 (RRP £2.99).

nuncliving.com

Nelson’s Distillery & School is a multi-award-winning craft distiller of premium Gin, Rum and Vodka that offers the unique experience of crafting your own 70cl spirit at their Gin & Vodka School. Its gins are renowned across the globe, winning awards in San Francisco World Spirit Competition, Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit competitions and closer to home the Great Taste Awards. Nelsons gins are a perfect balance and blend of 27 botanicals sourced from across the globe. These specific botanicals are what create Nelson’s flagship gin London Dry No. 7. A refreshingly complex twist on the classic London Dry. This finely tuned spirit forms the base of all Nelson’s gin including its double award-winning Rhubarb & Custard Gin and triple award-winning Timur Gin

@Nelsonsgin @Nelsonsdistillery @Nelsonsdistillery AngelsNectar HighSpirits A6 Ad v2 291119.pdf 1 29/11/2019 14:59 Check out our website to find out more: www.nelsonsdistillery.co.uk

of Barbados

It’s time to try The Spirit of Ulverston. Wolftown is a contemporary gin that stands happily on its own as a sipping gin, mixed with tonic for a refreshing cocktail and whose orange notes make it the perfect base for a Negroni. Made with Sarsaparilla, ginger, citrus and almonds, our first gin is an accessible joy that leaves non-gin drinkers re-evaluating their position.