MARKETPLACE: BRAND NEWS AND PROMOTIONS

Marketplace: Brand news and promotions

Crodino touches down in Australia

Italian non-alcoholic aperitif, Crodino, has now landed in Australia thanks to its local distributor, Campari Australia.

Crodino was born in Italy in 1965 for consumers who wanted no or low alcohol options that didn’t compromise on taste. It’s crafted with the essence of top quality ingredients, with botanicals extracted according to traditional methods that have remained unchanged since inception. This unmistakable original recipe creates a multi-layered and complex liquid, with an intriguing and delicious taste that you wouldn’t expect to be non-alcoholic.

Making its way around the world thanks to increasing demand for high-quality non-alcoholic options, Crodino arrives in Australia just in time for July, a time when many local consumers are exploring and experimenting with the nonalcoholic drinks category.

Crodino is an ideal choice to partake in authentically Italian aperitivo moments, best served with a generous amount of ice, garnished with a slice of orange and shared with friends with snacks in hand.

Doña Paula wines comes to Australia with Calabria

Calabria Family Wine Group’s international distribution arm, Vintners & Co. Merchants, has introduced Doña Paula wines to its portfolio.

Doña Paula is located in the Mendoza wine region of Argentina, where grapes are grown at a high altitude (providing increased sun exposure). It produces wines of the Torrontés, Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir grape varieties, but is especially well known for its Malbec, which will be a focus point for Calabria in this new partnership.

Doña Paula vineyard

Andrew Calabria, third generation family member and Sales and Marketing Director at Calabria, said: “DoñaPaula offers an incredible mix of value for money and premium Argentinian wines that we know Australian wine lovers will enjoy.

“We have seen the incredible excitement and growth around Malbec in the market, so feel confident that DoñaPaula will be able to offer a diverse and authentic selection of Argentina’s premier red grape variety here in Australia.”

Sustainability focus:

Doña Paula is one of 10 Argentinian wineries to be accredited by the Bodegas de Argentina Sustainability Protocol as a certified sustainable producer.

Good Drinks widens distribution portfolio

Good Drinks Australia has bolstered its distribution portfolio, announcing two new agreements with international companies.

The first new partnership is with C&C International, to represent its successful Magners Irish Cider range of brands in Australia. As of 1 July, Good Drinks has become the exclusive importer and distributor of Magners Ciders in Australia, in both bottle and keg format.

Commenting on the news, Good Drinks Managing Director, John Hoedemaker, said: “The partnership is in line with our broader strategy and continues to add diversity to our portfolio. It also allows Good Drinks to increase the scale of its national sales capability, while leveraging its reach.”

This announcement was followed by a partnership with Molson Coors, where Good Drinks will be responsible for the national distribution of some of the brand’s most prominent products, such as Miller Chill, MillerGenuine Draft, Coors and the Molson Canadian brands.

Hoedemaker described this deal as “a game-changer” for the business, saying: “The decision by Molson Coors to partner with Good Drinks Australia is a further vote in confidence in our national sales and marketing team and our capabilities to grow brands in the Australian beer market.

“Molson Coors has a strong and vibrant brand portfolio with a significant following in Australia, a deep history in the USA and is a truly global business.”

Shaun Morton, Molson Coors’ APAC Regional Director, noted Australia was a “priority market” for the company, and said: “Good Drinks Australia’s local market expertise and nationwide distribution coverage provide an excellent platform from which to develop our portfolio. We are looking forward to a long and successful partnership with Good Drinks.”

Stone & Wood Green Coast Crisp sees expanded interest from drinkers

Now pouring in draught across New South Wales and Queensland, Stone & Wood’s easy-drinking lager, GreenCoast Crisp, is getting into the hands of more drinkers than ever before.

Across the football season, fans across Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle have been some of the early adopters of this premium option, filling the stands of CommBank, Accor, Winn and McDonaldJones Stadiums with Crisp drinkers.

Easy on the palate with a subtle bitterness and rounding out to a clean, crisp finish, Green CoastCrisp is now offering the discerning beer lover a truly refreshing option. Light golden in colour, with an ABV of 3.5 per cent, it’s a highly sessionable brew that's the perfect companion to Father’s Day BBQs or watching finals footy at the pub or at home.

With in-store promotions available across August, now is the time to give this easy-drinking lager a try.

Manly Spirits creates non-alcoholic alternative to its Lilly Pilly Pink Gin

Manly Spirits Co. has branched out into the non-alcoholic spirit world for the first time, launching a non-alcoholic alternative its Lilly Pilly Pink Gin.

The Lilly Pilly Pink 0.0% is sugar-free and retains the same flavours of its full-strength gin counterpart, with a pink colour coming from an 18 hour raspberry infusion.

Master Distiller, David Whittaker, said the production process for the non-alcoholic version is more complex than the gin, taking triple the amount of time and effort.

“It’s like searching for the holy grail. The challenge we faced was to create a similar tasting experience to an alcoholic beverage, a rounded mouthfeel and tasting journey with a lingering complex finish. Most people assume that making a non-alc spirit would be easier than making gin but in reality, it takes a lot of hard work, way more than we expected. We were very conscious not to simply create a sweet fruit cordial with no resemblance to an alcoholic drink,” Whittaker said.

Manly Spirits Co-founder, Vanessa Wilton, said the non-alcoholic SKU had been in the works since the pink gin itself was created in 2019, to cater to a growing movement about balance.

“We make daily choices with our food, exercise, work and home life, so when it comes to alcohol, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. This gives you the option to enjoy an alternative alcohol without feeling like you’re missing out,” Wilton said.

Bacardí expands range with coconut and raspberry flavours

Bacardi-Martini Australia has announced the expansion of the Bacardí rum range in Australia, with two new flavours now available on the market.

Bacardí Coconut and Bacardí Raspberry were designed as versatile and easy-drinking cocktail ingredients, with bold and bright natural flavours that remain smooth and refined at an approachable 32 per cent ABV.

Like other flavoured rums in the range, these latest additions begin with a base of Bacardí white rum, using a special blend from Maestros de Ron. The all-natural flavours are infused in this light base, and purified water is added to round off the spirit.

Loy Catada, Bacardí Brand Ambassador, said: “As the world’s most awarded rum brand with more than 158 years in the business, consumers consistently turn to Bacardí for quality and delicious options. The flavour segment is an exciting area for the brand to play, after having watched the growth in flavoured spirits closely overseas we see it as a massive opportunity for Bacardí and for Australian consumers,” he said.

Both SKUs have a suggested retail price of $49 and come in 700ml bottles.

Jack Daniel’s to collaborate with Coke for new RTD

In huge international news, Brown-Forman and the Coca-Cola Company have announced a new global relationship, with the classic combination of ‘Jack & Coke’ being introduced as a RTD cocktail in late 2022.

It will debut in Mexico as a test market later this year, with other markets to follow. Marisa Murray, Marketing Manager for Jack Daniel’s at Brown-Forman, confirmed Australia will be included in the partnership, however specific details and timing are not yet known.

Overall, Murray said that she and her team were “very excited to see us bring together two classic icons – Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola – in an RTD.”

Lawson Whiting, CEO and President of Brown-Forman, said: “This relationship brings together two classic American icons to deliver consumers a taste experience they love in a way that is consistent, convenient, and portable.

“Coca-Cola perfectly complements Jack Daniel’s and our existing RTD offerings, enabling us to accelerate expansion and continue to grow our business around the world.”

Initial indications are that the ‘global benchmark’ ABV will be five per cent, though this may vary from market to market. A no-sugar version is also in the works.

Seppelt Wines unveils 2022 Luxury Collection

Seppelt Wines has announced the release of its 2022 Luxury Collection, featuring eight wines sourced from across Victoria’s Grampians, Heathcote and Henty regions.

Senior Winemaker, Clare Dry, who joined Seppelt two years ago, crafted the new vintage releases of Seppelt’s most sought-after still and sparkling wines.

“Many of the wines were crafted in my first vintage at the helm of Seppelt and I’m thrilled to showcase my winemaking approach, building on over 170 years of heritage behind the label,” Dry said.

Released annually, this year’s iteration is led by the 2020 St Peters Grampians Shiraz. Six wines follow from the 2021 vintage, including four from Seppelt’s Drumborg vineyard, one of the southernmost vineyards in mainland Australia. The collection is completed by a new release Salinger Vintage Cuvée, one of Seppelt’s most popular sparkling wines

“Each of the wines from this year’s Collection has a story to tell, from the elegance of St Peters to the ethereal Drumborg reds, the release is a showcase of our vineyards, viticulture and winemaking,” Dry said.

80 Proof expands range with the release of Sour Puss

In 2021, 80 Proof went viral for creating the Wet Pussy Shot brand, a premix bottled version of the classic club shot of the same name. And now, it's building on this incredible success by expanding the range into more nostalgic flavours.

The new Sour Puss range utilises similar branding to the original WetPussy Shot and comprises of three bright flavoured SKUs – Sour Grape, SourWatermelon, and Sour Apple. All bottles come in at 18 per cent ABV and are described as having a hit of undeniable sweetness, followed by a sour punch.

Co-founder of 80 Proof, DannyGrant, said the long history of nightclub experience in the team helped drive the reinvention of the brand’s explosive debut product.

“We have worked in the space collectively for decades, we have seen trends come and go - from cocktails, shooters, and even preferences in spirits. We understand our market back to front, we know what they want. So, when the time came, we hit the drawing board and created our new Sour Puss range,” Grant said.

80 Proof’s Shane Barrington added: “I think the key to our success this time around has been keeping it simple, we understand our product is fun, tasty and represents good times much like our original product. We didn’t try to be anything else and the taste speaks for itself, they are delicious.”

BentSpoke celebrates eight years with the launch of Descent 22

Canberra brewer, BentSpoke, has released its 2022 birthday beer, an imperial stout aged in foeder beer barrels for six months.

Billed as a ‘winter warmer’, Descent 22 is a 10 percent ABV stout and combines vanilla, oak and wild yeast characters from its barrel ageing with roasty, bitter, black malt leather-like esters.

BentSpoke Brewer and Director, Richard Watkins, said: “Descent 22, like its eight predecessors, is a great combination of barrel ageing and roasty malty flavours that give you warmth, composure and the sense that you have conquered winter.”

BentSpoke Co-owner, Tracy Margrain, said the release of Descent 22 gives the company the chance to celebrate alongside staff and the public alike.

“Ever since we opened our doors back in June 2014, we have always celebrated our birthday with the wholeBentSpoke family. It’s great to reflect on all our successes and celebrate those with all the people that have ridden that same trail,” Margrain said.

BentSpoke first opened its doors on June 6 in 2014, and is the brainchild of Watkins and Margrain. The duo celebrated the brewery’s birthday in June alongside family and staff, launching their birthday beer with live local music.

A statement to press said that the Russian Imperial Stout‘has become a local favorite’ already after the beer was made available on tap at BentSpoke’s BrewPub in Braddon.

Four Pillars enters non-alcoholic market

Victorian gin distiller, Four Pillars, has announced its entry into the non-alcoholic market for the first time, introducing alcohol-free alternatives to the Bloody Shiraz Gin and Rare Dry Gin (named Bloody Bandwagon and Bandwagon Dry, respectively).

The distillery described the project as “probably the single biggest challenge we’ve faced”, driven by the need for high-quality adult beverages in the non-alcoholic space.

Cameron Mackenzie, Co-founder and Distiller, said: “When we launched in 2013 never in our wildest dreams did we think we would make a non-alcoholic product. But as we’ve grown older and wiser, booze is not always your go-to and you a need quality alternative. Enter Bandwagon.”

The same botanical ingredients from the gins are used as the starting point for each of the new non-alcoholic expressions, but are steam-distilled separately and added to a water base. Heat, body and weight (usually brought in through alcohol) are replicated with ingredients like fresh chilli and fructose. Then in the Bloody Bandwagon, unfermented Shiraz grape juice is used to imitate the wine components of the Bloody Shiraz Gin.

Mr Consistent. launches Pash Inn

The iconic Porn Star Martini is celebrating its 20th anniversary and Mr. Consistent has released a new seaonsal cocktail mixer to mark the occasion.

Pash Inn is Mr. Consistent’s take on the classic cocktail and is the latest in the brand’s ready-to-shake cocktail range. It’s also the first product to be made at Mr. Consistent’s new $2 million on-site facility.

Michael Sebire, Co-founder and Product Director at Mr. Consistent, said it was a challenge to create, taking 12 months to perfect.

“It’s a bit of a double-edged sword when you’re recreating a drink that already exists and that’s already known and loved around the world,” Sebire said.

“On one hand, there’s no anxiety around whether or not people will get around what you’ve put together, but on the other, people already know exactly what this drink is supposed to taste like and you have to meet and surpass those expectations.”

Like Mr. Consistent’s other flavours, consumers simply need to follow the directions on the Pash Inn bottle to add alcohol and easily shake up a Porn Star Martini at home.