New product development and innovation is a fundamental part of this industry and there has been a number of new releases recently, here’s The Shout’s round-up of what is newly available.
De Bortoli’s Re-write the rules
Bortoli’s ‘Re-write the rules’ is about finding wine that your taste buds actually love and breaking free from stereotypes with two new wines that have their own distinct character.
The two wines released on launch of the new range are a bold 2021 Pinot Noir at 13.5 per cent ABV and a spicy 2020 Tempranillo at 14.5 per cent ABV, both wines carry a $19.95 RRP.
Last Man Standing Mid-Strength
Following demand from fans in south-east Queensland the Last Man Standing team has launched a mid-strength lager, coming in at 3.5 per cent ABV, and has kept lots of the Last Man Standing flavour identity.
LMS Brewing Managing Director Damian Prosser said: “The popularity of lower alcohol beers is undeniable and we’ve had venues and many of our drinkers put the hard word on us to launch a mid for some time.”
The new beer is available across Queensland and NSW, and the team has plans to expand across Australia in the coming months.
Yes You Can Drink Advent Calendar
The limited edition Yes You Can Drinks advent calendar includes 32 full size 250ml cans. Featuring their award-winning core flavours – spritz, dark and stormy and G&T – as well as three new limited edition surprise flavours.
Founder Tyler Martin and his partner Sophie engaged a world-leading mixologist to create a range of premium cocktails from top shelf alcohol. From there, they reverse-engineered the drinks with a team of food scientists to create their non-alcoholic counterparts, without 75 per cent of the calories.
Tyler said: “We were really strict in that we wanted to use all natural flavours, extracts and botanicals and no artificial sugars of flavour enhancers.”
The advent calendar is available now RRP $100.
The Gospel Responsible Rye
Dedicated rye whiskey distillery, The Gospel, has made its move into the increasingly popular no-alcohol category with the release of Australia’s first rye whiskey alternative, Responsible Rye.
Responsible Rye has been crafted by The Gospel’s R&D Distiller, Ellie Ash, who has spent over 12 months developing the whiskey using 100 per cent Australian rye.
The whiskey has been created using a base of de-alcoholised Straight Rye Whiskey and Ellie has then developed the flavour profile using a blend of botanical extracts until landing on the final recipe. The tasting notes for Responsible Rye describe “an aroma of dried apricot, black tea, cola nut and candied pecan, with stewed stone fruits and an underlying smokiness and warmth on the palate”.
East Pole Mid-Strength Gin
Crafted in Melbourne using the finest Australian botanicals, East Pole has launched with two mid-strength gins – Classic Dry and Pink Grapefruit – each capturing the intensity, mouth-feel and taste profile of a full-strength gin, but with only 22.3 per cent ABV.
While the industry has seen a shift to drinking in moderation, gin is experiencing incredible growth, particularly from local producers, and category innovation is creating more gin occasions for consumers to enjoy.
Founder and CEO of East Pole Distillery, Dylan Alexander, said: “East Pole is for those who are ready to embrace moderation with a balanced perspective. It’s not high-alc and it’s not low-alc, it’s a mid-way point between ‘all or nothing’.”
The gins are available for on- and off-premise venues across Victoria and NSW with a $65RRP.
Best’s Wines 2019 Hamill Shiraz
The inaugural vintage of Hamill Shiraz is produced from the premium Sugarloaf Vineyard in Victoria’s Great Western wine region. Careful consideration on parcels from the best performing blocks has helped to generate a unique single-vineyard wine.
Fermented on skins for up to 21 days and matured in French barriques for 14 months, this medium-bodied wine has layers of spice and fruit with long, complex tannins which all combine to make an intriguing and serious wine, at $60 RRP.
Bentspoke Stratus NEIPA
BentSpoke Brewing Co, has released its first Hazy NEIPA, Stratus, in cans which are now available to bottleshops nationwide.
Richard Watkins, Head Brewer & Co-Founder of BentSpoke has said, “It has a really great combination of hops and yeasty characters. The addition of cereal grains provides some bready flavours, it has a really nice all-around balance. Can’t wait for everyone to try this smooth hazy NEIPA.”
Stratuscomes in at 7.2 per cent ABV with an IBU of 62 and uses Citra, Mosaic, Ekuanot, and Cashmere hops.
Nginious! Swiss Gin
As part of the 2022 expansion plans, Ullrich & Co Spirit Production & Consulting is excited to announce that a range of their Swiss made nginious! Gins are now available in Australia. Nginious! Gins are available to purchase online and wholesale.
Oliver Ullrich Director & Founder, Ullrich & Co Spirit Production & Consulting, said: “The launch of nginious! in Australia marks an important milestone for our company and we are very excited to be partnering with the team at Merchants Pantry, as the exclusive Australian distributor of nginious! products.”
The range now available in Australia comprises, Swiss Blended Gin (a complex, yet refreshing gin that contains 18 botanicals, including those that are uniquely Swiss); Summer Gin (created to be the contrast to the Swiss Blended Gin, this Summer Gin is distinguished with a well-known freshness); Vermouth Cask Finished Gin (the first of its kind, Swiss Blended Gin is aged in Vermouth di Torino Casks) and Smoked & Salted Gin (a true explosion of flavours and the bartenders choice featuring smoked chestnuts and a rare smoke stone salt from the Swiss Alps).
Winesmiths Organic Cask Collection
Winesmiths will introduce a new collection of two-litre cask, certified Organic wines to its portfolio in July 2022, in response to consumer demand for more sustainable drinking options.
Winesmiths Senior Brand Manager Lisa Antoney, said: “Consumers want their beverage choice to meet their ‘better for me, better for the environment’ needs.
“Not only is the cask pack a more sustainable option than glass, our Organic certification guarantees chemicals will not spoil the healthy pH balance of our soil, harm beneficial insects and flora, or pollute our groundwater and local waterways.”
Winesmiths Organic Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvignon two-litre are available to order now through Samuel Smith & Son. RRP $24.00.
Burleigh Sass
Burleigh Brewing has released a new premium beer with natural ginger. Burleigh Sass is a bright ale brewed with ginger and boasts a fragrant ginger aroma and subtle spicy character, providing a smooth, clean, and refreshing taste.
“Burleigh Sass is anything but sweet. We’ve used natural Australian ginger to create an easy drinking ale with a beautiful straw colour. It’s a real beer brewed with real local ginger and without any sugar,” said Brewmaster and Co-Founder Brennan Fielding.
Burleigh Sass is 4.2 per cent ABV, contains only 100 calories per bottle and is preservative free, vegan friendly, non-pasteurised and is crafted to reduce gluten. It is available to independent retailers nationwide.
Broken Bean Coffee Liqueur
Coffee brewer and distiller, Broken Bean is bottling a new, premium coffee liqueur made pure ingredients in the form of cold brew coffee, Australian wheat vodka and Australian sugar.
“With Broken Bean we wanted to provide drinkers with innovative cocktail creations using two things Aussies do so well; coffee and spirits. Ultimately, we’re a liquor brand that represents a nation of coffee fanatics,” said co-founder Matt Faulkner.
In addition to the liqueur in bottles, Broken Bean has partnered with the Modern Cocktail Co (MoCo), created by Vanguard Luxury Brands, to serve Broken Bean’s Espresso Martini at venues across the country.
Broken Bean Coffee Liqueur is available nationally at $60 RRP and is distributed by Vanguard Luxury Brands.
Better Beer Zero Alc
The latest release from the Inspired Unemployed and Better Beer partnership is a zero alc beer at 0.5 per cent, described as “crisp, refreshing, and the perfect beer for when you’re not drinking beers”.
The beer has been created using a vacuum evaporation method and is available to buy now in 355ml tinnies.
Fellr Non-Alcoholic Seltzer
Australian seltzer company Fellr has released a range of non-alcoholic, sugar-free, gluten-free and carb-free seltzers, which are just 10 calories per can.
Co-Founder Will Morgan said: “We’ve used our custom fermentation method and unique yeast, to brew, ferment and blend this product to create a truly refreshing and low-calorie beverage.”
The two flavours, Watermelon and Mango, are now available nationwide at $16 RRP for a four-pack of 330ml cans.