Liquid assets: the latest drinks launches for December

Citizen Spritz

Spritz brand Citizen Spritz launches this month enabling drinkers to create aperitif style drinks but without the alcohol. Available in passion fruit; pink grapefruit; cool lime; and bitter orange variants, the drinks have been made with more than 40 natural ingredients that have been blended to provide the depth, complexity and taste profiles normally only found in alcoholic drinks. “We weren’t looking to quit alcohol completely but wanted something for the times it was too early to start drinking, or for when we just fancied a break from the booze,” says Citizen Spritz co-funder Mike Bagshaw. “We tried so many mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits, but most were sickly sweet, with no complexity or depth of flavour.” An aperitif is made by mixing a 25ml measure of Citizen Spritz with 175ml sparkling or soda water and ice.

Sempé Armagnac

Spirits specialist Emporia Brands has added Sempé armagnac to its portfolio. The initial launch includes four different expressions of armagnac and two traditional aperitifs, including a rare single-barrel, cask-strength armagnac. The range has been masterminded by Emporia’s father and son team, James and Jack Rackham, who between them have more than 40 years of expertise in armagnac. James has spent the past year working with Gérard Pujau at Sempé, blending and hand-selecting casks especially for the UK market.

Kuheiji sake

Japan Centre has become the exclusive UK stockist of the high-end sake producer Kuheiji. Billed as one of the most prestigious producers of the drink, the Nagoya-based sake brewery is famous for its knowledge and use of French wine techniques to ‘elevate the natural flavour and quality of its incredible sake’. Eight different Kuheiji sakes are on offer, ranging from ‘complex and opulent’ to ‘full-bodied and floral’. Prices range from £46 to £190 per 720ml bottle.

Sprigster Fizz

Non-alcoholic shrub brand Sprigster has released a sparkling variant in time for the festive season. Sprigster Fizz joins the brand’s original alcohol-free botanical infusion and is a good booze-free alternative to sparkling wine. Made from home-grown ingredients including hops for dryness, rhubarb for tang, ginger for heat and fennel seeds for a hint of anise, and an English Discovery apple reduction, Sprigster is a modern interpretation of an old English shrub and is hot-steeped, fermented, distilled and infused for three weeks to impact herbaceous tannins and a complex botanical and fermented flavour profile. The sparkling variant is priced at £15 for a 75cl bottle and is available at sprigsterdrinks.com.

Camden Town Brewery Imperial Pilsner

London’s Camden Town Brewery has launched a limited edition 8.5% ABV Imperial Pilsner. The drink is the younger, unaged version of the barrel-aged Imperial Pilsners launched by the brewery over the last few years and is intended for festive sharing occasions. Aged for 6-9 months, the beer is brewed with Camden’s house Bamberg Pilsner malt for a full and intense bready malt character and Perle hops for a clean bitterness. 

Smokehead Cask Terminado

Smokehead, the self-proclaimed ‘rebel of the whisky world’ has launched an Islay Scotch finished in tequila casks. The tequila cask finish created a ‘genuinely unique whisky’ in which ‘fiery peat awakes with wild agave’. Tasting notes include chewy meringue, blood orange, barbecued pineapple, smooth toffee and peaches. The branding takes its cues from Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebration with each bottle depicting ‘two skeletons rising from the dead for a last tango in a tequila cask’. “Tequila Cask Terminado is more than a passion project for us,” says brand director Iain Weir. “It’s an embodiment of everything Smokehead stands for. Rule-breaking, ‘pouring-less-boring’ and defiance. We’re so proud to launch Tequila Cask Terminado into the unique Smokehead family.”

ZAG Ice

Non-alcoholic brand ZAG Drinks has launched a second flavour of its popular soft drink. ZAG Ice is an 0% abv drink made with lime, mint, juniper and assam tea and fulfils the need by adults for a less sweet soft drink, according to the company. The drink is available in 330ml and contains 44 calories. “Since the inception of ZAG, we’ve wanted to challenge the conventional and accept that there can be a healthy approach – both physically and mentally - to socialising in pubs and bars,” says managing director Bonnie Hatcher. “By providing consumers with more varied and exciting non-alcoholic alternatives, non-drinkers can enjoy the same anticipation and satisfaction around drinking and socialising as drinkers.”

Lost Years spiced rums

Conservation rum brand Lost Years is celebrating its second birthday with a range of spiced rums as part of its new Wandering Turtle’ series. Inspired by the flavours of the Caribbean, the new two-strong collection comprises a silver spiced rum made with single origin rum from Antigua flavoured with coconuts, blood orange, mandarins, limes, vanilla and exotic spices; and an expression that blends golden rums from Jamaica, Venezuela, and Nicaragua with queen pineapples and tropical spices. Both have an abv of 37.5% and are priced at £32.95. More spiced rum flavours will be added to the series in the future.