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Top 50 innovative spirits launches of 2016: 20-11

Bacon-infused Bourbon, “age-defying” gin and an at-home vodka infusion kit make the fourth instalment of our most innovative spirits launches list.

We present the fourth instalment of our most innovative spirits launches list

By definition, innovating is the act of “making changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products”, so it comes as no surprise that as we journey further through our spirits countdown one word repeatedly comes to the fore: “first”.

To become the first brand – and usually ‘only’, at least for a little while – to deviate from the status quo of any given category carries its own unique advantages and pitfalls. Succeed, and you could well transform the spirits sector forever, earning a marked spot in spirits history. Fail, and the project is little more than an expensive gimmick

For many distillers the outcome is somewhat irrelevant. With curiosity satiated they push forward, experimenting again and again until they hit upon another extraordinary idea – whether a vodka/cider hybrid or whisky made from the top 1% of a company’s casks.

Click through the following pages to see the fourth part of our top 50 innovative spirits launches of 2016, counting down from 20 to 11.

To view 30 to 21, click here.

To view 40 to 31, click here.

To view 50 to 41, click here.

20. Anti-Agin

Experimental gastronomy company Bompas & Parr created Anti-AGin; the “first gin of its kind” that allows gin fans to “rejuvenate” their skin while drinking thanks to its “age-defying botanicals”, which include drinkable pure collagen.

Containing seven ‘major botanicals’ and six ‘minor botanicals’, the gin is described as “the alcoholic equivalent of a facial”.

For more information, click here

19. Three Ships Pinotage-Finish Whisky

Three Ships Whisky unveiled the “first” whisky to be finished in former Pinotage casks – a South African wine.

The 15-year-old expression, made from grain and malt, is also said to be the oldest whisky launched in South Africa’s history.

For more information, click here

18. Smirnoff Cider

Diageo aimed to tap into the fruit cider category in June with the launch of Smirnoff Cider – a blend of lightly fizzed cider, fruit flavours and Smirnoff vodka, available in Raspberry & Pomegranate and Passionfruit & Lime editions.

The release aims to diversify Smirnoff’s portfolio and tap into the growing cider category, which is currently worth £2.7 billion.

For more information, click here

17. Our/Vodka’s Our/Infusions

Pernod Ricard-owned “glocal” concept Our/Vodka launched Our/Infusions in October – four at-home infusion kits comprising oak, juniper, citrus and tea botanical blends that transform the flavour of brand’s core expression to create something “entirely new”.

Kalle Söderquist, co-founder and creative director of Our/Vodka said: “Combined with an urban DIY trend when it comes to everything food and drinks, we believe that our range of Our/Infusion kits are changing the spirits industry by helping the end consumer to create something entirely new from a bottle of Our/Vodka.”

For more information, click here

16. Huxley Rare Genus Whiskey

Diageo’s “experimental whisky collective” Whiskey Union unveiled new blended expression Huxley Rare Genus Whiskey in July last year.

Designed to “take whiskey drinkers into uncharted territory”, Huxley combines Scotch, Canadian and American whiskies to result in a “unique blend even greater than the sum of its parts”.

Whiskey Union was first announced in November 2015, a project established to “push the boundaries of blending”.

For more information, click here

15. Chivas Regal Ultis

The ‘first’ blended malt Scotch whisky from Chivas Regal contains liquid from five different Speyside distilleries.

The variant pays homage to Chivas Regal’s five master blenders since its launch in 1909: Charles Howard, Charles Julian, Allan Baillie, Jimmy Lang and Colin Scott.

The Chivas Brothers-owned brand claims Chivas Regal’s blending team take the best 1% of its casks to create Ultis.

In addition to a slender design and golden crest, Ultis’s bottle features a pen-clip closure etched with five rings and the Roman numeral for ‘five’ on the base of the bottle.

For more information, click here

14. Redbreast Lustau Edition

Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers added Redbreast Lustau Edition, described as a “twist” on the brand’s core Sherry-influenced single pot still whiskey, to its permanent range in October.

Initially matured for between nine and 12 years in a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-oloroso Sherry casks, the liquid was vatted before undergoing a year-long finishing period in first-fill butts seasoned with oloroso Sherry at the Bodegas Lustau in Jerez.

A “new interpretation” of the signature Redbreast character, Redbreast Lustau Edition is said to offer nosing and tasting notes of dark fruit, prunes, spices and marzipan with a creamy mouthfeel.

For more information, click here

13. Ol’ Major Bacon Bourbon

Spirits producer Branded Spirits USA launched Ol’ Major Bacon Bourbon, the “first” bacon-infused Bourbon in the States, in April last year.

The new variant is the brainchild of Nick Chen, chief of staff at Branded Spirits USA, who was inspired to create the flavour after sampling a bacon Bourbon cocktail.

Bottled at 35% abv, Ol’ Major Bacon Bourbon is “gently” infused with bacon, using the process of pressure infusion to combine the flavours of bacon and Bourbon together.

For more information, click here

12. Project Q

The Whipper Snapper Distillery, based in East Perth, partnered with Narrogin-based Three Farmers to create just 100 bottles of what is thought to be Australia’s first Quinoa spirit.

Project Q, as the spirit is called, has been bottled at 47% abv and carries a price tag of AU$185 per bottle.

The use of quinoa is said to deliver a “nuttiness and earthiness” to the spirit’s flavour, according to Whipper Snapper production engineer, Tim Hosken.

Co-founder Ashley Wiese said Project Q was the first commercial release of a quinoa product as a liquid.

For more information, click here

11. Casa Noble Alta Belleza

Tequila house Casa Noble released Alta Belleza – a Cabernet Sauvignon-finished extra añejo expression that is the first in a new series, Colección del Fundador – or Founder’s Collection in November.

The five-year-old, US$1,200 expression was developed by Casa Noble’s founder and maestro tequilero, Jose ‘Pepe’ Hermosillo, bringing together the worlds of wine and Tequila, chiefly the To Kalon Vineyard in Napa Valley and the agave fields of Jalisco.

A 100% blue weber agave Tequila, the release has been triple distilled and aged in French white oak barrels.

For more information, click here

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