The “world’s first data-distilled rum”, a superfood liqueur and Scotch whisky aged in an ex-gin cask – January’s top spirits launches were a captivating bunch.

We reveal the top 10 spirits launches in January 2017

Start the year as you mean to go on – and in the spirits world this meant experimental expressions, new creations and flavour innovations aplenty.

In January Diageo re-entered the Irish whiskey category with Roe & Co, Funkin launched the “first” commercially available cocktail shrub, and Beinn an Tuirc distillery heralded Scotland’s “first” ‘eco’ gin.

Meanwhile, Jack Daniel’s answered caffeine lovers’ prayers with the release of whiskey-infused coffee and Virgin collaborated with global rum ambassador Ian Burrell to craft a rum that “tastes like a holiday”.

Click through the following pages to discover which brands made the cut.

Roe & Co

Two years after selling Bushmills, Diageo re-entered the Irish whiskey category with plans for a new €25 million (US$26.7m) distillery in Dublin and the launch of Roe & Co blended Irish whiskey.

The brand pays homage to George Roe, who is credited with building the golden era of Irish whiskey in the 19th century.

Diageo plans to convert the former Guinness Power House in Dublin into St. James’s Gate distillery, with production beginning “in the first half of 2019”

For more information, click here

Absolut Lime

Pernod Ricard released a new lime variant for Absolut Vodka, after last year admitting a flavour cull had been implemented across the brand’s portfolio.

The new expression will debut at the 59th Grammy Awards as part of a “multi-faceted” sponsorship, which will include TV, digital and social media exposure.

Absolut Lime joins the brand’s citrus portfolio – which includes Absolut Citron and Absolut Mandrin.

For more information, click here

SMWS: The Dunnage Bakehouse

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) released what is thought to be the first Scotch whisky aged in an ex-gin cask – The Dunnage Bakehouse.

The 13-year-old single cask whisky, numbered 35.178 in the independent bottler’s system, has spent an undisclosed amount of time in a first-fill ex-gin hogshead.

SMWS does not officially disclose the source of its whiskies, but it is understood expressions numbered 35 are distilled at Glen Moray in Speyside.

For more information, click here

Kintyre Gin

Sustainable distillery Beinn an Tuirc announced the impending launch of what it claims is Scotland’s first ‘eco’ gin, produced using a still powered by hydro-electricity.

Beinn an Tuirc is situated on the Torrisdale Castle Estate in Kintyre, which houses a 99kw hydro-electricity scheme to power the 230-litre still.

The gin consists of 10 commonly used botanicals, with the addition of two which are “totally exclusive” to Beinn an Tuirc: Icelandic moss and sheep sorrel.

For more information, click here

Funkin Pro Beetroot Shrub Syrup

Fruit purée brand Funkin launched what is believed to be the first commercially available shrub, made with all-natural ingredients including beetroot juice concentrate, rosemary extract and spirit vinegar.

To launch the product, Funkin teamed up with Be At One and the Jägermeister UK team, including brand ambassador Florian Beuren and London customer development executive Max Tamagna to launch a The Jäger Mega Drive serve.

For more information, click here

Holiday Spirit

Virgin Holidays created the “world’s first data-distilled rum” by using a super computer to analyse more than 15 million social media posts and produce a recipe that “tastes like a holiday”.

Virgin came up with the recipe for ‘Holiday Spirit’ by programming IBM’s cognitive computing platform ‘Watson’ to analyse feelings expressed online by more than 15 million holidaymakers.

The emotions identified were matched to thousands of rum flavour descriptors by global rum ambassador Ian Burrell, and used to build a rum which was then bottled at 40% abv.

For more information, click here

Hine 1987 Cognacs

Cognac house Hine released two 1987 vintages – a Jarnac-matured and an ‘early-landed’ expression made using the “finest” Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie.

Hine founding family member and honorary chairman Bernard Hine said that July in 1987 was one of the wettest on record, but that a hot, dry period lasted from August until late September – creating “perfect conditions for ripening the grapes ready for harvest”.

Every year, Hine sets aside a few casks of the “finest” Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie to mature in the 18^th century cellars beneath the firm’s offices in Jarnac.

Other casks are shipped to the UK to be aged as ‘early-landed’ Cognac, a Hine practice that dates back to the 19^th century.

For more information, click here

Bladnoch single malt trio

Bladnoch Distillery has unveiled a trio of single malt Scotch whiskies, the first releases from the 200-year-old site since it ceased production eight years ago.

The new whiskies include a no-age-statement, a 15-year-old and a 25-year-old, which are all now available to Australian retailers.

The new whiskies were crafted by master distiller Ian Macmillan, former master blender of Burn Stewart, who joined the distillery in October 2015.

For more information, click here

Fair Açai

Ethical spirits and liqueurs company, Fair, unveiled a new liqueur made using açai – a “superfood” berry from the Amazon rainforest.

The berry is bursting with antioxidants, fibre and ‘good’ fats, and is celebrated for its anti-ageing and immune system-boosting properties, among others.

Fair Açai offers “aromas of fruit puree and marmalade”.

For more information, click here

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Coffee

Ever wish you could enjoy the taste of whiskey in your morning coffee – without the woozy side effects? Now you can, thanks to the chaps at Jack Daniel’s.

To create the coffee, the distillery infuses 100% medium-roasted Arabica coffee with Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey – resulting in “caramel and vanilla notes”.

The ground coffee is available in both regular and decaffeinated editions, and is initially available on the Jack Daniel’s before being rolled out nationwide in the US.

For more information, click here