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Top 10 spirits launches in September 2018

A Charles Dickens-inspired vermouth, a golden rum infused with ginger and the first Irish whiskey from professional fighter Conor McGregor are among our pick of the most exciting new products to launch last month.

We present our pick of top spirits launches from last month

Last month, mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor became the latest star to move into Irish whiskey with the launch of Proper No. Twelve, while Fever-Tree and Patrón created a new citrus tonic to complement Tequila.

Scotch whisky was present in our round-up with the launch of Allt-A-Bhainne, a new single malt brand that aims to “shake up” the category, and William Grant & Sons’ new label Aerstone, which has been introduced to “simplify” whisky.

Click through the following pages to explore our full round-up of top spirits launches in September.

Which new spirits products caught your eye last month? If we’ve missed your favourite, let us know in the comments below.

Proper No. Twelve

Professional fighter Conor McGregor moved into Irish whiskey last month with the launch of Proper No. Twelve.

Launched under McGregor’s Eire Born Spirits company, the blended whiskey was created at the Old Bushmills Distillery in partnership with distiller David Elder, formerly of Guinness.

The name, Proper No. Twelve, pays homage to McGregor’s home neighbourhood of Crumlin, Dublin 12.

For more information, click here.

Aerstone

William Grant & Sons has launched a new range of single malts called Aerstone, which has been introduced to “simplify” whisky.

With an aim to focus on the affect of maturation and malting on flavour, Aerstone is available in two expressions: Sea Cask 10 Year Old and Land Cask 10 Year Old.

Aerstone has also been positioned to “simplify messaging in the single malt category” by using “clear taste descriptors on pack”.

For more information, click here.

Fever-Tree Citrus Tonic Water

Bacardi-owned Patrón has partnered with mixer producer Fever-Tree to create a citrus-flavoured tonic water to “revolutionise consumer thinking when it comes to a Tequila and tonic”.

Fever-Tree Citrus Tonic Water is described as a blend of citrus including Mexican limes from Colima and Michoacán, tangerines from Vera Cruz and bitter orange from Yucatán.

It is recommended served in a Tequila and tonic, as well as a Paloma twist or a Patrón and Fever-Tree Highball.

For more information, click here.

Bacardi Ginger

Bacardi Ginger is a “golden rum infused with ginger flavours” and has been created to respond to “demand for flavoured spirits”. Bacardi predicts that flavoured spirits “will be the next big trend” for the rum category.

Described as having a “sweet and spicy taste”, the expression is recommended served with cola or lemonade.

The expression is available in the UK for an RRP of £16.99 (US$21.80).

For more information, click here.

Allt-A-Bhainne

Pernod Ricard’s Scotch whisky arm Chivas Brothers has released a new single malt brand that  “goes against traditional Speyside conventions”, called Allt-A-Bhainne.

Allt-A-Bhainne combines the “smokiness of peat with the fruity sweetness” of Speyside.

The whisky aims to “push conventional boundaries to attract a whole new generation of drinkers”.

For more information, click here.

Bertoux Brandy

The result of a “first-of-its-kind” collaboration between Please Don’t Tell bartender Jeff Bell and sommelier Thomas Pastuszak and entrepreneur Jeff Menashe, Bertoux Brandy aims to bring brandy to the “forefront of cocktail culture”.

Bertoux Brandy is a solera-style blend of pot-distilled Californian brandies aged for three to seven years in French and American oak.

Menashe aims to “restore the marquee role in mixology that brandy enjoyed during the first golden age of the cocktails”.

For more information, click here.

Jameson Cold Brew

Irish Distillers is targeting whiskey and coffee drinkers with the launch of Jameson Cold Brew.

The expression combines triple-distilled Jameson Irish whiskey with cold brew coffee extract, which is made from 100% Fairtrade Arabica beans from Colombia and Brazil.

Created in response to growing demand for coffee-driven cocktails such as the Espresso Martini, the expression is said to have a “bold coffee taste balanced with charred wood on the palate and a warming mouthfeel on the finish”.

For more information, click here

Few American Whiskey

Chicago-based distillery Few Spirits launched a blend made with Bourbon, rye and cherry wood-smoked malt whiskeys last month.

Bottled at 46.5% abv, Few American Whiskey is described as having a “complete balance” of sweet, spice and smoke flavours.

It is said to have tart cherry notes with a hint of smoke, leading to a “subtle” white pepper and honey finish.

For more information, click here.

Douglas Fir Flavoured Vodka

Douglas fir-flavoured vodka is the first expression in The Moorland Spirit Company’s new experimental Explorer Edition series.

Bottled at 41% abv, the vodka has been two years in the making and is made with the needles of the Douglas fir tree, which grows on the grounds of the Hepple Estate in Northumberland, where the spirit is made.

The Moorland Spirit Company, founded by Nick Strangeway and Valentine Warner, also produces Hepple Gin.

For more information, click here.

Chimes English Extra Dry Vermouth

Cranleigh-based Surrey Copper Distillery unveiled its first vermouth last month – the second expression to be inspired by a Charles Dickens novel.

Bottled at 15% abv, Chimes English Extra Dry Vermouth is a blend of Surrey-made Sauvignon Blanc and distilled spirit infusion made with 12 botanicals.

The expression is named after Dickens’ 1844 book The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In.

For more information, click here.

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