58 Gin creates hard seltzer range

London-based producer 58 Gin has joined the fast-growing hard seltzer category with the launch of its raspberry and pink grapefruit flavours.

The new 58 Gin Hard Seltzer range is bottled at 4% ABV

The new 58 Gin Hard Seltzer is made using the distillery’s 58 London Dry Gin and “all-natural” ingredients. Each 250ml can (4% ABV) contains no sugar and fewer than 67 calories.

The new expressions are made using reverse osmosis – a process of extreme filtering which is said to enhance purity and taste.

Carmen O’Neal, managing director, 58 Gin, said: “Hard seltzers are a fast-growing category and it’s a space that will become very competitive, very quickly. We wanted to do something different from the start, which will appeal to consumers, and using gin as a base for our hard seltzer does exactly this.

“The cut from the heart of the gin gives the hard seltzer a smoother and lighter taste than the more commonly used grain spirits and fortified wines. This creates a more premium finish, and given the vast popularity of gin, it seemed a natural next step for us to take a spirit we know so well and use it in the next big consumer drinks trend of hard seltzers.”

The new 58 Gin Hard Seltzer Raspberry and Pink Grapefruit variants are priced at RRP £2.20 (US$2.75) per can and available to buy in the UK.

A growing number of producers have entered the hard seltzer category in recent weeks. English spirits producer Chase Distillery created gin-based hard seltzers, while Scotland’s Brewdog Distilling unveiled its vodka-based Clean & Press range.

Last month, Diageo released Smirnoff Seltzers, a mix of Smirnoff No.21 Premium Vodka, sparkling water and natural fruit flavours. Category giant White Claw Hard Seltzer also entered the UK market on 1 June.

Over the next five years, IWSR predicts that hard seltzers will likely witness the highest growth rate within the UK’s ready-to-drink category, with a forecast volume compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 71.7% from 2019 to 2024.