De Kuyper debuts alcohol-free RTD cocktails

Dutch drinks firm De Kuyper is tapping into the low- and no-alcohol trend with the release of a new range of zero-ABV pre-mixed cocktails.

The De Kuyper Zero ready-to-drink (RTD) range includes four non-alcoholic variants: Mojito, Strawberry Daiquiri, Margarita and Pornstar Martini. Each expression comes in a 200ml glass bottle.

De Kuyper said it created the line to ‘facilitate the global trend towards healthier yet convenient lifestyles’.

“De Kuyper Zero is the answer to the rising no- and low-alcohol trend,” explained Mark de Witte, CEO of De Kuyper. “Four classic non-alcoholic cocktails for the increasing number of consumers who want to enjoy social moments without alcohol or moderate drinking and who don’t want to compromise.

“With our expertise we know exactly how a perfect cocktail should taste and have developed these perfect alternatives without alcohol.”

The Mojito offering is described as ‘refreshing and minty’, and combines lime, mint, Caribbean sugar cane and mineral water. It is recommended served in a long glass, filled with crushed ice and mint leaves.

Meanwhile, the alcohol-free Pornstar Martini features flavours of passion fruit, vanilla and lime. The drink requires shaking first with ice to create a foam layer, then served in a Martini glass and garnished with a half a passion fruit.

The Strawberry Daiquiri blends strawberries with lime and sugar cane, and is best served in a coupe glass with a lime wedge.

Finally, the Margarita RTD combines flavours of lime, orange and agave and is recommended served in a Margarita glass with a lime wedge.

The new range was created by Myriam Hendrickx, master distiller at De Kuyper, and Henk-Jan Schoute, research and development at De Kuyper.

Hendrickx said: “Alcohol does a lot with taste and mouthfeel in a drink. There is no 100% alternative for it. Still, we didn’t want to take the easy way and make the cocktail taste like lemonade or fruit juice as you see so often.

“Instead, we looked for a sensation equal to that of an alcoholic cocktail. It was quite challenging. As we tried many different options, it was one of our most complex new product development projects.

“We really went further, using botanicals and some secret ingredients to match the characteristics of alcohol. De Kuyper Zero cocktails have the proper taste, with recognisable flavour elements fitting the cocktail, for instance rum and Tequila, but also an astringent and contracting effect in the mouth, which gives you a real kick and the experience of an adult drink.”

De Witte added that the company will “explore other non-alcoholic developments” in the future.

The De Kuyper Zero range is initially available to buy in supermarkets across the Netherlands for RRP €2.49 (US$2.83) per 200ml bottle.

This is not De Kuyper’s first foray into RTDs. The company unveiled its Fizzy Favourites canned line made with its namesake liqueur in October 2020.