Top 10 spirits launches from April
Liqueurs led the way for new product development in April, while spirits brands also tapped into lower ABV and RTD trends.
Scapegrace and Soplica were among brands to launch new liqueurs in April, while Maker’s Mark moved away from Bourbon for the first time. In the mixer space, Thomas Henry launched a watermelon flavour as it turned its attention to daytime drinking occasions.
Read on for the full list of top spirits launches from last month. For more new spirits products, see what ranked in our top 10 most innovative spirits launches of 2024.
Maker’s Mark goes left field with wheat whiskey star
Suntory Global Spirits-owned Maker’s Mark unveiled its first non-Bourbon release with wheat whiskey Star Hill Farm.
The expression features the distillery’s first new mash bill since its founding in 1953. It will be an annual addition to the Maker’s Mark range that evolves each year.
Star Hill Farm is made from two distinct mash bills: one composed of 70% soft red winter wheat and 30% malted barley, and the other 100% malted soft red winter wheat. It showcases soft red winter wheat, the key grain in Maker’s Mark’s mashbill, while eliminating corn entirely.
It is also the first to carry the Estate Whiskey certification – a new designation from The Estate Whiskey Alliance, created by the University of Kentucky. Offered at 57.35% ABV, the suggested retail price is US$100.
Rémy Martin and Anish Kapoor partnership takes shape
Cognac brand Rémy Martin released a limited edition decanter of its XO expression, designed by artist Anish Kapoor.
For the collaboration, the British-Indian sculptor reimagined the brand’s classic XO bottle with a minimalist design, featuring a curved shape and a concave centre in glowing amber tones.
Kapoor also revisited the original glass mould to create a smooth front surface that blends with the scooped design on the back. Rémy Martin XO x Anish Kapoor is available in a 700ml format at a recommended retail price of US$189.99.
Thomas Henry crushes summer cravings with watermelon
Tonic and mixer producer Thomas Henry tapped into daytime drinking trends with the release of Vivid Watermelon. The watermelon-flavoured mixer marks the brand’s first new product launch in four years.
Senior international brand manager Marco Frizzarin said the brand was also looking at appealing to “pure consumption on top of mixability”, and also “something that brings the brand more into the daytime occasion because people are drinking less at night and more during the daytime”.
The mixer is described as ‘refreshingly juicy’ with a lightly sweet watermelon taste and hints of pomegranate and citrus. It is available in 15 markets, including Benelux, Sweden, Spain, and Greece.
Recommended serves include as the base for a Watermelon Highball with vodka, in Spritz variations, or on its own.
Soplica receives just desserts with new pistachio-flavoured liqueur
Polish vodka brand Soplica turned to white chocolate and pistachios for its latest liqueur innovation.
The liqueur is made with E Wedel White Chocolate and roasted pistachios, which leads to a lingering sweetness on the palate, the brand noted. The launch is said to embrace the growing trend of dessert-inspired spirits.
It can be enjoyed neat, over ice or in a cocktail. The brand also suggests pairing the liqueur with desserts such as tiramisu, panna cotta, and pistachio macarons, as well as cheese and nut-based pastries.
Offered at 15% ABV in 500ml bottles, Soplica E Wedel White Chocolate & Pistachio is available in the Netherlands through Anker Amsterdam Spirits and Top Drinks.
Copenhagen Distillery slings new whisky in Singapore
Danish producer Copenhagen Distillery launched a whisky exclusively in Singapore.
The Singapore Edition, the single malt was finished in a Hungarian oak cask that was seasoned with ruby Port wine for three years.
Lasse Öznek, master distiller at Copenhagen Distillery, said: “We first arrived in Singapore in the summer of 2024, and since then our sales in this market have grown significantly. Our audience in Singapore is seeking something new, and the Asian market as a whole is dedicating more time to whisky.”
The whisky sits at 56% ABV, and can only be bought at Takashimaya department stores in Singapore for S$480 (US$366). The release is limited to 68 bottles.
Old Dominick whiskey range grows with wheat
Tennessee Distillery Old Dominick released a seven-year-old single-barrel wheat whiskey. It claims it’s “the first wheat whiskey to be distilled in Memphis since Prohibition”.
The whiskey marks the distillery’s third mash bill, and consists of 83% wheat, 12% corn and 5% malted barley. The liquid is aged in West Tennessee white oak barrels.
Distinguishing it from the brand’s other whiskeys, lead distiller David Valentine explained it was “noticeably different from our Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey – it is softer, with notes of maple syrup, honey, hazelnut, and mocha”.
Old Dominick Wheat Single Barrel has an ABV of 62.3% and is priced between US$60 and US$70 in Memphis and the greater southeast of Tennessee.
Belvedere brews up coffee vodka
Polish vodka Belvedere tapped into the coffee trend with the release of Dirty Brew.
The spirit from the LVMH-owned brand combines Belvedere rye vodka with the taste of roasted organic robusta coffee beans. Dirty Brew is bottled at 30% ABV, which is lower than Belvedere’s flagship vodka at 40% ABV. The name nods to the “cheeky and irreverent nature” of the “dirty coffee” technique – adding a shot of espresso into a liquid to darken it.
François-Xavier Desplancke, president and CEO of Belvedere Vodka, said: “At Belvedere, we are creators with a simple philosophy: innovate with purpose, craft with excellence. Belvedere Dirty Brew is the purest, yet the darkest, culmination of this vision.”
Dirty Brew is priced at RRP £38 (US$50) for a 700ml bottle.
Convenience key for Sierra Tequila with RTD entry
Tequila brand Sierra, owned by the Stock Spirits Group, joined the ready-to-drink (RTD) sphere with a range of canned Margaritas.
The canned cocktails, described as ‘bar-quality’ Margaritas, come in three flavours: Strawberry, Lime, and Mango. Mango has been created for the Czech market. Meanwhile, the two other variants have rolled out in Germany, and will be followed by Czechia, Slovakia, Croatia, Poland, the UK and the Netherlands.
Nicolas Mazuranic, chief marketing officer at Stock Spirits Group, said: “People love Margaritas, but not everyone wants to make thei
r own. That’s why we created Sierra Margaritas, to offer a premium cocktail experience with zero effort.”
Scapegrace storms into liqueur space with ThunderDonk
New Zealand’s Scapegrace Distilling created its first line of flavoured whisky liqueurs, which it has called ThunderDonk.
The first two expressions in the ThunderDonk range are Salted Caramel and Spiced Maple, which took 18 months to develop. They feature single malt whisky from Scapegrace’s newly opened distillery on the banks of Lake Dunstan in Central Otago.
Scapegrace co-founder Daniel McLaughlin said the name ThunderDonk reflects the brand’s playful and boundary-pushing spirit: “It is bringing an independent, bold, and locally made flavoured whisky to the market.”
Both expressions are bottled at 33% ABV. They are available in New Zealand for an RRP of NZD$59.99 (US$33.50). ThunderDonk will launch in Australia, the UK and other markets later this year.
Tatratea goes for a lighter approach
Slovak spirit Tatratea launched 35% Original Light to align with ‘healthier’ lifestyles and mindful drinking choices.
The expression is a lighter version of the brand’s flagship 52% Original tea-based herbal liqueur. It is bottled at 35% ABV and sports an inverted chrome-finish design.
CEO Erik Semaňák said: “When we launched Tatratea 52% Original in 2004, it marked the beginning of a unique story. This new addition brings everything we love about the black Tatratea – its characteristic tea-herbal flavour and balance – while catering to those who prefer a lighter version with reduced alcohol and sugar content.”
The brand added that 35% Original Light will also provide an entry point for those who want to explore Tatratea’s range at a lower alcohol volume, while also serving as a versatile base for creating refreshing mixed drinks.
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