Pernod Ricard-owned Malibu rum liqueur has released a watermelon-flavoured expression, bottled at 21% ABV

Pernod Ricard said the watermelon craze has risen in popularity, growing by 40% year over year, according to Nielsen data.

The expression is said to be ‘easy to mix’ and is recommended for outdoor occasions such as a barbecue. It can be consumed mixed with soda water and garnished with watermelon, or used as the base for a Mojito.

The watermelon variant joins the Malibu range, which includes Original, Pineapple and Strawberry.

Malibu reported a strong performance in 2019, with sales up by 5.5% to 3.9 million nine-litre cases, according to Brand Champions 2020 data.

In the last six months of 2020, Malibu’s organic sales grew 26%.

Last week, Pernod Ricard unveiled a watermelon-flavoured Absolut vodka to tap into the demand for watermelon-flavoured alcoholic beverages.

For more information, go to maliburumdrinks.com

Irish Whiskey distiller Bushmill has debuted a Caribbean Rum Cask Finish whiskey, the first in the new Bushmills Original Cask Finish range.

create tropical fruit and dry spice flavours, with its signature triple distilled Irish grain whiskey.Featuring the brand’s Original Irish Whiskey, the expression extracts pineapple sweetness, caramelized brown sugar notes and toffee tones from the casks to create a long, smooth finish.

“The launch of the Cask Finish series is an exciting and innovative move for Bushmills Irish Whiskey,” said Helen Mulholland, master blender for Bushmill. “The Cask Finish series adds an extra dimension to our acclaimed Bushmills Original.

“As the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery,” she continued,  “the Old Bushmills Distillery has warehouses bursting with unique casks ageing exquisite whiskey.  We’re very excited to bring our latest innovation to new and discerning whiskey drinkers across the island of Ireland.”

First used in the Caribbean to hold rich rum for a minimum of seven years, the casks have been carefully selected by local rum makers and transported to Ireland.

The casks are then stored for years in Bushmills’ warehouses, imbuing its single malt with pineapple sweetness, caramelised brown sugar notes, toffee tones and a long, smooth finish.

For more information, go to bushmills.com

Global Liqueur brand Bailey’s has launched a new, limited-edition Colada expression that tastes just like a tropical vacation in a bottle.

Made with Irish Cream and blended with the rich flavours of creamy coconut and sweet pineapple, Bailey’s Colada is perfect for enjoying anytime, anywhere, from beach brunches to backyard barbecues.

PIN IT

To celebrate the launch, Baileys is partnering with actress, producer and best-selling author La La Anthony; an entertainer who’s always eager to escape to her number one vacation spot: the beach.

To recreate those vacation vibes from home – Anthony has crafted her own signature cocktail aptly named the Baileys Co-La La.

Baileys Co-La La

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 oz. Baileys Colada
• 1 1/2 Cups Crushed Ice

Instructions

Add crushed ice and Baileys Colada into a blender. Blend to a smooth consistency. Pour blended cocktails into colada glasses. Garnish with a chocolate-covered strawberry

To celebrate the launch, Baileys has partnered with BlendJet to offer a custom Baileys Colada portable blender featuring a vibrant yellow colour emblazoned with fun, tropical-themed graphics. To get your custom Baileys Colada BlendJet 2 exclusively from BlendJet.com/Baileys.

“There is nothing I love more than a proper beach getaway, but when I can’t make my way out to paradise, I’m always finding new ways to bring the vacation to me,” says Anthony. “I absolutely love the new Baileys Colada; the pineapple and coconut flavours help me create the perfect tropical experience without ever having to leave the house!”

For more information on Baileys Colada, go to baileys.com

UK gin brand Sipsmith has created a strawberry-infused bottling to mark its partnership with the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

Sipsmith Strawberry Smash is the second expression in the brand’s limited edition Sipping Series, this new expression follows the release of Sipsmith Chilli & Lime Gin last year.

The expression is made by blending English mint with ripe strawberries from Hugh Lowe Farms in Kent, the exclusive grower of strawberries for Wimbledon, with the brand’s London Dry Gin.

“This year with Sipsmith becoming the official gin partner of Wimbledon we felt it was quite right to harness the taste of British summertime and use last year’s Championships strawberries to make this year’s champion gin,” said Jared Brown, Sipsmith master distiller.

“As with all of our innovative gins we crafted Strawberry Smash to our exacting standards by layering complementary sweet ripe strawberries, fresh English mint and refreshing citrus fruits on top of our original London Dry Gin base to create a delightfully fruity and refreshing gin with a smooth and balanced finish.”

The brand recommends that the new expression be served with tonic water or mixed in cocktails, such as a Spritz or Collins.

For more information, go to sipsmith.com

US grocery chain Trader Joe’s has introduced a Small Batch Vodka that will only be sold in stores that already sell liquor legally in their state.

Described as “mellow, remarkably clean, crisp and smooth,” the new Vodka uses limestone-filtered water that’s located just 1,300 feet below the distillery. The mash is made with corn (so it’s naturally gluten-free) and it’s distilled 10-times, then finally filtered through charcoal.

Trader Joe’s actually announced the vodka via the company’s official Instagram on March 30, 2021. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the post had gathered more than 9,000 likes within 24 hours. According to the comments offered by the social media fanbase, it appears as if the vodka is already out and on shelves too. So no need to wait for the launch or anything.

For more information, go to traderjoes.com

Barbadian Rum producers Bumbu have created a new release, Bumbu Créme, to join its Bumbu Original and Bumbu XO expressions.

A perfect blend of Bumbu rum, select spices, and decadent, real dairy cream, the new expression offers a perfect balance of rich flavour without being heavy.

An irresistible creation, the rum cream offers complex array of aromas, including chai, coconut, and cinnamon that is perfect chilled straight, on the rocks, or in a cocktail.

For more information, go to bumbu.com