News Briefs for December 1, 2021

•On the Rocks Premium Cocktails, part of the Beam Suntory portfolio, is introducing a limited edition Manhattan expression made with Basil Hayden Dark Rye. Weighing in at 32.5% abv, the Manhattan offering is available in select stores nationwide and online through Drizly with a suggested retail price of $13 a 375-ml bottle. The On the Rocks range also includes a Cosmopolitan (made with Effen vodka), Mai Tai (Cruzan rum), Old Fashioned (Knob Creek Bourbon), Margarita (Hornitos Tequila), Jalapeño Pineapple Margarita (Tres Generaciones Tequila), and Aviation (Larios gin).

•House of Hine has announced the U.S. release for its Hine Cigar Reserve XO Cognac. Intended to be paired with a cigar, the expression is a collaboration between House of Hine and Hunters & Frankau, the U.K.’s exclusive distributor of Havana cigars. Cigar Reserve XO is made of a blend of 20 eaux-de-vie produced using Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, and Fins Bois grapes, the latter of which is used only in this expression within Hine’s portfolio. There are 598 6-bottle cases allocated for the U.S., where it’s now available at select retailers nationwide for $150 a 750-ml. House of Hine is imported by San Francisco-based Hotaling & Co.

•MPL Brands has expanded the Rancho La Gloria line of wine-based RTDs with two new lower calorie Margaritas. The new Rancho La Gloria Skinny Margaritas come in Classic Lime and Strawberry with both at 9.9% abv and 90 calories per 5-ounce serving. They’re made with lime juice and other flavoring, and agave wine. The new cocktails have launched in Target stores nationwide for $9 a 750-ml., with expansion into retailers like HEB, Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Safeway set for early 2022. In early November, The Wine Group took a minority stake in MPL Brands. For 2021, Rancho La Gloria is projected to reach 1.8 million cases in the U.S.

•Brooklyn, New York’s Q Mixers has launched Tropical Ginger Beer, the company’s third release in the category, following its original ginger beer and a hibiscus-flavored offshoot. The new release is made with ginger, agave, mango, passion fruit, and pineapple, and is currently available in Kroger and through the company’s website. Q Mixers is planning to expand the release in 2022.

Tagged : Basil Hayden's, Hine, Hotaling & Co., MPL Brands, On the Rocks, Q Mixers, Rancho La Gloria

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