News Briefs for May 3, 2023

•Pernod Ricard-owned Absolut has teamed with juice maker Ocean Spray to create a new line of spirits-based RTDs. The Absolut Vodka and Ocean Spray Vodka-Cranberry Range will launch next year with four different flavors available in 8-can variety packs, two different 4-packs, and individual cans. The line is made with Absolut vodka, Ocean Spray juices, sparkling water, and natural flavors. While the products won’t launch until early 2024, the two brands will begin rolling out collaborative programming and co-packaging this summer.

•Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has expanded its Shelbyville, Tennessee home by 109 acres, bringing the Nearest Green Distillery to 432 acres and the company’s total landholdings, including the original 313 acre distillery near Lynchburg, to 745 acres. Currently, the distillery and tourism center welcomes between 5,000 and 8,000 visitors every weekend. With the new property, the company expects to be able to welcome between 10,000 and 15,000 each weekend.

•Luxco’s El Mayor Tequila is introducing a new limited edition as it celebrates its 25th anniversary: El Mayor Extra Añejo Bourbon Barrel Aged. The extra Añejo Tequila is blended from 25 barrels by master distiller Rodolfo Gonzalez with the chosen Tequilas aged for 39 months. The new release will roll out in July with 6,000 bottles available across the U.S. for a suggested price of $130 a 750-ml. El Mayor grew 16% to 47,000 cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.

•Mija Sangria is launching Mija Bubbly Rosé Sangria and debuting a new look for the entire lineup. The new addition joins Mija Red and Mija White in the brand’s portfolio of wine-based RTDs. Made with fruit and without artificial additives, Mija Bubbly Rosé contains blood orange, acai, pomegranate, lemon, and premium rosé wine, and is at 9.5% abv like Mija Red and White. Made in New York State, all three flavors are sold in 750-ml. bottles for a suggested $9. Mija Red and White are also sold in 1.5-liter bottles for $15. Mija is available at retail locations in nearly 40 states, and is also available online with direct shipping nationwide. Mija is part of the Latitude Beverage portfolio.

•Chicago, Illinois-based online beverage alcohol marketplace Provi is rolling out an expansion to its B2B payments system ProviPay. Since the initial launch of ProviPay in Colorado, the company says it has invested in significant product development, creating features that now allow retailers to view invoices and submit payments to multiple distributors, sync bank accounts, and set up autopay, among other functions. ProviPay has also now been configured to conform to state-specific payment regulations and will be rolling out to select markets later this year.

Tagged : Absolut, El Mayor, Luxco, Mija Sangria, Ocean Spray, Pernod Ricard, Provi, Uncle Nearest

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