That’s the spirit!
Get ready to embrace the spirit of summer with classic favourites to innovative concoctions, there's something for every palate writes Shauna Bernard
Print21 May 2024
Summer days bring palpable excitement for the new, the refreshing, and the unexpected.
This is reflected in the exciting offerings launched by drinks manufacturers just in time for the sunny season each year.
Of course, that’s not to say people won’t be reaching for their usual fruit-focused beverages. The tried-and-true summer flavours will likely never fall out of favour with consumers.
That’s why whether you’re heading to a picnic, a barbeque, or a back garden party, having the right selection of drinks on hand is a must.
A recent report released by Drinks Ireland reveals that white wine remains the most popular in Ireland with a 48% market share, with red wine holding a 45% share.
Rosé has become increasingly popular in Ireland in recent years particularly during summer months.
At the mere mention of sunshine, Irish people are eager to plan outdoor gatherings with friends and make the most of an Irish summer.
Jessica Lynn, marketing director Ireland, Irish Distillers, said: “Consumers are now drinking less but better quality drinks, also imagine seeing an increase in low alcohol choices. So summer is usually where we see consumers choose long mixed drinks with plenty of ice and fresh lime or an alternative way to drinking premium flavoured gins like Malfy is to make a spritz as a longer refreshing alternative to mixing with Tonic, again usually served with plenty of ice and various fruit options.
“For those entertaining at home, if you have a blender, sometimes creating frozen cocktails using your blender and plenty of ice is a fun, refreshing alternative to serve drinks in what I can only hope will be nice long and warm summer months.”
Considering this, exploring the latest offerings in the market presents an excellent opportunity to allure consumers into sampling new beverages during the summer season. BBQs and outdoor gatherings serve as ideal settings for homemade cocktails, making it imperative to stock up on a diverse array of spirits and mixers to captivate your customers.
Dive into the spectrum of both novel and beloved drink options available as we gear up for the forthcoming summer season.
Summer sips!
Disaronno fizz
TIA MARIA
The Tia Espresso Martini has been the classic evening pick-me-up since its creation in the 1980s. Tia Maria is the must-have ingredient for this classic cocktail. It’s as delicious today as it’s always been. Tia Maria has been a favourite for coffee cocktail lovers the world over and it was even used in the very first Espresso Martini recipe more than 40 years ago, by creator Dick Bradsell.
Multi Award winning, Tia Maria Cold Brew is designed for the Espresso Martini. It is a sweet liqueur with a strong coffee character and a complex aromatic structure. Perfectly balanced, Tia Maria is made with Madagascar vanilla, Jamaican rum, and 100 percent Arabica coffee beans. Tia Maria has a classic roasted, full-bodied, and rich taste. An exclusive cold brew extraction process gives it its distinctive intense coffee aroma, which is followed by notes of chocolate and pipe tobacco, caramelised cane sugar and vanilla.
Learn how to make The Perfect Espresso Martini! All you need is: 25ml Tia Maria, 25ml Vodka, single or double shot of espresso and coffee beans to garnish. Fill a martini glass with ice and set aside to chill. Pour Tia Maria, vodka and espresso into a cocktail shaker. Fill the rest of the shaker with ice. Shake the ingredients together. Empty the martini glass of ice. Pour in the contents of the shaker using a strainer and sieve into the glass. Finish with three coffee beans.
DISARONNO
Disaronno is an Italian style icon: smooth taste, unmistakable aroma, unique and distinctive design of the bottle, original square cap and the golden label that adds a sense of contemporary elegance and style.
Disaronno is the proud ambassador of the endless Dolcevita, telling a story through the iconic postcards of the Italian beauty, thanks to a new world of reference.
Disaronno captures the senses with its amber colour, rich aroma and incomparable taste which has made it the world’s favourite Italian liqueur. It has a sweet and fruity character, complemented by a warming sensation. The taste is intense, and has a persistent fragrance that remains unchanged even with the addition of ice.
Widely enjoyed with Cola over ice and a slice of lime, Disaronno is versatile and has an unmistakable taste when used as a key ingredient in cocktails. This summer, enjoy a light and refreshing Disaronno Fizz, a refreshing, low-alcohol drink with a distinct character. The original taste and unmistakable aroma of Disaronno are combined with fizzy soda bubbles and fresh lemon juice for a refreshing and thirst-quenching cocktail.
To make this simple cocktail at home, simply pour 45ml Disaronno over ice, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and top up with soda water. Stir and garnish with lemon zest.
THE BUSKER
Discover The Busker Small Batch double aged collection. The Busker Small Batch Whiskeys are double matured by using a limited number of casks accurately selected by the team in Royal Oak Distillery, Co. Carlow. These exclusive releases are the best expression of what the Royal Oak Distillery has to offer within the Premium category.
The first in this collection was released in late 2023, is the award-winning Single Pot Still Small Batch. Double aged in Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks, and non-chill filtered to preserve the taste and aromas. Tasting Notes include fruit notes, raisins, sultanas, prunes and figs, warming spice ginger & cinnamon. Long, smooth and mellow finish. On the nose, the Single Pot Still gives leathery, profoundly rich, complex, robust, fresh pipe tobacco, aromatic, rounded and perfectly balanced aromas. Best enjoyed neat, or on the rocks.
The Small Batch Single Pot Still has won gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, silver at the World Whiskey Awards 2024, and 93 points in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2023.
With a new take on the packaging side, the Small Batch Single Pot Still is corked, and has the Royal Oak Distillery embedded into the glass, this new look will be seen for the Busker Premium Single range later this year.
The above brands are distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.
Bulmers beats
Bulmers original eight pack
Bulmers, Ireland’s original cider, will be rolling out an exclusive off-trade competition this Summer. From 28 May consumers will start to see Bulmers promotional packs* appearing in stores, nationwide. This latest campaign by Bulmers will be offering consumers the chance to win 100’s of music prizes, all summer long!
To be in with a chance to win one of the many prizes up for grabs, pick up one of the promo packs of Bulmers, scan the QR code and enter the unique code on promo packs. Entries close the 28th of August.
*Promo packs include Bulmers 8-pack Original & Light Cans, Bulmers 12-pack Original Bottle, Bulmers 20-pack Original & Light bottle packs. Entrants must be 18 years or over. Full T&Cs available at bulmers.ie.
Flavour fusion
Fercullen Falls cocktail
At the Home of Fercullen, they prioritise taste in their whiskeys, ensuring each sip is memorable. Crafted for sharing, Fercullen Falls embodies perfect harmony, blending 50% single grain and 50% single malt, distilled at Powerscourt Distillery.
This unique fusion showcases the distinct style of Powerscourt, with malt whiskey aged in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and grain in a mix of ex-bourbon and new heavy char oak casks, resulting in a balanced 50/50 blend.
Bottled at 43% ABV, higher than standard, it’s ideal for savouring neat or as the base for your favourite summer cocktails. Recently awarded a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Fercullen Falls is the ultimate choice for summer drinks. Try the refreshing Fercullen Falls Waterfall refresher and explore other thirst-quenching creations with this exceptional whiskey.
Fercullen Falls Refresher
Ingredients
1.2 oz / 35 ml Fercullen Falls Irish Whiskey
Dash Soda Water
2 x dashes Angostura Bitters
Slice Orange peel for garnish
Ice cubes
Method
- Pour one measure of Fercullen Falls Irish whiskey
into a tall glass over ice
- Add 2 dashes of bitters and top with soda water. (Powerscourt Distillery uses Poachers from County Wexford)
- Slice an orange rind and gently rim the glass with the rind before adding to the drink
Fercullen Falls Blended Irish Whiskey is available in-store now and has an RRP of €38. For all inquiries contact trade@powerscourtdistillery.com
Vine to wine!
Fresco di Masi is an organic wine, sincere and authentic, created with an essential process that goes from the vine to the glass for a simple, authentic taste experience.
The name ‘Fresco,’ or ‘fresh,’ highlights the concept of naturalness. Organic grapes are harvested during the coolest hours and are vinified immediately, without drying and without the wine aging in wood. The grapes are decanted and not filtered.
Minimising man’s intervention in nature, Fresco di Masi represents a return to the origins and a search for the essence of the wine. The result? Wines created simply, like in the past, yet as good as we expect them to be today – with little processing, not overly alcoholic, and characterised by an immediate taste of fresh fruit.
Obtained from grapes harvested during the coolest hours and immediately vinified, Fresco di Masi Bianco retains the pleasant hints of fresh fruit, from pineapple to citrus, and the delicate aromas of wild flowers. It is excellent as an aperitif and pairs well with your favourite summer recipes, including classic Mediterranean dishes based on pulses, vegetables, fish, chicken, and pork.
Embrace the wild
(L-R) Wild Botanical and Wild Rose Glendalough Gin
This summer, Glendalough Gin encourages you to slow down, and savour how beautiful life is when nature and summer come together as one. It’s why Glendalough Gin forages and distils year-round with Ireland’s only fulltime forager, Geraldine Kavanagh. Slowly, carefully, they create a gin from the wild plants Geraldine hand-picks each day from the Wicklow mountains around the distillery in Co. Wicklow.
This creates a gin that offers a flavour as fresh and vibrant as a summer day, yet deep and rich. It’s why every sip of Glendalough Gin invites you to Savour Summer Spirit. Freshly Foraged Botanical Irish Gin. Distributed with the same attention to detail by DrinksGenius.ie.
Fruity delight
Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime
Bursting with blackcurrants and raspberries, Kopparberg Mixed Fruit spoils you. Rich and indulgent with an effervescent energy, it’s best served cold over mountains of ice. Refreshingly light, Kopparberg Mixed Fruit Cider is the taste of summer.
Combining the taste of fresh strawberries and a hint of lime, Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime gives you the ultimate fruit refreshment – the perfect drink for a summer day.
Pure Irish brew
Le Grá beer
Le Grá Premium Irish Craft Lager is a golden elixir that captures the pure spirit and enchantment of the Emerald Isle in every sip. Brewed with an unwavering passion for Irish heritage and craftsmanship, this authentic lager celebrates the magic surrounding ancient Irish traditions and symbolism.
At the heart of Le Grá’s iconic brand is the lucky four-leaf clover, representing the virtues of faith, hope, love, and the enchantment within that have guided the Irish people for generations. But this is more than just a logo – real shamrocks are infused into each batch during the brewing process, instilling a touch of ancient Irish fortune into every bottle.
Crafted in Dublin using 100% Irish ingredients, Le Grá boasts a rich, smooth taste with subtle fruit notes and an incredibly crisp, refreshing finish at 4.5% ABV.
Much like the famed Irish pubs found at the farthest reaches of the world, Le Grá offers a refreshing taste of authentic Irish culture that can be shared no matter where your journey takes you. More than just a beer, it’s a celebration of warmth, camaraderie, and the resilient spirit embodied by the Irish.
So go ahead, pour yourself a glass of Le Grá, and let the pure magic of the Emerald Isle come to life. As the saying goes, “Ó Éirinn Le Grá” – From Ireland, with love.
Poitín potables
(L-R) Little & Green’s Sneaky Orchard and Shady Bramble canned cocktails
Little & Green is a flavorful expression of contemporary Irish culture! A celebration of what it is to be Irish, ready for a good time, any time. Little & Green embraces the past to inform the future, providing the opportunity for a new generation to experience, to share and to love poitin.
A range of premium, ready to drink canned cocktails offering flavorful, modern twists on infamous Irish classics in a convenient format. Crafted with care by Ireland’s best bartenders to showcase the quality, flexibility & versatility of the original Irish spirit.
Made with two of Ireland’s leading poitín brands, Mad March Hare and Bán, with recipes created by the mixology team at Bar 1661 – Ireland’s 2023 Bar of the Year – the range launched in 2023 with a pair of delicious sparkling cocktails. Sneaky Orchard is a refreshing take on the Collins, a harvest festival of ripe pear, crisp apple, and elderflower. Shady Bramble is inspired by Ireland’s deep, dense hedgerows, bursting with flavours of wild juicy blackberry, raspberry, and violet.
Little & Green is proud to be blazing a trail with the world’s first poitín canned cocktails.
They contain no artificial sweeteners and are vegan and gluten free with an ABV of 5%.
Distributed by Intrepid Spirits, Little & Green is available at select Independent retailers across Ireland, Carry Out Off Licences and launching in all Tesco Republic of Ireland stores this coming June.
Crafting Shortcross
Distillers Duo Shortcross Irish Whiskey
The distillers of Shortcross Irish Whiskey & Gin have revealed the latest expressions of Shortcross Irish Whiskey. These new Irish whiskeys were distilled, matured, and bottled at Rademon Estate Distillery, marking the first new distillery in Northern Ireland in over a century to unveil its own whiskey.
The first new expression is the Shortcross 7 year old Cognac & Orange Liqueur Cask Single Malt Irish Whiskey. The journey began in early 2016 when the distillery secured its first batch of peated malted barley. This malted barley was then mashed, brewed and double distilled on the distillery’s copper pot stills.
This expression is described as having tasting notes of orange blossom, fresh mint and tropical fruits. This expression is bottled at 70cl / 46%abv. RRP €75.00
The second new launch is the Shortcross 5 year old Distiller’s Duo Irish Whiskey. Blending Shortcross Single Malt and Shortcross Single Pot Still Irish whiskey together.
The Shortcross 5 Year Old Distiller’s Duo Irish Whiskey tasting notes are described as a rich and fruit nose that is reminiscent of caramelised toffee apples, the palate leads with milk chocolate and sweet cereal notes from the malt. This is a core expression and bottled at 70cl / 46%abv. RRP€55.00
David Boyd-Armstrong, director of Distilling & Blending, Rademon Estate, said: “We always look to see how we can take our Irish Whiskey and create something truly unique. With the launch of this new expression of Shortcross Irish Whiskey we believe we are showcasing this obsession and the quality of our whiskeys.”
Tanqueray tastemakers
Pictured: (L-R) Amy Huberman and Stalney Tucci
Debuting a new look bottle, Tanqueray No.Ten shows off its position as the ultimate architect in cocktail artistry by partnering with leading bartenders at the pinnacle of cocktail culture.
Tanqueray No.Ten is collaborating with three tastemakers who are renowned for their skill within the cocktail industry. Oisín Kelly, bar manager of The Sidecar at The Westbury, Adeline Valdivia, head mixologist of Glovebox at Allta and Andy Ferreria, co-founder of Cask Cork.
Actor Stanley Tucci and actress Amy Huberman met in Ireland to mark the launch of Tanqueray No.Ten’s celebration of cocktail artistry.
Each bartender has created a Tanqueray No.Ten cocktail, inspired by the brand’s signature serve. Each cocktail will be available in each bartender’s venue to honour their craft and for guests to enjoy.
‘New Found’ by Oisín Kelly at The Sidecar, ‘Bloomsbury Heart’ by Adeline Valdivia at Glovebox, Allta and ‘Tunnel Vision’ by Andy Ferreira, Cask Cork.
Tanqueray No.Ten’s new bottle features a copper cap with a citrus grater texture and a light translucent green bottle with a citrus press-shaped glass structure at the base of the bottle.
Stanley said: “Cocktail making is a unique craft that welcomes curious and inventive minds to push the boundaries of flavour and bar cocktail culture. The new bottle is a beautiful homage to the brand’s heritage, craft and longstanding place in the world of bartending.”
Tanqueray No.Ten is available to purchase at major retailers and independent stores nationwide from €45.
Veil de Flor
Roe & Co has recently unveiled its latest innovation – Roe & Co Flor Single Grain Irish Whiskey.
This 14-year-old single grain expression is inspired by the age-old biological maturation of fortified wines from the Jerez region. Roe & Co Flor marks the brand’s first permanent single grain release.
Taking inspiration from Bodegas in the Jerez region Roe & Co have produced a whiskey that reimagines the possibilities of Irish Whiskey to marry our crafted 14-year-old single grain whiskey with the influence of select sherry casks that used a biological maturation process.
Roe & Co Flor is ‘meticulously finished’ in Fino and Amontillado Sherry casks which used a biological aging process.
Amontillado casks followed a dual aging process, biologically and oxidatively, while the Fino casks solely followed a biological aging process.
The casks have been hand-selected to create a crafted whiskey with a light flavour profile and notes of nuts, citrus and orchard fruits.
Commenting on the launch, Roe & Co representative, Lora Hemy, states: “Roe & Co is excited to release the first Single Grain expression, Roe & Co Flor Irish Whiskey, the latest innovation that will be a permanent addition to the Roe & Co family.
“This expression allowed us to experiment with an innovative process that was extremely rewarding. By taking a different approach and gathering inspiration from the Jerez region, we’ve crafted a vibrantly bold whiskey infused with character.
“The Veil de Flor’s protective qualities and natural aging process underlie this exceptional whiskey, providing a unique flavour profile that is both delicate and profound.”
The non-chill filtered Roe & Co Flor 14 YO Single Grain Irish Whiskey is a vibrantly bold Irish Whiskey and is bottled at 46% ABV. It will be available via Roe & Co Distillery and key outlets in Ireland, Northern Europe, and Global Travel markets late May/early June 2024, with a RRP of €95.
For more information, visit: www.roeandcowhiskey.com
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