Top 10 spirits launches from September
Spirits brands brought out the big guns in September, with eye-catching releases that are sure to inspire many as gifting season approaches.
Maybe it was the sudden realisation that Christmas is creeping up on us, or just those 'new term, new products' vibes, but September saw our desks flooded with so many new releases, it was difficult to pick our top 10 this month. While Glenmorangie and Baileys both played to the sweet-toothed palates of their consumers, Sipsmith took a trip to the past for its newest expression, and Fielden shone a light on the hedgerows that surround its English heritage grain fields. Keep reading to find out what other new spirit launches leapt out at us in September.Johnnie Walker Black Ruby
A new ‘sweeter’ blend of Johnnie Walker Black Label debuted at Diageo’s TFWA stand in Cannes last month.
Created by master blender Dr Emma Walker, Black Ruby is made with whiskies from all four corners of Scotland, with liquids aged in ex-Bourbon, first-fill red wine, Pedro Ximénez and oloroso Sherry casks, creating fruity notes with berries and vanilla on the palate, all with the intention attracting a new generation of whisky drinkers.
The expression will be available exclusively in global travel retail from next year.
Find out more about the release here.
Diageo’s 2024 Special Releases
Another year, another line-up of Special Releases from drinks giant Diageo. The 2024 collection, called Spirited Xchange Second Edition, is described as a testament to the exploration of flavour in Scotch malt production, and continues to challenge expectations in craft and whisky experiences by asking ‘what if?’.
This second instalment of the theme that debuted last year continues to build on the two-decades-long legacy of Diageo’s Special Releases, which have continuously celebrated exceptional and rare whiskies, with each of the eight expressions crafted under the guidance of master blender Dr Stuart Morrison.
Find out more about the release here.
Captain Morgan x Pepsi
Is Pepsi OK? It sure is for Captain Morgan, who partnered with the cola brand to create a canned 5% ABV ready-to-drink (RTD) serve last month.
This was one of a few launches in September that saw spirits brands partner with soft drinks. A clever move, considering Diageo research found that 81% of consumers are more likely to purchase an RTD with a branded mixer.
The Spirits Business even predicted that spirits firms partnering with soft drinks would be big this year, with the trend spearheaded by Jack Daniel’s.
Find out more about the release here.
Baileys Cinnamon Churros
Who can resist a bowl of warm, straight-from-the-fryer churros with plenty of cinnamon sugar and chocolate sauce for dipping? It would appear not Baileys, who unveiled a limited edition release last month inspired by those very flavours.
Available for only a limited time, the new liqueur pays homage to the classic fried dough pastry by combining Irish cream, Irish whiskey, cinnamon and vanilla flavours. Baileys said the liqueur is best enjoyed over ice, poured into coffee, or shaken in cocktails. The brand also recommends pairing it with reposado Tequila, whiskey, or Baileys chocolate cream.
Find out more about the release here.
Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream
You scream, I scream, we all scream for Glenmorangie’s latest expression in its Tale Of series.
This fifth release from the imaginative collection of whiskies pays homage to the delights of an ice cream parlour. To do this, master blender Gillian Macdonald and her team opted to ‘dial up’ the vanilla notes found within the brand’s spirit, as well as its ripe peach and coconut hints.
Macdonald noted that the Tale Of series, and especially this latest release, offers Glenmorangie the chance to connect with its consumers on an emotional, experiential level. “Everyone has an ice cream memory – it’s very evocative. It reminds me of specific holidays. I’ve yet to meet anybody who doesn’t really like ice cream, so I can only imagine it’s going to be a hit.”
Find out more about the release here.
Sipsmith 1639
The history of gin goes way back, but last month, Sipsmith brought that history to the present day by releasing an expression using a recipe from the 1600s.
Based on a recipe from 1639 manual The Distiller of London, which gave birth to modern gin, the recipe is believed to prove that gin originated in England, despite the common belief that it originated in Holland.
Sipsmith Origin 1639 is described as ‘satisfyingly fragrant’ and true to the original recipe. Infused with raspberries and strawberries and then rested in oak barrels, the revival of this precious liquid emulates traditional 17th-century production methods. The result is a juniper-forward gin with bright berry notes and a ‘spiced backbone’.
Find out more about the release here.
Fielden’s Fieldnotes series – Hedgerow
English whisky producer Fielden debuted the first in a new four-part series in September, which was inspired by the flavour profile of the distillery’s signature expression, Fielden Rye Whisky, and celebrates the terroir of the English countryside where the brand farms its rye, wheat and barley.
Hedgerow is the first edition in the Fieldnotes quartet, and represents the fruity and creamy character of Fielden Rye Whisky. It has also been created to pay homage to the diverse flora in the borders surrounding Fielden’s heritage grain fields.
Find out more about the release here.
Cointreau's bottled cocktails
A Lime Daiquiri and a Berry Cosmo, both developed by master distiller Carole Quinton, were the first two cocktails to launch within Cointreau’s new ready-to-drink (RTD) range last month.
The Lime Daiquiri blends premium rum, lime peel distillate, lime juice concentrate and Cointreau, while the Berry Cosmo features cranberry and lemon juice concentrates and hibiscus extracts. Both expressions are made at Cointreau’s distillery in Angers, France, and are free from artificial flavours and colours.
The Cointreau Cocktail Twists bottles are presented in aluminium bottles with a copper-style finish, and feature a resealable twist cap – just in case you (somehow) find yourself not finishing a bottle in one sitting.
Find out more about the release here.
Takamaka Clos Napa Laz
Rum brand Takamaka added to its limited edition Le Clos series in September, made entirely with non-hybrid sugarcane varieties sourced from farmers local to the Trois Freres Distillery in the Seychelles, which installed two new stills last year.
Around 16.5% of the rum blend is taken from the ‘heart’ of the distillate, with the ‘heads’ and ‘tails’ from 2023 and 2022’s harvest being redistilled to create what the brand calls a ‘third heart’.
The rum was awarded the top accolade of Taste Master at The Luxury Masters 2024.
Find out more about the release here.
Oatrageous dairy-free cream liqueurs
Free from dairy, gluten, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and seed oils, Oatrageous made its debut in September with three products – Coconut, Espresso, and Bourbon Cream – all bottled at 14% ABV.
The Bourbon-based cream liqueur is made with whiskey distilled at Ross & Squibb Distillery, also known as MGP, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and is recommended for use in Espresso Martinis, Piña Coladas, White Russians or other classic cocktails that use cream elements.
Find out more about the release here.
