Sandford's announces Jubilee cider & La Chouffe turns 40

Sandford's releases limited edition cider 

In honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, award-winning cider maker, Sandford Orchards, has announced the launch of its Jubilee Limited Edition Devon Red Cider (ABV 4.5%).  

A balanced, refreshing, medium cider, Jubilee Limited Edition Devon Red Cider has been created from British apples grown in orchards rooted in the rich, red, fertile soil which surrounds the family-owned orchard.

Sandford Orchards chief cidermaker Barny Butterfield said: “2022 is a milestone year for Britain as the Queen completes 70 years on the throne and, after a couple of years of Covid restrictions, we are at last able to gather together for some long overdue celebrations.

“Why would you toast the Queen’s health with French champagne when you can raise a glass of 100% British cider?

“No Jubilee parties will be complete without [Jubilee Limited Edition Devon Red Cider].”

The new serve from Sandford Orchards, which is based in Devon and is the oldest working cider mill in the UK, will be available from Friday 13 May in 500ml bottles direct from Sandford’s at RRP £2.30.

Belvoir announces Passionfruit Martini 

Following a successful off-trade launch in 2021, Belvoir Farm is bringing its non-Alcoholic Passionfruit Martini to the on-trade this summer.

Belvoir’s latest offering replicates the UK’s most requested cocktail, the Pornstar Martini, which makes up one in five cocktail serves in the UK, according to the CGA Q3 2020 Mixed Drinks Report​, and is made from real tropical fruit juices and Madagascan vanilla extract with no artificial preservatives, flavourings, colourings, or sweeteners.

Belvoir non-Alcoholic Passionfruit Martini joins the brands range of RTD mocktails including Peach Bellini and J&T and is available now in recyclable 250ml packs from wholesalers including Matthew Clark and Everards.

La Chouffee celebrates turning 40

Celebrating its 40th birthday, La Chouffe, which recorded it’s first brew on 27 August 1982 in the village of Achouffe in the Belgian Ardennes, has launched the first of its birthday brews, Chouffe40.

A Belgian blonde, Chouffe40 (5.6% ABV), which is best served in a glass at a temperauture of 6°C, offers notes of fruits and sage with a sweet and spiced twist made of just six natural ingredients: water, barley malt, sugar, hops, spices, and yeast.

The latest offering from La Chouffe, which is part of the Belgian family-owned brewing group Duvel Moortgat, is available now in 20l kegs and will be available in 33cl bottles at RRP £5 this month from the brewery webshop.

Portobello Road launches British Asparagus Vodka 

From farm to bottle in under a week, Portobello Road Distillery has expanded its vodka range with the launch of British Asparagus Vodka (42% ABV).

The unique aroma of asparagus is immediately apparent alongside a hint of nuttiness on the nose with a slight sweetness on the palate and a lasting earthiness to finish, best enjoyed as a replacement for traditional vodka or gin in cocktails such as the Negroni, Martini or Corpse Reviver.

Made with asparagus from the Allen family on Portwood Farm in Norfolk, which is then steeped for 24 hours in British potato vodka before being bottled as a limited run of 600, the vegan vodka features no filtration and no additives.

The limited-edition offering is available now to the on trade direct from Portobello Road Distillery at RRP £24.

Kentucky bourbon meets banana 

Howler Head Kentucky Bourbon (40% ABV) is available to the UK on trade now from Masters of Malt in 70cl at RRP £29.95

Bringing together Kentucky bourbon and natural banana flavour to create a tipple best enjoyed sipped neat or over ice or as fruit twist on classic cocktails such as Old Fashioned or Manhattan, Howler Head offers notes of caramel, honey, baking spices with helpings of vanilla, banana and cinnamon on the nose with brown sugar, peppercorn and toffee on the nose.

Bullards launches first English Sparkling Rose 

Award-winning Norfolk based brand Bullards has released its first English Sparkling Rose, a limited edition wine produced and bottled for Bullards at Wiston Estate Winery in West Sussex.

Bullards English Sparkling Rose (12% ABV), made from Seyval Blanc, Pinot Noir and Auxerrois grapes grown at the Bullards orchard in Norfolk, provides notes of strawberry and raspberry sorbet on the palate with a slight acidity to finish and is made in the same way as Champagne, by using the traditional sparkling wine method of secondary fermentation in the bottle.

The new serve is available to purchase from the Bullards website until Sunday 15 May at RRP £40.

Vodka with a purpose 

Finishing up this weeks round up is a vodka with a purpose.

Vodka 4 Peace was founded this year by a group of individuals looking to help Ukrainians amid the conflict in Ukraine, while the brand was created by fashion designer and refugee Anastasiia Rosinina, who fled Kyiv in March.

With the aim of providing some immediate help, at least £5 per bottle of vodka sold will be directly donated to selected non-Government organisations in Ukraine with the hope in the long run, the brand will be able to donate more of its profits while a #vodka4peace campaign has been tasked with raising awareness and help for people living in war zones. 

Distilled in Germany, this premium vodka, which offers aromas of classics grain notes, is best served at a temperature between 8-10 °C.

Vodka 4 Peace (40% ABV) is available now from the brands website in 70cl bottles at RRP £29.90.

If you have any new products being released to the on-trade, email the details with high resolution images before Thursday at midday for potential inclusion on Friday’s article to Erorppn.jryyre@jeoz.pbz​​