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NOffLAnews
by Mediateam
NOffLAwelcomesnewassociate member,SugarloafBeverages/Istil38
NOffLAisdelightedtoannouncethatnewassociatemember SugarloafBeverages isnow proudlysharingdetailsofitsfirstrelease, Istil38PotStillIrishVodka.Producedinatraditional copperpotstill,Istil38ismadetobeenjoyedwiththoroughlymodernserves
Istil38’s classic vodka iscurrently beingdistributedwithtwo different flavoursset to be releasedsoon,PinkBerriesand Vanilla.Each vodka withinthe rangeisspecificallydesigned to bemixedinto longdrinksand into someofthe world’s most loved cocktails.
The 500-litre copperpot still selected, stripsoutany impurities,leavingIstil38with a highly finessedqualityofliquid.It isslow distilled fourtimesthus leavingthe vodka sopure that it needsnofurther filtration.Using reverseosmosis,the vodka’s ABV isthen reduceddown to 38% usingnaturalspring water taken fromtheheartoftheBoyne Valley sourced two hundred feet below ground. ThislighterABV alsogivesthe vodkaa softer, smoothermouthfeeland a brightergraincharacter.
“We wanted to create a forward-thinkingIrish vodka, for peoplewhoalways seekthe
ISTIL38KEY ISTIL 38 KEY FACTS
• • Istil38isproducedin Istil 38 is produced in
Meathwithgrainspiritin Meath with grain spirit in a a 500-litre 500-litre copperpotcopper pot still.still. • • The ABV is38%.The ABV is 38%. • • 5cfromeachbottlesold 5c from each bottle sold inIrelandwillgo in Ireland will go towardstowards plantingnative Irishtrees. planting native Irish trees. • • The RRPis€35.The RRP is €35. • • AvailablenationwideAvailable nationwide to theon-tradeandto the on-trade and also also availableinallavailable in all independentoff-licenses.independent off-licenses.
best,” says SugarloafBeverages managingdirectorShaneDavey.
“They know life isshortandour time for pleasure andindulgence is evenshorter. So, we’ve dedicated ourselves to handcraftingthisultimate vodka. For thosewhosetimeis at a premium, we feelIstil38isthe perfectpremiumspirit to enjoy it with.”
“Ourclassic vodka isalready being very well received for its richdepthandit’s great to seeit beingservedwithlimeandsoda insomeofIreland’s best bars,” he continues.“Soon we willbe bringingoutour first two flavours,PinkBerriesand Vanilla. Bothofwhich were craftedwith great detail to bringmaximum flavour to highballservesandthe massivelypopular cocktail, EspressoMartini.”
“In termsofsales, vodka isthe biggest spiritinIreland,” headds. “WithIstil38,ourambitionis to show peoplethat we have a premiumIrishalternative to the industriallyproduced multinational vodka brands. We make it by time-honoured traditionalmeans,butour sensibilities for theservesare firmlyinthemodernera.”
Another key elementbehind Istil38,isitsenvironmentaland sustainabilitypolicy. Five cents from everybottlewillbedonated to helpplantnative tree forests in the countryitissoldin.Istil38’s bottle was chosendue to its shapeand weight,whichmeant less CO2 emissionswhen transporting.As a brand,the grouphas committed to being a carbonneutral company fromthe very startofitsjourney.
RichardBrowneis a fanofthe latestreleasesfrom both Brú BreweryandSlaneIrishWhiskey Istil38is a premiumIrishspirit whichhas been slowdistilled fourtimes
Myfavourite...
Inourcolumnoutliningmembers’favourite tipples,NOffLAmemberssharetheirexpertise onthebrandsthatexcitetheirpalates.This month, RichardBrowne ofJusDeVine inPortmarnock,Co.Dublin,highlightshis favouritepicks
There hasn’tbeen a wholelotof excitingbeersorspiritslaunched within2022that have really mademethink“wow” andurged me to gobackandbuyanother. It was always a caseoftrying somethingnew anditjust being a ‘oneanddone’typeofscenario buttwo that have stoodout for meoflate have beenthenew releasesfromBrúBreweryand SlaneIrish Whiskey.
“Echoes”isoneofthelatest beers to jointheBrúBrewery UrbanJungle rangeofhighqualitycraftbeers.Notonlyis thelabellingabsolutely fantastic whichdraws you towards it,itis truly a phenomenalbeer. This DoubleDryHopped WestCoast IPA is explodingwith flavourdue to thehopsbeingaddedduring andafter fermentation, resulting intropicalfruitnotesand a long bitter finish.Oneofthebest beersBrúandtheirheadbrewer Franhave produced.
I like my whiskey asmuchas I like my craftbeerand I like to think I balance my love between thetwo. We allhave a go-to beer and for meit’s thesamewith whiskey, inwhich my go-to has always beenSlane. It’s veryeasy drinkingandsuitsanyone I givea sample to whoisinterested in gettinginto thecraze ofIrish whiskey.
Slane’s latest release celebrates more than40 yearsofmusic at SlaneCastle. Itispredominantly agedin extra virginoakandthen blendedwithseasonedbarrels andsherrycasksthat accentuate the toasted oakand vanilla flavoursonthepalate. This limitededition won’tbeonthe shelveslong,so I highly recommendpickingup a bottle from yourlocaloff-licence.
Thankyoutocurrentassociatemembers
TheNationalOff-LicenceAssociationwouldalsoliketoexpressitssinceregratitudetoall associatemembers,asshownbelow,fortheircontinuedsupport
ASSOCIATEMEMBERS
Ampersand Wines Barry & Fitzwilliam Bevella,C/o PrimelineSales & Marketing BibendumIreland BulmersIreland Cassidy Wines Coca-ColaHBCIrelandLimited DiageoIreland Edward Dillon & Co. Ltd. Febvre Wines Findlater& Co. HeinekenIreland Ltd.
ASSOCIATEMEMBERS
Hi-SpiritsIreland IrishDistillers PernodRicard JohnPlayer Liberty Wines Ltd. Mackenway Distributors Ltd. MCMSpirits Molson CoorsIreland RichmondMarketing SantaRitaEstates SugarloafBeverages/Istil38 The Dalcassian Wines & Spirits Co. Ltd. Tindal WineMerchants
nofflacontacts
IfyouhaveanyqueriesregardingNOffLAmembershiporservices,pleasecontactouradministrator,ReggieWalsh,atBlockD,Unit6, NutgroveOfficePark,Rathfarnham,Dublin14,bytelephoneon01-2962326,byfaxon01-2962451orbyemailatinfo@noffla.ie. TheNOffLAwebsitecanbefoundat www.noffla.ie. ■
OFF-TRADENEWS
molsonCoors launchesmadrí excepcionalin off-trade channels
MadríExcepcionalis a collaboration between MolsonCoorsandMadrid’s LaSagraBrewery
Molson CoorsBeverage Company is launchingMadríExcepcionalinthe off-trade to help retailerscapitaliseon the fast-growing worldlager category*.Buildingonthebrand’s success since launchinginthe on-tradeinOctober2020, Madrí Excepcionalisnow availablein grocery storesandoff-licencesacross Irelandsince March2022. “The worldlagercategory continues to gofrom strength to strengthand MadríExcepcional’s crisp, refreshing double award-winningliquidand distinctive brandinggive it a realpoint ofdifference,” says ShaneO’Sullivan at Molson Coors.“InIreland,Madrí Excepcionalhasalreadybrokeninto the top-tenbest-sellingdraught worldlagers**,so we are confidentitwillhelp retailersdrive salesinthe off-trade too.”
MadríExcepcionalis a collaborationbetweenMolson CoorsandMadrid’s LaSagra Brewery. Itaims to capture “ElalmadeMadrid”or“TheSoulof Madrid”andhasallthetaste characteristicsof a modernEuropean-style lager. The crisp, cleanand refreshingbeverageisfullof flavourandaroma at 4.6%ABV, serving a refreshing,balancedtaste bornfromthe streetsof modernMadrid.
*(Source:Nielsen TotalGroceryOutletsROI|LagerCategory, ValueSales|MATand12 w/e to 2Jan 2022 vs 2019). **(Source: CGAdata for TotalROIOn Trade, Valueand Volume,12meDec2021– World Lagers)
New Revenuedatashows alcohol consumption fell by almost 10% between2019and2021
The closure ofthehospitalitysector resultedin a significant declineinalcohol consumption over thepast two years,but peoplehave progressivelybeendrinkingless since 2001, according to DrinksIreland.
New provisionaldatafrom Revenue* shows that alcohol consumption fell by 4.7%between2020and2021.
There was an evenmore dramatic fallof 9.6%between2019 and2021,showingthetrueimpactof Covid-related restrictions andclosuresonhospitality venues.
“Thislatest datashows the continueddeclineinalcohol consumptioninIreland, exacerbated by thepandemic,” said PatriciaCallan,directorofDrinksIreland. “Alcohol consumptionis now at itslowest level in20 years,down by about30%since the peakof2001.
“Theindustryhas workedhard tocontinue to tacklealcohol misuse,” sheadded.“Thegrowingtrend we see at homeandin otherestablishedinternationalmarketsispeoplechoosing to drinkquality over quantity, which wewelcomeandwill continue to encourage.” ■
*(Source:https://www.revenue. ie/en/corporate/documents/ statistics/excise/quarterly-alcoholbreakdown.pdf)
