7 minute read
Off-trade news
by Mediateam
My favourite...
In our monthly column outlining NOffLA members’ favourite tipples, Judith Boyle of Boyle’s Pub and Off-Licence in Kildare, outlines why bitters – although sometimes overlooked – are a fabulous option for adding depth of flavour to cocktails and recreating the bar experience at home
Boyle’s Pub and Off-Licence is a family-run, independent offlicence based in Kildare town. As an independent off-licence it is important to support small businesses that give customers value for money but also flavour.
During the lockdowns, people were no longer able to rely on bartenders to give them suggestions and make them delicious drinks, so they turned to their nearest off-licence. Consumer profiles changed and so did the products that they picked to give them the bar flavour and experience at home.
One of these products was bitters. Bitters are a great addition to any style of drink. Bitters were first introduced in the 1800s as a medicine used to help stomach issues. They then became an element added to cocktails to give a depth of flavour to the drink and hide the issues with spirits that were made illegally during prohibition. Even during the Temperance movement, people who were teetotallers were still drinking bitters even though it was a highproof infusion.
Off the Cuffe bitters were created by a former chef Jarrod Cuffe and Barry Gargan in 2016 in Dublin. The company is based at the Chocolate Factory in Dublin and its whiskey new-make comes from the Teeling Whiskey Distillery. They now have several different flavoured bitters, but I still love the original Marmalade Citrus bitters. With its zest and vigour, this accentuates the more delicate notes of marmalade on both palate and nose and works amazingly in an Old Fashioned cocktail. Try a couple of dashes in a club lemon for a more flavourful version of a soda. These bitters also work very well in an amaretto sour. Try it next time you want to discover something delicious in your glass. ■
As an independent off-licence, the team at Boyle’s believes it is important to support small businesses that give customers value for money but also flavour
Judith Boyle is impressed with Off the Cuffe bitters, based at Dublin’s Chocolate Factory
Ireland’s bestselling fruit cider brand serves up tasty tropical twist
Kopparberg, Ireland’s bestselling fruit cider brand, launches a new flavour in the cider category, Mixed Fruit Tropical. With passionfruit, pineapple and mango flavours – this refreshing cider provides a tasty tropical twist on the iconic Kopparberg Mixed Fruit, in the first-ever limited-edition design. The unique flavour offering is new and experimental for the Irish market. Northern Ireland sales data indicate Tropical is becoming the number four flavour in cider, making it bigger than Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry & Rosé.
Kopparberg’s ongoing performance this year has been impressive, currently outselling its nearest competitor by 11:1*. Kopparberg’s alcohol-free cider is holding onto the number one position in the cider category and number two position in the total non-alcohol category. Strawberry & Lime Gin with lemonade ready-to-drink (RTD) is in the top five for the spirit category, and the four-pack has a greater rate of sale than the top gin and rum brands.
Stock Kopparberg Mixed Tropical this summer to give your customers the ultimate refreshingly fruity experience!
W.D. O’Connell Whiskey Merchants has attracted huge praise for its releases to date
Kopparberg, Ireland bestselling fruit cider brand, launches a new flavour in the cider category, Mixed Fruit Tropical. With passionfruit, pineapple and mango flavours – this refreshing cider provides a tasty tropical twist on the iconic Kopparberg Mixed Fruit, in the first-ever limited-edition design. The unique flavour offering is new and experimental for the Irish market. Northern Ireland sales data indicate Tropical is becoming the number four flavour in cider, making it bigger than Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry and Rosé.
Kopparberg’s ongoing performance this year has been impressive, currently outselling its nearest competitor by 11 to one. Kopparberg’s alcohol-free cider is holding onto the number one position in the cider category and number two position in the total non-alcohol category. Strawberry & Lime Gin with lemonade RTD is in the top five for the spirit category, and the four-pack has a greater rate of sale than the top gin and rum brands.
Stock up on Kopparberg Mixed Tropical this summer to give your shoppers that refreshingly fruity experience!
Currently available in Dunnes Stores, Kopparberg is distributed in Ireland by Richmond Marketing.
*(Source: Collated EPOS Data to Week 4 2022)
Kopparberg is currently outselling its nearest competitor by 11 to one
The White Claw Variety Pack outsold all other hard seltzer SKUs by more than 2.5 times in both value and unit ROS last summer
White Claw Variety pack available now just in time for august Bank holiday
The White Claw Variety Eight-Pack delivers some of Ireland’s favourite flavours; Black Cherry, Mango, Natural Lime and Raspberry in one convenient eight-pack; driving trial amongst consumers and increasing basket size.
White Claw boasts the finest natural ingredients; a blend of sparkling water, gluten-free triple distilled spirit, and a hint of natural fruit flavour with only 95 calories per can. With no artificial sweeteners and an ABV of 4.5%, White Claw Hard Seltzer delivers a wave of pure refreshment.
Last summer, the White Claw Variety Pack outsold all other hard seltzer SKUs by more than 2.5 times in both value and unit ROS, making it the number one for value delivery in Ireland*. White Claw Hard Seltzer is already the number two ready-to-drink (RTD) can brand for volume in Ireland**. White Claw has become a cultural phenomenon with fans generating over 4 billion impressions and 46 times more social media mentions than competing brands in the USA.
Speaking about the variety pack, Flor Prendergast, market director UK & Ireland said: “Last year, we had an incredible response to our Variety Eight-Pack, so we’re delighted to have the opportunity to reintroduce the product to our Irish customers. A White Claw Variety Eight-Pack is a great way to promote trial of our brand among consumers as well as offer their favourite flavours in one convenient pack.”
The White Claw Variety Eight-Pack is available in key retailers with two Mango, two Natural Lime, two Black Cherry and two Raspberry variants; distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.
Irish drinks exports to US valued at €619m in 2021
New figures compiled by Drinks Ireland* show that drinks exports from Ireland to the US were valued at around €619 million in 2021.
To mark the 4th of July, the Irish drinks industry is highlighting the importance of the US market for exports from the sector.
In 2020, 51% of Irish drinks exports went to the USA, according to Bord Bia.
Renowned for their quality, and rich with heritage, our country’s drinks brands are a pivotal part of Ireland’s famous food and drinks offering, according to Drinks Ireland.
The US is the biggest export market for Irish spirits, which were valued at a mammoth €561 million in 2021.
This was driven in large part by Irish whiskey, but Irish cream liqueur is also hugely popular in the US. Irish gin is also carving a niche for itself.
Elsewhere, the US was the second biggest export destination for Irish beer and cider last year, after the UK.
Exports in 2021 were valued at €49 million for Irish beer and €8.4 million for Irish cider.
Vincent McGovern, director of Drinks Ireland|Spirits said exports to the US had remained resilient despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Irish drinks producers take great pride in creating quality products that are renowned the world over, and the US is a key destination for our spirits, beer and cider exports, which is very positive to see,” McGovern said.
“While heavily impacted by Covid-19, and particularly the global closure of the on-trade (pubs, restaurants, hotel bars), exports remained resilient, and producers are now focused on recovery and further growth.” ■
*(Source: CSO/Eurostat, ROI only)
