The newest flavour in the gin range, Agnes Arber Pineapple, which launched in November 2019 has recently picked up the Indy BestBuy nomination for Flavoured Gin.
Serving up a rich, tropical experience, the newest variant takes the nine botanicals and infuses the gin with sweet flavours of pineapple and mango, post-distillation. Remaining a full strength gin at 41.6%, it’s already seen huge success across the on-trade, and now its inclusion in The Independent only bolsters its reputation even more.
In a taste test by their journalists, they said: “As soon as we nosed this reasonably priced gin, we felt transported to a tropical isle of swaying palms, surf-lapped beaches and bottomless pina coladas – no mean feat given we were tasting it on a rainy London Tuesday.
It’s not an easy thing making a flavoured gin that is both so evocative and so grown up, and we probably don’t need to tell you that many tropically themed ones often end up tasting too sweet. Not Arber Pineapple. Neither sickly nor confected, it feels, in fact, like a proper gin that’s gone on holiday to the Caribbean.”
Pineapple seemed to be the choice on everyone’s lips, as merely months after launching in June 2021, Old J Pineapple, too, bagged a prize in The Grocer’s New Product Awards.
The Grocer New Product Awards celebrate and reward outstanding innovation in the UK FMCG sector in both non-food and food categories and Old J Pineapple managed to beat off stiff competition to win the New Product Award for Alcoholic Drinks.
The judges said they were immediately drawn in by the tantalising pineapple aroma of this spirit and the flavour didn’t disappoint. They could also clearly taste the notes of vanilla, as labelled on the product.
Overall, consensus was that this rum was a product which was great value for money and really innovative with a bold and eye-catching label that would have a great stand-out on shelf.
The newest SKU in the seven-strong range of Old J Spiced Rums, Old J Pineapple infuses a special blend of 11 flavours into the finest Caribbean rum. Featuring a sweet kick of refreshing pineapple cutting through subtle hints of vanilla, the finished product is a rum perfect for both everyday sipping and dynamic cocktail experiences.
Nic Ponticakis, Head of Signature Brands, said: “Introducing a pineapple gin, one of very few on the market, and then later a pineapple spiced rum were daring choices across both the already-crowded gin market as well as the spiced rum category, which has seen meteoric growth over the last few years.
These endorsements from both judges and journalists alike show the rising premiumisation of both categories and the desire for impactful and innovative flavours.
We endeavoured to create new flavour variations that would work well when used in a classic serve or as part of a daring cocktail expression and we’re looking forward to what the future holds as consumers and trade continue to discover our premium spirit brands.”
Owned by LWC Drinks, the UK’s largest independent drinks wholesaler, Signature Brands is a leading brand owner and distributor in the hospitality trade, bringing the best in premium spirits, draught beer and soft drinks to pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels across the UK and overseas.
Outlets looking to stock either Old J Pineapple Spiced Rum or Agnes Arber Pineapple Gin should contact LWC’S Higher and Further Education Controller, Adam Alexander on [email protected]
