Jim Beam Red Stag - Black Cherry Bourbon

The makers of Jim Beam Kentucky Bourbon announced a new variant called "Red Stag", basically the same bourbon they've always made, except with a touch of black cherry flavor.

It's not a liqueur, it's not cough syrup, but actual straight 80 proof bourbon, just like what you might take a shot of, or mix with with Coke. Except it has some fruity flavor to it.

Through a unique infusion process, they introduce natural black cherry flavor to their four-year-old Jim Beam Bourbon. The tasting notes are said to be distinctively fruity, without disguising the familiar scent of Jim Beam Bourbon.

Red Stag is said to go on sale to the public in June 2009.

My best guess on why Jim Beam would market straight kentucky bourbon with a fruit flavor is to go after a younger consumer base, or better yet, women.

Women seem to love alcohol with some kind of fruitiness to it. In fact, the marketing materials that Jim Beam is developing for Red Stag depicts 20-something year old women, partying up. Next month they'll launch a media campaign with Kid Rock.

The bottle will continue to have the "Jim Beam" name, and will look very similar to a Jim Beam bottle, with its square shape, and familiar white logoed cap. Red Stag is a way to extent brand familiarity to a young hip consumer, until one day that consumer becomes old and fat and is ready for the real thing.

Read a taste review at Liquor Snob.

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Bacardi Launches New Raspberry Mojito

Bacardi today announced the launch of the Bacardi Classic Cocktail Raspberry Mojito, the second addition to its ready-to-drink portfolio.

Presenting the same taste as the original, this new raspberry offering is made with Bacardi Rum, natural lime and mint flavors and an extra burst of ripened raspberries.


According to Gordon Chisholm, brand director for Bacardi Flavored Rums, the raspberry flavor came about after demand from bars and nightclubs...

"After the original mint and lime mojito, the raspberry mojito is one of the most popular mojitos requested at bars and nightclubs, so offering a convenient, ready-to-serve raspberry mojito for home entertaining was a natural extension for the brand."

The 15-percent alcohol-by-volume (30 proof) ready-to-drink cocktail is available in a 750-ml size as well as a 1.75-liter. It has a suggested retail price of $12.99 and $19.99.

Source: Press Release

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Gosling's Rum Launches New Ginger Beer

203 year-old Gosling's Rum of Bermuda has joined with 127 year-old Polar Beverages of Massachusetts to create, package and distribute what both are calling the definitive ginger beer soft drink.

Gosling's Stormy Ginger Beer, its official name, took well over a year to formulate and perfect.

"We needed to hit the perfect balance between sweetness and spiciness," explained Malcolm Gosling, 7th generation President of the renowned rum maker, Gosling's Export (Bermuda) Limited. "Our objective was to create a ginger beer that, when paired with our award winning Black Seal Rum, would produce the absolute perfect Dark 'n Stormy."

The Dark 'n Stormy, a drink of ginger beer and Black Seal Rum, is Bermuda's official national cocktail and has become wildly popular in the U.S., though also frequently mis-mixed due to confusion over which ginger beer to use. "Gosling's Stormy Ginger Beer is the product we recommend for the ultimate Dark 'n Stormy," Gosling adds.

Available in 12-ounce cans to begin with, Gosling's Ginger Beer is a refreshing, zesty soft drink by itself, as well as the perfect mate to Gosling's Black Seal Rum.

Gosling's Brothers Ltd. Is Bermuda's oldest business house. In 1806, Englishman William Gosling, sent his son James to sea, bound for Virginia with 10,000 pounds Sterling worth of wines and spirits. After ninety days on becalmed seas the charter on the good ship, Mercury, ran out and James was diverted to Bermuda, where James decided to open a wine and spirits shop. Since 2004, seventh generation, E. Malcolm B. Gosling has been spearheading a major American expansion of the brand. Gosling's offers three distinctive, award-winning products in its line: the flagship brand, Gosling's Bermuda Black Seal Rum; a new Gosling's Gold Bermuda Rum; and the ultra special Family Reserve Old Rum.

Learn more about Gosling's Rum: http://www.goslingsrum.com/

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Havana Mojito Soda

Havana Beverages of Louisville, KY is now offering a new soda called "Mojito Soda".

Pronounced, mo-HEE-toh, it's an alcoholic mixed-drink made of lime, mint leaves, sugar, and rum, originating from the Caribbean.

The Mojito has quickly in grown in popularity in recent years, and it was only a matter of time that someone would create Americanized junk food offshoots.

Except this new soda comes without alcohol.

And it also comes in a diet variety.

For more information, visit Havana Beverages online at...
http://www.havanabeverage.com

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Elizabeth Shaw Tequila Shots

Elizabeth Shaw Tequila Shots are chocolate balls with tequila liqueur centers.

They're made with England's famous Elizabeth Shaw chocolates, and with real Mexican tequila inside. Each canister contains a medley of four varieties, "Neat Tequila", "Tequila & Lime", "Tequila & Orange" and "Tequila & Lemon".

The Tequila Shots are actually an extension of Elizabeth Shaw's popular "Russian Vodka Shots". There's also Schnapps Shots.

The entire Shots line has actually been around in the UK since 2004, and is now being distributed into the USA by Liberty Richter, Inc. No word yet on where you can buy these, but if you have to have them, try contacting Liberty Richter.

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