7 Beverages for the New Year
By Hannah Hammond on Jan. 11, 2022CHICAGO — With the new year comes new beverages.
From margarita-style hard seltzers to sports drinks and nonalcohol wine, there are many options for convenience-stores to shake up their cold vault shelves in 2022.
Click through to see seven new packaged beverage releases …
Truly Margarita Style Hard Seltzers
The Boston Beer Co., Boston, is launching a margarita-style version of its Truly Hard Seltzer brand. The four new flavors—Classic Lime, Strawberry Hibiscus, Watermelon Cucumber and Mango Chili—launched in January nationwide in the new Margarita Style Mix Pack.
The drinks have a crisp hard seltzer taste with the zesty flavors of a margarita, according to the company. Each is made with real ingredients, including lime juice concentrate, agave nectar and sea salt. The drinks are 5.3% alcohol by volume (ABV), 110 calories and have 1 gram of sugar per can.
“With the Truly Margarita Styles, we wanted to marry everything drinkers love about hard seltzer with the flavors of a classic margarita,” said Casey O’Neill, director of product development at the Boston Beer Co. “The margarita is such a beloved, iconic cocktail and we’re excited to bring it to life in a fun, new way.”
Silk Extra Creamy Almondmilk
Silk is launching Silk Extra Creamy Almondmilk. The drink is made with a blend of three kinds of almonds for a silky-smooth taste, and has 50% more calcium than reduced-fat milk, Silk said.
“We’re thrilled to introduce Silk Extra Creamy Almondmilk to Silk’s almond portfolio, just in time for the new year,” said Derek Neeley, vice president of marketing for Silk. “Almond is a great way to start your plant-based journey, and our new Extra Creamy Almondmilk, along with our almond-based coffee creamers and yogurt alternatives, offers options to incorporate plant-based products throughout the day.”
Danone North America, Broomfield, Colo., makes Silk and other products including Activia, Dannon, evian, So Delicious Dairy Free and Stok.
BioSteel Cherry Lime
BioSteel launched a limited-time Cherry Lime flavor of its sports drink. The drink comes in a 16.7-ounce Tetra pack and is also available in a variety of flavors, including Blue Raspberry, Grape, Lemon Lime, Mixed Berry, Peach Mango, Rainbow Twist, Watermelon and White Freeze.
Canopy Growth Corp., Smith Falls, Ontario, makes the drink.
Cotton Candy Wine Collection
Duplin Winery, Rose Hill, N.C., is introducing a Cotton Candy wine collection, featuring three fruit flavors: Lime, Blueberry and Peach. It released the Cotton Candy Original flavor in May 2021.
“Duplin Cotton Candy Original was supposed to be a one-time-only wine, but when customers and retailers found out that we were down to the last bottles, they wanted more and also asked for new flavors,” Duplin co-owner Jonathan Fussell said.
Suggested retail price for the wines is $14.99 each.
Stella Rosa Non-Alcoholics
Stella Rosa, an Italian wine brand imported by Los Angeles-based Riboli Family Wines, is launching a line of nonalcohol options. Stella Rosa Non-Alcoholics offers nonalcohol semi-sweet, semi-sparkling Italian wine.
Each bottle has 30% less calories than its alcohol counterpart, the company said, and comes in four of the brand’s most popular flavors: Black, Red, Rose and Peach. The drinks have a suggested retail price (SRP) of $11.
Eight Beer
Eight is a new entrant in the beer category from football hall-of-famer Troy Aikman. The brew features organic grains, antioxidant-rich Hallertau Taurus hops, no cheap fillers and no sugars, according to the brand.
Eight is a light lager that has 90 calories and 2.6 grams of carbohydrates.
“Eight is for the drinker who consistently puts in the hard work,” said Aikman, who founded Eight in Austin, Texas. “These folks, myself included, are conscious of what we put in our bodies, and options for a light, refreshing beer that’s brewed with organic ingredients are virtually non-existent. Taking the time to reflect and celebrate is critical when you're constantly pushing yourself in pursuit of your goals. I hope Eight helps people connect with others after a day of doing things right.”
Eight will launch on draft in restaurants and other on-premise accounts in February in Texas. Eight cans will arrive in retail locations across the state starting in March. The drink will come in six-packs, 12-packs and 19.2-ounce single cans.
Spindrift Spiked
Spindrift Spiked comes from the makers of Spindrift Sparkling Water. Newton, Mass.-based Spindrift Beverage Co. is releasing the hard seltzer made with sparkling water, alcohol from sugar cane and real squeezed fruit.
The drink comes in Pineapple, Mango, Lime and Half & Half (lemonade and tea).
Spindrift Spiked is available in a 12-pack with 12-ounce cans. Each can has 4% ABV and 85 to 95 calories.