Xanté
Kindred Spirits of North America Inc. brings Xanté to the United States. Of Swedish origin, Xanté is a combination of the sweetness of virgin pears with a touch of the finest French Cognac matured for four years in French Limousine Oak barrels, with hints of vanilla. Xanté’s makers advise serving it as it’s served in Europe, as an ultra-premium shot cooled over a bed of ice, or served neat or on the rocks.
For more information, visit www.kindredspiritsusa.com.
Zuidam Gin
Zuidam (pronounced zoo-dahm) is a modern (2004) creation by Rick Ward of Chicago with a very distinctive selection of nine botanicals (including Madagascar vanilla bean). Zuidam’s makers steep and distill each botanical separately, then blend the distillates with a five-time-distilled neutral grain spirits, effectively requiring 14 distillations to produce the gin. Because Zuidam uses fresh whole oranges and lemons instead of dried peels, it mixes a little differently than other gins. Its makers strongly recommend tossing the lime juice and using orange or lemon fruit/juice for mixing and garnishing.
For more information, visit www.zuidam.com.
Absolut Mango
Absolut Vodka debuts its tenth flavor, Absolut Mango, adding a splash of the islands to the brand’s portfolio and offering on-premise operators an exciting and fashionable new Absolut flavor to boost their sales and their bottom line. Absolut Mango is aromatic and juicy with a pronounced and genuine character of ripened mango. Its fruity taste and full-bodied character invite consumers to indulge their five senses in the sweet smell, savory taste and exotic kick of the “king of fruits.” Like all Absolut flavors, Mango is made from all-natural ingredients and contains no sugar and no added preservatives.
For more information, visit www.absolut.com.
SKYY Infusions Pineapple
The latest addition to the SKYY Infusions All Natural line, Pineapple, launched in February. It joins the SKYY Infusions portfolio of Citrus, Cherry, Passion Fruit, Raspberry and Grape, an assortment of all natural infusions made from real fruit that was already named “Best in Class” by the Beverage Tasting Institute. SKYY Infusions Pineapple is created through a proprietary process in which real fruit is infused into smooth SKYY Vodka, creating what is a true-to-fruit taste experience bursting with the explosive essence of sweet pineapple, according to the marketer.
For more information, visit www.skyyinfusions.com.
Belvedere IX
Pronounced “One-X,” this new super-premium spirit represents what its makers at Belvedere call a “breakthrough in vodka innovation.” It is produced using a similar methodology to that of gin rather than that of artificially flavored vodka. With initial availability primarily in nightclubs, Belvedere IX uses nine ingredients including ginseng, guarana, acai, ginger, sweet almond, jasmine, eucalyptus, three cinnamon and black cherry, blended seamlessly to create a warm note on the nose. These ingredients are individually distilled in micro-batches before being blended, with 50 percent ABV (100 proof).
For more information, visit www.belvedereix.com.
The Rainforest Collection
Prestige Imports LLC introduces what it describes as a “first-class well or rail line of spirits that saves the rainforest with every drink.” The company originally purchased 2,500,000 square feet of pristine Amazon rainforest and recently formed an alliance with RainTrust to preserve an additional 2,000 acres. The Rainforest Collection is designed to offer high quality spirits at very affordable prices that are environmentally friendly. The bartender-friendly, color-coded Rainforest Collection of spirits is aimed at mid-tier to upscale on-premise accounts that provide clients with high quality spirits for a few cents more.
For more information, visit www.prestigeimportsllc.com.