Well hello 2023. The distillers, wine makers, mixologist and artisans have been hard at work over the new year compiling a new set of experiences and drinks ranges launching into the Australian market. We bring you the first of our quarterly drinks guide to what’s new and notable.
Squealing Pig – Celebrates LGBTQIA+ community with 9 limited edition pride labels
Nice one Squealing Pig! As the official wine partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, they are celebrating diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community with nine new, limited edition labels for its wines. Delish! Each label champions a unique community with a cheeky take on the brand’s signature ‘little pig’ rhyme scheme. Every label displays a five-line colour wave representing the flags that each group marches under. See website for retailers $18.00 RRP
Ara Select Blocks Zero
Newly arrived on Australian shores from NZ, Ara Select Blocks Zero is an alcohol-removed wine that comes in a suave Sauvignon and a racy Rosé. These vegan-friendly vintages are made using a special spinning-cone technology that whips out the alcohol (and calories!) without losing any of the flavour. The Sauvignon Blanc – our favourite – is a smooth, crisp and lemony-grapefruit chiller that’s perfect for the heatwave, and the Rosé is a spicier, tangy apple with hints of strawberry and hibiscus. The Sauvignon is also a winner: picking up Best Wine and Best White Wine at the Winepilot Zero Alcohol Wine Show 2022. Both wines cost $19 and are exclusively available at Coles.
BRIX x Bourke Street Bakery – Trail Mix Rum
Now this collab seams a bit bonkers, but it’s so yummy! Brix have launched a new rum which tastes like your granny’s kitchen (that is if your granny was into baking things like bannana bread. How did they do this? Well they partnered with Bourke Street Bakery kitchen. The limited-edition rum has been matured for 3 years in locally sourced American oak stout casks and is infused with banana bread, almond croissants, figs, lemon peels and pear skins (all biproducts from the Bourke Street Bakery kitchen). The addition of Allspice, peppermint gum and liquorice tie these flavours together. $105 RRP, via BRIX or from the Surry Hills Distillery.
Part Time Rangers
Oliver & William Deane set out on a mission for wildlife conservation by creating a range of ready to drink cans with a simple mix of things like gin, lemon juice and sparkling water with a pledge to donate a portion of the proceeds. Part Time Rangers was born.
Earlier this year they welcomed ‘Peach Penguin’ to the range of Pink Rhino, Black Elephant and Yellow Elephant. Peach Penguin is a yummy blend of vodka, juicy peach and sparkling water. Its really refreshing and keeping a cold one in the fridge is perfect for these hot humid days.
To celebrate the launch, they are offering one lucky person to win a dream job to help the Little Penguins in WA whose population has declined by 80% since 2007. Awww drink up people! Four pack $23.99. Check here for your nearest PTR stockist
Ugly Vodka
Feeling rejected? Well just think about how thousands of imperfect, ‘ugly’ apples go unloved and are chucked out every day by Aussies farmers, as big supermarket chains demand pretty shiny bundles. That waste then heads to landfill and contributes to C02 emissions. Help is on its way with a new vodka called Ugly to stop that nonsense. Using apples from the Goulburn Valley and it’s distillery based in Melbourne, Ugly Vodka has just launched. We got to taste test this week. It’s a lovely clean tasting vodka without any hint of apples! It’s just hit the shelves and already its saved 20kgs of apples from landfill and their bottles use 30% less glass. Ugly Vodka $64.99
Heaps Normal – Mix Case Pack
What do you get the indecisive drinker/non drinker or the zero alch curious? We heaps love, Heaps Normal. Let’s face it they have won a ridiculous number of awards for their zero alcohol largers which actually tastes like beer. Just launched is the ‘Heaps Normal Mixed Case’ a smashable combination of their three core range beers – the Quiet XPA (our favourite), Another Lager and Half Day Hazy. Each box contains a 2×4 pack of each can. 24x375ml can $68.65
Corowa Distilling Co
By the banks of the Murray River, Corowa’s Flour Mill built the town from the ground up, exporting grains across the world. She was a powerhouse until her doors shut in 1970 and the building was left to decay. Then these guys came along with a vision to put Cowra back on the map, the council sold it for $1, well they delivered. The team was invited to London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, that says something. A town reborn, a new industry and a pride in whisky that takes its name. We loved our tasting pack (Characters, Barrel House XB, Private Notes, Mad Dog Morgan, Bosque Verde). Mad dog was our fav with burnt butter, caramel and orange flavours. COROWA CORE RANGE TASTING PACK – $85.00
