Drinks Trade

Lee McLean will depart Australian Grape & Wine in September. McLean’s resignation follows eight years of service to the industry body, including four years as CEO. "Serving Australia's grape growers and winemakers has been a great privilege" said McLean announcing his resignation.

Paramount Liquor will distribute Lion’s full range of kegs and packaged products across Tasmania, effective from Monday, 24 August. The strategic partnership follows Paramount Liquor’s launch into Tasmania in April and marks the next stage of its service to the Tasmanian hospitality sector. It follows a similar transition in South Australia last year, where Paramount took on the same role for Lion and refined the model, and has run it successfully since.

Archie Rose Distilling Co. proudly introduces Triple Smoked Single Malt Whisky, a boldly Australian expression of smoke, crafted by harnessing native stringybark timber in place of Scottish peat to create an evocative smoke character that is distinctly and unmistakably Australian. Taking an unconventional approach to smoky whisky production, this release is crafted using smoked malt, smoked casks, and smoked water.

Lion CEO Anubha Sahasrabuddhe is confident about the growth opportunities for beer and RTD, the supplier's two core categories, but says Lion, along with the broader drinks trade, will need to continue to evolve in line with shifting consumer needs. This is the overarching summary of Drinks Trade's second interview with Anubha in as many months following Lion's back-to-back Supplier of the Year wins.

Minus 196 Double Apple Suntory Global Spirits has expanded its Minus 196 RTD range with the launch of Double Apple in both 6% and 9% ABV versions. The standard-ABV variant delivers a balanced apple profile, while the high-ABV builds on the introduction of Double Lemon 9% and offers a more intense apple flavour in a higher-strength format. Both are manufactured and distributed through Suntory Oceania.

The most-visited distillery in the US, Ole Smoky, has doubled its Australian flavoured whiskey range with the launch of three new SKUs: Mint Choc Chip, Cookie Dough and Honeycomb. The new expressions join the existing Australian range of Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter and Mango Habanero, offering venue owners and bar managers products that are both distinctive and practical.

Asahi Beverages has partnered with Coles Liquor to relaunch Balter Black, a new dark lager exclusive to Liquorland stores nationwide. Originally produced as a limited release beer, the relaunch of Balter Black as a permanent store-exclusive SKU follows Guinness’ surge in popularity. Balter General Manager Trend Aldons said: “The response was too strong to ignore. We wanted to make a dark beer that delivers all the flavour people expect, while still being crisp, smooth and refreshing.

The original cinnamon whisky brand has announced its first flavour extension in Australia: Fireball Blazin’ Apple. Inspired by nostalgic apple flavours and the unmistakable Fireball heat, Blazin’ Apple delivers a bold-yet-refreshing flavour experience, balancing ripe apple flavours with a cinnamon-infused punch. Its combination of sweet, spicy and smooth positions it as a new option for shots and mixed serves both for pre-drinks and in high-octane on-premise settings.

Suntory Global Spirits has announced the latest addition to its Minus 196 RTD range: Double Apple. Inspired by one of Minus 196’s most popular flavours in Japan, Double Apple is crafted using Suntory’s Freeze Crush Infusion technology, flash-freezing whole red apples in liquid nitrogen at exactly -196°C before they are crushed and infused with vodka and shochu. The result is a bold, full-fruit flavour with a crisp finish.

Dan Murphy’s has teamed up with the NFL as the official retail liquor partner in Australia and New Zealand ahead of the league’s historic first regular season game between Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers on 11 September.