Billy Wright has been heavily embedded in the food and drink industry for many years, having cooked all over the world, from supper clubs in Borough Market, to restaurant takeovers in Greece, to food demonstrations in the moat of the Tower of London, he now brings his passion for tastes and flavours to the reduced alcohol drinks market. Firstly shake the gin, fresh orange juice, lemon juice and Gomme syrup. Then double strain into a highball glass, add ice, top up with sparkling water, garnish with a large basil leaf and enjoy.

After the successful launch of Bombay Bramble, we began to seek inspiration for our next flavour expression to continue to build out our portfolio and elevate the flavoured gin category.” DropZone brewery founder Sean Crawford said: ‘We’re all about supporting the veteran community here at DropZone and we’re looking to continue that theme with Valkyrie Rum. It’s well and truly a top-shelf drink, so other than maybe a drop of water, there’s no need to mix it.Bombay Sapphire’s parent company Bacardi recently launched Grey Goose Essences, in three flavours, for the UK market following a successful roll out in the US, suggesting the rise in fruit-infused spirits is yet to peak. Award-winning Leeds based craft beer brewery Northern Monk has entered the soft drinks category with an alcohol and calorie free sparkling water. Having launched last year with a range of military-themed beers tasked with enriching the community of current and former service people, DropZone's Valkyrie Rum, distilled using the finest molasses and matured in ex-bourbon and American oak cask, will continue this theme and see all profits committed to military mental health charities.

Curtin added: “The creation of Bombay Citron Pressé gave us the opportunity to allow gin fans to enjoy a taste of the familiar, but with a twist, offering a naturally refreshing taste alternative to the traditional G&T.” The Bombay Pressé Citrus Collins features a blend of Mediterranean lemons and the brand’s signature London Dry gin, mixed with premium soda water. She continued: “Overall, innovation remains a critical driver of growth. Globally representing 15% of total gin, rising to 23% in more mature gin markets in Europe. Flavours are the growth driver within innovation representing 10% of the total category.”Furthermore, the name Nefiltr also highlights the beer’s signature, unfiltered nature, which is key in creating its hazy, gold colour, and deep, crisp flavour. A unique Czech lager that blends mature and fresh batches to create a uniquely hazy, Budvar Nefiltr is unfiltered lager sold exclusively on draught, with the rebrand reflecting Budvar’s Czech origins, continuing the brewery’s mission to build the reputation of the Czech Republic as one of the world’s great beer cultures. Offering quality no-alcohol wines with lower sugar, Accolade Wines has first-to-market access to de-alcoholising technology, Zero Tech X, which heats the wine and provides a gentler process to remove alcohol, meaning Hardys Zero wines retain more of the aroma, body and flavour of full-strength wine. Wright said: “Drinking is at the very heart of our society yet so many of us still can’t enjoy it without that slight fear of enjoying it a little too much. By reducing the alcohol content in our drinks it makes for a more enjoyable drinking experience yet still allows us to retain all the flavours.” Budweiser Budvar, the national brewery of the Czech Republic, has launched Budvar Nefiltr (4% ABV), a rebrand of its unfiltered and unpasteurised lager, previously known as Kraüsened.

Curtin noted that flavours provide a way to recruit new drinkers into the category and to the brand. Thanks to Accolade Wines’ significant investment in this innovative technology, we can now offer a superior tasting experience versus other non-alcoholic wines."

Rosy Rain

The name Valkyrie comes from Norse mythology, and these myths and legends have long-standing ties with military and naval traditions. We wanted to craft our rum to honour the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, marking the bravery and heroism of all those who answer the call of duty to serve." The new gin will launch with a 360° campaign, comprising in-bar activations, in-store points of sale, PR, out-of-home advertising, as well as social, digital and influencer marketing. DropZone Brewery has expanded into the spirits market with the launch of limited edition an eight-year-old Barbados rum, Valkyrie Rum (65% ABV), honouring the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Offshore Island deliveries will take longer than two days including Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Scottish Highlands and Islands and Scilly Isles.

The gin brand recently added another lemon-flavoured variant to its portfolio: Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru Murcian Lemon.DECEM has been three years in the making, working tirelessly to find the most interesting combinations of fruits, herbs and botanicals to blend genuinely different liquids that hold complex flavours yet are easy to drink with the simplest mixers. We’re proud to launch the first three spirits in the DECEM range and give drinkers lighter alternatives to be enjoyed all day or all night.” Brož said: “Brewing Budvar Nefiltr takes skill and balance. It’s up to us to add just the right amount of fresh beer to a batch that’s finished maturing in our brewery cellars. Too much, and the second fermentation will be too fierce and will overpower the richness of the matured batch. Too little, and it won’t create the delicate carbonation we’re after.”