Cocktail lovers can rejoice this St. Patrick’s Day with the release of Kahlúa’s “Schneaky” Espresso Martini glass. Disguised to look like a pint of stout, the specially designed, hand-blown glass sneakily conceals an Espresso Martini inside a pint glass. The crafty solution was created following research revealing that cocktail lovers feel “St. Patrick’s Day pressure” to drink stout – even if they don’t savour its flavour.
According to the study, around two in three drinkers (64 per cent) have felt the need to order a "certain stout drink" to fit in and nearly half (42 per cent) fear they might be judged poorly for choosing a cocktail over a pint on St. Patrick’s Day. Enter the Schneaky Espresso Martini glass by Kahlúa – a saviour for many cocktail lovers on 16 and 17 March.
Kahlúa has enlisted former England rugby star and devout stout drinker James Haskell to raise awareness of the Schneaky Espresso Martini glass – showing that even the most loyal fans of stout can sip undercover.
“For any punters looking to avoid an unwanted pint of stout, Kahlúa has got you covered,” said Haskell. “The Schneaky Espresso Martini glass means you can enjoy the deliciously indulgent cocktail you crave, without the fear of being judged.”
Following the huge success of last year's St. Patrick’s Day campaign – Feliz St. Patrick’s Day – Irish TikTok sensations Tadgh & Derry are joining forces with Kahlúa again. They join 3bucksleft in a cheeky video revealing the Sneaky Espresso Martini glass in all its glory.
On 16 and 17 March, Kahlúa is giving away free Schneaky Espresso Martinis* in its bespoke glasses exclusively at two pubs – the Howl At The Moon pub in Hoxton, London and O’Loclainn’s in County Clare, Ireland. Punters can try the undercover glass for free by ordering a “Schneaky Espresso Martini” at the bar**. There will also be an exclusive opportunity to win a Kahlúa Schneaky Espresso Martini glass via the Howl At The Moon’s Instagram page.
Alison Perrottet, Brand Director for Pernod Ricard UK, said: “Kahlúa loves showing up in unexpected ways and that’s exactly what we’re doing this St. Patrick’s Day. While stout has traditionally been a favourite for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s time to stir things up with a Schneaky Espresso Martini, and what better way to celebrate than with the UK’s number one coffee liqueur. Slainte!”
**T&CS: The activation is open to all individuals aged 18 years or older, operating the “think 25” policy. Customers must present a valid photo ID to prove eligibility. Only one free drink per person will be given, subject to availability and the discretion of pub staff. The activation is valid from 12pm to 11pm on Monday 17th March at Howl At The Moon and from 5pm to 11pm at O’Loclainn’s on Sunday 16th March, subject to stock lasting. Alcohol consumption should be done responsibly. The pub reserves the right to refuse service to any individual who is intoxicated or behaving inappropriately. The Sneaky Espresso Martini by Kahlúa cannot be substituted for any other alcohol or item. The Schneaky Espresso Martini glass by Kahlúa is not available for purchase nor giveaway, all glasses are the property of Pernod**Customers can claim one Kahlúa espresso martini using the codeword “Schneaky Espresso Martini” at the bar, subject to T&Cs.
CÎROC, the largest Super-Premium Vodka range in impulse, and the third largest Super-Premium Vodka brand in the total off-trade , has unveiled a brand-new flavour: CÎROC Colada RTD. A sparkling mixed drink, with CÎROC Vodka, pineapple and coconut flavours mixed with lemonade, is now available in a 250ml ready-to-drink can.
With "tropical" the second most popular flavour profile in Super-Premium Vodka, CÎROC will offer shoppers convenient luxury in an accessible format this summer with this latest launch.
“Our new CÎROC Colada ready-to-drink can offers a sophisticated blend of sweet, juicy pineapple taste upfront with a classic, creamy coconut and tropical finish. Conveniently served up in a beautiful, ready-to-drink can, the fourth variant in the CÎROC RTD portfolio." said Pippa Lewis, Senior Brand Manager.
“We are delighted to launch CÎROC Colada just in time for the spring and summer seasons, a period where consumers look to connect and enjoy meaningful moments together. Whether shoppers are on the go, at a picnic, or gathering with friends, CÎROC Colada is the perfect addition to fridges, helping retailers tap into these occasions and drive sales.”
CÎROC Coconut Vodka
Launching alongside the new Colada RTD can, CÎROC is also bringing back CÎROC Coconut flavoured vodka, made with 5x distilled vodka from fine French grapes and natural flavourings. CÎROC Coconut provides a taste of the tropics and can be used to create a classic Pina Colada or sophisticated martini cocktails, so there is a serve for all occasions.
CÎROC Colada is available across grocery, convenience and wholesale now, with CÎROC Coconut 70cl (37.5 per cent ABV) rolling out alongside it.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has announced the arrival of Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Cherry in GB – the first-ever flavoured innovation in the iconic Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola Ready To Drink (RTD) range.
Rolling out nationwide from April, the new variant gives the classic Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola blend a fruity cherry twist, offering a fresh and exciting taste that brings together two of the world’s most iconic brands in an entirely new way.
Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Cherry Ready To Drink (RTD) will be available in 330ml plain and price-marked single cans. The packaging features a bold purple stripe around the collar and a clear "Cherry" label beneath, making it instantly recognisable on shelf when positioned alongside Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Original Taste and Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.
This launch builds on the range's impressive performance since its debut in March 2023, with Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Original Taste quickly becoming the best-selling ready-to-drink SKU in Great Britain and successfully premiumising what the category has to offer.
Combined, the original full sugar and zero sugar variants have collectively achieved over £55 million in value sales to date, and the range recently won the “Pre-Mixed Spirit” category at the 2025 Product of the Year Awards – the UK’s largest consumer-voted accolade for product innovation.
To amplify the launch, wholesalers and convenience retailers can transform their depots and stores with vibrant POS kits. These include bollard covers, aisle fins and shelf strips, along with digital assets on My.CCEP.com to drive excitement both in-store and online.
“This is such an exciting moment for the brand, for the category, and for us and our customers, and we’re confident the sweet cherry twist will be a massive hit with shoppers,” said Elaine Maher, Associate Director, Alcohol Ready-to-Drink at CCEP GB.
“With the ready-to-drink category now worth £554m in Great Britain, this launch is about more than just giving fans something fresh – it’s a brilliant opportunity to bring flavoured cola lovers into the category for the first time, with Coca-Cola & Coca-Cola Zero Cherry alone clocking up nearly £107m in sales to date. By drawing on insights from our soft drinks range, we’re helping our ready-to-drink line-up reach its full potential and continuing to drive growth in the category.
“We’re expecting huge demand both in-store and online and can’t wait to see this incredible new flavour fly off the shelves.”
The Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup 2025 will bring sports fans from across the globe to the West Midlands this month – and attendees will now be able to enjoy the World Cup’s official beer, as well as a specially curated menu of food and drink for the duration of the competition. Produced in partnership with Coventry based brewery Dhillon’s, Raider has been created especially for the competition, presented in bespoke cans that will satisfy lager lovers and sports fans alike.
“Bringing this international competition to the UK for the first time means that we want to give guests an authentic British experience – and what better place to start, than by launching the World Cup’s own official beer, brewed right in the heart of the West Midlands," said Prem Singh, Chief Executive of the British Kabaddi League.
Located in Coventry, Dhillon's Brewery is an award-winning microbrewery with a rich and dynamic story. The brewery was founded in 2015 by Dal Dhillon, who chased his dream of brewing beautifully crafted beer at the heart of the Midlands. The Brewery sits adjacent to the CBS Arena, one of the tournament’s venues, and from that base they produce exciting and well-crafted ales using a mix of traditional and modern brewing methods. The beer itself, Raider, is a Pilsner Lager; classic and refreshing with malty sweetness coupled with a crisp cool finish – and it’s 100 per cent Vegan.
Dal Dhillon said of the announcement: "We're thrilled to be partnering with the Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup 2025 and to be brewing the official beer for the event, which we're welcoming in the UK for the first time! As a home-grown business with deep roots in the community, supporting local initiatives has always been one of our core values. We're delighted to be uniting Coventry with the World Cup, to celebrate the rich cultural background both the city and the event have to offer.
The Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup 2025 is hosted as a joint venture between World Kabaddi, England Kabaddi Association, the British Kabaddi League, West Midlands Combined Authority, the four hosting local authorities of Wolverhampton, Coventry, Birmingham and Walsall and the University of Wolverhampton. The championship will take place in venues across the region between 17th and 23rd March. The tournament is supported by £500,000 of funding support from the UK Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund and by the championship’s title sponsor Paddy Power. The World Cup will also work with charity partner, Sporting Equals, to accelerate the charity’s goal of promoting community cohesion and eradicate racism in sport.
The Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup 2025 official beer is now available to pre-order. The beer will also be available to VIP hospitality guests for the duration of the championships. Pre-order yours now at dhillonsbrewery.com/shop.
Six Indian women breaking boundaries in UK drinks market
Maharaja Drinks is celebrating International Women's Day by acknowledging six incredibly talented Indian women in the wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks industry who are paving the way for Indian craft drinks in the UK drinks market.
The spirits and wine industry has traditionally been male-dominated. However, in recent years there has been a flurry of women-led drinks businesses and enterprises pioneering new, emerging global female talent. Maharaja Drinks would like to introduce six of these fearless women.
Sophia Longhi, Maharaja Drinks Wine Guru said, "The wine industry has had something of a refresh lately, with more and more women breathing new energy into all areas of the sector, including winemaking and wine communication.
"The majority of wine sold in the UK is bought by women, so it's only going to be good for business to have more women making wine, selling wine and talking about wine.
"At Maharaja Drinks, we work with some amazing female-led wine suppliers, who bring their expert viewpoint to our table. As well as championing women in wine, I also get to champion an emerging wine region, India, which makes my work here doubly exciting. If one thing's for sure, wine is an industry that never stands still - which is why I love it."
Vidita Mungi from Rhythm Winery
Vidita Mungi is one of the few women in the largely male-dominated world of wine production.
Rhythm Winery is a fruit wine business owned and run by Vidita, who is bold and brave when it comes to challenging the traditionalists. The winery capitalises on the diverse climate and soil conditions in India to source fruits from various regions.
From the lush orchards of Maharashtra to the vibrant fields of Karnataka and the sun-kissed plantations of Gujarat, each fruit is carefully procured, ensuring exceptional quality and distinct flavours.
Kiran Patil from Reveilo
Kiran Patil and her husband transformed their 100-year-old ancestral farm in Nashik into the vineyard of Reveilo Wines.
With state-of-the-art technology from Italy and grapes grown in India since the early 2000s, Reveilo blends art and science to craft wines that are 100% vegan – they are the first winery in India to produce a barrel-fermented Chardonnay. Kiran places a huge focus on building and growing the brand geographically with consistency and persistence.
Kasturi Banerjee from Maka Zai Rum
From banker to bartender, Kasturi Banerjee is the founder of Stilldistilling Spirits, the company that produces Maka Zai rum. Banerjee was a banker for almost 18 years before taking a bartending course and starting Stilldistilling Spirits in 2020.
Maka Zai is a homegrown white rum made with sugarcane harvested from the banks of the Panchganga River in Maharashtra, and a gold rum with cane spirit from Punjab.
Varna Bhat from Rahasya Vodka
They describe themselves as 'India in a bottle' and are one of the few female-founded spirits brands in the country. Founder Varna Bhat made it her mission to create a truly pan-Indian spirit, offering drinkers a distinctly desi taste without leaning on the typical association with masalas.
What she and the team have landed on with Rahasya is an Indian vodka, made using local ingredients (such as corn and wheat grains from Punjab) and infused with the mysteries of India to deliver world-class flavour.
Husna-Tara from Glenburn Teas
Looked after by Husna-Tara of the Prakash family (who have been involved for four generations), the tea bushes at Glenburn are embraced by the majestic peaks of Mount Kanchenjunga.
Their focus on local employment means that 350 women from 8 local villages are in charge of plucking fresh leaves each day, which are turned into Darjeeling teas that are fragrant and fulfilling.
Muskan Khanna from Tea N Teas
Brought to life by a team of female tea experts spanning three continents, Tea N Teas is based in Coonoor, nestled in the Nilgiri Mountain range. Muskan Khanna is at the helm of this innovative concept.
The all-female enterprise uses real innovation in small-batch production, employing modern Chinese machinery and Muskan’s enterprising nature to create distinctive teas.
Maharaja Drinks offers over 20 high-quality wines, a range of fruity or malty Indian beers and over 25 Indian crafted spirits and non-alcoholic drinks.
The specialist retailer encourages organic certification, sustainable production methods and environmentally aware manufacturing, packaging and transport from its suppliers. All drinks are shipped throughout the UK mainland.
“When we started the Maharaja Drinks journey, we knew from the beginning we wanted to work with suppliers that not only represent our values but are also progressive thinkers and pioneers in Indian craft drinks, so many of these people are women.” said Ipe Jacob, co- founder of Maharaja Drinks.
“The alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks industry has been dominated by men for some time but this is all changing. We believe now is the time for a new wave of global female talent and we are proud to champion these six amazing brands in the UK drinks market”
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New Peroni Nastro Azzurro 10-pack format: What shoppers need to know
Lager brand Peroni Nastro Azzurro is aiming to recruit younger and more affluent adult shoppers into the growing can segment by changing the shape of its cans, launching a new 10-pack multipack, and rolling out a new look.
Following feedback, the brand will move its 330ml cans from a slimline format to a "stubby" can, reflecting changing shopper perceptions and preferences associated with premium lager.
The cans will first be available in a new easy-opening 10-pack – designed for fridge storage – which is planned to launch across major multiple retailers, as well as Majestic and Parfetts.
“Historically, cans have been associated with the economy lager segment, but the format is becoming increasingly important to premium lager," said Rob Hobart, Marketing Director at Asahi UK. "For most premium brands such as Peroni Nastro Azzurro there is now a trend towards a more affluent and younger shopper demographic for cans.”
Cans have been growing their share of lager in recent years, reaching a value share of almost 64% in the latest year, up from 59.5% in 2022.
Can sales within premium lager grew in the past year by +10.6 per cent vs 2023, almost double the growth rate in mainstream lager at +5.6 per cent. The number of shoppers purchasing premium lager in can format has also been increasing year after year, with penetration rising from 8.3 per cent in 2021 to 11.5 per cent as of September 2024.
The new 10-pack follows the brand’s 4x440ml can launch in 2023. Last year, Peroni Nastro Azzurro 4x440ml was the fastest-growing premium can SKU within convenience and has added the most value sales to this pack-size out of any premium can brand.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro is also benefiting from a new redesign for its outer packaging, rolling out across the wider range. The new design sees the brand’s key asset – the blue ribbon – sweep across each side of multipacks, designed in a way to create an ‘endless ribbon’ when packs are together on shelf.
The main logo – the Amaretti – has been refreshed to drive standout, but without losing any premium detailing.
The new design was developed by Bristol-based agency Outlaw, which tested two concepts in market before combining the learnings from both for the final version. In tests, the concepts saw the percentage of people who agreed that Peroni Nastro Azzurro "is a premium beer" increase by +19 per cent and those who agreed it is "worth paying more for’" increase by +12 per cent.