By launching the range direct to consumer, we can also establish Nine Yards as a fun brand that fits seamlessly into consumers’ lifestyles.”​ Rum as a whole, but flavoured and spiced in particular, did well in the off-trade through the pandemic in the UK, say producers. Many introduced new variants last year and these have already found a foothold in the off-trade. He says: “We saw lots of love from traditional rum drinkers and new consumers coming into the category.” We saw the opportunity and thought, 'How can we apply our knowledge and experience in cultured dairy foods to create healthy and tasty plant-based cultured foods?'"​​

At our year end (as of Jan 2021) Didsbury Gin’s revenue growth is up by 170% vs last year with profits significantly increasing and this can be attributed to significant e-commerce growth.She says: “After trialling different flavours that work well with rum and researching consumer trends, we launched three complementary flavours: Vanilla, Honeycomb and Roasted Pineapple. All are infused with authentic Caribbean rum to produce wonderfully rich, sweet, and spiced rum liqueurs.” Our panel – made up of 10-accredited spirits experts and rum-loving consumers – put 35 spiced rums to the test, spanning supermarket steals to big-brand bottles. We stopped production at our distillery and switched it to hand sanitiser production at the start of the pandemic – producing a whopping 2 million bottles in 7 days for public services in Greater Manchester.

We’ve drank in a lot of world class bars, and there are a lot of world class bars in Manchester, so we know what we like and what we don’t like. There’s small things. Every single seat in this bar has a coat hook. Minor details but they make the experience that little bit more comfortable.” Spirited Union Distillery founder, Ruben Maduro, says the producer believes consumers want “natural, authentic and real flavours”. Tom Smith, Marketing Director at Accolade Wines, said: “Hard seltzers have soared in popularity in the UK and Nine Yards is aimed at the growing group of adventurous and environmentally-conscious shoppers. The cans are the ideal format for out of home consumption during the summer months and a refreshing option to enjoy when in the home.​ Doing stuff like this is fun,” Liam says. “It keeps you grey, it keeps you sleepless! But life’s too short to sit on ideas. Just roll the dice and do it.”The new hard seltzer is now available and comes in three flavors: lime, mint and elderflower; raspberry, hibiscus and lime; and finally lemon, ginger and grapefruit. Portobello Vodka CWF’s Smith, says retailers need to put special editions, WIGIGs and themed products at the forefront of their offering.

She says: “This could be supporting sustainable producers, profiling the overlooked or marginalised, or championing brands that place provenance, heritage or family at the heart of what they do. In addition, we have our rum brand, ARLU Rum, which is a range of spiced and flavoured rums imported from the Caribbean and blended with unique flavours and spices in the heart of Manchester. Shoppers can choose from Blood Orange, Passionfruit and Mango or Original Spiced flavours. The Blood Orange Rum and Blood Orange Gin RTD cans are not only both fail-safe fan favourites, they provide a fun Halloween tipple at our usual premium quality. This is like Mexico in a glass,” he says of one concoction, which has a sea salt foam floating on the pale green mescal-based liquid below, a smart take on the classic, salt-rimmed marg. “That foam is like the foam you get floating on the sea.” We’re expecting consumers to want to support smaller brands, especially unique British ones like ours.”

With its unique focus on low-alcohol meads, Bemuse has reinvented the style to produce an enjoyably fresh drink and, also, create a pioneering drinks category. A light, social, low-alcohol and low-calorie drink, the Bemuse mead range can be enjoyed all year round, on their own or as an accompaniment to food.” ​ ​