New drinks review: vodka returns to the farm with milk innovation

Vodka continues to be the innovation pacesetter in the spirits market, with unusual milk-based formulations and "oil barrel" packaging headlining this month's rundown of the latest novel drinks launches. In other news, chocolate and spice flavors are making an appearance in carbonates and wine, respectively, and fruit drinks are looking to new ingredients and bold pack design to stand out.

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PLA Innovation of the Week: wine that stacks for anytime, anywhere enjoyment

Love wine but hate the hassle of bottles, corkscrews, and stemware? Stacked Wine is a solution that offers revolutionary packaging in the form of a "bottle" of wine that is actually four stemless wine glasses that snap together as one. New in the US, this product is the innovation of the week from Datamonitor's Product Launch Analytics.

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Pack-Track Innovation of the Month: new stacked format gives wine on the go appeal

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New drinks review: energy drinks toast their popularity

In this month's rundown of the latest innovations from the drinks industry, energy drinks are once again venturing into new territory, this time forging an unlikely alliance with champagne in a recent launch in Germany. Meanwhile, a drink powder that claims to be able to absorb alcohol has hit shelves, while bag-in-boxes are looking to the world of high fashion to reinforce upscale positioning.

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Long live the Queen, and British innovation

Britain will be celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on June 2, and as part of the celebrations a series of innovative Jubilee-themed products are taking pride of place on supermarket shelves this summer. Product Launch Analytics has discovered that there is something to make everyone smile, from special edition jars of Marmite to specially designed chocolates, truffles, champagne, and tea.

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New drinks review: QR branding sees wine embrace the smartphone era

The emergence of QR codes in line with growing consumer take-up of smartphone technology is offering diverse marketing and branding opportunities to consumer goods companies, as evidenced by the sparkling wine launch that headlines this month's rundown of drinks innovations. Meanwhile, new flavors are emerging in the gin segment and novel formats are being explored for liqueurs and bottled water.

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PLA Innovation of the Week: a sparkling wine that changes its appearance when shaken

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Wine now neck and neck with beer in the US

A US study released by Gallup in July 2011 has highlighted that consumers' preference for beer is in decline, with wine having increased in popularity, particularly among millennials. For the country's brewers, the question is how to re-engage beer with younger consumers.

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New drinks review: concentration is the key for tea

Headlining this month's rundown of the latest product introductions in the drinks industry is a syrup that is hoping to give tea added flexibility. In other launches, the salt caramel flavor is branching out, a Spanish wine is taking the process of enology down to the molecular level, and vodka is innovating in the flavor and packaging stakes.

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Targeted products could boost the use of cans in the wine sector

Leading European beverage can maker Rexam is working with partners to improve the packaging of wine in cans. The company is hoping to see growth in the use of cans by younger consumers, especially at outdoor events, but faces competition from both glass and plastic.

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