Bacardi-Martini to test bottled daiquiri

Bacardi-Martini is to test-launch a bottled version of Cuban cocktail the daiquiri, which was made famous by US writer Ernest Hemingway.

Bacardi Rigo is a packaged spirit which mixes the rum with lime and soda, just like a daiquiri. It has an alcoholic strength of 5.4 per cent by volume, although sources say this is weaker than the daiquiris drunk by Hemingway. Rigo is to be put on regional trial in one area of the UK before a national launch.

It is one of a number of “small bottle” spirit products launched by Bacardi-Martini in the UK over the past two years. It joins a portfolio that includes V2, Martini Metz and Bacardi Breezer.

Stella David, marketing director of Bacardi-Martini’s UK distribution arm Westbay, says: “This is not an alcopop, but a premium packaged spirit. It is sophisticated in a minimalist sort of way.”

Premium packaged spirits have gained increasing popularity over rival alcopops, which have gone into steep decline over the past year. The spirit-based drinks have greater appeal to adults and a more sophisicated image.

Westbay has also added Bombay Sapphire gin to its portfolio, after parent company Bacardi bought the brand, along with Dewar’s Scotch, from Diageo for 1.15bn.

Cover Story, page 28

Recommended

Net Trawl

Marketing Week

Nearly 1 million people in the UK access the Internet at home – equivalent to five per cent of households – and the figure is still rising, according to the Office of National Statistics. If growth continues as it did in 1997, it’s going to be a busy year for UK-based Internet and new media […]

Bicycle thief ‘ad up by ASA man

Marketing Week

Think again all you cynics who believe the Advertising Standards Authority has no muscle. ASA press officer Chris Reed was quietly watching TV one night recently when he heard his front door being forced open. Fearlessly, he rushed downstairs to discover his mountain bike had been stolen. Undeterred, he chased the young offender and his […]

UK launch for cosmetics giant Marbert

Marketing Week

Sunday Business makes a direct attack on The Sunday Times in its new advertising campaign through DMB&B breaking in the press this week. Called Strictly Business, the campaign is the second for Sunday Business, which launched in February. Three press ads poke fun at the ‘tittle-tattle’ of The Sunday Times, personified by its society columnists […]