Vodkas flavored with citrus and berry have been around for years and recently some newer brands have been trying to create buzz with unusual flavors. But this holiday season, for the first time, the world's largest vodka brand is trying to appeal to Americans' sweet tooth with zany flavors like "fluffed marshmallow" and "whipped cream."
Faced with relentless competition from established and upstart brands, Smirnoff's owner -- the London-based beverage group Diageo Plc -- took inspiration from things like cookie-scented candles and vanilla-scented laundry soap. It then relied on focus groups, mixologists and food scientists to come up with the new drinks, which went through some 15 iterations, according to the company's chief marketing and innovation officer for North America, Peter McDonough.
Tasters preferred a "toasted" marshmallow flavor, but the marketing team decided that "fluffed" marshmallow would be a better name, McDonough said, since it would help avoid perceptions that the drink tasted "chalky or burnt."
Diageo paired the drinks with an advertising campaign around the title "Fluffed and Whipped" that features a circus of dancers, dogs, aerialists, women spraying whipped cream into their mouths and model Amber Rose purring that "vodka never felt this good."
YOUNG VS MATURE DRINKERS
The mixing of sugar and spice has struck a chord, particularly with younger, female drinkers, say some New York bartenders.
"In five years of bartending, I have never seen a bottle sell out that fast," said Dena Kravitz of Rosie O'Grady's Irish Pub in Manhattan's Times Square. "It's the martini of the younger generation."
Smirnoff, born in Russia about 150 years ago, says it is trying to make itself relevant and cool to younger adults, drinkers in their 20s and 30s. But some industry opponents see sweet drinks as moves to lure under-age drinkers who can use them to transition from soft drinks to hard liquor.
"I see this move into these sweet drinks as catering to a youthful taste," said James Mosher, president of Alcohol Policy Consultations, a private consultancy group. "This is not a drink that a mature adult is going to prefer."
Mosher wrote an article slated for publication in the January 2012 issue of The American Journal of Public Health in which he argues that youth-oriented marketing campaigns by Smirnoff and other distilled spirits, which appeal to underage drinkers, were a key factor in the rise of spirits consumption over the past decade in the United States.
Furthermore, the sexy images and allusions in the "Fluffed and Whipped" ad put Diageo in the dog house at industry watchdog group Alcohol Justice, which did a "Doghouse Blog" entry on it in November, saying the campaign "may have set the bar at a new low" for what it calls "pornahol" ads, or those that "use sexual innuendo and objectification to sell alcoholic beverages."
Diageo, which says the target market for the new varieties is 25-to-35-year-old men and women, rejects any suggestion that it is marketing to kids and cited four investigations into alcohol marketing by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that concluded that industry ads were directed at adults.
Diageo called Mosher's article "seriously flawed and unsupported by government data and marketplace realities."
As for the sexy ad, McDonough defended it and called it "a little bit tongue-in-cheek."
Diageo, the world's biggest spirits maker, has a portfolio that includes Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, Captain Morgan rum and Jose Cuervo tequila.
GOING STRAIGHT TO DESSERT
The notion of confectionary flavors in alcoholic drinks is not new. In recent years, smaller producers have come out with Cupcake Vodka, Burnett's Whipped Cream Flavored Vodka, Pinnacle Cotton Candy Vodka, Three Olives Bubble Gum Vodka and Georgi Candy Cane Vodka. Diageo already sells Godiva Chocolate vodka, Ciroc Coconut vodka and Qream, an ice-cream inspired liqueur.
But Smirnoff is the first very large brand to go straight to dessert.
Smirnoff, the top-selling vodka in the United States, has faced competition from small, fast-growing brands that have more cachet, such as Bacardi's Grey Goose and Diageo's Ciroc.
Its sales in the United States are still more than double those of the No. 2 vodka, Pernod Ricard's Absolut, but its market share slipped and it reported net sales fell 2 percent in North America in the fiscal year that ended June 30.
In the months that followed, Smirnoff has seen sales increase, with U.S. sales up 3.6 percent in November, Diageo said, citing data from industry sales tracker IRI.
The beverage behemoth has been pulling out all the stops, including sponsoring a reality television show and various nightlife events. Diageo said Smirnoff controls about 30 percent of the flavored vodka market, a fast-growing segment. According to Nielsen data, in the 12 months that ended November 12, flavored vodka sales rose 20 percent to account for 19 percent of all U.S. vodka sales. Unflavored vodka sales rose only 2 percent over the same period.
But the more unusual the flavor, the more limited its appeal, some say.
"As they become more esoteric, you've got to wonder what the return on these is, since you're speaking to a smaller and smaller consumer base," said Alexander Smith, editor-in-chief of the IWSR Magazine.
And while sweet cocktails in the United States date back to a rum punch by the original first lady Martha Washington, certainly not everyone wants sugar in their alcoholic drinks.
"It's too much," said one man in his 40s who was drinking recently at a bar in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood, when asked about the new Smirnoff flavors. "It's too, too much."
For now, at least, Smirnoff does not have to share the pie with its larger rivals.
For Absolut, confectionary-inspired flavors would "not be consistent with" the brand's flavor strategy, a spokesman said. Its newest creations include Absolut Grapevine, a blend of white grape, dragon fruit and papaya.
Skyy Vodka, owned by Italy's Campari, also has a slightly different strategy. It says its flavors -- such as ginger, pineapple and coconut -- are based on real fruit infusions rather than using artificial sweeteners.
"We don't think that consumer is interested in flavors derived from the candy aisle at their local convenience store," said Skyy spokesman Dave Karraker.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Sunday, December 25, 2011
How Green is Your Turkey?
Remember the Good old days when you simply ran out and bought a frozen turkey, thawed it out, removed the giblets, washed it, stuffed it, cooked it, carved it, ate it, made sandwiches, made hash, and finally made soup? One bird provided a month of comestibles.
None of that is true anymore. We are a greener, more concerned nation now and that concern extends to turkeys and whether they live at least as well as we do. I have some close friends who are environmentalist so when I invited them for Thanksgiving dinner I knewthe turkey I served had to be...well, not only politically correct but since we have a Democrat in the White House it had to come from a Blue State.
I didn't think ther ewere any significant turkey farms in a state as blue as California. In fact I'm surprised people in blue states eat turkey at all because turkeys look so much like former New York Senator, Al D'Amato, and he was a Republican.
Also, because of my friends' strict adherence to environmental concerns I knew the turkey could not have been confined to a small space throughout all its stages of development.
Organic turkeys probably wouldn't have survived where I grew up. We were five boys who slept in our own confined small room. Four of us slept in two sets of bunk beds, while the oldest son got his own bed. Now I was challenged to find a turkey that did not have to share a bedroom, let alone sleep on the top bunk----and it had to be organic.
There is so much blather about things organic. I'm not sure what organic means so I looked it up: "raised or conducted without the use of drugs, hormones, or sythetic chemicals." OK. The turkey had to come from blue state but could never have lived in the Haight-Asbury section of SanFrancisco, or have attended a rock concert. Organic also means: "constituting an integral part of a whole; fundamental." Hmm. MaybeEsalen sells turkeys. Off I went to my Whole Politically Correct Food Store.
"I need an organic turkey," I said to the counterman, who wore a starched white apron, purple exam gloves and a hair net approved by OSHA.
"All of our turkeys are organic," he told me.
"Oh, and it has to be free-range."
He reached into the display case and came up with a bird wearing a Hazmat suit that was competely resistant to chemical permeation.
"He wasn't cooped up or anything like that, was he?" I asked.
"This bird came from a farm where it had its own free-rangeplay area. It spent much of the day swaying in a hammock being fed organic grapes byformer Peace Corps members."
"Do you know whether it lived according to "green" principles? And do you know if it was an indendent thinker?"
The meat dissector person was not surprised by my questions. He looked, furtively, in both directions, then leaned half way across the counter.
"Mister, not only did this bird have its own non-toxic Fisher-Price toys, but if turkeys had the right to vote this one would have cast a ballot for Ralph Nader.
"Was there a spirit of sensitivity at the turkey farm?"
"Even the roosters undergo sensitivity and anger management training."
"I need to know one more thing. How did it die?"
"Is all this gobbledygook really important?"
"It's important to my environmentally conscious friends who are all against the death penalty. They need to know that it had a humane ending."
He nodded that he understood. His compassion belied someone used to wrapping his hands around sweetbreads.
"Lethal injection."
"Really!"
"Yes, the turkeys think they are going to Eagle School and need to be sedated for the long trip to the Top Gun School at Miramar Naval Air Base."
"That is humane. But could he have escaped his fate?"
"Only with a word from the President."
"See gobbledygook is important."
None of that is true anymore. We are a greener, more concerned nation now and that concern extends to turkeys and whether they live at least as well as we do. I have some close friends who are environmentalist so when I invited them for Thanksgiving dinner I knewthe turkey I served had to be...well, not only politically correct but since we have a Democrat in the White House it had to come from a Blue State.
I didn't think ther ewere any significant turkey farms in a state as blue as California. In fact I'm surprised people in blue states eat turkey at all because turkeys look so much like former New York Senator, Al D'Amato, and he was a Republican.
Also, because of my friends' strict adherence to environmental concerns I knew the turkey could not have been confined to a small space throughout all its stages of development.
Organic turkeys probably wouldn't have survived where I grew up. We were five boys who slept in our own confined small room. Four of us slept in two sets of bunk beds, while the oldest son got his own bed. Now I was challenged to find a turkey that did not have to share a bedroom, let alone sleep on the top bunk----and it had to be organic.
There is so much blather about things organic. I'm not sure what organic means so I looked it up: "raised or conducted without the use of drugs, hormones, or sythetic chemicals." OK. The turkey had to come from blue state but could never have lived in the Haight-Asbury section of SanFrancisco, or have attended a rock concert. Organic also means: "constituting an integral part of a whole; fundamental." Hmm. MaybeEsalen sells turkeys. Off I went to my Whole Politically Correct Food Store.
"I need an organic turkey," I said to the counterman, who wore a starched white apron, purple exam gloves and a hair net approved by OSHA.
"All of our turkeys are organic," he told me.
"Oh, and it has to be free-range."
He reached into the display case and came up with a bird wearing a Hazmat suit that was competely resistant to chemical permeation.
"He wasn't cooped up or anything like that, was he?" I asked.
"This bird came from a farm where it had its own free-rangeplay area. It spent much of the day swaying in a hammock being fed organic grapes byformer Peace Corps members."
"Do you know whether it lived according to "green" principles? And do you know if it was an indendent thinker?"
The meat dissector person was not surprised by my questions. He looked, furtively, in both directions, then leaned half way across the counter.
"Mister, not only did this bird have its own non-toxic Fisher-Price toys, but if turkeys had the right to vote this one would have cast a ballot for Ralph Nader.
"Was there a spirit of sensitivity at the turkey farm?"
"Even the roosters undergo sensitivity and anger management training."
"I need to know one more thing. How did it die?"
"Is all this gobbledygook really important?"
"It's important to my environmentally conscious friends who are all against the death penalty. They need to know that it had a humane ending."
He nodded that he understood. His compassion belied someone used to wrapping his hands around sweetbreads.
"Lethal injection."
"Really!"
"Yes, the turkeys think they are going to Eagle School and need to be sedated for the long trip to the Top Gun School at Miramar Naval Air Base."
"That is humane. But could he have escaped his fate?"
"Only with a word from the President."
"See gobbledygook is important."
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Trivia
- "A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens in six weeks time.
- Alabama was the first state to officially recognize the Christmas holiday.
- Originally written for Thanksgiving, "JingleBells" became one of the most popular Christmas songs.
- You would receive 364 gifts if you received all of the gifts in "The Twelve Days of Christmas".
- Poinsettia plants are non-toxic, although many think they are. BUT holly berries ARE poisonous.
- Franklin Pierce was the first US President to decorate the White House Christmas tree.
- "It's a Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.
- The earliest English collection of Christmas carols was published in 1521.
- The first letter of the word Christ in Greek is represented by our X. Therefore, the abbreviation of Xmas for Christmas is not irreligious.
- In England, the head of a pig prepared with mustard is the traditional Christmas dinner.
- "Black Friday" is NOT the busiest shopping day of the year....that is usually the Friday & Saturday before Christmas.
- "Bah Christmas" was the Charles Dickens original choice for Scrooge, not "Bah Humbug".
Don't let the holiday magic die
By Rachel Sieczkowski
Central Bucks South High School
Everyone needs some magic during the stresses of the holiday season.
You have to find the perfect gifts, deal with family and, on top of it all, you have to go to school right up tothe holiday! There's so much to fit into a single month that as we get older, we seem to let the magic and wonder that used to fill the holidays fade into a distant memory.
But why make the holidays something to suffer through instead of a time for love and happiness?
Do you remember staying up late, waiting to hear Santa up on the rooftop? I do. I also remember begging my dad to put out the fire before I went to sleep, just so he wouldn't forget and Santa wouldn't burn his butt coming down my chimney. Those littlle things made the holidays magical....
And then you start to realize that Santa Claus' wrapping paper and handwriting matches your parents. That, sometimes, the cookies aren't touched, the milk not drunk. You start noticing there are multiple Santas in the same place.
"Santa isn't real ----I'm Santa" are the words that my dad said. It was like "Star Wars" and "Dark Vader telling Luke, "I'm your father."
I still refuse to let the magic die for anyone else. My sister will believe in Santa for at least another year until she comes across the evidence on her own. I refuse to let my parents tell her.
And I make Santa's handwriting different than anyone else's in my family. We still sit down and write letters together each year, and the presents from "the workshop" are well hidden.
The holidays should always be magical, especially when you're young. It's part of childhood, believing in the Man in Red. Magic makes life wonderful.
So take a break from the real world and believe this holiday season.
Happy Holidays!
Central Bucks South High School
Everyone needs some magic during the stresses of the holiday season.
You have to find the perfect gifts, deal with family and, on top of it all, you have to go to school right up tothe holiday! There's so much to fit into a single month that as we get older, we seem to let the magic and wonder that used to fill the holidays fade into a distant memory.
But why make the holidays something to suffer through instead of a time for love and happiness?
Do you remember staying up late, waiting to hear Santa up on the rooftop? I do. I also remember begging my dad to put out the fire before I went to sleep, just so he wouldn't forget and Santa wouldn't burn his butt coming down my chimney. Those littlle things made the holidays magical....
And then you start to realize that Santa Claus' wrapping paper and handwriting matches your parents. That, sometimes, the cookies aren't touched, the milk not drunk. You start noticing there are multiple Santas in the same place.
"Santa isn't real ----I'm Santa" are the words that my dad said. It was like "Star Wars" and "Dark Vader telling Luke, "I'm your father."
I still refuse to let the magic die for anyone else. My sister will believe in Santa for at least another year until she comes across the evidence on her own. I refuse to let my parents tell her.
And I make Santa's handwriting different than anyone else's in my family. We still sit down and write letters together each year, and the presents from "the workshop" are well hidden.
The holidays should always be magical, especially when you're young. It's part of childhood, believing in the Man in Red. Magic makes life wonderful.
So take a break from the real world and believe this holiday season.
Happy Holidays!
No time for Christmas spirit? Say it isn't so
By Mallory Passione
Council Rock South High School
So, I hear Christmas is coming. As this hectic week comes to a close, my Taylor Swift calendar reminds me there are less than seven days until Christmas. "What? Since when?" Wheredid all the time go? I didn't get a chance to record my favorite Christmas specials! Between the massive amounts of schoolwork, a tiring track schedule and other school activities, it's as though I don't have time for Christmas.
With Christmas being the biggest and most popular holiday of the year, you would think it would be nearly impossible to avoid, but somehow I managed to do so.
As a junior in high school, school-related activities seem to be taking over my life. By the time I get home from track pratice and finish my homework, it's 11 o'clock and I'm exhausted. No time to bake festive cookies, no time to go to the mall and sit on Santa's lap and, most importantly, no time to enjoy ABC Family's "25 Days of Christmas."
It's sad, now that I think about it. Looking back to when you were a child, you counted down the days from Halloween to Christmas Eve. As a child, the only thing you worried about was hoping you got the coolest gifts from Santa.
Instead, I find myself worrying about the outcomes of my midterms, and their effect on my GPA. (Dear Santa, is there any chance we could cancel them this year?)
Midterms are to high school as fruitcakes are to Christmas. They are both difficult to swallow. Christmas is a time when you should be jolly and happy, just like the big guy----not stressing out.
Taking a step back and realizing how little how little I did this holiday season, I am going to try to do as much as possible to make up for the lack of festivities. I will be in the spirit of Christmas by Dec. 24 if it's the last thing I do!
That being said, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. May you enjoy good health and good friends in 2012.
Council Rock South High School
So, I hear Christmas is coming. As this hectic week comes to a close, my Taylor Swift calendar reminds me there are less than seven days until Christmas. "What? Since when?" Wheredid all the time go? I didn't get a chance to record my favorite Christmas specials! Between the massive amounts of schoolwork, a tiring track schedule and other school activities, it's as though I don't have time for Christmas.
With Christmas being the biggest and most popular holiday of the year, you would think it would be nearly impossible to avoid, but somehow I managed to do so.
As a junior in high school, school-related activities seem to be taking over my life. By the time I get home from track pratice and finish my homework, it's 11 o'clock and I'm exhausted. No time to bake festive cookies, no time to go to the mall and sit on Santa's lap and, most importantly, no time to enjoy ABC Family's "25 Days of Christmas."
It's sad, now that I think about it. Looking back to when you were a child, you counted down the days from Halloween to Christmas Eve. As a child, the only thing you worried about was hoping you got the coolest gifts from Santa.
Instead, I find myself worrying about the outcomes of my midterms, and their effect on my GPA. (Dear Santa, is there any chance we could cancel them this year?)
Midterms are to high school as fruitcakes are to Christmas. They are both difficult to swallow. Christmas is a time when you should be jolly and happy, just like the big guy----not stressing out.
Taking a step back and realizing how little how little I did this holiday season, I am going to try to do as much as possible to make up for the lack of festivities. I will be in the spirit of Christmas by Dec. 24 if it's the last thing I do!
That being said, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. May you enjoy good health and good friends in 2012.
The Seven Must-Do's of Christmas
By Kevin Weick
Council Rock South High School
Do watch 'A Christmas Story'
Starting on Christmas Eve, TBS plays the classic holiday movie "A Christmas Story" nonstop. Although a little outdated, this movie is a must-see for the entire family. I remember watching this movie over and over again on countless Christmas Eves while not being able to sleep and awaiting Santa's arrival. To this day, I watch the movie all night long, and over the years, I've grown so accustomed to it that I can even quote it.
Do drive around the neighborhood
This is the one time of year you shouldn't hesitate to take the long way home. Driving up and down streets, admiring the lights and decorations, is one of my favorite Christmas pastimes. Again, this is a tradition I still keep up with and look forward to year after year.
Do attend church services
Unfortunately, Santa Claus has taken over and it seems many people have forgotten the real importance of the Christmas season: celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. No matter how often you go (or don't go), attending services should be crucial. Even if you haven't been there since Easter, make all possible effort to attend this year.
Do go out of your way for others
With all the last-minutepreparations and running around, it can be easy to forget about the merriment of the season. As you're scrambling around the grocery store or still picking out presents, remember to go the extra mile for people. Merely holding the door for someone, saying "please" and "thank you" or even just a smile can mean a lot to others. This is the time when everyone should be full of holiday cheer, so don't be stingy when it comes to spending it.
Do indulge in your favorite holiday treats
During Christmas, it is nearly impossible to diet..... so just go for it! If you want that extra delectable cookie your aunt makes or you can't resist another piece of cake, who cares? You have all year to work off the extra calories and pounds you've gained. As long as you're enjoying yourself, it's all right to indulge during the holidays.
Do make time for family
We all have relatives we don't like or we don't always get along with, but it's Christmas, so lighten up a bit. Take some time to make memories with those you love and with those who Christmas wouldn't be the same without. You never know what the New Year will bring and what next Christmas will be like, so enjoy it while it's here.
Do say 'Merry Christmas'
In the commercialized and politically correct world we live in today, it's frequent to hear simply "Happy Holidays." But before you utter that jovial greeting to a friend or neighbor, don't think twice about using the expression "Merry Christmas." Don't worry about offending anyone; it's being said in good spirits.
Council Rock South High School
Do watch 'A Christmas Story'
Starting on Christmas Eve, TBS plays the classic holiday movie "A Christmas Story" nonstop. Although a little outdated, this movie is a must-see for the entire family. I remember watching this movie over and over again on countless Christmas Eves while not being able to sleep and awaiting Santa's arrival. To this day, I watch the movie all night long, and over the years, I've grown so accustomed to it that I can even quote it.
Do drive around the neighborhood
This is the one time of year you shouldn't hesitate to take the long way home. Driving up and down streets, admiring the lights and decorations, is one of my favorite Christmas pastimes. Again, this is a tradition I still keep up with and look forward to year after year.
Do attend church services
Unfortunately, Santa Claus has taken over and it seems many people have forgotten the real importance of the Christmas season: celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. No matter how often you go (or don't go), attending services should be crucial. Even if you haven't been there since Easter, make all possible effort to attend this year.
Do go out of your way for others
With all the last-minutepreparations and running around, it can be easy to forget about the merriment of the season. As you're scrambling around the grocery store or still picking out presents, remember to go the extra mile for people. Merely holding the door for someone, saying "please" and "thank you" or even just a smile can mean a lot to others. This is the time when everyone should be full of holiday cheer, so don't be stingy when it comes to spending it.
Do indulge in your favorite holiday treats
During Christmas, it is nearly impossible to diet..... so just go for it! If you want that extra delectable cookie your aunt makes or you can't resist another piece of cake, who cares? You have all year to work off the extra calories and pounds you've gained. As long as you're enjoying yourself, it's all right to indulge during the holidays.
Do make time for family
We all have relatives we don't like or we don't always get along with, but it's Christmas, so lighten up a bit. Take some time to make memories with those you love and with those who Christmas wouldn't be the same without. You never know what the New Year will bring and what next Christmas will be like, so enjoy it while it's here.
Do say 'Merry Christmas'
In the commercialized and politically correct world we live in today, it's frequent to hear simply "Happy Holidays." But before you utter that jovial greeting to a friend or neighbor, don't think twice about using the expression "Merry Christmas." Don't worry about offending anyone; it's being said in good spirits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)