Diageo Reserve has announced the extension of its ultra-premium Cîroc vodka portfolio with the addition of limited-edition, Black Raspberry.

The new launch marks the brand’s first ever winter edition, and follows the success of recent flavour launches, including Summer Colada and French Vanilla. Cîroc Black Raspberry infuses five times distilled Cîroc Vodka with the delicate natural flavours of fresh, crushed black raspberry essence to create a distinct smooth finish, embodying the rich tastes of winter.

Presented in a striking stylish black and gold bottle, the new expression is available from November and is being celebrated with a new serve strategy, including hero cocktails, Cîroc Black Raspberry Velvet Crush and Cîroc Black Raspberry Royale.

Head of Diageo Reserve GB, Rich Larkin commented: “We’re incredibly excited to be launching Cîroc Black Raspberry. Cîroc is a brand rooted in style and celebration, and the latest variant really adds vibrancy to cocktails both out in bars and restaurants or in the home this winter, just in time for the celebratory season. It’s a great time for premium vodka which remains in growth by both volume and value, up 10.5% and 9.4% respectively, with Cîroc driving this, up 14.4% by volume and 24.6% by value. This is the first time we have launched a winter expression for Cîroc, so we’re looking forward to getting it out there for consumers and bartenders to experiment and of course, celebrate with in the run up to Christmas and New Year.”

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Dutch vodka brand Ketel One is running an Instagram competition offering consumers in the UK, US and Canada the chance to win a stay at the Ketel One Huis, an offshore platform overlooking Amsterdam, to celebrate King’s Day, the biggest party in the Dutch calendar and one of Europe’s biggest celebrations.

Entry is by following Ketel One on Instagram. Consumers then have to tell the brand via the comments function why they deserve to win a two-night stay on the platform for themselves and three friends.

The prize includes flights for four to Amsterdam, a tour of the Nolet Distillery in Schiedam, hosted by current members of the Nolet family, which have been distilling spirits there since 1691, and a cocktail making class.

The prize winners will then be transported to the Ketel One House, which has been converted for the occasion from an offshore platform which normally operates as the REM Eiland Restaurant. The platform started life in 1964 as a pirate TV station, broadcasting the first commercial TV to the Netherlands, although it was soon shut down by the Dutch authorities. The platform was towed back to Amsterdam and has since been converted into a restaurant and venue for parties. Guests will sleep 22 metres up, with floor to ceiling windows providing 360° views over Amsterdam and will be treated to a personal drinks butler, classic Dutch dining and Ketel One cocktails before celebrating King’s Day on a dedicated canal boat.

Bob Nolet, 11th generation distiller of the Nolet Distillery, whose father Carolus Nolet Sr., created Ketel One Vodka, said: “We are extremely excited to share our Ketel One ‘King’s Day’ experience with these winners, welcoming them not just into our pop-up Huis and our distillery but into our family too. We want to make the winners feel relaxed and ‘at home’, joining us to celebrate the excitement and fun of King’s Day – while also surprising them with little, unexpected details of perfection.”

The competition is now open and closes 16^th April 2017, with winners being announced two days later. The trip takes place from 26^th to 28^th April.

The competition is open to all residents of the US, UK or Canada (excluding Quebec) aged 25 and over, so long as they do not work for Diageo or related companies. Entry is by following Ketel One on Instagram (@ketelone) and uploading a statement (200 words or less) explaining why the entrant deserves to stay at Ketel One Huis. Judges will select one winner based on creativity, originality, relevance to theme and technical merit. The prize is a stay for the winner and up to three guests (25 or older) at Ketel One Huis in Amsterdam from April 26^th to 28^th, 2017, including air travel, to a value of around $5000.

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