TYKU: The All Natural Asian Liqueur

By Alee Morrison

One might assume that this new pale green liquor is the result of extensive and costly corporate research to find a new, trendy drink for a body-conscious culture. TY KU, however, is merely the result of an assignment given to two graduate students.

Columbia University students, Kirk Spahn and Trent Ulciny, were studying for a Master of Business and Marketing when they were given the assignment to create an intriguing product along with a plan to produce and market it. They were then instructed to create a business out of their unique, new product. The result: a healthy, sake-based liquor with an outrageously engaging bottle.

The concept was a mix of their creative business and marketing skills as well as their inspirations from traveling around the world. The academic duo thought that the world needed a drink that not only provides entertainment but also a beverage that contains healthy ingredients. They came up with the idea of creating a fruit and antioxidant filled sake/Asian liquor drink that lights up when poured.

TY KU is a junmai-ginjo sake and Shochu (Asian vodka) based drink that contains none of the revolting ingredients found in most alcoholic beverages, which typically cause the ever-so-dreaded “after drinking” headaches and hangovers. Sake, a rice wine, is sulfite-free, meaning that it doesn’t have congeners, toxic chemicals that are formed from fermentation, becoming the source of headaches.

Other ingredients that will have health-nuts craving more upon their first sip include, pomegranate, Asian pear, honey dew, yuzu (contains two times more vitamin C than oranges), plum, fuji apple, white cranberry, oolong and green tea. All of these ingredients are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and even hangover remedies so that you can beat the pain before it starts! TY KU also found a way to reduce calories and sugar consumption by adding elderflower syrup to sweeten the taste. Ginseng, damiana and drangon’s eye are known aphrodisiacs and are thrown into the health-conscious mix for that added bonus.

Before tasting the modern liquor, consumers will be immediately attracted to TY KU because of its enticing bottle. The packaging, alone, has won prominent design awards, as it lures you in with its self-illuminating qualities. It makes for a particularly spectacular display in a dim room or bar. The LED light inside the bottle is activated every time pressure is released from the base. Therefore, when the bottle is lifted to pour a drink (or two), it illuminates, creating an emerald neon radiance.

Known as the “World’s Only Sake- Liquor” and “The All-Natural Asian Liquor,” TY KU is a brilliant drink to share with friends because it can be consumed by itself or as the main ingredient in a mixed cocktail. Its high alcohol content and healthy benefits make it the go-to drink at your next dinner party.

SUPERNuvo Interview

So many times we reach for a bottle to toast in special occasions, good news and big moments. Now, there is an innovative and inspirational way for us to celebrate all these moments or just because its Tuesday. The only sparkling liqueur, Nuvo, represented by Georgia Crown Distributors in Columbus allows us to celebrate the joy of life on a daily basis. Born in Paris as a new way for people to enjoy their spirits, it was inspired by the fragrance industry. Packaged in an elegant pink bottle this graceful liqueur refreshes your palate instantly. Meant to be enjoyed over ice in a beautiful champagne flute, it contains French vodka infused with sparkling bubbles amidst it’s predominantly chardonnay base. A touch of pinot noir provides aromas of ripe fruit and it is hand-distilled in small batches in copper pots for a unique blend every time. Creator of the Nuvo brand, Raphael Yakoby, President of London Group LLC took a few moments to tell us more about this intriguing new brand of sparkling liqueur.

What is Nuvo and what make it different form the other liqueurs?

Nuvo is the first Sparkling Liqueur in the world. It combines French vodka, French sparkling wine, and natural fruit nectar, to achieve the world’s first spirit with the elegance of Champagne but with the purity of a spirit.

The upscale design of the bottle is very unique. What was the idea behind the design?

The idea began by asking ourselves how we could achieve a packaging concept that would be totally out of the sphere of the cosmetics and perfume world. We wanted it to be the first packaging of its kind in the liquor industry. As a result we transformed perceptions and packaging of the spirits industry as a whole.

To what demographic is this product marketed?

We marketed toward luxury market. Consumers that appreciate unique, sophisticated, and ultra premium products that are a reflection of that group and we hoped to appeal to their buying interests. Nuvo is able to bring the everyday cocktail consumer to new heights as result of its unique characteristics.

With such a beautiful package and high-end sensibilities how do you hope to promote your product?

We are very PR driven. We have been fortunate enough to receive enormous press from shows like the CBS Early Morning Show, and NBC’s The Today Show, etc. This will continue to be our focus as we continue to garner press that will reflect the quality and uniqueness of Nuvo.

Many celebrities are a fan of your product, including Bridget Moynahan, Gabrielle Union, Vanessa Mannillo, Brooke Shields, Kim Kardashian, and Jamie Foxx. What about Nuvo attracts such a following?

Again I believe it is the uniqueness of the product and elegance of the packaging. This, coupled with the enormous credibility from the media outlets really sets Nuvo apart as a luxury lifestyle brand.

What other products does the Nuvo brand offer?

There will always be only one Nuvo. We have a single minded focus.

Special thanks to Brad Bush, Sarah Parker and Maggie Kinnealey

Yellow is the New Pink

By Christie Cox

Nuvo released in October their fresh, new and crisp beverage to toast to a luxurious lifestyle. This sweet and zesty drink is a perfect accessory to glam up any event.

Nothing says classic French like indulging in a refreshing lemon sorbet while walking beneath the twinkling lights of Paris. This timeless dessert can now be enjoyed in the form of a sparkling French vodka. From the makers of the world’s first sparkling liqueur, the fruity pink Nuvo, comes the new Nuvo Lemon Sorbet.

For those who crave to be the life of the party, the sleek, bright yellow bottle will certainly turn heads at your next big event, and its cool refreshment will quickly make Nuvo Lemon Sorbet everyone’s drink of choice. This fresh sparkling liqueur is brought to us from Diageo North America, Inc., the world’s largest premium drinks business, and is distributed locally by Georgia Crown Distributors.

Nuvo was created in 2007 by Raphael Yakoby. His inspiration was the popularity of cocktails such as cosmopolitans and apple martinis amongst women, along with the fact that most liquor marketing was geared towards men. At the time, there were few types of liquor made for the sweet, fruity palate of the female consumer so he created the sparkling pink Nuvo. This new twist on Yakoby’s original idea is sure to please, and brings a more powerful punch with 35 percent alcohol, opposed to the 30 percent in pink Nuvo.

Just like the original pink Nuvo, this liqueur promises an experience like none other. The bottle offers an explosion of cold, crisp, sweet, and tangy sensations. The bold citrus flavor of Lemon Nuvo will help you reminisce about the warm bliss of summertime while the bitterness of winter sets in.

 While the classic Nuvo featured a delicate hint of white wine and the essence of passion fruit nectar, Nuvo Lemon Sorbet offers an exciting burst of lemony citrus zing. It can be savored on its own over ice, or used to mix up a variety of exciting new cocktails. Mix this sparkling delight into your next glass of iced tea for an amped up Arnold Palmer, or make it simple with just a splash of Sprite. 

NUVO LEMON COSMO



2 ounces NUVO Lemon Sorbet.
 
1/2 ounce St. Germain
 
1/2 to 3/4 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
 
Lime Slice Garnish
 
Place St.Germain and juice in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Top with chilled NUVO lemon Sorbet. Stir. Garnish
with lime slice.

LADY GODIVA

By Sundi Rose

The chocolate martini is increasing in popularity and with Godiva as the ultimate ingredient  the trend is becoming mainstays in chic parties.

Many hundreds of years ago, a woman of great generosity and beauty dedicated her life to the impoverished and stricken. Lady Godiva, wife to the Lord of Coventry, in an attempt to thwart her unsympathetic husband’s cruel and burdensome taxation accepted a bet with the Lord Leofric. His challenge to her was this: ride naked through the streets and if the people of the city remained indoors, the taxation would be lifted. Although demure in spirit, Lady Godiva was generous in action. The morning of the event, as the clock struck seven, the Lady shed her cloak and rode her horse down the streets, covered only by her lustrous hair.  As promised, the people closed their shutters and not a single glance was had by her subjects. True to his word, Lord Leofric lifted the taxes, immortalizing Lady Godiva in history.

The legend of Lady Godiva has not diminished and still conjures images of grace, integrity and rich style. The Belgian chocolatier named his line of chocolates after Lady Godiva because he sought a name that would embody the qualities of passion, sensuality and boldness. Godiva chocolates were born. Eating a piece of Godiva chocolate is like slipping a little taste of paradise in your mouth. Chocolate is chocolate, but Godiva is miles above the rest.. And now, you can have that same quality taste in a bottle.

Carrying on the tradition of outstanding products, Diageo-the world’s leading premium drinks business- has brought us Godiva Liqueur. Distributed locally by Georgia Crown Distributors, Godiva Chocolatier was founded by the Drap family in Brussels, Belgium in 1926 and its style consists of exquisitely balanced aromas, flavors, and textures.

With this season comes a time to indulge in all the things that make us happy. So, whether you are enjoying a Godiva liqueur neat, on the rocks, over ice cream or in the one-of-a-kind cocktail like the Godiva Truffletini the holidays wouldn’t be the same without enjoying a little sweet.

SVM- Southern View Magazine. All Rights Reserved.©

THE ROYAL FAMILY

Crown Royal is one of the best known names in Canadian Whiskey. With its elegant, crown shaped bottle dressed in a velvety bag, Crown Royal looks like a product associated with royalty.  

The tradition of Crown Royal began in 1939, when Samuel Bronfman, President of the Seagram Company, wanted to create a high quality whisky for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during their first Royal Tour of Canada. Because of its name and connection with the monarchs, the product quickly caught the attention of consumers. Until 1964, Crown Royal was only available in Canada, but it is now enjoyed around the world.

As a platinum sponsor of the Steeplechase, Crown Royal has become a large part of the Columbus community. This year, the fourth race of the Steeplechase is the “Crown Royal Sport of Queens Hurdle Stakes” with a purse of $30,000. Brought to us from Diageo North America, Inc. and distributed locally by Georgia Crown Distributors, Crown Royal is the perfect choice for upscale tailgating on race day.

Beginning with the Deluxe in 1939, there are now five types of Crown Royal, each blended and matured to perfection. Enveloped in the iconic royal purple bag, Crown Royal Deluxe is crafted with a blend of fifty distinct full-bodied Canadian whiskies that are aged in white oak barrels. The rich, smooth whisky has hints of honey and pepper. The sophisticated taste can be savored on the rocks or used to make the classic “Crown and Coke.”

For those who enjoy a bolder whisky, Crown Royal Black is darker and more robust at 90 proof, but still has the smoothness of the Deluxe. It has a deep oak background with dark, sweet, maple notes and a light vanilla flavor. The rich oak flavor can be well accentuated when paired with cranberry juice.

Crown Royal Reserve is a creamy, rich, reserve-grade blend, with sharp clove and cinnamon top points of rye. The exceptional depth of Reserve can be accredited to Master Whisky Blender, Andrew MacKay, who hand selected whiskies with the perfect taste and body. For a bold special occasion drink, Reserve can be topped with sparkling champagne.

Made out of oak from the Limousin forest in France, another option is Crown Royal Cask No. 16. It is a blend of fifty whiskies finished in rare cognac casks with subtle hints of rich, dried fruit. Cask No. 16 can be enjoyed on the rocks or used to create a refined Manhattan.

After the Waterloo Distillery went up in flames in 1993, the delicious rarity of Crown Royal XR is all that is left of the irreplaceable barrels with their select grains. Sold in numbered bottles, the supply of this rare, full-bodied whisky is limited. The fragrant woody taste of XR is best appreciated served neat.

While the five varieties have their own distinct flavors, they all share the same smoothness and sophistication. Crown Royal whiskies are the perfect choice for social gatherings and special occasions, and the beautiful packaging makes it an exceptional gift during the holiday season.

By Christie Cox

BARTENDER in a BOTTLE

On a night when you’re ready to sit back with a good drink, you crave a well-made cocktail, but you don’t feel like leaving the comfort of your own home to get it. It’s a common dilemma; so why hasn’t some genius concocted a solution to it yet? Fret no more—VnC cocktails have arrived to fill that void.

Introduced to the market only a few years ago by former 42 Below Vodka executive Shane McKillen, VnC was created when McKillen found that he was spending more time in his kitchen mixing cocktails for people at his own party rather than with his friends. Initially, the thought was to create premixed cocktails so that he could freeze them and have them on hand for his next party—but then, he began to wonder why there wasn’t already such a thing on the market.

After much globetrotting on McKillen’s part to find the perfect blends of all-natural flavors, VnC was born. It has taken the world by storm since, enjoying massive popularity not just in its native New Zealand but also in China, the UK, and hip metro areas in the United States like New York City.

Aside from the tremendous ready-made appeal of VnC’s “bartender in a bottle” concept, another major advantage of the liquor is the pureness of its ingredients. Finding that the cocktails tasted much better when crafted naturally, McKillen opted to use only 100% natural fruit juices and avoid additives or artificial colorings, adding quality to convenience.

Coming in spectacular, colorful variations such as Pomegranate Cosmo, Pacific Breeze, Vodka Mojito and the classic Margarita, VnC’s commitment to staying completely natural has paid off, winning six gold awards for taste in the last two years alone.

It derives its fruit juices from the best produce from all around the world, hardly missing a beat. Limes from the West Indies, pomegranates from Turkey, hand-peeled and pureed bananas from Ecuador, pineapples from the Philippines, and strawberries from VnC’s own New Zealand have all gone into making these premium drinks, giving them a unique, fresh flavor uncommon in typical premade drinks.

On top of that, these flavors remain distinct. They do not blend together, and one can enjoy the pleasant mixture of fruits in each assortment of the liquor. The freshness of these cocktails, which have a shelf life of a year, is easily comparable to that of a cocktail made downtown. And this distinctiveness of flavors does little to give away the low calorie content—some of these cocktails contain only 150 calories per serving.

If all of this somehow isn’t enough, go for the green factor. VnC is first and only drink to have a product certification on sustainability due to the company’s ability to track greenhouse gases related to the distribution of its alcohol.

Offering the quality of a cocktail made in a high-class bar in the convenience of one’s home, VnC comes in a sleek, one-liter bottle that simply needs to be chilled before being poured over a glass of ice. Step out and invest in a few of these bottles for that next lazy night or for a party with friends!

By Frances Kim

SVM.Southern Views Magazine. All Rights Reserved©

Aussie Fizz

Casella Wines is the owner and distributor of one of the fastest growing brands in the entire history of branding: the Yellow Tail Wine label. Yellow Tail is currently the number one imported brand in the US market, which is the world’s fastest growing consumer market.

Casella Wines was founded by Italian couple Filippo and Maria Casella who decided to move to Australia in search for a peaceful life in 1957. The couple had a history with grape growing and when they arrived in Australia they decided to continue indulging in their family tradition by growing grapes and selling them to wine producers. In 1969, Filippo decided to use his grapes to produce his own wines. John Casella, son of the couple, took over the family business in 1994 and made the decision to expand the winery. Today, the winery remains family owned and has been awarded several Exporters of the Year Awards from the Agribusiness sector of Australia.

The Casella family was looking through a dictionary for kangaroo names and came across the name Yellow Tail in parenthesis for one of Australia’s common kangaroos the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby. They decided that this would be the name of their new export wine and decided to leave the parenthesis for  recognizability.

All the wine [yellow tail] makes is instantly recognizable, both for its appearance and its personality. [yellow tail] Bubbles is created with a simple philosophy in mind, to make a great wine that everyone can enjoy, anytime, any place. It’s playful, fresh and vibrant, just like the guys who make it. This is no champagne-wannabe. This is sparkling, bubbly goodness ready to brighten up ordinary moments, every day.

[ yellow tail ]Bubbles White is a vibrant, light straw color with zesty, tropical fruit on the nose and a palate of fresh, fruity flavors with citrus hints. The finish is crisp and refreshing.

[yellow tail] Bubbles Rosé is delightfully fresh, fruity and soft with great palate length. Lifted aromas of fresh strawberries and spice are united with flavors of sweet cherries and tropical fruits.

Yellow Tail is distributed in the United States through W.J. Deutsch one of the largest wine importers in the United States, and by Georgia Crown Distributing Co. in Georgia.

Try [yellow tail], enjoy it, share it, swill it. And, while it is seriously good wine, don’t get too serious about it.

INGREDIENTS:
1 oz orange juice
3 oz [ yellow tail] bubbles
sparkling  white.

DIRECTIONS:
Pour orange juice into champagne flute. Add [yellow tile] bubbles sparkling white and stir  thoroughly. Garnish with a fresh orange wedge.

St. Germain Liqueur

Imagine yourself in the warm summer air sipping a beverage with exotic beginnings. It is not a tropical rum or blended margarita, it is a sophisticated French liqueur called St. Germain.

Made from elderflowers, a white star-shaped fragrant flower grown wild in the mountainous parts of Europe, it is distilled using a secret process. For a long time, distilleries tried to extract alcohol from elderflowers, but the results were always too bitter-tasting. It was only fairly recently that the makers of St. Germain managed to harness the elderflower’s flavors and aromas in a liqueur that far surpasses its too-sweet predecessors.

St. Germain has lovely notes of pear and lychee, backed by enough tartness to please even the palates of those generally drawn to drier libations. It has an understated yet unmistakable presence, and can hold its own when mixed with even gin or tequila. The taste is light and floral, with added hints of grapefruit, and evokes dreams of sunny, grassy meadows with cows grazing, checkered blankets and picnic baskets full of cheese, fruit, and French baguettes.

The handsome bottle is just as engaging as the bountiful flavor and makes an impressive gift for dinner parties and other events. Each bottle is individually numbered to ensure its authenticity for the year it was produced and limited quantities are available each season. This liqueur is made in very limited production, but has a place in the bar of any cocktail enthusiast.