The citrus trend

Fri, Feb 19th 2016, 07:29 PM


Caribbean Bottling Co. Ltd. has recently rolled out the fourth addition to its Schweppes portfolio - Schweppes Grapefruit- which joins the lineup that includes Schweppes Gingerale, Schweppes Tonic and Schweppes Club Soda. The grapefruit soda is distinguishable in its brighter green colored can, which is an entry to the difference in taste. It's a carbonated beverage that also has Marv Cunningham, the proprieter of Mr. Mix Bahamas and the 2015 Caribbean Bartender of the Year, pleased that companies are introducing more citrus-flavored beverages that will give him options as a professional. [Photo: Caribbean Bottling Co. Ltd]

A sophisticated taste of grapefruit in a unique and subtle drinking sensation that is soft, refined, refreshing and elegant has joined the citrus craze that has taken hold of the market in Schweppes Grapefruit.

“The grapefruit has just a little more edge to it, a lot more refreshment, but a nice citrus overtone that is familiar. It’s very yummy,” said Caribbean Bottling Co. Ltd.’s marketing manager Cara Douglas.

Caribbean Bottling ran its first production of the beverage in January, and rolled out the locally produced grapefruit soda on February 1, with a 2,500 first run of 12 ounce cans and 550 cases of 20 ounce bottles. Through public sampling, the feedback they’ve received, Douglas said the public loves the drink.

“It’s been received fairly well,” said Douglas. “The Schweppes line does very well. Ginger ale does well and is a top seller. We think the grapefruit is an interesting flavor to add. It’s a non-alcoholic grapefruit option for people to use as a mixer.

One person who certainly loves the product is Marv Cunningham, proprietor of Mr. Mix Bahamas and the 2015 Caribbean Bartender of the Year winner who says he’s delighted that the drinks companies are rolling out citrus beverages onto the market which has given him a lot of options to work and experiment with. He said it adds bold, citrus flavor to a cocktail.

“What this Schweppes Grapefruit does for me is add a very bold citrus flavor to some cocktails that I’ve been playing around with, because you have three elements — sweet, citrus and bitter — compacted into one can,” said Cunningham. “Libations like Triple Sec, Cointreau and Grand Marnier all have their distinct citrus flavoring, but what this Schweppes does is adds a very bold citrus flavor to some cocktails that I’ve been playing around with.

The two-time Stoli Mix Master champion, Hennessey Master Mixologist, and the 2015 Caribbean Journal Travel Award Bartender of the Year, says while he’s enjoying playing around with the newest flavored carbonated beverage, has found that Stoli Vodka mixes awesomely with the Schweppes Grapefruit.

“You have two citrus bases that complement each other,” he said. “Vodka is colorless, tasteless, odorless, so it enhances the flavor of anything it’s added to, so when you add it to the Schweppes Grapefruit, you increase flavor levels, aroma and you can taste the ingredients inside the carbonated beverage, when the alcohol is added to it. I love it.”

Cunningham said when using the Schweppes Grapefruit as a mixer, people should beware, because some spirits would drown out the Schweppes Grapefruit, and they should be careful when choosing what to mix it with. Otherwise he said Schweppes Grapefruit would be the perfect mixer for the at-home bartender.


Marv Cunningham, proprietor of Mr. Mix Bahamas and the 2105 Caribbean Bartender of the year says he's delighted that the beverage companies are rolling out citrus beverages onto the market which has given him a lot of options to work with and gain experince with. He said the citrus beverages adds bold citrus flavor to a cocktail. He is pictured with three- ingredient cocktails featuring Schweppes Grapefruit, Stoli Citros and chocolate bitters that he said makes the drink that will be a perfect, cooling summer cocktail that he calls a sparkling citrus chocolate cake. [Photo: Marv Cunningham]

“The home bartender, or what we call the lazy bartender, more than likely only uses two ingredients — spirit and mixer, rum and coke, vodka cranberry and gin and tonic — and it’s not bad, but what this grapefruit beverage does is give the three elements of sweet, citrus and bitter compacted in one can. I’m thrilled that these citrus products are coming on the market. It can actually take away, and adds more flavor to a cocktail.

Cunningham said he has also used other citrus-flavored libations in his cocktails as they hit the market such as the Sands Pink Radler, produced by Bahamian Brewery, which he thinks is “pretty cool” and Kalik Radler produced by Commonwealth Brewery Ltd.

The Schweppes Grapefruit soda has joined the Schweppes Gingerale, Schweppes Tonic and Schweppes Club Soda lineup. The grapefruit soda is distinguishable in its brighter green colored can, which is an entry to the difference in taste.

With a number of happy hour specials scheduled for the month of March at a number of establishments, Douglas said the grapefruit soda will be featured in a signature drink at next weekend’s Rum Bahamas Festival.

I challenged Cunningham to produce a cocktail featuring Schweppes Grapefruit and he immediately paired it with is Stoli Citros to come up with what he called his sparkling citrus chocolate cake — a drink he describes as sparkling with the carbonation from the Schweppes Grapefruit and Stoli Vodka with a cocoa effect from the chocolate bitters for a cooling drink that he said would be perfect for summer sipping.

Sparkling citrus chocolate cake

Makes: 1 drink

½ ounce Stoli Citros

6 ounces Schweppes Grapefruit

Grapefruit wedge, for garnish

2 dashes chocolate bitters (available at Young’s Fine Wine)

Place ice in a highball glass. Pour vodka over ice, add Schweppes Grapefruit, 2 dashes chocolate bitters. Finish with grapefruit wedge. Enjoy.

(Recipe: Marvelous Marv Cunningham)

By Shavaughn Moss

Guardian Staff

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