14 Comments
User's avatar
Frankly Fieldmouse's avatar

To be honest RTD’s aren’t my thing, but I do like a good gin. Scapegrace do a good job, both in quality product as well as visibility in the marketplace. The real question that needed answering wasn’t even asked. Disappointing. Marmite or Vegemite?! Great piece Jesse.

Expand full comment
Sacha Coburn's avatar

Do you know about the use of OTS wine in the RTD market? Don’t know if it’s here but my mate in the US has a Big RTD cocktail business that uses oranges to make some of the alcohol.

Expand full comment
Tash McGill's avatar

Not here in any significant way yet but expect it soon!

Expand full comment
PDodgy's avatar

Cost / price is important, but not the most important factor in a good drink. I love the conversation with Scapegrace, it gives a good industry insight. I drink RTD and mostly the main staples, I presume you're referring to. I'd switch based on the fact it's flavoured ethanol vs real gin. Gobsmacked to see Fonterra is in the mix to supply to the RTD market.

Expand full comment
Jesse Mulligan's avatar

Thank you! Hard to tell who is doing what but check out www.lactanol.com for a better understanding of what's on offer

Expand full comment
Gail's avatar

Very interesting - although I am unsure that I would back off my fave local RTD if I found it was flavoured ethanol. Great pitch from Scapegrace (and I do love their 750ml product), so I might have to try the RTD to compare with my other brand. Its great to support local, also great to know the difference, and if it actually makes a difference. Dig deeper :)

Expand full comment
Jesse Mulligan's avatar

Thank you Gail, some interesting stuff coming through on the DMs as per! Will do

Expand full comment
Justine's avatar

This is so interesting, but it possibly explains why so many gin rtds taste bad to this self described gin tasting expert! I would really like to know which ones are and aren’t, properly distilled, as much to test my tastebuds as anything else. Is drinking flavoured ethanol any better for me? Am I being ripped off when I unknowingly buy the flavoured ethanol brands? We need to dig deeper on this one Jesse.

Expand full comment
Jesse Mulligan's avatar

Thank you Justine!

Expand full comment
Gerald Taylor's avatar

Have to be honest, I feel it's just a great advertising pitch from a smaller player. Unless other manufacturers were adding methanol to their product, its (as you've queried Jesse) essentially the same stuff with added marketing for effect.

Expand full comment
Jesse Mulligan's avatar

Thanks Gerald, appreciate your analysis! Would you have a problem with ethanol + gin flavouring being listed on the pack as gin? I'm honestly not sure if I would but can understand the gin purists having kittens!

Expand full comment
Megan M's avatar

Thanks Jesse, really interesting read for my Sunday night! I’ve guess I’ve probably not thought about it, but I did get excited when I saw four pillars were making an RTD, maybe because I think of them as a gin distiller? And if im drinking an RTD, it's usually because of the convenience rather than the quality of the ingredients (it’s a bit weird to turn up to a bbq with a bottle of gin!)

Expand full comment
Jesse Mulligan's avatar

Thanks Megan, yeah "cans are easier to dance with" sums up a lot of the feedback I'm getting!

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Mar 4, 2024
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Jesse Mulligan's avatar

Roger Guy, thanks for this analysis which sounds sensible!

Expand full comment