By Jason Emerson
editor
In a national reader’s choice poll by the largest beverage magazine in America, Cazenovia-made Disco Lemonade, by Life of Reilley Distilling and Wine Company, tied for third place out of 24 brands as readers’ favorite new beverage.
The results, announced April 25 by Beverage Industry Magazine, were welcome news for Life of Reilley co-owner Ben Reilley.
“When I opened the results email this morning, I hoped, but I certainly did not think, we would place in the top three,” Reilley said. “The momentum that Disco has gained since last fall is simply stunning. We have an enormous amount of gratitude to our distribution and industry partners but, most importantly, we appreciate the support from the fans from all over the country. They have supported us from day one and obviously came out in droves for this contest.”
The Beverage Industry Magazine national new product poll offers readers and enthusiasts the chance to vote for their favorite new beverage each month. For the March poll, Life of Reilley’s Disco Lemonade canned cocktail vied against 23 other brands for the recognition. Other beverages included in the poll come from across the United States and included alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer, spirits, juices, coffee, water and wine.
Disco Lemonade, which was released last summer at the Cazenovia Farmer’s Market and his since gained national recognition, is a canned cocktail made of raspberry vodka, fresh lemonade and locally grown mint.
The winner of the Beverage Industry’s Readers’ Choice New Product of the Month poll for March was Hillsburg non-alcohol malt beverages, based in Texas, which received 25 percent of the vote. Mark and Digger’s Hazelnut Rum from Sugarlands Distilling Co., based in Tennessee, came in second with 18 percent of the vote.
Disco Lemonade tied for third place in the poll with vitaminwater zero reset, made by The Coca Cola Company, with each garnering 10 percent of the vote.
“As consumers continue to look for products that tout no additives or preservatives, beverage-makers are responding to this demand,” which showed in the March poll results, according to a release published on bevindustry.com announcing the poll results.
Beverage Industry is the best read and most widely distributed magazine covering the entire $240 billion North American beverage marketplace. It reaches more than 35,000 readers and is in the beverage market’s only feature tabloid. Beverage Industry reports on a wide range of marketing and manufacturing subjects with emphasis on new products, research and development, packaging, production, distribution, and marketing innovations.
