Lewis Hamilton's Alcohol-Free Agave 'Spirit' Launches in the UK

The first expression to launch here in the UK is Almave Ambar Distilled Non-Alcoholic Blue Agave Spirit, which is the perfect sipping tipple. The liquid itself captures the authentic aromas and flavours of its key ingredient, giving tasting notes of roasted blue agave, sweet caramel and toasted wood.

Whilst tequila is Hamilton's drink of choice, the Formula one star had been looking for a non-alcoholic drink that kept his mind clear on important days.

He found there was a sea of imitations but nothing authentically agave, so he teamed up with Mexican craft spirit experts, Casa Lumbre. Combining Hamilton's passion and determination with the expertise of Casa Lumbre's Master Distiller and Founder Ivan Saldana – together they redefined what's possible for Blue Agave. 

Lewis Hamilton said: “There's a huge appetite for quality alternatives for those times when people don't want to drink alcohol but also don't want to compromise on flavour, which is why it was important that our product includes agave to reflect the taste of conventional Tequila.

“I think it tastes amazing and what we have created is unlike anything else on the market, so I can't wait to see what you all think.”

An entirely new distillation process was created for the 'spirit', with the team carefully adapting the traditional methods used in Casa Lumbre's Mexican home in Jalisco. By skipping the fermentation process, Almave captures the complexity and delicate flavours of freshly milled agave without producing alcohol. All of which was achievable thanks to Ivan's background in biochemistry and knowledge of agave. 

Ivan Saldana from Casa Lumbre added: “We are pleased that we have maintained the true production and craft of making Tequila, but without the alcohol. While there are faster ways to make this, we could not imagine a worthwhile 'spirit' without it.”

Nick Gillett, Mangrove Global MD said: “Tequila is a growing market, as are non-alcoholic drinks so this new SKU meets the demands of conscious drinkers and satisfies a glaring gap in the market. They have long looked for a non-alcoholic drink that captures the essence of agave without the alcohol and we have it here with Almave.”

The UK's no alcohol market is expected to see a volume growth of 10% between now and 2026, according to IWSR. With consumers increasingly drinking 'less but better', premium positioned non-alcoholic brands are enjoying substantial growth  and now overtaking low-alcohol products. 

Almave is available to both the on and off trade market through Mangrove Global. The RRP of Almave Ambar is £36 and it is available from Amazon and House of Malt.

Sweet Alternative to Sugar- The Groovy Food Company's Agave Nectar

The Groovy Food Company Agave Nectar is 100% natural, organic, plus cholesterol and fat-free too. And if that wasn’t enough here’s some more sweet news. Agave Nectar is lower in calories yet 25% sweeter than sugar, so you can replace every spoon of sugar with a quarter less of Agave. Because you can use less, you’ll cut calories too. The Groovy Food Company Agave Nectar comes in two equally tasty types:

• Agave Nectar Light & Mild (RSP: £3.09, 250mls) Filtered for longer and runnier than honey, this light and mild version is perfect for adding to hot or cold food, stirring into drinks and for use in baking.
• Agave Nectar Rich & Dark (RSP: £3.09, 250mls) requires less filtering than the golden, Mild Agave. Its smooth maple syrup-like flavour is perfect for drizzling over food or adding to cooking.

Agave nectar contains 76% fructose (fruit sugar). Fructose is a slow-release carbohydrate which the body absorbs more slowly so it doesn’t need lots of insulin to break it down. Because agave nectar is low GI (Glycaemic Index) it helps keep your blood sugar levels balanced, too.

Nutritionist Fiona Hunter says: “Choosing a healthy diet doesn’t have to mean denying yourself the foods you enjoy. Making small changes like replacing sugar and honey with Agave Nectar can make a real difference and will help to make sweet foods better for you - so you really can have your cake and eat it without feeling too guilty.

“The main advantage of Agave Nectar,” Fiona continues “is that it is low GI. A growing body of research suggests that choosing foods with a low GI can help improve insulin sensitivity and bring a number of genuine health benefits. The fact that agave nectar is sweeter than sugar which means you need to use less is another real advantage.”

The sweet nectar comes all the way from Mexico where it lives in a spiky plant called the Blue Weber Agave. The milky white juice is collected from the plant and then filtered where the juice turns to Agave Nectar concentrate. There’s no unnatural meddling, it tastes great and your body will thank you for it!

Agave Nectar can be added to almost anything and you can be sure it will only make it tastier! It’s ideal for all your hot and cold favourites such as; cereal, toast, salad dressings, sauces, ice cream, teas, coffees, smoothies and is great for baking.

It's available at Sainsbury, Waitrose, Tesco, Asda, Holland & Barrett and independent health food stores. For more information visit www.groovyfood.co.uk or call 0333 240 2947.