Vegan alcohol brand drinks to success with UK launch

A VEGAN liquor that was created by accident has launched in the UK in time for Christmas thanks to funding from the Business Enterprise Fund.

After success with Spanish drinks company, Grupo Garvey – which offered start-up support to Besos Food and Drink – founder Peter Smith just needed help to bring the drink, Besos de Oro to the UK.

The £10,000 from business lenders BEF saw the company tie together a distribution strategy, continue the drink’s production and take on a new member of staff to help the product’s UK progression.

Peter said: “Besos de Oro has flown off the shelves at fairs nationwide – we ran out of stock at the National Vegan Fair in under two hours! Thanks to the funding we’re expecting 80% of our trade to occur ahead of Christmas.”

The drink, which means ‘golden kisses’ in Spanish, was created accident by Peter as he was living in Spain with his partner.

“One evening, as a joke, I mixed brandy with a drink called Horchata and the result was delicious. Horchata is the tuber of the tiger sedge plant. It’s a good source of oleic acid and helps to lower cholesterol – plus, it’s vegan.”

The Besos Food and Drinks team is also launching a vegan friendly milk alternative, enriched with calcium and vitamins D2 and B12 and there are plans to expand the brand’s vegan range with cheese, ice-lollies and chocolate.

The festive, creamy liquor can already be found in Cross Lanes Organic Farm Shop, Barnard Castle and will be launching in Germany, Holland and Switzerland next year.

A substantial order with Costco in the USA and Canada could also be on the cards for Besos Food and Drink in 2017.