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Sydney-based distillery Poor Toms has collaborated with Melbourne soft drink maker StrangeLove to create a new range of premixed drinks, tapping into the craft spirits trend.

Love Can comes in three variants – Gin & Tonic, Vodka Yuza Soda, and Spritz – which aims to reach the market looking for better-for-you, low-ABV drinks.

Australia’s craft spirits industry has grown from $10.8 million in 2017 to 17.1 million in 2018, where the evolution of the premium spirits category from sensible glass bottles to an unruly canned, premix format, seemed a natural progression, said Griffin Blumer, co-founder of Love Can and Poor Toms.

“We are psycho about making the most delicious products we can. That’s what premium means to us. Beyond that we don’t take ourselves, or our brand, too seriously,” said Blumer.

“We wanted to get past the idea that you need fancy glassware, garnishes, and destination venues to enjoy a great, locally distilled product. You can drink Love Can anywhere – family BBQs, raves, church, the beach.”

The Gin & Tonic uses locally distilled gin from Sydney and has subtle hints of bergamot, grapefruit and cinchona, while the Vodka Yuza Soda swaps out the commonly used lime with fresh Japanese yuzu choice and paired with custom-made apple and chamomile distilled vodka.

The Love Can Spritz balances strawberry gin, orange Aperitivo and Mildura lemons to offer the “complexity and depth of a Negroni and the lightness of a spritz”.

Love Can is now available in four-paocks for RRP$23.99 at selected BWS and Dan Murphy’s stores nationally.

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