3 for the party season

Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Trade Winds Citrus Limited, makers of everybody's favourite juices - Tru-Juice, has done it again. This time, they have created a marriage among three favourites: Calico Jack Rum Punch, Sorrel with Ginger and Cranberry Juice, just in time for the Christmas season. No reinvention of the wheel, just a natural combination of three flavours that blend well with festive occasions.

And after a tasting at The Gleaner last week, the response is overwhelmingly positive, the juices are delicious!

Kim Lee, head of marketing for the company said the rationale for combining these three drinks for the Christmas was that consumers know that Tru-Juice is a natural, genuine, traditional product they can depend on."We also know that sorrel and rum punch are always present during holiday entertaining. This season, we wanted to showcase an additional product from our portfolio which is also used quite heavily by Jamaicans when mixing their cocktails. What better way to reinforce our flexibility, quality and convenience than to ensure our consumers know about our cranberry juice," she said.

Although it is not a traditional Jamaican product, cranberry has become firmly entrenched in the society as a good complement for vodka and rum at most parties and events. These products were paired together for the company's three for the season promotion to bring greater visibility to Calico Jack and Cranberry Juice.

The public's response to the initiative is good because sales are steadily growing with sorrel as the leader, Mrs Lee said. "The Calico Jack Rum Punch is relatively new and still in it metamorphosis. We are raising its visibility so that our consumers know that it is a ready-to-drink alcohol beverage that they can just buy and serve," she added. Cranberry has its own place in the bar next to Tru-Juice Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice and Fruit Punch.

Mrs Lee said all three products are available in your favourite supermarket islandwide. If it is not there, ask for it. Prices may vary among supermarkets.

COMMENTS

I always love the taste of Tru-Juice Sorrel, it tastes like home-made sorrel, the Calico Jack is strong with rum and the cranberry tastes normal.

The sorrel was just right. Not too sweet. My style. My taste. Consumers should sure go out and stock up for the holidays. I will be getting mine!

The rum punch bad enuh pawdy. It really warmed me up.

Love sorrel and Calico Jack, don't like cranberry juice, no matter who makes it.

Very, very nice, a bit strong but I will be getting a bottle for when people visit my home over the holidays; very nice, but it's a creeper.

Calico Jack! I absolutely love it. The alcohol content complements it very well.

The Calico Jack was 'sell off', I so love the rum in it. I will definitely be stocking on a few bottles for the holidays, thank goodness Christmas falls on the weekend so I can enjoy a bottle or two.

Cranberry juice was not that bad but don't really like the aftertaste.

I will be buying the Calico Jack!

I like the sorrel. The texture is good and it can definitely substitute for the home-made blend at Christmas.

The rum punch is also very good. It reminds me of the rum punch my mother used to make when I was younger.

Rum punch needs more body as it seemed too thin while the sorrel had good body and colour but was a little too sweet.

Hooray for convenience! Big up Tru-Juice! Love all three a dem every time!

The sorrel is great, much better than other watery brands.

This is real sorrel, very good, but I could use a tups more ginger.

Calico Jack's my favourite, followed by sorrel, If I could not make my own, I would buy this brand of sorrel.

SCHEDULE

The Tru-Juice team will be on the road for tasting of the three products.

Sunday, December 5: Tru-Juice Rally and Lyme, Bybrook Farms

Sunday, December 12: Solstice, Royal Jamaica Yacht Club.

Sunday, December 19: Karma, Hope Gardens.

Saturday, December 25: A-List, Hope Gardens.

Friday, December 31: Absinthe, Palisadoes Go-Kart Track.

December 3-4: Shoppers Fair, May Pen, Clarendon; Parkview Supermarket, May Pen, Clarendon; Shoppers Fair, Mandeville, Manchester; Urvill's, Manchester; Total Supermarket, Mandeville, Manchester; and Moo Pen Mandeville, Manchester.

December 11-12: Brooklyn Clock Tower, Kingston; Super Value, Kingston; Shoppers Fair, Duhaney Park, Kingston; and Empire, Cross Roads, Kingston.

Look out for them.