Sample of Lyre's non-alcoholic spirits range

One is not always equal to one

Recently I attended the Sydney Good Food and Wine Show. If you are not familiar with this show, I recommend searching it out and attend if you can. It brings together food and beverage suppliers from around the country, and is well worth the visit. If Sydney is too far for you, the event is also held in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. It’s at the Sydney event that I came across Lyre’s! This is an innovative company that describes their quest to make the impossible possible by giving everyone the freedom to drink their favourite drink their own way.

What they do

Lyre’s have crafted an extensive range of non-alcoholic spirits. They would tell you their non- alcoholic spirits “look, taste and smell like the real thing”. They source the best ingredients including all natural essences, extracts and distillates from around the world. Their range of spirits mimic well knowns, such as gin, scotch, whiskey, agave, dark and light rums. Based on the diversity of this range; just about any traditional cocktail can be recreated as well as some special Lyre’s originals! The possibilities are endless.

What's in a name?

Lyre’s state their spirits are “designed to mimic the taste, bouquet and mouthfeel of their alcoholic originals. Hence the name ‘Lyre’s”. It is inspired by the Australian Lyrebird! The lyrebird has the capability to mimic various sounds. They have been known to mimic a baby crying and even chain saws! Mimic is such a clever phrase for their spirit range, as Lyre’s have successfully developed their own identity and interpretation of the flavours and brands.  While we may recognise Gin, there is no gin in the Lyre’s range, however Lyres mimics it with their Lyre’s Dry London Spirit.

Some generic spirits that Lyre's mimic!

Some sample Lyre's recipies 

Trending now!

Lyre’s are right on trend now as no and low alcohol consumption appears to be growing. In 2022 the International Wines and Spirits Record (IWSR) examined 10 key world markets including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and the USA. Their objective was to understand current no/low alcohol market values.

In their “No/Low Alcohol” Strategic Study; the market value of the 10 world markets in 2018 was pegged at $7.8 Billion. The study found that in 2021 the market value had increased to just under US$10 billion. The IWSR forecasts between 2021 and 2025 that no/low alcohol volume will grow by more than a further 8% (compound annual growth rate, CAGR), compared to 0.7% for regular alcohol volume.

The IWSR research suggested the uptake of no/low alcoholic drinks varied across the 10 world markets investigated and that the no/low alcohol market as a whole was still very much in its infancy stage. Their research also indicated that the consumer trend was not to stop alcohol consumption altogether citing that only 17% of respondents indicated an intent to stop drinking alcohol. According to the research, moderation and reducing the effects of alcohol appeared to be the common driver amongst consumers. They also found that 43% adults purchased no and low alcoholic beverages in place of full-strength alcohol for certain occasions, rather than abstaining from alcohol. 

Stephen's Take

Unit of Competency Mapping

Please note; the purpose of this article is to introduce current hospitality trends. The content broadly applies to the units of competency listed. It is not intended that all content in this article maps directly to all performance evidence and knowledge evidence in the unit of competency. 

Article and photos original by Stephen Duncan