Aldi have just released a ‘Sprout Nog’ cocktail

Bottoms up!

The new cocktail, developed by the supermarket, turns the humble vegetable into a seasonal standout. Whilst most pair the delicacy with pancetta or walnuts, this cocktail explores smooth winter flavour profiles such as cream, cinnamon and cloves to create a unique tipple bound to get party-guests talking. 

But it hasn’t hit the shelves yet – Aldi is seeking a final stamp of approval from the public in a ‘sprout-ocracy’ vote, to see if there really is an appetite for the aperitif to join its canned cocktail range. 

It comes as new research reveals how Brits plan to serve their sprouts this Christmas, as over half of the country consider themselves devout sprout lovers (56 per cent).  

With nearly half of Brits (46 per cent) saying that they are likely to experiment with the vegetable this Christmas, the development of the cocktail marks a trend in which Brits are becoming more adventurous in their attempt to elevate the sprout.  

According to the ‘Sprout-ometer’ – Aldi’s regional sprout ranking system – Gloucester tops the table as the city with the bougiest Brussels, with residents most likely to add pancetta (45 per cent), chestnuts (23 per cent), or even a drizzle of maple syrup (31 per cent).  

In Cambridge, residents are taking it to a new level, as 15 per cent admit to enjoying the dish with a touch of chocolate. A fifth of Peterborough residents are adding a Korean twist, dousing their greens in gochujang.  

However, the study of 2,000 UK adults also revealed that Brits are keeping it simple elsewhere, as 33% still prefer their sprouts simply boiled with a pinch of salt, particularly in Bath (48%), Cardiff (43%) and Swansea (41%). 

Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: “Whether you love them or hate them, sprouts are a staple on Christmas tables across the UK, so it’s great to see that Brits are planning to embrace their culinary creativity and explore new recipes and flavour pairings. 

“With shoppers experimenting this year, we were inspired to do the same. Our newly developed Sprout Nog offers a truly unique way of enjoying the Christmas vegetable, and we’re calling on shoppers to determine the future of this cocktail creation, so head over to our Instagram and Facebook posts to have your say.”