Category-defining spirit brand YOSHI Matcha Liqueur has announced a national distribution agreement with total beverage distributor Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits.
Effective 1 September 2026, the distribution agreement expands the brand's commercial footprint across Southern Glazer's 47 US markets, accelerating national retail and on-premise penetration for the ceremonial-grade matcha spirit.
The commercial expansion reflects rising consumer and trade demand for functional, culturally relevant ingredient profiles within the premium spirits and cream liqueur categories.
Ceremonial Grade Formulation
Developed over a two-year research and development phase, YOSHI Matcha Liqueur integrates ceremonial-grade matcha, oat milk, and a neutral grain spirit base into a shelf-stable 17 per cent ABV cream liqueur.
The formulation provides a plant-based alternative to traditional dairy cream liqueurs, delivering lower sugar and calorie metrics while maintaining a smooth, creamy texture.
Key product specifications and formulation attributes include:
🍵 Ceremonial-Grade Base: Formulated with authentic Japanese ceremonial-grade matcha to establish natural tea notes and vibrant visual appeal.
🥛 Oat Milk Matrix: Utilises a plant-based oat milk base, making the 17% ABV liqueur completely dairy-free and gluten-free.
📊 Nutritional Profile: Engineered with reduced sugar content and lower calories compared to conventional dairy cream liqueurs.
🔒 Shelf Stability: Formulated for shelf stability without requiring refrigeration prior to opening, simplifying back-of-house storage for commercial bars and retailers.
Brett Jacobs, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of YOSHI Matcha Liqueur, stated that the brand strategy focuses on establishing matcha as a permanent staple behind the bar, providing on-premise operators with a consistent, ready-to-pour ingredient for modern cocktail programmes.
Gen Z and Millennial Cocktail Trends
The national rollout addresses expanding consumer interest in matcha across food, beverage, and active lifestyle sectors, particularly among Gen Z and Millennial demographics.
While green tea and matcha have achieved high volume growth across non-alcoholic beverage and coffeehouse channels, the alcohol sector has historically lacked a standardised, shelf-stable matcha spirit format.
By offering a pre-mixed, consistent liquid profile, the product eliminates manual whisking and prep work for bartending staff, supporting application versatility across diverse serving occasions:
🍸 Matcha Martini: Positioned as the core signature serve to rival established coffee-based cocktail formats.
🍹 Extended Menu Integration: Formulated for versatility across Matcha Margaritas, frozen blended drinks, brunch serves, and neat pours over ice.
Commercial and National Scaling
The agreement provides YOSHI Matcha Liqueur with immediate access to Southern Glazer's extensive wholesale logistics network, multi-state sales force, and national account coverage across off-premise and on-premise trade channels.
Mark Chaplin, President of Commercial Sales at Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, noted that introducing innovative products like YOSHI supports wholesaler efforts to engage new consumer demographics and unlock incremental drinking occasions within the premium spirits sector.
The nationwide distribution push will commence across Southern Glazer's 47 US markets on 1 September 2026, supported by trade marketing activations, digital assets, and on-premise menu placement initiatives.
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