WKD Original Vodka

WKD Original Vodka
WKD logo
TypeVodka
ManufacturerBeverage Brands
Country of origin United Kingdom
Alcohol by volume 4%
Related productsList of vodka brands
Websitewkd.co.uk

WKD, pronounced as Wicked, is a brand of alcopop produced by Beverage Brands. It is sold and heavily marketed in the United Kingdom and Ireland with the slogan ‘Have you got a WKD (for "wicked") side?’, and also in many countries in mainland Europe. AC Nielsen ranked it as the number-one UK ready to drink (RTD) alcopop in 2006.[1] In December 2014 to comply with alcohol tax laws and to minimise future tax increases, "Alcoholic Mix WKD" replaced the old "Original WKD", and the old Original Mix is now no longer available in both the UK and Ireland. The small change to the alcohol element of the WKD was not intended to change the taste of the product and still contains triple distilled vodka. In addition, it contains an alternative alcohol base (not wine) to minimise tax. The actual recipe remains unchanged.[citation needed] The WKD bottling facility in Ayrshire, Scotland closed in November 2022 due to rising costs.[2]

Product information

WKD originally contained 5.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), but this was reduced to 5% in October 2003,[3] to 4.5% on 25 July 2005, and later to 4%, current as of 2022. The drink was launched in August 1996 in Scotland under the name 'Wicked'. Initially available in 330ml bottles, the bottles were later reduced to 275ml, matching other alcopops. The 275ml bottles are sold in pubs, bars, and shops across the UK, with shops also selling multipacks of 4,10 and 12, and 700ml bottles.

Varieties

Current varieties

As of 2024:

No. Name Information Release date
1 WKD Blue "Mixed-fruit" flavour 1996
2 WKD Pink Gin Pink coloured, raspberry flavour 2021
3 WKD Iron Brew Orange coloured, Irn-Bru flavour 1996
4 WKD Orange & Passionfruit Amber coloured, passion fruit and orange flavour 2023
5 WKD Raspberry Lemonade Cerise coloured, raspberry and lemon flavour 2021
6 WKD Berry Blast Red coloured, raspberry flavour 2022
7 WKD Love Island Purple coloured, Grape flavour 2024
8 WKD Blue Non-alcoholic Blue Coloured, "mixed fruit" flavour, alcohol free 2024

1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 are sold in standard mixed multi-packs.

Discontinued varieties

  • WKD Original Vodka Silver
Clear, "tropical" flavour.
  • WKD Blonde
Apple-flavoured, but not cider-based; yellow.
  • WKD Core
Cider-based drink, apple-flavoured, green. Introduced 2009.
  • WKD Purple
"Mixed berry" flavour.
  • WKD Green
Green apple flavour.
  • WKD Orange
Orange-flavoured and coloured.
  • WKD Vegas
"Mixed fruit" flavour, dark purple.

Advertising

WKD Vodka has been heavily promoted in the UK. Promotion includes a TV advertising campaign, a national poster campaign, scoreboard sponsorship at Premiership football clubs, giving out samples in bars and clubs, sponsorship, and student tours. Their catchphrase "Have you got a WKD side?" was launched in 2000 and hit TV screens in 2001. The TV adverts feature men pulling pranks or behaving in a strange or selfish manner for the beverage.[4]

Along with several other alcopop or RTD producers, WKD were considered by the UK ASA to be using advertising likely to appeal to under-18s,[5] and some of their TV adverts were banned.

Sponsorship

WKD was a sponsor of the "WKD Shed Sports Show" which aired on Nuts TV, which had its own channel on Freeview and Sky but closed on 15 January 2009.

WKD has been a sponsor of the "WKD Nuts Football Awards" since this annual event began in 2006.[6]

References

  1. ^ "WKD surges to become no. 1 RTD brand". Beverage Brands / AC Nielson. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  2. ^ Maeve McTaggart (1 November 2022). "UK bottling factory to stop producing WKD due to rising costs". Sunday World.
  3. ^ "WKD reduces ABV and passes duty saving on to customers". SHS Drinks formerly Beverage Brands. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Our Brands". SHS Drinks formerly Beverage Brands. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  5. ^ "TV alcopops adverts 'broke rules'". BBC News Online. 26 September 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  6. ^ "WKD NUTS Football Awards 2009". Archived from the original on 8 June 2009.