Fire & 5th is shaking up the alcohol-free market with drinks that bring real fire and spice. This case study outlines how the team worked in partnership with Teagasc to create new flavours, and ensure consistent taste, even when making larger batches. Dive into this case study and get ready to taste what is next!
Challenge: Maintaining the Signature Hit
Fire & 5th, a brand known for its bold and innovative non-alcoholic spirit blends, sought to expand its product range with two new products and stock keeping unit (SKU). Their signature drinks are crafted from a unique blend of natural extracts and flavourings, with distinctive taste notes of chilli and blood orange complemented by ginger, green tea, and ginseng. Delivering this signature “hit of fire and spice” consistently in new formats posed technical and process development challenges—particularly when scaling up for bar trials.
Solution: Collaborative Scale Development and Refinement
Lisa Ryan and the team at Teagasc’s National Centre for Brewing and Distilling (NCBD) worked closely with Fire & 5th to develop and refine the two new products. The support included:
– Development of six small tasting samples
– Production of three mid-size batches for initial bar trials
– Scale-up to three 50L trial batches
– Weekly technical meetings to review progress and optimise formulations
Teagasc’s expertise in flavour development and scale-up helped ensure the integrity of Fire & 5th’s signature sensory experience at every stage.
Impact: Successful Launch
The collaboration enabled Fire & 5th to successfully complete bar trials, with the new SKUs on track for commercial launch in 2025. The project highlights Teagasc’s role in helping Irish beverage innovators meet growing consumer demand for premium non-alcoholic options. It also showcases how technical support from NCBD accelerates product readiness, including recipe development and stability testing to enhance shelf life and builds confidence for market entry.
“The technical and collaborative support from Teagasc helped us move rapidly from concept to scaled-up bar trials with confidence in product performance. This builds on the support we received during the Food works programme —Mary Maguire, Founder Fire & 5th”