Strong Zero
{{Short description|Japanese alcoholic beverage}}
−196 °C Strong Zero (commonly referred to as Strong Zero or −196) is a brand of chūhai produced by Suntory Global Spirits. It is currently sold in Japan, Taiwan, the Malaysia, Australia, the United States,{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Kate |date=2024-09-16 |title=Suntory Global Spirits’ Legendary Ready-To-Drink -196 Enters U.S. Market |url=https://www.suntoryglobalspirits.com/news/suntory-global-spirits-legendary-ready-drink-196-enters-us-market/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Suntory Global Spirits}} and the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Johanna |date=2024-02-16 |title=SBF GB&I brings Japanese brand -196 to the UK |url=https://www.talkingretail.com/products-news/alcohol/suntory-launches-into-rtd-16-02-2024/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Talking Retail |language=en}} As with other types of chūhai, it is available in a variety of different flavors, and is often sold at convenience stores and through vending machines.{{Cite news|last=Michel|first=Patrick St|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/18/national/media-national/social-media-turns-back-japans-beloved-strong-alcoholic-beverages/|title=Social media turns its back on Japan's beloved strong alcoholic beverages|date=2020-01-18|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2020-04-22|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763}} The "strong" portion of the name comes from the fact that the drinks have relatively high alcohol content (9% ABV in Japan).{{Cite web |first=Wil |last=Jones |url=https://www.joe.co.uk/food/strong-zero-the-japanese-9-abv-low-cost-cocktail-in-can-that-is-becoming-a-cult-favourite-in-the-west-237168|title=Strong Zero: The Japanese 9% ABV low-cost cocktail in can that is becoming a cult favourite in the West|website=Joe |date=2019-07-22 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-22}} The "zero" refers to what the manufacturer calls "sugar-free".{{Cite web|url=https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/216904|title=1本で酔える！｢高アルコール飲料｣の吸引力 {{!}} 食品|date=2018-04-20|website=東洋経済オンライン|language=ja|access-date=2019-06-18}} According to nutrition labelling standards in Japan, a beverage product can be labelled as sugar-free as long as it does not exceed 0.5 g of sugar per 100 mL.{{Cite web|url=https://mobile.suntory.co.jp/rtd/196/|title=-196°Cストロングゼロ サントリー|website=-196°Cストロングゼロ サントリー|language=ja|access-date=2020-04-22|archive-date=2020-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809193754/https://mobile.suntory.co.jp/rtd/196/|url-status=dead}}
Strong Zero is made by freezing fruit in liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen has a boiling point of {{convert|-195.8|C|F K|0}}, and hence the "−196 °C" in the name. The frozen whole fruit is then pulverized and soaked in beverage alcohol. The final beverage contains the fruit juice, shochu, vodka and soda.{{Cite web|url=http://j-net21.smrj.go.jp/develop/foods/entry/2014030501.html|title=「－196°Cストロングゼロ」「－196°Cストロングゼロ〈DRY〉」—「やってみなはれ」の精神があればこそ｜飲食品でヒット商品をつくる｜J-Net21[中小企業ビジネス支援サイト]|website=J-Net21[中小企業ビジネス支援サイト]|language=ja|access-date=2019-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605201823/http://j-net21.smrj.go.jp/develop/foods/entry/2014030501.html|archive-date=2018-06-05|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Dan |date=2021-05-10 |title=Beam Suntory to launch new RTD in Australia |url=https://theshout.com.au/beam-suntory-to-launch-new-rtd-in-australia/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=The Shout}} The process produces a relatively low calorie and low sugar drink. As with many food and drink products available in Japan, new flavors are often released to coincide with the seasonality of different ingredients.{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@sasuraiger/my-japan-trip-2017-2018-drinking-in-japan-and-strong-zero-ad5c60256a4e|title=My Japan Trip 2017–2018: Drinking in Japan and Strong Zero|last=Cabrera|first=David|date=2019-03-31|website=Medium|language=en|access-date=2020-04-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/melbourne-japanese-strong-zero/|title=Skint Melbourne Sesh Weapons Are Buying All Of The City's Japanese Pre-Mixes|date=2018-04-13|website=Pedestrian TV|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-22}}
Australia
The brand was launched in Australia in June 2021 under the name "−196", initially with a "Double Lemon" flavour packaged in 330 mL cans. The Double Lemon product has 6% ABV (1.6 Australian Standard Drinks), 0.3 g sugar, and 122 calories per serving.{{cite web | url=https://www.minus196.com.au/#section-4 | title=-196 Extreme Japanese Spirit }} The launch of −196 Double Lemon in Australia in 2021 was the largest launch in the Australian ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverage market in the preceding five years, and the product initially went out of stock upon its introduction.{{Cite web |last=Doherty |first=Ioni |date=2022-10-18 |title=Number one RTD launches new flavour |url=https://www.drinkstrade.com.au/number-one-rtd-launches-new-flavour |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Drinks Trade}}{{Cite web |last=Ward |first=Sarah |date=2022-09-30 |title=The Company Behind Japan's Strong Zero Is Bringing a New Double Grape −196 to Australia |url=https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/196-double-grape-australia-suntory |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Concrete Playground}} The initial launch was supported by two ads featuring Japanese characters of a sumo wrestler and a samurai warrior that play with a lemon to create the lemon juice for the premix. The ad campaign was awarded with three Australian Effie Awards in 2022.{{Cite web |title=The Australian Effie Awards 2022 Winners |url=https://advertisingcouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/The-Australian-Effie-Awards-2022-Winners-3.pdf |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Advertising Council Australia }}
Following the success of the Double Lemon flavour, Beam Suntory launched a "Double Grape" flavour in Australia in October 2022.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Andy |date=2022-10-17 |title=Minus 196 to launch new flavour in Australia |url=https://theshout.com.au/minus-196-to-launch-new-flavour-in-australia/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=The Shout}} The Double Grape flavour comes in the same size cans and has the same ABV, and has 122 calories and has 0.0 g of sugar per serve.
United States
The brand launched "-196", pronounced "Minus One Nine Six",{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://us.minus196.com/faq/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=-196 Vodka Seltzer}} in the United States in September 2024. The initial flavors offered are "Lemon", "Peach", and "Grapefruit", later expanding to include "Strawberry".
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.suntory.com/brands/196/}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:-196°C Strong Zero}}
Category:Japanese alcoholic drinks
Category:Japanese drink brands