The popular Maltese soft drink ‘Kinnie’ has made its way into a list of ‘Top ten favourite tipples from around the world’ published by Yahoo Travel.

Kinnie, the bittersweet soft drink launched in Malta in 1952, succeeded in ranking sixth in a list by Nikki Bailey, who provided readers with a virtual tour of the top 10 favourite tipples from around the world.

The recipe for this popular soft drink is secret, although the official website does provide some insight into its ingredients. The suggestion is that the bittersweet taste is down to a blend of Maltese Mediterranean chinotto bitter oranges, combined with an infusion of a dozen different aromatic herbs and spices such as anise, ginseng, vanilla, rhubarb and liquorice.

“We are of course proud that a drink synonymous with Malta is making a name for itself beyond our shores. Efforts in making it available overseas are increasing, even though a highly competitive market presents significant challenges,” a Farsons spokesperson told this newspaper.

“In fact Kinnie and its sister brands, Diet Kinnie and Kinnie Zest, have been available in London’s West End since September 2010 and we are now working on gradually increasing our penetration and distribution in wider geographic areas across the UK.”

Described as Malta’s favourite drink and as one for non-drinkers, Kinnie is said to be a real love it or hate it drink. The article says that made from herbs and bitter oranges, and unlike most fizzy drinks, Kinnie is not at all sweet.

“That first swig of an ice-cool Kinnie is definitely a bit of a shock. It’s sour and aromatic, very grown-up, not a kids’ drink at all. But oh, it’s so refreshing! I’ve never found it anywhere but Malta, perhaps they like to keep the good stuff all to themselves...” the author wrote.

The brand, including Diet Kinnie and Kinnie Zest, has recently been given a makeover to give it a more modern and refreshing look.

“Kinnie is a well-loved and respected brand in Malta and beyond, and any change we propose only comes about after extensive research, which in this case we conducted both in local and overseas markets,” according to head of marketing and communications, Susan Weenink.

“Naturally the unique taste of Malta’s own favourite soft drink has remained unchanged and we are confident that Kinnie’s many loyal consumers will appreciate this new modern look,” she added.

“The colours and imagery chosen for Kinnie’s new look are vibrant and energizing, and yet respectful of the brand’s origins and loyal consumers. Today’s consumer is faced with a vast selection of goods and services in an extremely crowded market place, making it imperative for brands to be visually striking and attractive in order to stand out from the crowd. This is particularly crucial in overseas markets, where Kinnie is still in its infancy stage,” she said.

Kinnie is produced, marketed and distributed by Simonds Farsons Cisk plc.