Global Brands has extended tequila beer brand Amigos with a new fruit-flavoured spirit beer.

Amigos Black, which was unveiled at the Imbibe on-trade show last week, has been flavoured with Mexican tequila, South American limes and acai berries to tap into the popularity of flavoured beers with young drinkers. It is an “authentic South American twist to the Aztec-inspired brand”, said Global Brands.

“Pairing the refreshing profile of Amigos with a popular fruit flavouring is an opportunity to extend the brand’s appeal and entice new consumers to the category,” said marketing director Simon Green. “The Spirit Beer category offers huge profit growth potential but this will only be unlocked if the category continues to innovate in a credible way to recruit new followers and engage existing consumers. “

The company is also rolling out original Amigos on draught – claiming it is the first spirit beer brand to do so - and is launching the original Amigos beer in a 330ml can.

“Amigos cans extend the category appeal,” said Green. ”Cans are a growing trend in the off-trade, with off-trade sales of cans in world beer growing at 15%. As 330ml cans gain traction in the market as a premium alternative serve, Amigos is the only spirit beer to respond to this trend.”

The spirit beer category, which is dominated by Heineken’s Desperados brand, is currently worth around £30m in the off-trade, but Global brands said sales are set to be worth £45m this year. The Amigos brand was growing 72% in the off-trade, it said.

The original Amigos sku launched in March 2009.