Kyle Sandilands launches new drink amid falling out rumours

Kyle Sandilands held a star-studded bash at the Watsons Bay Hotel on Saturday to celebrate the launch of his newest venture and toast KIIS FM’s fifth birthday. But it was who was missing that raised eyebrows.

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Kyle Sandilands held a star-studded bash at the Watsons Bay Hotel on Saturday to celebrate the launch of his newest venture — Nueva Sangria — and toast KIIS FM’s fifth birthday.

Guy Sebastian, Imogen Anthony and Married At First Sight lovebirds Jules Robinson and Cam Merchant were among guests at the soiree.

Missing from the event was Andrew Hawkins, the man who has been at Sandilands’ side through thick and thin for 15 years.

Kyle Sandilands’ business partner Andrew Hawkins was missing from the event.

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Talking to Sunday Confidential from Los Angeles last week, Hawkins shut down talk there had been a seismic falling out between the once great mates, who met at the ARIA Awards in 2004.

Sources have told this column the two men fell out over money — something Hawkins denies.

Sandilands and his team have not weighed in on the rumours.

Hawkins is currently based in LA where he is the president of the Young And Vicious USA label, owned by Sandilands, Hawkins and Mushroom Music.

He resigned as CEO of the King Kyle Group recently after 12 years managing the radio star and his private companies to focus on the US operations.

Former Kyle and Jackie O executive producer Bruno Bouchet is the new appointed managing director of King Kyle Investments. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

But the subsequent appointment of Bruno Bouchet to the role of managing director of King Kyle Investments, is fuelling the industry rumour, which won’t go away.

The focus on Saturday though was Sandilands’ second beverage product.

The KIIS FM star, who also part owns H2Coco, has partnered up with Australian winemakers Sam Bowman and David Kynaston to develop fruit-infused wine from hand-selected vineyards in premium Australian wine regions.

“Nueva Sangria moves beyond its Spanish roots to become more sophisticated — a place somewhere between a cocktail and fine wine,” Sandilands said.

The sangria went on sale on Saturday.