GSN Spirited News: June 29th 2021 Edition

Campari’s Aperol liqueur has partnered with Cocktail Courier to sell a limited-edition Aperol Spritz kit for consumers to make the drink at home. Cocktail Courier, based in Chicago, sells a variety of brand name cocktail kits for delivery to consumers’ homes. The Aperol Spritz kit includes the liqueur, Cinzano Prosecco, soda water, oranges, and two glasses. It is available for purchase to residents of select cities from Cocktail Courier’s website, where it retails for $60.

Louisville, Kentucky’s Rabbit Hole has launched its single barrel program with ten barrels of Heigold rye sold to accounts in Kentucky. Rabbit Hole’s single barrel releases will be bottled at cask strength and will feature unique artwork. To celebrate the launch of the program, the distillery sold 144 bottles at $106 a 750-ml. with all proceeds going to Covid relief grants to local businesses, administered through local charity Fund for the Arts. The wider release for the single barrel program—including releases of all four of Rabbit Hole’s core whiskies—begins in July.

Gin Lane 1751 has announced Cucumber Watermelon Mint, the newest seasonal expression from the London Dry gin house. The spirit is bottled at 40% abv and made with natural flavor essences and without any added sugar. M.S. Walker, Gin Lane’s distributor, will roll out the new expression across the U.S. in July for a suggested price of $38 a 750-ml. Cucumber Watermelon Mint joins the original London Dry, Victoria Pink Gin, Old Tom Gin, and Royal Strength Gin in Gin Lane’s portfolio.

The House of Rémy Martin is releasing a new limited-edition decanter for Rémy Martin XO. Featuring 18-karat gold leaf on the bottle, it was created in partnership with Parisian gilding studio Atelier Thiery. It is intended to highlight the parallels between Cognac and gold and the expertise that goes into working with both. The limited-edition Rémy Martin XO x Atelier Thiery bottle is available on Reserve Bar for $229.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Michter’s has announced the 2021 iteration of the brand’s 10-year-old single barrel rye whiskey. Due to supply constraints, this will be the only release of Michter’s 10 Year Rye for 2021, according to master of maturation Andrea Wilson. This year’s edition of Michter’s 10 Year Rye is rolling out now in limited quantities for a suggested price of $170 a 750-ml. In addition to releasing the 10-year-old rye, Michter’s has announced that it has expanded its Springfield farm from 145 to 205 acres, allowing the company to grow more grain for its future whiskies.

Sazerac Co. has teamed with Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) to extend two flavored whiskies—Fireball and Southern Comfort—with malt-based variants to propel them into thousands of new retail accounts. The malt-based offerings began appearing this spring in New York beer stores, convenience stores, delis, bodegas, and gas station minimarts, priced at around $1 a 1.7-ounce bottle and $8 a 12-ounce container.

Chopin Vodka has launched Botanika Angelica, a new line of liqueurs made from the company’s namesake vodka, blended with botanicals and fruit. Botanika Angelica makes its debut with five expressions—Amaro (40% abv, $40 a 750-ml.), Bitters (30% abv, $30), Orange (40% abv, $35), Lemon (35% abv, $30), and Elderflower (25% abv, $35). Before blending, the spirit, fruits, herbs, and spices are macerated for two to seven months in clay pots. Additionally, all but the lemon and orange liqueurs are matured in Polish oak before bottling. Botanika Angelic is now available across the U.S.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: January 12th 2021 Edition

Skagit Valley, Washington-based Garden Path Fermentation is releasing its first 100% spontaneously fermented beer. Called The Spontaneous Ferment, it is a single year blend of three batches of coolship inoculated beers from winter 2018 (a coolship is a historic method for cooling a beer before adding yeast, commonly used today by brewers working with spontaneous fermentation). It’s at 6% abv, was bottled in May of last year, and is available now from Garden Path’s taproom and in retailers throughout the region. Garden Path was founded in 2016.

The Boston Beer Company has launched Truly Iced Tea Hard Seltzer, the latest extension to the popular seltzer brand. Like the original Truly lineup, the hard iced teas come in at 5% abv and 100 calories per serving. The new RTDs come in four flavors—lemon, raspberry, peach, and strawberry—and are made with iced tea and other flavorings. Truly Iced Tea is now available in variety 12-packs of 12-ounce cans and individual 16- and 24-ounce cans of the lemon flavor.

Costa Mesa, California’s Chihuahua Cerveza is now available in Oklahoma and Kansas, with the brewery announcing further expansions to follow throughout the first quarter of the year. This month, the brewery will add distribution in Arkansas and New Mexico, too, before adding Colorado, Alabama, and South Carolina over the next few months. Following the expansion, Chihuahua Cerveza will be available in 12 states across the southern United States.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has announced Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade, the newest addition to brand’s entry into the hard seltzer category. The 5% abv releases come in at 100 calories per 12-ounce serving and will initially launch in four flavors: peach, black cherry, strawberry, and original lemonade. The new releases are launching on January 18 nationwide. The launch will be accompanied by two new commercials—titled ‘Tire’ and ‘Family Jewelry’—that feature the new seltzer alongside drinkers commenting that it’s better than their grandmothers’ lemonade.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: May 26th 2020 Edition

Inglewood, California’s Three Weavers Brewing Company has announced Even Sassier, a new rye IPA. The 7.2% abv ale is this season’s reinvention of Three Weavers’ Return of Sassy Rye IPA, this time as a hazy IPA brewed to bring out citrus and fruit notes without sacrificing the flavors from the rye in the mashbill. Even Sassier is now available for pickup from the brewery and in retailers throughout California in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has announced Stella Artois Solstice Lager, a new summer seasonal from the Belgian brand. The 4.5% abv lager has 105 calories per serving and is brewed with citrus essences for a crisp, summer-friendly beer. Initially launching in Phoenix next week, Stella Artois Solstice Lager will roll out nationally beginning June 8 in 6- and 12-packs of 12-ounce bottles through Labor Day.

San Francisco, California’s 21st Amendment Brewery has launched its latest seasonal release, Tropical Sparkale. The 4.2% abv ale is made with pineapple, coconut, and apple, and is brewed to reduce gluten in the final product. Tropical Sparkale is now available in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans throughout 21st Amendment’s 30-state distribution footprint.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: May 12th 2020 Edition

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based craft player Founders Brewing Co. has announced Marvelroast, the company’s latest taproom brew turned limited national release. The 10% abv Imperial Golden ale is brewed with coffee, vanilla, cocoa, and milk sugar. The ale was particularly popular at the company’s Detroit taproom before going into wider production. Marvelroast will be available nationally beginning in July in 4-packs of 12-ounce bottles for around $10.

Fort Collins, Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing has debuted its latest IPA in the Voodoo Ranger series, 1985 Hazy IPA. The 6.7% ale is brewed with Citra, Simcoe, and Cascade hops with mango added to amp up the fruit flavors. The beer is latest in Voodoo Ranger’s rotating series of ales, which, according to the company, have grown into its fifth-largest label overall. Voodoo Ranger 1985 Hazy IPA is rolling out now across the U.S. in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans and on draft. New Belgium is the fourth-largest craft brewer in the U.S., according to the Brewers Association.

Kansas City, Missouri’s Boulevard Brewing Company has entered the hard seltzer category with Quirk Spiked and Sparkling. The 4.2% abv seltzers come in at 90 calories and will be available in three flavors: Strawberry, Lemon, & Basil; Blackberry Sage; and Pear Yuzu. The line will be available in select markets throughout the Midwest beginning in June. Boulevard is part of Duvel Moortgat, the fifth-largest craft brewer in the U.S., according to the Brewers Association.

Anheuser-Busch InBev is introducing Social Club Seltzer, a new brand of hard seltzers in classic cocktail flavors. Social Club is being distributed nationally in variety 12-packs and single-flavor 6-packs, with variants including an Old Fashioned, Sidecar, and Gimlet, all at 7% abv and with 150 calories a 12-ounce can. According to the company, “The alcohol comes from a cold-fermentation of sugar combined with purified water and cold-pressed fruits.” AB-InBev also markets hard seltzers under the Bon & Viv, Bud Light, and Natural Light brands.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily