Cubist

Phillips Distilling has officially launched Cubist, a new vodka brand intended to be stored in the freezer. Beginning this month, Cubist is being test marketed in Minnesota and Arizona with an expanded launch slated for 2022. Thermochromic ink technology turns the brand’s bottle label blue when the liquid has reached optimal temperature. Aimed at males aged 26-45, Cubist will retail at $25 a 750-ml.

Bacardi-owned Patrón Tequila has announced a new aged expression: Patrón Sherry Cask Aged Añejo. The 40% abv Tequila matured for over two years in Oloroso Sherry casks before bottling. The new Tequila is available exclusively in the U.S. in select retailers and on Drizly while supplies last for a suggested price of $80 a 750-ml.

Walsh Whiskey has released a new limited-edition whiskey in the Writers’ Tears family. Writers’ Tears Icewine Cask Finish is a blend of Irish single malt and pot still whiskies finished in Inniskillin casks from Ontario, Canada for 12 months. 3,500 bottles of the 46% abv whiskey are being distributed to select retailers in Canada, Ireland, and the U.S., where the new release carries a suggested price of $85 a 750-ml.

Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co., part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio, has launched TX Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks, the latest release from the Fort Worth-based distiller. The 50.8% abv whiskey is the third release in the Barrel Finish series, following Tawny Port and PX Sherry Cask finished whiskies. This release also marks the end of master distiller Rob Arnold’s tenure with F&R, as he is now stepping aside, allowing Ale Ochoa, master blender, and new master distiller Evan Brewer to take the helm. TX Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks is rolling out now throughout Texas for a suggested price of $65 a 750-ml.

Rémy Cointreau has added a new brandy to the St-Rémy portfolio in the U.S. St-Rémy Signature is bottled at 40% abv and is first matured in new oak before transferring to more traditional used casks. St-Rémy Signature is the first spirit created by the brand’s master blender Cécile Roudaut and is rolling out now in select markets across the U.S. for a suggested price of $30 a 750-ml.

Disaronno International has launched Engine gin, a new Italian spirit designed by Paolo Dalla Mora, former CMO at Moschino and global communications director for parent company Illva Saronno. The 42% abv gin is made with juniper and a variety of Italian botanicals, including Ligurian sage, lemon, licorice root, and damask rose. The gin is packaged in a tin mock-oil-can, evoking its creator’s passion for racing and cars. Engine is now available across the U.S. for a suggested price of $30 a 750-ml.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

A new upscale Tequila brand, Calirosa, has aligned nationally with Southern Glazer’s and rolled out to an initial 14 states. The brand debuts with a Rosa Blanco finished for 30 days in California red wine barrels and an Anejo aged in red wine barrels for 18 months, with retail pricing ranging from $49-$74. Calirosa is made in Jalisco, Mexico by the Real family. Calirosa partners Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo have invested in the family-owned distillery. The brand is slated for wider distribution both in the U.S. and Mexico later in the year.

Minnesota’s Phillips Distilling Company has launched a new vodka brand, Cubist, amid a host of brand updates aimed at boosting UV Vodka and Revel Stoke whiskey. The new brand—dubbed “The World’s Most Refreshing Vodka” and packaged in a bottle that turns blue when the vodka is properly chilled—will launch in August in Minnesota and Arizona for around $25 a 750-ml. The company has also redesigned the bottle for UV Vodka, packing the spirit in bottles featuring photosensitive ink that appears in sunlight.

Luxury Tequila brand Clase Azul is adding its former limited edition Gold bottling to its permanent lineup starting next month. Clase Azul Gold combines Clase Azul Plata with Clase Azul Reposado matured in French oak casks and an eight-year-old Extra Añejo aged in ex-Bourbon casks and finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. It’s housed in a decanter fusing glass and ceramic elements, with the ceramic base bound with two handcrafted 24 karat gold ribbons. Clase Azul Gold is bottled at 40% abv and retail priced at $300 a 750-ml.

Beam Suntory has relaunched Yamazaki 25 with a new blend of Japanese whiskies. The 43% abv bottling is now blended from spirits matured for 25 years or longer in American, Spanish, and Mizunara Oak casks bringing it in line with its younger siblings, the Yamazaki 12- and 18-year-old releases. Yamazaki 25 is now available across the U.S. for a suggested price of $2,000 a 750-ml. The relaunched Yamazaki 25 joins Hakushu, Hibiki, and Toki in Beam Suntory’s Japanese whisky portfolio.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily