GSN Brews News: December 28th 2021 Edition

San Diego, California-based Cutwater Spirits has added two new flavors to its extensive lineup of canned cocktails. The newcomers are Tiki Rum Punch and Orange Vodka Smash, both at 7% abv. Orange Vodka Smash, made with Cutwater Vodka, had a limited debut over the summer on the east coast but will now be available nationally. Tiki Rum Punch, also in national distribution, is made with Cutwater’s Bali Hai Tiki Rum mixed with orange-passion fruit punch. Both are available now, priced at approximately $14 a 4-pack on Drizly.

Chicago-based Big Drop Brewing is introducing a new non-alcoholic beer, Coba Maya. Billed as a Mexican-style brew, Coba Maya is naturally brewed to 0.5% abv or less using proprietary yeasts, according to the company. Coba Maya joins Paradiso IPA, Pine Trail Pale, and Galactic Extra Dark in the company’s non-alcoholic portfolio. Big Drop, whose beers retail at $13 a six-pack of 12-ounce cans, is distributed across Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island and ships to 42 states from its online shop.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: August 17th 2021 Edition

Atomic Brands will launch the latest extension to Monaco Cocktails later this month. The new cocktail—a Mai Tai—comes in at 9% abv and is made with light and dark rum, plus orange curaçao. It will be part of Monaco’s Craft Cocktail line, alongside the company’s Kentucky and Moscow Mules. Monaco’s Mai Tai will hit store shelves nationwide on August 30, retailing for around $2.50 or $3 per 12-ounce can. 

Boston Beer is partnering with PepsiCo to launch Hard Mtn Dew, a new flavored malt beverage. Boston Beer will develop and produce new the soda brand offshoot and PepsiCo has set up a new entity to sell, deliver, and merchandise the product, which is expected to hit shelves early next year. The move follows Boston Beer’s recently announced alliance with Beam Suntory, which will expand Boston Beer’s Truly Hard Seltzer into bottled spirits, and Beam Suntory’s Sauza Tequila brand into additional RTD formats.

Kombrewcha Hard Kombucha and Los Angeles-based Golden Road Brewing have collaborated on a new product, Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha. The gluten-free, organic beverage is brewed to 6% abv through natural fermentation. Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha is now available in 12-ounce can 6-packs at select retailers throughout California.

Heineken has announced Comb & Hive, a new mead, set to hit shelves in test markets for Labor Day. The 6.9% abv lightly sparkling wine is made from wildflower honey and sugar, with added orange blossom. The drink will be available individually and in 4-packs of 12-ounce cans, with each can containing 150 calories and two grams of sugar. Heineken will test the new brand in Denver, Colorado and Nashville, Tennessee.

Heaven Hill has announced Hpnotiq Freeze Pops, a new RTD extension for the French liqueur. The pops come in at 6% abv and are rolling out now in Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. Hpnotiq Freeze Pops come in boxes of ten for a suggested price of $20.

Cutwater Spirits has debuted two new regionally inspired canned cocktails. First up is Orange Smash, a blend of Cutwater’s vodka and orange soda. It’s at 7% abv and is available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Delaware, and Washington D.C. The second new release is called Huckleberry Spritz and is aimed at the western U.S. The cocktail is also at 7% abv and is available in Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Colorado. Additionally, Huckleberry Spritz can be shipped to Wyoming, Oregon, and Utah.

Baltimore, Maryland’s Sagamore Spirit has entered the canned cocktail market with three new rye-based drinks. Sagamore’s Black-Eyed Rye comes in at 9% abv and is made with blackberry and lime juices and added ginger flavor. The distillery’s Honey Paloma is also at 9% abv and blends rye with grapefruit and lime juices, agave, and honey. Sagamore has also released Lemon Tea Fizz, an 8% abv cocktail that pairs whiskey with green tea, yuzu, and Meyer lemon juice. All three RTDs are made with four-year-old rye whiskey and retail for around $16 a 4-pack of 12-ounce cans. Sagamore Spirit’s canned cocktails are now available in Maryland, Washington D.C., and New Jersey with a national rollout planned for 2022.

California-based Stone Brewing has added a new hazy IPA to its portfolio of craft beers. Stone Hazy IPA comes in at 6.7% abv and is made primarily with El Dorado and Azacca hops with some additional Sabro hops adding more tropical flavors, according to the brewery. The beer was first brewed at Stone’s Liberty Station taproom in San Diego before it entered the brewery’s core portfolio. Stone Hazy IPA is now available across the U.S. in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans and on draft.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: July 6th 2021 Edition

Atlanta, Georgia-based SweetWater Brewing is partnering with Broken Coast Cannabis to launch SweetWater Broken Coast BC Lager. The new release is at 5.5% abv and does not contain cannabis, but was inspired by some of the weed strains in Broken Coast’s portfolio. The lager is available in the U.S. on draft and will launch in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans on July 12. SweetWater is also launching 710 Double IPA this month along with Charlie’s Choice: A Conservation Ale, the latter benefitting the Atlanta Zoo.

San Diego, California-based Karl Strauss Brewing Company is launching All The Peels Fruited IPA, the latest in its collaboration series. This release is a collaboration with Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio and was brewed with the peel and puree of blood oranges from California and Oregon along with Cascade, Crystal, Columbus, and Chinook hops. All The Peels launches on July 1 and will be available on draft and in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans at all Karl Strauss brewpub locations and at select retailers in California and Arizona.

Hood River, Oregon-based Full Sail Brewing is debuting Lazy Summer Haze, the latest in their Strong Current Double IPA Series. It’s brewed with Sabro, Mosaic, and Ekuanot hops and comes out at 8.5% abv with notes of citrus, mango, and melon. Lazy Summer is fittingly available now through September when it will be replaced by Wreck the Halls for the holiday season. Full Sail has been brewing since 1987.

San Diego, California-based Cutwater Spirits is adding a Piña Colada to its line-up of ready-to-drink cocktails. The new release is made with the distillery’s Bali Hai Rum and coconut cream liqueur and is at 13% abv. It joins Cutwater’s more than 20 canned cocktails and the recently launched Vodka Transfusion. Cutwater Piña Colada is available now nationwide in 4-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: June 15th 2021 Edition

San Diego, California-based Cutwater Spirits, part of the Anheuser-Busch portfolio, is launching a new canned cocktail in partnership with PGA golfer Harold Varner III. The new RTD is Cutwater Transfusion, made with Cutwater Vodka, ginger beer, and grape juice. Long associated with the 19th hole, Cutwater’s twist on the Transfusion is at 7% abv and will be available nationwide by the end of the month. 

Heineken USA has expanded the Dos Equis portfolio with Ranch Water hard seltzer, a new drink inspired by its namesake cocktail, popular in West Texas. The 4.5% abv RTD is lime-flavored and comes in at 90 calories per 12-ounce serving. It’s available in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans and individual 24-ounce cans in Texas and will expand to Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado, California, Nevada, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts in September.

Hershey, Pennsylvania-based Tröegs Independent Brewing has released this year’s edition of Nimble Giant, the brewery’s limited release double IPA. The 9% abv ale is brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe and Azacca hops, and the brewery says that it’s a tropical and citrusy beer balanced with Pilsner and Vienna malt. Nimble Giant is now available in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans across Tröegs’ distribution footprint.

Queens, New York’s SingleCut Beersmiths has launched Notes, a new limited-edition IPA that pays tribute to the brewers’ love of music. The 7% abv ale is brewed with hops from the Pacific Northwest and New Zealand, and comes in cans featuring basic guitar chords. In addition, the brewery has launched an augmented reality experience that will allow fans to virtually “play” their cans. Four packs—featuring G, D, C, and E minor chords—are now available in select retailers across New York and New Jersey for around $18. Special edition canisters of Notes are also available at SingleCut’s taprooms for $24.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: May the 4th Be With You Edition

San Diego, California-based Cutwater Spirits, part of the Anheuser-Busch portfolio, is launching Cutwater Mezcal, its first foray into the mezcal category. The new entry is distilled from 100% Cenizo Agave. To ensure long-term sustainability of the agave supply, Cutwater will plant five baby agave plants for each plant harvested and is establishing an on-premise nursery to cultivate agave plants from seed. The first bottling of Cutwater Mezcal, released earlier this month, is a limited run available at select retailers. It’s at 45% abv and retails for $50 a 750-ml.

French import Citadelle Gin is introducing Jardin d’Été as a permanent addition to the portfolio. The new expression, whose name translates as Summer Garden, is made with the same 19 botanicals used in Citadelle’s flagship gin plus melon flesh, whole lemon, yuzu zest, and orange peel. The additions were inspired by a garden cultivated by Debbie Gabriel, wife of Citadelle founder Alexandre Gabriel, at Château de Bonbonnet, Citadelle’s base in southwest France. It is available now in the U.S., bottled at 41.5% abv and priced at $25 a 750-ml. Citadelle Gin is part of Maison Ferrand, which also produces Cognac Ferrand and Plantation Rum.

PaQui Tequila founder John Chappell has launched a new mezcal artesanal called Lejana y Sola. Made in Lachilà, Oaxaca from Espadin agave and wild Cuishe agave, Lejana y Sola retails at $60 a 750-ml. and is distributed in the New York, Florida, and California markets, with online availability reaching 40 states. The brand name translates to “Afar and Alone” and was inspired by the famous Federico Garcia Lorca poem, “Il Cancion del Jinete,” or “The Horseman’s Song.”

Prestige Beverage Group has introduced two new single malt Scotch whisky expressions from Tullibardine to the U.S. Tullibardine Artisan is a non-age-statement malt matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and bottled at 40%. It will retail for around $30 a 750-ml. The second new release is Tullibardine 12-year-old, a 40% abv whisky matured in first-fill Bourbon barrels, retailing for $45. Both whiskies will be available in 20 states across the U.S.

High West is introducing a limited edition of its Rendezvous Rye, featuring artwork from American artist Ed Mell, who’s renowned for his Western landscapes. This limited edition kicks off High West’s transition of the distillery’s flagship whiskey to a seasonal release. This first seasonal edition retails at $70 a 750-ml. and will be available nationwide by the end of May.

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GSN Spirited News: January 26th 2021 Edition

San Diego-based Cutwater Spirits is expanding its lineup of RTDs. This month, Cutwater debuted a Mango Margarita (12.5% abv) in California, ahead of a nationwide launch in February. Strawberry and Peach Margaritas will follow in April. Additionally, Cutwater is introducing Frozen Margarita ice pops in a mixed pack featuring lime, strawberry, mango, and pineapple flavors nationally in March. The new entries join Cutwater’s existing Tequila RTDs, which include Paloma, Tequila Soda, and Margarita.

Rémy Cointreau has a launched a new limited edition bottle for Rémy Martin VSOP Cognac that hearkens back to the brand’s designs from the 1980s and 1990s. The bottle features a gold label and comes in a cardboard box with cassette tape art inspired by hip-hop and mixtape culture. The Cognac inside is Rémy’s normal 40% abv VSOP Cognac. The limited edition bottling is available now in select retailers across the U.S. for around $50 a bottle. 

Disaronno and Jack Daniel’s are teaming up with a new initiative called Velvet Fire, a cocktail created by combining Disaronno Velvet with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire in a 2-to-1 ratio. Disaronno Velvet, launched last April, is the newest addition to the brand’s lineup; it’s at 17% abv and retails for $30 a 750-ml. The Velvet Fire campaign is being supported with a dedicated release bundling a bottle of Disaronno Velvet with a bottle of Tennessee Fire. It’s available now nationwide priced at $50 for the two 750-ml. bottles.

Ardbeg is releasing a new limited edition bottling that represents its first rye cask matured offering. A non-age-stated 51.8% abv expression wholly aged in ex-rye casks, Arrrrrrrdbeg! is a tribute to distillery manager Mickey Heads, who retired late last year after 13 years at the distillery’s helm. It’s launching exclusively to the Ardbeg Committee’s 100,000 members on February 1, priced at $180 a bottle. Islay-based Ardbeg is part of the Moët Hennessy-owned Glenmorangie Co. 

Newport Beach, California-based the Cooper Spirits Company has announced a 20-year-old bottling of its Lock, Stock & Barrel rye whiskey. The 56% abv whiskey is sourced from Alberta Distillers and aged in new charred American oak barrels that were not toasted, a move the company says has allowed the whiskey to age gracefully over two decades. Only 1,000 3-pack cases have been released and the whiskey is now available at select retailers across the U.S. for a suggested price of $389 a 750-ml.

Brown-Forman has announced Woodford Reserve’s 2021 Winter Distillery Series release, set to debut tomorrow. This year’s release marks the return of Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked, which as the name suggests, is Woodford’s Double Oaked Bourbon finished for an additional year in a heavily toasted, lightly charred new oak barrel. The whiskey comes in at 45.2% abv and will launch Wednesday at the Woodford distillery. It will also be available at select retailers in Kentucky for a suggested price of $50 a 375-ml.

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GSN Spirited News: November 24th 2020 Edition

Stoli Group USA has introduced the latest releases for Kentucky Owl: Rye Batch No. 4 and Bourbon Batch No. 10. The brand’s latest rye release, called “The Last Rye” is a blend of 10- to 13-year-old whiskey bottled at 56.4% abv. Kentucky Owl Bourbon Batch No. 10 is a 60.1% abv non-age-stated blend of whiskies that, according to the company, marries some of its oldest and oakiest whiskies with younger, fruitier spirits. Both are now available across the U.S. at a suggested price of $300 a 750-ml.

Louisville, Kentucky’s Barrell Craft Spirits has announced the Private Release Bourbon Series, a new line of limited editions. The releases are blended from four Bourbons—sourced from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana—of varying ages combined to make 49 different recipes. Each offering is bottled at cask strength and will retail for around $110 a 750-ml. Only 150-180 bottles will be available for each batch and a list of retailers is available on Barrell’s website.

Newport, Oregon’s Rogue Ales & Spirits has launched the Single Barrel Project, a new collection of one-off whiskey releases. The series will consist of four releases per year and will be exclusive to retailers in Oregon. The first release is a 6-year-old single malt finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from North by Northwest Wines in Washington State and bottled at 48% abv. The second release, coming in January 2021, is an 8-year-old Oregon rye whiskey finished in a second-use Zinfandel barrel. The third release is an Oregon single malt finished in cherry wood and will be released in March 2021.

Appleton Estate, part of the Campari America portfolio, has announced a new collection of rare pot still rums, set to launch in early 2021. The Hearts Collection consists of three vintage-dated rums, aged between 21 and 26 years. This collection marks the first time that Appleton will release a series of rums entirely composed of pot still spirits. The three vintage releases—1994, 1995, and 1999—will be available in extremely limited quantities; only 3,000 bottles of each will be distributed worldwide.

Diageo has released the 2020 Distillers Edition Collection of Scotch whiskies to retailers across the U.S. The six releases cover a wide range of Scotch styles and vintages, bringing new whiskies from Oban (2006, 43% abv, $95), Talisker (2010, 45.8%, $85), Lagavulin (2005, 43% abv, $110), Cragganmore (2008, 40%, $85), Dalwhinnie (2005, 43%, $90), and Glenkinchie (2008, 43% abv, $85) to market. The Cragganmore bottling underwent a second maturation in Port casks, while the other five entries saw a second maturation in Sherry casks.

Oregon-based Westward Whiskey is launching a new permanent line extension, Westward Oregon Pinot Noir Cask ($90), into national distribution, after a limited rollout in its home state. Pinot Noir Cask joins the original Westward American Single Malt ($70) and Stout Cask Finish ($90) offerings in the core range. Along with the new whiskey, Westward has unveiled a new bottle design and logo that pays homage to its Northwest provenance. Diageo’s Distill Ventures took a minority stake in Westward in 2018.

Tennessee whiskey brand George Dickel, part of the Diageo portfolio, has introduced a new single barrel expression. The new whiskey is aged at least 15 years in new American oak casks, ranges in abv from 40%-52.3%, and will be available to purchase via the barrel or the bottle ($60 a 750-ml.). George Dickel Single Barrel is currently available in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas, with more markets to come in January.

San Diego, California-based Cutwater Spirits, owned by Anheuser-Busch, has added a new Añejo Tequila to its spirits lineup. The Tequila is distilled at Tequila Orendain (NOM 1110) and, following distillation, matured for over a year in Cutwater’s whiskey barrels. Cutwater Añejo Tequila is bottled at 40% abv and packaged in a bottle made entirely from recycled glass. The spirit is now available at select retailers for around $50 a 750-ml.

Wilderton, a new non-alcoholic botanical spirit alternative, has launched in the U.S. with two zero calorie, gluten free offerings. Wilderton Earthen is made with peppercorns, pine-smoked tea, and patchouli, among other botanicals; and the brand’s Lustre is made with lavender, bergamot, rose, and lemongrass, among others. Wilderton retails for $33 a 750-ml. and is currently available on the brand’s website, with product available on Amazon and in other retail locations soon.

Minnesota-based Tattersall Distilling has introduced two bottled-in-bond Bourbons: High-Rye Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon. According to the company, these are the first bottled-in-bond spirits made in Minnesota since before Prohibition. Both Bourbons are made from local grains and have been aged in Minnesota white oak barrels between four and five years, with suggested retail pricing at $50 a 750-ml. Tattersall’s new entries will be distributed to select Minnesota retailers.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: August 25th 2020 Edition

The Dalmore single malt Scotch has unveiled a new ultra-luxury rare whisky collection in the U.S. The Dalmore Rare & Aged Collection includes 35-, 40-, and 45-year-old expressions retailing at $6,000, $8,800, and $14,600 respectively. Made from exceptional casks selected by Dalmore master distiller Richard Paterson, the Rare & Aged series is packaged in bespoke Baccarat crystal decanters featuring a solid silver stag created by silversmiths Hamilton & Inches, holder of The Royal Warrant. The luxury whiskies will be available at select U.S. retailers.

St. Louis, Missouri-based Luxco has announced a new limited edition of its El Mayor Tequila. The new release is an extra añejo expression aged for at least three and a half years before finishing in rum casks. The 40% abv spirit will retail for around $130, with 6,000 bottles available across the U.S. beginning in September.

Wolf Spirit Distillery is launching a new Bourbon label, Puncher’s Chance. A marriage of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbons, Puncher’s Chance is at 45% abv and retails at $35 a 750-ml. The brand has initially rolled out in nine states—counting Southern Glazer’s, Badger, Atlantic Beverage, and Empire Distributors among its distribution partners—with further expansion on the way.

Angel’s Envy has announced a new Bourbon finished in Mizunara oak casks. Launching in celebration of the brand’s 10-year anniversary, the 48.9% abv whiskey is a 50/50 blend of 4-year-old and 9-year-old Bourbon that married in the Japanese oak for an additional two years. Members of the company’s 500 Main club can now preorder the whiskey online and, following the presale, the remaining bottles (out of a total of 1,200) will be available at the Angel’s Envy distillery and in select Kentucky retailers for $350 a 750-ml.

Tanqueray is entering the booming canned cocktail segment. The Diageo-owned brand’s new Crafted Gin Cocktails include a Gin & Tonic, Rangpur Lime Gin & Soda, and Sevilla Orange Gin & Soda, all at 6% abv and retailing at $15 a 4-pack of 12-ounce cans. The new range is debuting next month in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, and Washington.

Beam Suntory has released the latest batch of Little Book Bourbon, Chapter Four: Lessons Honored. The whiskey is bottled at 61.4% abv and is a blend of three whiskies aged for at least four years: a 4-year-old Bourbon with brown rice in the mash bill, an 8-year-old high rye Bourbon, and a 7-year-old Bourbon made from a more traditional mash bill. Little Book Chapter Four: Lessons Honored is now available across the U.S. in limited quantities for around $125 a 750-ml.

San Diego-based Cutwater Spirits has added a Long Island Iced Tea to its canned cocktail portfolio. The 13.2% abv cocktail includes Cutwater’s Vodka, Rum, Gin, and Tequila, as well as citrus flavors and a splash of cola. It’s now available nationwide, retailing at $13 a four-pack.

Donegal, Ireland’s Sliabh Liag Distillers has launched the Silkie line of Irish whiskies in the U.S. Through a partnership with Preiss Imports, the Legendary Silkie and the Legendary Dark Silkie are now available in 21 states across the U.S. The Legendary Silkie is a 46% abv blended whiskey made with double and triple distilled malt whiskies, grain whiskies, and a small amount of peated malt whiskey. The Dark Silkie is a made with a high proportion of peated malt whiskey matured in Sherry casks and is also bottled at 46% abv. The whiskies are now available for around $40 and $43, respectively.

Brown-Forman-owned single malt Scotch whisky The GlenDronach has announced its latest rare, luxury release, the Kingsman Edition 1989 Vintage. The whisky commemorates the upcoming release of the King’s Man movie by 20th Century Pictures and Marv Films. The 29-year-old single malt was matured in Oloroso casks and finished in Pedro Ximénez casks before being bottled at 51% abv. The Kingsman Edition 1989 Vintage will be available in limited quantities across the U.S. market for around $1,300 a 750-ml. This is the second collaboration between The GlenDronach and the Kingsman series.

A new upscale Tequila brand, YaVe, is rolling out in New York this month, distributed by Empire Merchants. YaVe launched in New Jersey in July via Allied Beverage, and a Connecticut debut is in the works as well, expanding on the brand’s existing footprint, which also includes California and Colorado. YaVe includes an unflavored Blanco at 40% abv, as well as Mango- and Jalapeno-infused flavored Tequilas bottled at 35% abv. All three expressions retail at $40 a 750-ml.

Kentucky’s Bardstown Bourbon Co. (BBC) and Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. have teamed up for another entry in Bardstown’s Collaborative series. The new release, a 9-year-old Tennessee Bourbon finished for 18 months in Copper & Kings’ Destillaré orange curaçao barrels, is bottled at 50% abv and is rolling out across BBC’s 13-state distribution footprint in limited quantities. The sixth collaboration between these two distilleries, Bardstown Bourbon Company/Copper & Kings Destillaré Orange Curaçao retails for around $125 a 750-ml.

Baileys has introduced a limited edition Apple Pie Irish Cream Liqueur. To back the launch, the brand has partnered with home delivery service Cocktail Courier and celebrity pastry chef/TV personality Zac Young to curate a Baileys Apple Pie “Friendsgiving Kit,” with which consumers can create the label’s signature “Apple of My Chai” cocktail. Baileys Apple Pie retails at $25 a 750ml.

Ketel One vodka, part of the Diageo portfolio, has entered the premixed cocktail market with a new line of Botanical Vodka Spritzes. The new low-abv drinks come in the same three flavors as the brand’s original Botanicals offshoot—Peach & Orange Blossom, Cucumber & Mint, and Grapefruit & Rose—and all are at 3.6% abv per serving. They have 73 calories per can and contain no carbs, sweeteners, nor added sugars. The Ketel One Botanical Vodka Spritzes are launching in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, Washington, and Illinois on September 1, retailing at $15 a 4-pack and $4 per individual can.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: June 23rd 2020 Edition

Lawrenceburg, Indiana-based MGP has announced the latest limited edition of George Remus Bourbon, set to launch in September. Remus Repeal Reserve Series IV is bottled at 50% abv and is made from two mashbills distilled in 2008. 77% of the blend is a Bourbon made with 21% rye; the remainder is a whiskey with 36% rye content. The new limited edition will retail for around $85 a 750-ml. and will begin rolling out in September, reaching full distribution by Repeal Day in early December.

San Diego, California’s Cutwater Spirits has launched Rum Mint Mojito, the latest addition to the company’s line of canned cocktails. The 5.9% abv offering is made using Cutwater’s white rum, cane sugar, mint, and soda water. The gluten-free drink is the 19th entry in Cutwater’s line of canned cocktails and is now available in California, New York, and Florida in 4-packs of 12-ounce cans for around $10.

Azulana, a canned sparkling Tequila cocktail, has expanded to a number of new markets, including Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, and Minnesota. The brand initially launched in Los Angeles last year and has since extended its range throughout Southern California. Produced in Guadalajara by Pure Azul Beverage Co., the 100%-blue agave cocktails are at 4.3% abv and come in Original, Lime, and Pineapple Rosemary flavors. Further additions to Azulana’s distribution territory are in the works for later this summer.

E.&J. Gallo has expanded its spirits portfolio with the addition of luxury Tequila brand Don Fulano. Gallo is now the exclusive U.S. importer for the upscale brand, owned by the Fonseca family. The Don Fulano range includes Blanco ($50), Blanco Fuerte 100 Proof ($60), Reposado ($60), Añejo ($80), and Don Fulano Imperial Extra Añejo ($190). The brand’s Tequilas are made using a dual distillation process, comprised of a double column still and a traditional copper pot still.

Rigby, Idaho-based Blue Ice Vodka has introduced a new flavored expression. Made with non-GMO Idaho potatoes and Idaho Mountain huckleberries, Blue Ice Huckleberry is bottled at 80 proof and contains 57 calories an ounce. The new offering joins Potato and Organic Wheat vodkas in the Blue Ice lineup, all of which are available in 29 states in 1-liter, 750-ml., and 50-ml. bottles.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: March 3rd 2020 Edition

Winebow has added El Buho mezcal to its New York distribution portfolio. The Oaxaca, Mexico-based brand was founded in 2012 by chef T.J. Steele, Adam Parker, and John Henry, enlisting the Don Isaac Distillery for production. El Buho’s portfolio includes Espadin, Ensamble, Cuishe, Tepeztate, Jabali, Pulquero, and Tobala-Espadin, all distributed by Winebow. The distributor now represents the brand in five states: Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Wisconsin, and now New York.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Copper & Kings and Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. have teamed up for a pair of limited-edition offerings. Copper & Kings’ release ($65) is an American brandy blended in a 60%-40% ratio from the distiller’s own five-year-old distillate and sourced brandies aged from nine to 18 years. The brandy was finished for 14 months in Peerless rye barrels before bottling at 54% abv. Peerless’ new whiskey ($129) is a single barrel rye finished in a Copper & Kings Absinthe barrel. Both releases are available in the companies’ gift shops and in extremely limited quantities across their distribution footprints.

Malibu Rum is launching a line of canned RTDs called Malibu Splash. The sparkling malt beverages come in 12-ounce slim cans and are targeting summer social occasions like barbecues and beach trips. Malibu Splash comes in strawberry, lime, passion fruit, and pineapple flavors, all of which are at 5% abv and retail for $9 a 4-pack or in variety 8-packs for $17, rolling out now nationally.

Sonoma, California-based 3 Badge Beverage Corporation is launching a new whisky called Benjamin Chapman. Its first release is a blend of 51% 10-year Canadian rye and 49% 7-year Canadian prairie wheat retailing at $39 a 750-ml. and bottled at 45% abv. The rye component aged for 10 years in white oak casks, while the wheat spent seven years in American oak barrels. 3 Badge says the new brand’s name refers to “an enigmatic figure from the 1960s international jet set era.” 3 Badge has a diverse stable of spirits that also includes La Pivón Vermouth, Uncle Val’s Handcrafted Gin, Kirk & Sweeney Rum, Pasote Tequila, and Bozal Mezcal.

San Diego-based Cutwater Spirits, part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev portfolio, has launched Tequila Soda, a 7%-abv canned cocktail made from Tequila, house-made soda and a hint of lime. It’s the third Tequila-based offering from Cutwater’s canned cocktail portfolio, which includes 18 labels overall. Tequila Soda will hit retail shelves in early March, priced at $9.99 a 4-pack. Cutwater is led by master distiller Yuseff Cherney, formerly of San Diego craft brewer Ballast Point.

Diageo is launching two limited edition whiskies from female blenders. The first is a new edition of Jane Walker (41.9% abv), created by master blender Emma Walker. A blended malt Scotch aged for 10 years, that offering retails at $38 a 750-ml. Also new is Bulleit Bourbon Blenders’ Select No. 001 (50% abv), made by blender Eboni Major and retailing at $50. It’s the first edition in Bulleit’s new Blenders Select series.

Rémy Cointreau-owned Mount Gay has revamped the blend of rums used in its Black Barrel and XO releases. The new blends were created by master blender Trudiann Branker. The new Black Barrel ($45) will now be made from rums aged three to seven years with more pot still rum included in the blend. The rum is finished in Bourbon casks for six months, up from four weeks. Mount Gay XO’s ($65) new recipe will use a wider range of aged rums—five to 17 years, as opposed to eight to 15—drawn from spirits aged in American whiskey, Bourbon, and Cognac casks.

No. 3 London Dry Gin, part of the Hotaling & Co. portfolio, is getting a packaging refresh. The updated bottle features turquoise glass along with clean lines and a minimalist, text-heavy label beneath the brand’s prominent key logo. The name and key are a reference to the home of the brand’s creator, Berry Bros. & Rudd, at No. 3 St James’s Street in London. The 46% abv spirit is produced in Holland at the De Kuyper distillery and imported by Hotaling, retailing nationally for $40 a 750-ml. The new packaging is available now in select states, with additional distribution to come.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily