GSN Spirited News: October 27th 2020 Edition

Palm Bay International and Buffalo, New York-based Tommyrotter Distillery have collaborated on Tommyrotter Napa Valley Heritance Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a 95-proof, four-grain Bourbon consisting of corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley, finished in Cabernet Sauvignon casks from Napa Valley for three months. A permanent addition to the Tommyrotter range, Napa Valley Heritance Cask is launching across New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, retailing at $50 a 750-ml.

San Francisco-based Hotaling & Co. is introducing Hine Antique XO 100th Anniversary 1920-2020 Cognac. A rare cuvée blended with a 100-year-old eau-de-vie from vintage 1920—with the balance of the blend featuring Grande Champagne Cognacs aged a minimum of 20 years—the luxury offering is limited to 270 hand-numbered decanters in the U.S., priced at $300 apiece. Made by cellar master Eric Forget, it commemorates the first blend of Hine Antique XO in 1920 by Georges Hine.

Gonzalez Byass is launching Fundador Light in the U.S. Debuting in California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Washington, New York, and Oregon, the 28% abv brandy-based spirit retails at $14 a 750-ml. and is intended to appeal to “current Fundador consumers and a new generation looking for a lighter option to traditional Spanish Brandies,” according to Nicolas Bertino, CEO and country manager of Gonzalez Byass USA.

Manassas, Virginia’s KO Distilling has announced Bottled-in-Bond Distiller’s Reserve Straight Bourbon whiskey. The 50% abv spirit is distilled from a mash of 70% corn, 20% wheat, and 10% malted barley, all sourced from Virginia. The new whiskey is KO’s first bonded release and joins the company’s portfolio alongside Battle Standard 142 gin and the Bare Knuckle whiskey line, which includes unaged, rye, wheat, and Bourbon whiskies. KO Distilling’s new bottled-in-bond whiskey will be available in November in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland for around $70.

Diageo has announced the latest release in the Singleton line of single malt Scotch whiskies. The new release was distilled at Glen Ord and matured for 38 years in a combination of ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry, and new American oak casks before bottling at 49.6% abv. This limited release was drawn from eight casks and is rolling out now around the world for a suggested retail price of roughly $2,760 (£2,100.) 

Former Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge has partnered with Blue Run Spirits to introduce Blue Run 13-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Retailing at $170 a 750-ml., the newcomer is at 113 proof and is rolling out to the Kentucky (RNDC) and Georgia (Savannah Distributing) markets this month in an edition of 2,600 bottles. Rutledge will have more whiskies coming under the Blue Run banner, a new company formed by former Nike and Facebook veterans, among others.

Edrington has unveiled the latest expression in The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection—a vintage Scotch distilled in 1993. The new whisky matured for 27 years in Sherry-seasoned American oak and is bottled at 50.2% abv. Only 256 bottles are available worldwide, retailing at a suggested price of $18,000 a 750-ml. The Fine & Rare Collection now includes 57 vintages from 1926 to 1993.

Diageo has expanded Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind into 15 new markets across the U.S. The 35% abv vodka is sweet and spicy, according to the company, and initially found popularity in Mexico before expanding into the U.S. It retails for around $13 a 750-ml. and will be a permanent addition in Texas, California, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, and New Mexico; and a limited release in Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, New Jersey, Massachusetts, North and South Dakota, Louisiana, Maryland, Wisconsin, Vermont, Georgia, and Nevada.

Chicago-based cocktail mixers company Zing Zang has unveiled a range of spirits-based RTD cocktails across 20 U.S. states, with further distribution to follow. Including Bloody Mary, Margarita, and Bourbon Whiskey Sour expressions, the Zing Zang RTDs are at 9% abv and retail at $13 a 4-pack of 12-ounce slim cans.

Woody Creek Distillers of Basalt, Colorado is launching a Limited Edition Wheated Bourbon. The new label has a mashbill of 70% Colorado corn, 15% Colorado barley, and 15% Colorado wheat aged 6 years in 100% American oak barrels. The Limited Edition Wheated Bourbon will be available in Colorado and a few other select markets for the holiday season, retailing at $60 a 750-ml. Woody Creek’s spirits portfolio includes a Potato Vodka, Roaring Fork Gin, Colorado Bourbon, and Colorado 100% Straight Rye.

Niche Imports, part of Marussia Beverages, is now the importer for Finnish vodka Koskenkorva. The 40% abv spirit is distilled from barley in its namesake village in Western Finland. The Koskenkorva distillery is run 100% on bioenergy, primarily provided by barley husks. Koskenkorva vodka will be available across the U.S. and will retail between $20 and $23, depending on the market.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN: Backbar Review – May 6-10, 2013

Pernod’s Chivas Brothers unit says it’s breaking new ground with the launch of Glenlivet Alpha, a so-called “blind whisky,” that will be released without cask information, tasting notes and other descriptive info. Packaged in an opaque black bottle, Alpha will launch in the U.S., U.K., France, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, China, India and other global markets at a retail price of $120 a bottle, of which 3,500 were produced. Pernod will back the mystery Glenlivet expression with an integrated campaign including social media elements that will see consumers interactively explore its taste profile. A series of “online sensory challenges” will gradually shepherd consumers along the path to unlocking Alpha’s secrets, the company said. In June, Glenlivet master distiller Alan Winchester will reveal the product’s makeup in a global broadcast on the brand’s webpage and Facebook page.

Colorado’s Woody Creek Distillers has unveiled a new 10,000-square-foot distillery and six new ultra-premium craft spirits. Made with produce sourced from local growers, the spirits portfolio includes Woody Creek’s flagship Potato Vodka and Reserve Stobrawa Potato Vodka, which are currently available, and a Baby Bourbon, Gin, Apple Brandy and Pear Eau de Vie slated to launch this year. The distillery plans to distribute a total of 10,000 cases of spirits for 2013. Additionally, the craft company is working on Olathe Corn Whiskey, which will be aged in American white oak barrels and released in 2015.

Country singer Kenny Chesney will officially launch his new Blue Chair Bay Rum brand this month. The range, which includes Blue Chair Bay Rum White, Coconut and Coconut Spiced expressions, is set to launch into 32 U.S. markets, available in 750-ml. and 1.75-liter bottles. Chesney will support the rollout with a series of launch parties in 18 key cities, which will be open to all LDA ticketholders of Chesney’s No Shoes Nation concert tour. Additionally, Blue Chair Bay will host free happy hours open to the public prior to each launch party. A premium blended rum, Blue Chair Bay is imported from Barbados and bottled by Chesney’s Fishbowl Spirits in Rochester, New York.

In a presentation to investors and analysts yesterday, Diageo global innovation director Syl Saller talked about the company’s emphasis on innovation, as well as one new product the company has high hopes for in the U.S. market—Naked Turtle rum. Saller said that innovation has accounted for more than 50% of Diageo’s net sales value growth over the past five years, and is now responsible for roughly 11% of the company’s total turnover. Claiming that “innovation is most critical to a developed market like North America,” Saller then alluded to Diageo’s new rum entry. “White rum is obviously a significant opportunity for us, and we are exploring this with the Naked Turtle brand in the U.S. We’ve been in test in three cities since September (2012), and while it’s early days for this brand, we’ve exceeded our initial targets.” Naked Turtle is “priced at a slight premium to Bacardi,” said Saller, adding that the brand’s “fun in the sun” profile is balanced with a marketing program that promotes the preservation of rare species of turtles around the globe. “You’ll continue to see really fun, really innovative entrepreneurial activities from Naked Turtle,” she said.

Montalvo Tequila has expanded its distribution footprint in the U.S. into two new states. It is now available in Florida through Antares, Inc. and New Jersey through MHW, Ltd., with more markets on the way. Montalvo initially launched in April 2012 in New York and California. The brand is a 100%-agave Tequila available in three expressions—Plata ($37.99), Reposado ($43.99) and Añejo ($49.99).

All information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN: Backbar Review – February 25-March 1, 2013

Camus Cognac has unveiled a limited edition offering commemorating its 150th anniversary. Camus Cuvée 5.150 is a blend of Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Fins Bois, Bon Bois and Borderies Cognacs, of which 1,492 individually numbered decanters were produced, priced at $13,500 each.

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St. Helena, California-based Charbay Distillers is adding Añejo and Reposado variants of Tapatio Tequila, for which it became the exclusive U.S. importer last June. Tapatio Reposado is aged for eight months in oak barrels and retails for $38 a 1-liter bottle. The Añejo ($44 a 1-liter) is aged 18 months in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, and the Blanco, which was previously available, retails at $38 a 1-liter and is aged for six months in stainless steel. All three are produced by master distiller Carlos Camarena at the Altena Distillery.

Chivas Regal is debuting three new limited edition offerings of its 18-year-old variant in the U.S. market. Entitled “The Drop,” the collection was created in partnership with Italian design firm Pininfarina. 1,500 bottles of the first expression are available in the U.S. at $140 each, featuring a blue metallic-finish outer case and a wood veneer. The second, of which 120 individually numbered bottles are available in the U.S. at $495 each, takes the same aerodynamic design cues a step further. It features a solid wood inlay and includes two Pininfarina-designed glasses. The third, Chivas 18 Mascherone by Pininfarina, is a seven-foot, four-inch piece—made of an oak internal structure clad in aluminum—that will be made to order by Pininfarina on request at $100,000 each.

Campari’s Wild Turkey distillery has extended its Russell’s Reserve small-batch Bourbon brand with a new single barrel offering. Created by Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell and his son, Eddie, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel (55% abv) is Wild Turkey’s first unfiltered Bourbon. The new, high-proof offering will be available starting next month, priced at around $49.99 a bottle.

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Brown-Forman is set to release this year’s special edition Woodford Reserve Bourbon bottle for the 2013 Kentucky Derby. The packaging features art by Oregon-based painter Eric Bowman, which includes a close-up of a racing scene, as well as a sky blue neckband at the top displaying Bowman’s signature and a tag hanging around the bottle with information about the product and the artist. The bottle will be available in 46 markets across the country for a suggested retail price of $43.99 a 1-liter bottle. Woodford Reserve has been a sponsor of the Kentucky Derby for the past 15 years.

Colorado’s Woody Creek Distillers is set to make its debut with six ultra-premium spirits offerings. In addition to its core vodka brands, Woody Creek Potato Vodka and Reserve Stobrawa Potato Vodka, the company’s products include Baby Bourbon, Gin, Apple Brandy and Pear Eau de Vie, all sourced locally from the Aspen Valley. Another label, Olathe Corn Whiskey, is in production and scheduled for release in 2015, after a stint of aging in American white oak barrels.

Heaven Hill Distilleries is rolling out two new flavors—Cherry Cola and Strawberry Banana for the Burnett’s vodka line.  They are line priced at $10.99 a 750-ml. The Burnett’s portfolio now includes 31 different flavors.

All information courtesy of Shanken News Daily