Market Watch September 2015

In this issue, we look at the Bourbon scene, where all continues to go well. While Bourbon consumption grew by 5 percent to 18.5 million cases in 2014, recent Nielsen numbers show the category more than 10 percent ahead of last year’s pace, with new expressions emerging at increasingly premium prices. Meanwhile, Bourbon supply is moving back into balance. Kentucky’s distillers now hold about 5.7 million barrels of inventory—the highest level since 1975. Production expansion is underway at most major companies, and new distillers are popping up all over the place. Two years ago, Kentucky had just 10 whiskey distillers; today the total is 31, and it’s expected to hit 50 within the next two years. Not long ago in the world of beer, imports seemed to be rocked on…

Santa Margherita Leaves Terlato....Santa Margherita, one of the top-selling superpremium wine brands in the U.S. market, is leaving its longtime importer Terlato Wines to join Santa Margherita Wine Group’s U.S. marketing arm. On January 1st, 2016, the newly formed SM USA Inc. will begin handling Santa Margherita in the U.S. market. Terlato has imported Santa Margherita ($27 a 750-ml. bottle) for the past 35 years, and the brand’s sales have grown from around 200,000 cases in 1994 to 700,000 cases last year. Its U.S. retail sales value was slightly above $225 million in 2014, ranking it 20th among all table wine brands, according to Impact Databank. SM USA is headquartered in Miami and led by CEO Vincent Chiaramonte, formerly of Winebow. Its portfolio currently consists of the Torresella, Kettmeir, Lamole…

The Beer Bible The publisher of “The Wine Bible” released a comprehensive guide to the world’s beers in August. Written by Portland, Oregon, beer expert Jeff Alworth, “The Beer Bible” ($35) is a 700-page tome that features research spanning six countries and 52 breweries. The book is divided into six parts—“Knowing Beer,” “Ales,” “Wheat Beers,” “Lagers,” “Tart and Wild Ales,” and “Enjoying Beer”—with chapters that cover more than 100 different beer styles in-depth. Details for each beer include geography, history, amusing anecdotes, ingredients, flavors and brews to try, as well as infographics illustrating beer essentials. For more information, visit Workman.com. Bourbon Curious Fred Minnick, author of “Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch and Irish Whiskey,” has unveiled a new book dedicated to Bourbon tasting. Published…

Lucky Strike Goes All In With New Chicago Arcade Bar Having modernized and moved bowling upscale, Lucky Strike Entertainment branched out in June with the debut of For the Win, an arcade and gaming center in Chicago adjacent to its Lucky Strike bowling alley. The steampunk-themed venue spans 20,000 square feet and boasts more than 130 games, from traditional arcade games to miniature golf. The venue offers American comfort fare and boasts a dim sum–style cart that allows guests to order snacks while they’re playing. Menu highlights include mini sloppy Joes, ahi tuna poke, braised short rib and sour cream poutine, and a griddled meatloaf sandwich ($6 to $18). The 32-foot-long bar is the venue’s centerpiece. For the Win pours 32 craft beers on draft ($5 to $13), including local…

San Francisco Gastropub Offers Global And Local Flavors Named for its varied and frequently updated menu, Myriad Gastro Pub opened in June in San Francisco’s Mission District. The sophisticated venue, helmed by chef Patricia Tracey, features a worldly menu that highlights local ingredients, offering snacks and small plates alongside larger entrées. The debut menu lists such starters as potted chicken liver mousse, salt-cod fritters and bone marrow with a Sherry demi-glace, as well as larger plates like a roasted lamb sandwich with Moroccan tomato jam, Mayan pork stew and roasted halibut with clams (small plates are $8 to $13; entrées are $14 to $28). The tavern has a lengthy list of wines and beers, as well as fortified wine cocktails. Standouts include the Bollywood Tea, mixing Graham’s Fine Ruby Port,…

AS PICTURED: 1. Mixologist Ivy Mix, owner of the Brooklyn, New York, cocktail bar Leyenda, was named “American Bartender of the Year” at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, held on July 18th at the Sheraton hotel in New Orleans. 2. Country singer Kacey Musgraves judged Zodiac vodka cocktails at a launch party for the brand held on June 16th at Acme Feed and Seed in Nashville, Tennessee. 3. Mixologist Brittini Rae Peterson of the Los Angeles bar Melrose Umbrella Co. won the 2015 Speed Rack competition on June 15th at Webster Hall in New York City. 4. Mixologist Enzo Cangemi whipped up cocktails with Bombay Sapphire gin at the Dinner Lab supper club, held in a pop-up space in Brooklyn, New York, on July 9th. 5. Olympic gold-medalist…