Market Watch March 2016

Over the years, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has gained a well-deserved reputation for redefining the hotel dining and drinking experience. Today this dynamic, upscale group operates 96 locations in 41 countries—including 30 properties in the United States. Global revenues top $4 billion annually, with food and beverage comprising $1.5 billion of that total. Four Seasons dining venues boast a wealth of world-famous chefs including Daniel Boulud, Michael Mina, Wolfgang Puck, Nobu Matsuhisa and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, as well as local stars like Ford Fry in Atlanta and Ethan Stowell in Seattle. Lately, Four Seasons has transformed its on-premise portfolio from a strictly hotel-dining approach to a strategy that features independent restaurants and bars. The effort has resulted in a diverse collection of imaginative venues—and some seriously creative bar programs. At…

Southern Creates New Division To Handle Bacardi Business….With Bacardi opting in January to align with the new Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits across all its markets, Southern has formed Transatlantic Spirits to handle Bacardi’s brands. The division will be led by executive vice president and managing director Steve Cohen, senior vice president of commercial strategy Chris Minielly and national talent management director Kathleen Procario. At press time, Transatlantic Spirits was expected to start operations when Southern begins dual distribution alongside Bacardi’s incumbent distributors on March 1st (where permissible by law). Southern and Glazer’s will begin exclusive distribution for Bacardi USA on April 1st. Foley Acquires Chalone From Diageo….Diageo has sold Chalone Vineyards to Bill Foley, head of Foley Family Wines. The deal includes both the Chalone Estate Vineyard and Gavilan…

MARKET WATCH sister publication Wine Spectator has unveiled a new mobile application, Xvalues, intended to welcome newcomers into the world of wine. Xvalues—named for its curated selection of “extreme values”—is available now as a free download for iPhone and iPad. “Our goal is to make Xvalues the go-to app for wine consumers of varying ages and levels of wine expertise,” said Jessica Shanken, vice president of business development at M. Shanken Communications. “In general, millennials are new to wine. While shopping, there are many aisles with thousands of wines to choose from at all different price points. This app helps them avoid overpaying for a bottle or choosing a wine that isn’t good quality. It’s like buying insurance using Wine Spectator ratings.” The Xvalues app’s library includes a regularly updated…

Business For Punks James Watt, cofounder of Scottish craft brewery BrewDog, has written an unorthodox business guide for aspiring entrepreneurs. Published by Portfolio Penguin in February, “Business For Punks: Break All The Rules—The BrewDog Way” encourages readers to reject traditional models for success and embrace a revolutionary, passion-driven approach. The 256-page hardcover ($26) draws from BrewDog’s unconventional history, starting with the company’s beginnings in 2007 to its eventual rise to fame as one of the most recognizable and fastest-growing British craft beer brands in the world. Tackling everything from finance and marketing to team building, the guide promises to provide a better business blueprint for a new generation of entrepreneurs. For more information, visit Businessforpunks.com. Cocktail Kingdom’s Vintage Reprints Bar supply company Cocktail Kingdom has released hardcover reprints of three…

NYC Nightlife Operators Open Cocktail Bar In D.C. Manhattan-based Public House Collective branched out in January with the debut of Quarter+Glory in Washington, D.C.’s, popular U Street Corridor. The venue offers more than 20 cocktails ($12 to $14), including classics and house originals that rotate seasonally. The signature Quarter+Glory mixes Brugal Añejo rum, Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Scotch, Tempus Fugit Gran Classico Bitter liqueur, Carpano Punt e Mes vermouth, Pok Pok Som Tamarind vinegar and salt. It’s joined on the menu by a barrel-aged Negroni made with Ilegal Joven mezcal, Cinzano sweet vermouth and Campari aperitif, and The Crack Up, a blend of Fords gin, Carpano Antica Formula vermouth and Green Chartreuse liqueur. Quarter+Glory also offers a selection of Buck and Mule cocktails and a handful of Boilermakers ($10 to…

Featuring tableside mixology, Clique Bar & Lounge opened in January in The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, offering classic and seasonal cocktails, including smoked whisk(e)y- and rumbased drinks and sparkling concoctions. The lounge also serves table snacks, from sliders and tacos to chicken wings. Breakfast meets the bar scene at Nighthawk Breakfast Bar, a drinks den in Los Angeles that serves morning-inspired cocktails and food late at night. The venue opened in January with a menu of diner-inspired drinks, including coffee cocktails, alcohol-enhanced floats and spiked cereal milk, as well as refined breakfast fare like French toast made with brandy. The cozy wine bar Ruffian opened in January in New York City’s East Village neighborhood. Operated by a team of alumni from Tabla restaurant, the venue lists 100 wines by the bottle…