Market Watch July - August 2016

Once upon a time, the world stage for whisk(e)y was owned by the great distillers of Scotland, Ireland, the United States and Canada. Other countries were making whiskies, of course, but American consumers weren’t interested in the least. While the big four producer countries still dominate the scene, lately we’ve seen rising enthusiasm for whiskies from other corners of the world—most notably Japan, but also places as diverse as Taiwan, France, India, Australia and South Africa. The trend is still in its infancy, but U.S. consumers are starting to gravitate toward these products—and that’s particularly true of millennials. These offerings are the type of attention-getting, high-margin items that retailers should love. Our “World Whiskies” story on page 26 covers it all. This type of artisanal appeal has done wonders for…

AB InBev–SABMiller Deal Gains U.S. Approval.... Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) passed a crucial hurdle in closing its $100 billion–plus acquisition of SABMiller, as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) approved the transaction, with certain requirements. Under the terms of its “consent decree” with the DOJ, ABI will divest SABMiller’s 58-percent interest in Miller-Coors to joint venture partner Molson Coors for about $12 billion. Additionally, ABI has pledged not to terminate any U.S. wholesalers as a result of the acquisition and agreed not to acquire any distributors that would result in more than 10 percent of its annual volume being distributed through wholly owned U.S. distributorships. ABI will abandon its recently introduced distributor incentive program. In a statement, ABI CEO Carlos Brito said, “We will continue to invest heavily in the United…

Food & Beer Phaidon has published a new book that explores the relationship between craft beer and fine dining. Cowritten by Brooklyn, New York–based chef Daniel Burns and brewer Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, the 256-page tome ($49.95) is divided into two sections. The first, “Tørst,” is named for the pair’s beer-only bar in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood and highlights 10 flavor profiles, such as bitter, earthy and sour, that beer and food share. Each chapter features a style of beer paired with a recipe. The second part, “Luksus,” is named for Burns and Jarnit-Bjergsø’s adjacent Michelin-starred restaurant and showcases a selection of dishes paired with beer. For more information, visit Phaidon.com. Twisted Cherries Beverage industry veteran Larry Trachtenbroit, who has worked with Stoli USA, The Coca-Cola Co., 7-Eleven and Wal-Mart, has unveiled a…

Los Angeles Bar Encourages Travel Through Cocktails Located in a former railway hub in Los Angeles, Westbound is a travel-themed bar that salutes its history through design and menu offerings. The venue opened in May in the city’s Arts District, boasting an extensive specialty cocktail list and upscale snacks. Helmed by Dee Ann Quinones, Westbound offers classic cocktails like the Bamboo, French 75 and Planter’s Punch that feature global ingredients. The menu also lists several signature drinks, including The Conductor, mixing Buffalo Trace Bourbon, black sesame and tamarind syrup, egg white, and lemon juice, and the Boxcar Cobbler, a blend of Hidalgo Oloroso Faraon Sherry, Alvear Montilla Fino Sherry, house-made pineapplerosemary shrub, Scrappy’s Celery bitters and lemon juice (cocktails are $15 to $18). Westbound has myriad wine, beer and spirits…

• The rooftop terrace bar Social Drink & Food opened in May in the boutique hotel Yotel in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Featuring 7,000 square feet of outdoor space, Social Drink & Food offers a global cocktail menu and a variety of American craft beers, joined by street fare from the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. • A speakeasy-style drinks den, Baby Jane celebrates old-school Americana in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood. The bar opened in May with a rotating punch menu and a cocktail list that highlights house-made bitters, tonics and shrubs. Baby Jane also offers local craft beers, a variety of wines and elevated bar fare. • An upscale wine-focused venue, Bar Frances opened in May along New Orleans’ Freret Street. The bar offers a lengthy glass and bottle…

Chicago Hotel Unveils Art Deco–Inspired Restaurant With the debut of the rebranded hotel The Gwen along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile comes Circa Restaurant and Lounge, which opened in May. The upscale but approachable venue is adjacent to the renovated lobby on the fifth floor of the hotel, which is operated by The Luxury Collection and located in the iconic McGraw-Hill building. The restaurant has an Art Deco vibe and highlights eclectic fare and classic cocktails. Circa’s food offerings include small plates like Crispy Chorizo Fritters and Tuna Poke alongside such larger dishes as pan-roasted whitefish, skirt steak and the Lux Burger, topped with Taleggio cheese, truffle aioli, short rib ragout and red onion jam (small plates are $8 to $16; entrées are $16 to $37). The venue’s cocktail menu is rooted…