Market Watch September 2016

M ost of us didn't see it coming. After decades in the wilderness, whiskies suddenly came back into vogue, led by Bourbon. No one was more caught off guard than the distillers themselves, who scrambled to meet the unexpected surge. But now the worst of the supply storm has passed. Production is in balance, stocks are aging and the road is open to a long run of prosperity. Supply issues aside, Bourbon's renaissance has been evident for the better part of a decade. The category is up 22 percent since 2010, and the fastest growth is in the super-premium tier. Last year, the top five super-premium brands (over $25) jumped 13 percent by volume, and the value proposition, of course, is far higher than that. Our cover story on page…

Diageo Plans Revamp Of On-Premise Playbook.... Facing a furor in the whisky world over the end of its Masters of Whisky ambassador program, Diageo recently told Shanken News Daily that what's been cast as a costsaving move is actually an aggressive increase in its on-trade investment in the U.S. market. "There's a lot of noise out there that we're backing away from whisky education, but that's untrue," said Stephen Rust, president of Reserve brands at Diageo North America. "We've made a substantial increase in the budget that we're putting against the on-trade." Rust's comments came after an outpouring of concern that Diageo's move to dissolve Masters of Whisky—which fielded 24 ambassadors in the U.S. market—will negatively impact Scotch whisky education efforts. Diageo has lined up a new agency partner to…

Tippleman's Cola Syrup Charleston, South Carolina­based Tippleman's Cocktail Syrups has added a new product. Tippleman's Barrel Aged Cola syrup ($19 a 13-ounce bottle) is crafted from cane sugar, citrus peels and spices and aged in Bourbon barrels from Bardstown, Kentucky's Willett distillery. It's designed for mixing with Bourbon and soda water, as well as in such cocktails as the Gin Fizz, and it can also be used in non-alcoholic drinks. The Barrel Aged Cola syrup joins Double Spiced Falernum, Ginger Honey, Burnt Sugar and Barrel Smoked Maple Syrup variants in Tippleman's lineup. For more information, visit Tipplemans.com. Smuggler's Cove Martin Cate, rum expert and owner of Smuggler's Cove in San Francisco, released a book about tiki culture in June. Written with his wife, Rebecca Cate, "Smuggler's Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum,…

Latin Spirits And Culture Thrive At Chicago's Estereo Windy City on-premise operator Heisler Hospitality expanded in July with the debut of Estereo, an all-day coffee and cocktail bar that emphasizes Latin spirits. The venue in Chicago's Logan Square highlights signature cocktails ($8 to $11) made with Pisco, cachaça, mezcal, Tequila, rum and rhum agricole. Standouts include the Pisco, made with Santiago Queirolo Acholado Pisco, house-made piña bitters, rhubarb purée and lime juice; the Agricole, blending La Favorite Rhum Blanc Agricole, Letherbee Charred Oak Brun absinthe, Pickett's ginger beer and guava purée; and the Tequila, comprising Lunazul Blanco Tequila, Carpano Bianco vermouth, St. George Pear brandy, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram and lime juice. These drinks are joined by a lengthy selection of sipping spirits ($4 to $15 a 1-ounce pour), such…

v Evoking the opulent Vegas nightclub vibe, Prysm opened in Chicago's Lincoln Park in July with a chic interior and a lengthy Champagne list. The multistory club features a large DJ booth, stage and dance floor on its main level, as well as a mezzanine area and a private drinks lounge. v An outdoor wine and beer garden, Portico opened in July on the property of the Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida. The serene venue boasts 20 taps that pour beer, wine and cocktails, and it has a menu of light Italian snacks, charcuterie and pizza. The waterfront lounge also offers outdoor games, including pingpong, corn hole and ring toss. v "Top Chef" star Nicholas Elmi opened the chic wine bar ITV next to his upscale restaurant Laurel…

L.A.'s 71Above Takes Upscale Dining To New Heights In July, 71Above opened atop Los Angeles' U.S. Bank Tower, making the upscale eatery the highest elevated restaurant west of the Mississippi River. The venue celebrates the diversity of Los Angeles throughout its menu. Owned by L.A. native Emil Eyvazoff, 71Above allows guests to create their own three-course meal from a menu that includes first courses like caviar-topped oysters and strawberry gazpacho and such second courses as grilled octopus, foie gras and agnolotti. These dishes are joined by larger third courses, including halibut, scallops, suckling pig and prime rib eye ($70 for a three-course dinner; $40 for a wine or cocktail pairing). Classic and new cocktails ($16) both have a presence at 71Above. The drinks menu lists a Plymouth gin­based Vesper and…