Market Watch June 2017

The craft spirits industry is in flux, and the first new wave of consolidation and acquisition is underway. Constellation snapped up High West, Pernod Ricard bought Smooth Ambler, Rémy Cointreau acquired Westland and William Grant has purchased Tuthilltown Spirits, years after acquiring the distillery’s Hudson whiskey brand. Where is the industry going from here? There are both challenges and opportunities ahead. We’ll certainly be seeing more consolidation, and every major supplier is no doubt poring through a long list of acquisition targets. But the enormous expansion of craft spirits over the last decade will undoubtedly also lead to a shakeout. Look no further than the current contraction of the craft beer segment as a lesson. As always, we’ll likely see the strongest and most creative players grow and prosper. In…

Edrington Acquires The Glenrothes Brand.... Edrington has acquired The Glenrothes single malt Scotch brand from Berry Bros. & Rudd. In the U.S. market, The Glenrothes will move to Edrington Americas from Anchor Distilling. Impact Databank estimates the brand at approximately 12,000 cases in the United States. Edrington already owns The Glenrothes distillery and cooperage and has produced the brand for Berry Bros. & Rudd for the past seven years. Gordon Motion, Edrington’s master whisky maker, will continue overseeing production. The Edrington portfolio also includes The Macallan, Highland Park, Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark Scotch whiskies, as well as Partida Tequila and Snow Leopard vodka. Jackson Family Buys Brewer-Clifton....Jackson Family Wines is acquiring Brewer-Clifton, one of Sta. Rita Hills’ top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers. Brewer-Clifton is the third Pinot Noir–based…

Aviary Cocktail Book Chicago-based restaurant group Alinea launched a Kickstarter project in May to fund the creation of a book that highlights 100 recipes from the Aviary cocktail lounge and its speakeasy, the Office. Owners Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas have partnered with California artists Allen and Sarah Hemberger—authors of “The Alinea Project”—to develop a large-format cocktail book. Emulating cookbooks by chefs like Thomas Keller and Alain Ducasse, it will feature color photography and meticulous instructions. At press time, the Kickstarter had surpassed its $50,000 goal, reaching $365,000 with less than a week to go. The book ($60) is slated for completion in July 2018. For more information, visit Theaviary.com. CraftX Beer A new national beer membership service launched in May. CraftX provides exclusive access to brews that are only…

NYC Rooftop Lounge Takes A Tropical Approach New York City nightlife operator Addison Hospitality Group debuted Lovage Rooftop & Indoor Lounge at the Dream Hotel in Midtown Manhattan in April. The 4,000-square-foot venue has floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass roof, providing 360-degree views of New York City landmarks, from the Empire State Building to the Statue of Liberty. Located 37 floors up, Lovage has a vibrant interior design that includes a fireplace, walnut and polished cement floors, and Christian Lacroix fabrics and velvet upholstery. The bar serves a variety of tropical specialty cocktails ($16), including the Grey Goose vodka–based Kiwi Kolada, Bombay Sapphire gin–based Maui 75 and Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron rum–based Hula Hurricane. These offerings are joined by creative mixed drinks like the Kali Ma, made with…

• Las Vegas resort The Palazzo unveiled The Aquatic Club in April, offering a contemporary retreat inspired by oldschool pool clubs. The venue has cabanas and table service and offers retro gin-based drinks, modern cocktails, alcoholenhanced ice pops and food designed by Wolfgang Puck. • With the April debut of the upscale boutique hotel The Stella in Bryan, Texas, comes the speakeasy-style bar Hershel’s. The indoor-outdoor space boasts an extensive Bourbon collection, as well as craft cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, cigars and small plates. The bar is joined in the new hotel by the meat-focused restaurant Campfire. • The Japanese-inspired cocktail den Bar Moga opened in April in New York City’s Greenwich Village. Helmed by mixology vets from Milk & Honey, the bar has a cocktail menu that…

California’s The Flats Breathes New Life Into An Old Standby Aiming to put a new spin on a popular dish, The Flats reinvigorates the traditional flatbread. The restaurant opened in April in Beverly Hills, California, offering a menu that includes upscale flatbreads along with shareable appetizers, house-cured meats and handcrafted cocktails. Chef Kyle Schutte mixes familiar flavors with eclectic ingredients to create “Old-School Flats,” such as the Pepperoni and the Wild Mushroom, and “New-School Flats” like the Poutine, topped with beef gravy, bresaola, cheese curds, crispy potatoes and herbs (flatbreads are $12 to $17). The venue also serves salads, cured meats and shareable plates, including braised octopus and lamb carpaccio ($8 to $22). The beverage program highlights modernized classics and signature cocktails ($13 to $15), such as the Wilshire Boulevardier,…