Market Watch April 2019

In looking at this year’s “Hot Brands” list, I see some remarkable things. Of the 30 spirits brands that made the grade, 12 are whiskies and 11 are Tequilas. Vodka has made a strong showing with four brands—and if were it not for vodka, in fact, the list would nearly be swallowed whole by the industry’s two hottest categories. Vodka still has plenty left in the tank, considering that three brands on the list are million-case players and Tito’s is the biggest Hot Brand of all. Whiskies count four Hot Brands in the million-case club, while Tequila has just one. But look at the growth on those Tequila Hot Brands, and you’ll agree that the situation is changing fast. Whiskies are king, vodka is strong, but Tequila continues to be…

Roederer Buys Merry Edwards Winery…. The Louis Roederer Champagne house has purchased Russian River Valley Pinot Noir specialist Merry Edwards Winery. The deal includes the brand and its inventory, as well as the winery and tasting room in Sebastopol and 79 acres spread over six vineyards. The sale price wasn’t disclosed. The founders of the winery, Merry Edwards and her husband, Ken Coopersmith, will stay on temporarily during the transition period. Edwards is a Sonoma County wine pioneer and one of California’s first female winemakers. Her 28,000-case brand is known for its structured Pinot Noirs, including notable single-vineyard wines. Edwards also makes a small amount of Chardonnay, as well as a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc. Her wines have made numerous appearances in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year, including…

Chicago: Young American Offers Fortified Wine Cocktails And CBD Drinks Leisure Activities, a creative hospitality studio that that operates four bars in Chicago, unveiled Young American in February in the city’s Logan Square neighborhood. The progressive bar serves session cocktails that emphasize fortified wines and liqueurs, as well as alcohol-free, CBD-infused drinks. Signature cocktails ($8-$13) include the Fort Nite, comprising Blandy’s 5-year-old Malmsey Madeira, Espodol Rancio Sec wine, Wild Turkey 101 rye, Plantation Xaymaca rum, Angostura Aromatic bitters, and cane syrup, and the Hey High Hello, mixing Pierre Ferrand Pineau des Charentes, Lustau Jarana Fino Sherry, Nikka Coffey gin, and lemon tonic. Meanwhile, drinks like the CYO Rickey ($8), which has a base of lime juice and house-made soda, can be enhanced with CBD oil or the consumer’s choice of…

AS PICTURED: 1. Country musician John Rich—with his grandmother, Granny Rich—hosted a party to celebrate the launch of Redneck Riviera Whiskey’s Granny Rich Reserve at Redneck Riviera bar in Nashville on February 15. 2. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith kicked off the second day of the inaugural Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on February 1. 3. Rapper A$AP Ferg toasted the debut of Hennessy X.O’s The Seven Worlds campaign, directed by Ridley Scott, at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in Los Angeles on February 24. 4. Stoli Group international brand ambassador Simone Bodini attended the tenth annual 50 Best Bars event, sponsored by Stoli Elit vodka, at Gustavino’s in New York City on February 13. 5. Stacy Kyle of Rare Drams…

Crown Royal Peach Diageo has extended its Crown Royal Canadian whisky brand with a new peach-flavored variant. Crown Royal Peach ($25 a 750-ml.) is 35% abv and includes fresh Georgia peach flavors. Crown Royal Peach is available nationwide. For more information, visit Crownroyal.com. Svedka Rosé Vodka Constellation Brands has unveiled a new rosé-flavored extension of Svedka vodka. The 30% abv Svedka Rosé ($17 a 1-liter) contains 5% rosé wine and has dedicated advertising through the brand’s “Bring Your Own Spirit” campaign. Svedka Rosé is available nationwide. For more information, visit Svedka.com. Glenmorangie Allta Moët Hennessy has debuted the latest single malt Scotch whisky in Glenmorangie’s annual Private Edition series. The tenth Private Edition from the Highland distillery, Glenmorangie Allta ($99 a 750-ml.) was created with Saccharomyces diaemath, a species of…

Michter’s With a new distillery that opened earlier this year and a growing brand targeted firmly at the high end, Michter’s is carving out a more substantial slice of the American whiskey market. The company opened its Fort Nelson Distillery and tourism center on Louisville’s Whiskey Row on January 31. The new site joins the existing Shively, Kentucky distillery. Michter’s president Joseph Magliocco says that he’s connected the Fort Nelson Distillery with the brand’s heritage by acquiring the pot still and cypress wood fermenter system from the former Michter’s distillery in Pennsylvania. The new facility features public tours and a bar that offers both classic and original cocktails. Meanwhile, Michter’s continues to burnish its reputation with a string of limited releases. Recent launches include 10-year-old rye ($160 a 750-ml.), 20-year-old…