Indholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2022 i Market Watch

Along with its many other negative effects, Prohibition served as a roadblock to generational continuity among U.S. spirits and wine companies. It’s tough to find very many multigenerational stories in this business. Yes, some do exist, mainly among retailers, distributors, and winemakers. But even there, few of them reach back four generations. Taub Family of Cos. is now in its third generation of leadership, but with the fourth generation very much on board. It’s a great story of family continuity that continues to get better. Our cover feature on the Taubs, which starts on page 24, takes an in-depth look at how it all started, how it’s going, and where it goes from here. Elsewhere in this issue, we explore the ongoing surprise that is Bordeaux wine. Not so long…

Few families have a history that can compete with the Taubs, even if that history had some colorful beginnings. For decades, Marc Taub, current and third-generation president and CEO of the Taub Family of Cos., was told that his grandfather, Martin, and Martin’s brothers, Jacob and Abner, got into the spirits rectifying business in 1933 after the repeal of Prohibition. It wasn’t until 2012, almost 80 years later, that Marc discovered Jacob and Abner had been working on bootleg brandy prior to Prohibition’s end, and received a presidential pardon from Franklin D. Roosevelt issued in 1935. The pardon—now a treasured piece of Taub family history—is proudly on display in Marc’s office. In the decades following Prohibition, Martin launched a successful spirits rectifying business and then got into wine and spirits…

Opening Taub Family Outpost in Sonoma, California, is the culmination of many dreams realized for Linda Taub. Marc’s mother, Linda grew up in the restaurant business. Her father and uncle owned several restaurants in Manhattan and on Long Island over the years. As an adult, Linda forged her own career, getting a law degree and practicing law in New York, and of course she was entrenched in the wine and spirits industry, too, through her husband, David Taub, the former head of Palm Bay International. She and David traveled the world to visit winery clients, but she never forgot about her roots in the on-premise. Though not at all affiliated with the Taub Family of Cos. that import and distribute wine and spirits, the restaurant bears the family name and…

About a decade ago, Ipswich, Massachusetts-based Clown Shoes brewery began increasing the amount of galaxy hops it used in its Supa Hero IPA to the great acclaim of the company’s fans. The ingredient tweaking proved so popular that Clown Shoes soon renamed the beer Galactica, in homage to the hop variety. Today, Galactica—available in 30 states and internationally—is one of the brewery’s leading brands. Clown Shoes isn’t the only brewery to name beers after beloved hop varietals. Reuben’s Brews’ Mosaic Crush hazy IPA, Foam Brewers’ Galaxie 500 double IPA, Kern River Brewing’s Citra double IPA, and Fort George Brewery’s Rock, Paper, Centennial wet hop pale ale are just a few more examples. And countless other brewers highlight hop varieties on packaging, promotional materials, websites, and taproom menus. “Over the past…

Breakthru To Buy Out Major Brands….Breakthru Beverage Group has announced an agreement to acquire the remaining shares it doesn’t own in Major Brands. Missouri-based Major Brands, whose estimated annual revenues top $400 million, distributes wine, spirits, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages and has a workforce of 600 people, serving more than 9,000 retail customers. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Breakthru to further solidify our standing in the Midwest,” says Tom Bené, Breakthru’s president and CEO. “We have an ambitious growth agenda, and this move marks another step forward as we continue to seek opportunities across North America.” Breakthru, the nation’s third-largest wholesaler of spirits and wine, had estimated 2021 revenues of $6.1 billion, according to Shanken’s Impact Newsletter. The deal “gives one of Missouri’s largest wholesale premium beverage alcohol distributors…

Torabhaig Allt Gleann Mossburn Distillers has announced the second release from Scotland’s Torabhaig Distillery, Allt Gleann The Legacy Series. The 46% abv single malt ($62 a 750-ml.) follows Legacy Series 2017, released in February 2021, and is distilled and matured at the company’s Isle of Skye distillery, the first new Scotch producer on the island in nearly 200 years. Allt Gleann is selected from 30 casks and will see four batches released through the end of 2022. It’s also the second of four planned releases leading up to the distillery’s flagship 10-year-old whisky, slated to debut in 2028. Allt Gleann is rolling out to retailers across the U.S. now. For more information, visit Torabhaig.com. The Whistler Imperial Stout Cask and Calvados Cask The Whistler Irish Whiskey has announced the annual…

Like his father before him, Jake Taub knew at a young age that he wanted to join the family business and would enjoy working side-by-side with his dad, Marc, the president and CEO of the Taub Family of Cos. Jake, age 25, graduated from Cornell University in 2019 and started working for his dad soon thereafter. Today, Jake serves as the director of business development for the Taub’s growing wholesale business, Independence Wine & Spirits, which operates in New York and New Jersey. Save for a brief period as a pre-teen when he thought he could be shortstop for the New York Yankees, Jake says he always knew he would become part of the family’s business legacy. “When I was around 12, I knew I wanted to work for my…

While flavored spirits have been around for decades, bartenders haven’t always been the biggest fans of them—especially early iterations that featured artificial flavoring and coloring. And even as the quality of flavored spirits has grown considerably, many bartenders still prefer creating their own infused spirits so they can truly put their mark on a cocktail. “It’s such a great and simple way to add a desired flavor to a cocktail without the sugar or additional alcohol,” says Jamie Cecchine, bar manager at Kachka in Portland, Oregon. “It’s become such common practice that it’s rare to see a cocktail menu without some kind of infusion on it.” Any spirit can be the perfect canvas to take on additional flavors from fresh herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables—and even pantry items like peanut butter—to…

Off-Premise News: Gopuff Donates $100,000 To Tornado Relief Delivery startup Gopuff, which earlier this year acquired Kentucky retail chain Liquor Barn, has announced a $100,000 contribution to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund. Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund was established by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to assist those impacted by the tornados and the severe weather system on December 11, 2021. Gopuff is also preparing to donate essential needs to state & local relief centers as response efforts continue. On-Premise News: Union Square Hospitality Group To Require Covid Booster Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group will soon require guests to have received a Covid vaccine booster to dine inside. The company, which operates New York City restaurants including Gramercy Tavern and Maialino, and Anchovy Social in Washington, D.C.,…

Founded Martin Taub launched a spirits rectifying business with his brothers, Jacob and Abner, in 1933. In 1977, Martin and his son, David, launched Palm Bay International. Before creating Palm Bay, the Taubs ran the New York distributor business Premier Wine & Spirits. Key Family Members Marc D. Taub, president and CEO of the Taub Family of Cos., including Palm Bay International, Taub Family Selections, Taub Family Vineyards, and Independence Wine & Spirits. Marc’s son, Jake, is the director of business development at Independence Wine & Spirits. His mom, Linda, recently launched the restaurant Taub Family Outpost in Sonoma, California. Marc’s daughter, Chloe, is in her senior year of college and plans to go to law school next, and ultimately hopes to join the family business. Marc’s father, David, and…

KISS OF THE EARTH By Jamie Cecchine Ingredients: 1½ ounces tamarind-infused Taaka vodka1;¼ ounce Monarch amaretto;¼ ounce Giffard Abricot du Roussillon apricot liqueur;1 dash Angostura bitters;1½ ounces Torre Oria Cava;½ ounce The Perfect Purée apricot purée;¼ ounce lemon juice;Lemon wheel;Tajín seasoning-dusted apricot. Recipe: In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine vodka, amaretto, liqueur, bitters, purée, and juice. Shake, then add Cava to the shaker. Strain into Collins glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a skewered tajín-dusted apricot and lemon wheel. GOA PUNCH By Chetan Gangan Ingredients: 1½ ounces curry leaf-infused Old Monk rum2;½ ounce Malibu Coconut rum;½ ounce DeKuyper Peachtree Schnapps liqueur;2 ounces pineapple juice;¾ ounce lime juice;Fried curry leaf. Recipe: In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine rums, liqueur, and juices. Shake and strain into tiki or Collins glass over a…

IL PROFESSORE INGREDIENTS: 1 ounce Montenegro amaro;¾ ounce Fernet-Branca amaro;¾ ounce Cynar amaro;¾ ounce lemon juice;½ ounce honey syrup;2 dashes of Dashfire Mission Fig-Fennel bitters1;Lemon wheel. RECIPE: In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine amari, juice, syrup, and bitters. Shake well and strain into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel. SGROPPINO INGREDIENTS: 1 ounce Malfy Con Limone gin;3 ounces Bianca Vigna Extra Brut Prosecco;1 small scoop lemon sorbet;Lemon peel, plus zest. RECIPE: Place sorbet in a chilled coupe glass. Pour gin and Prosecco over the top and garnish with lemon zest and a lemon peel. 1 King uses house-made fig and rose bitters, but this brand is a suitable substitute.…

Moët Hennessy has named Manuel Reman as president of Maison Krug, effective April 1. Reman joined Moët Hennessy in 2005 and is currently managing director of Champagne Services for the luxury drinks company. He takes over for Maggie Henriquez, who is departing after a 12-year tenure running the prestige Champagne house. Henriquez and Reman will work together leading up to April 1. Terlato Wines has named Karl Waldschmidt as director of operations and logistics. Wald-schmidt spent the last 17 years at Walgreens in a series of rising management roles including senior manager of global transportation and manager of import operations & administration. Matthew Ligay, Terlato’s commercial vice president of pricing and analytics, says Waldschmidt’s “impressive experience and tenure in logistics and transportation will be invaluable as we enter the next…