Market Watch March 2022

As we were preparing to ship this issue, the major spirits companies—Diageo and Pernod Ricard in particular, as well as Rémy Cointreau and some others—were announcing their fiscal first half results. In all of those cases the numbers were stellar, and most noteworthy was that the companies all cited a strong on-premise recovery among the key positive trends. Bear in mind that those are global financial results, but a U.S. on-trade recovery was mentioned as part of the mix in all of those cases. We won’t say too much more, but those results were certainly heartening. What should be said, however, is that the recent struggles of the on-premise during Covid-19 have not been forgotten. Also not forgotten is how many great brands got their start in bars and restaurants…

Campari Renews National Partnership With Southern Glazer’s…. Campari America has renewed its national alignment with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, under which the country’s largest wine and spirits distributor handles the Campari portfolio in more than 40 states. The two companies said the renewal—which continues a 30-year partnership—represents “a long-term commitment to continue what has been a proven and mutually beneficial relationship.” “Following our expanded relationship announced in 2017, we’ve seen measurable growth across all channels, particularly national accounts and the on-premise,” says Ugo Fiorenzo, managing director of Campari America. “We are confident that Southern Glazer’s is the right partner to help us continue on that trajectory.” Campari America had U.S. volume of 6.2 million cases in 2021, up 4%, according to Impact Databank, with growth recently boosted by brands…

Las Vegas: Resorts World Welcomes Drinks-Focused Caviar Bar and Cigar Lounge Recently opened Resorts World Las Vegas unveiled two bar concepts in the last few months: the upscale Caviar Bar by chef Shaun Hergatt and the cigar den Eight Lounge. Caviar Bar opened in December with a menu that spans ultra-premium Martinis like the High Roller, made with Beluga Noble Russian vodka and blue cheese - and prosciutto-stuffed olives, alongside Sin City signatures like the Layover, blending X by Glenmorangie Scotch, unfiltered apple juice, miso-enhanced demerara syrup, and lime juice (cocktails are $18-$25). The Russian-influenced bar serves a variety of its namesake caviar, as well as charcuterie, seafood crudo, and larger dishes like gnocchi, risotto, and Wagyu beef (food ranges from $20-$400). Eight Lounge debuted in January in a 7,000-square-foot…

Old Parr Aged 18 Years Diageo has announced the release of Old Parr Aged 18 Years, the latest permanent addition to the blended Scotch brand. The whisky ($70 a 750-ml.), making its first appearance in the U.S., is bottled at 40% abv and made using malts from Cragganmore, among other Islay and Speyside whiskies. The 18-year-old Scotch is now available in Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Delaware. For more information, visit Oldparrscotch.com. The GlenDronach 50-year-old The GlenDronach has released a 50-year-old single malt, the oldest whisky ever released from the Highlands distillery, which is part of the Brown-Forman portfolio. The GlenDronach 50-year-old ($25,000 a 750-ml.) is first matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso casks before blending and finishing in a single Pedro Ximénez cask. The whiskies were…

Cocktail delivery takes on a new meaning in the hotel sector, where some operators are experimenting with room service cocktail offerings for drinkers who wish to stay in but still enjoy upscale mixology. The notion of inroom drinks expanded rapidly during the Covid-19 pandemic, after guests started traveling again but were uncomfortable sitting in a bar or unable to because of mandated on-premise closures. Now, savvy hoteliers report that in-room cocktails remain popular with guests for a variety of reasons, oftentimes replacing the need for an in-room mini bar. “People like having the option to have cocktails delivered to their room to avoid Covid concerns,” says Sarah Mengoni, lead bartender at Kimpton’s La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood, California. “On the other hand, we’ve also seen it ultimately drive guests…

Most people with more than a passing interest in the U.S. wine market can name some of the nation’s biggest players. E.&J. Gallo, The Wine Group, Constellation Brands, Treasury Wine Estates, and a handful of others own many of the biggest brands and have enormous influence in the market. But while those mega companies continue to prosper, there’s a second tier of companies making waves, with many showing great success in recent tumultuous years. Here’s a look at some of the players you should know. WX Brands WX Brands has experienced “explosive growth” over the past few years, according to Jeff Ngo, the company’s senior vice president of marketing. Ngo notes that the company has shown double-digit growth in earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortization for the past four years.…