Innehållsförteckning för March 2016 från Market Watch

Over the years, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has gained a well-deserved reputation for redefining the hotel dining and drinking experience. Today this dynamic, upscale group operates 96 locations in 41 countries—including 30 properties in the United States. Global revenues top $4 billion annually, with food and beverage comprising $1.5 billion of that total. Four Seasons dining venues boast a wealth of world-famous chefs including Daniel Boulud, Michael Mina, Wolfgang Puck, Nobu Matsuhisa and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, as well as local stars like Ford Fry in Atlanta and Ethan Stowell in Seattle. Lately, Four Seasons has transformed its on-premise portfolio from a strictly hotel-dining approach to a strategy that features independent restaurants and bars. The effort has resulted in a diverse collection of imaginative venues—and some seriously creative bar programs. At…

Business For Punks James Watt, cofounder of Scottish craft brewery BrewDog, has written an unorthodox business guide for aspiring entrepreneurs. Published by Portfolio Penguin in February, “Business For Punks: Break All The Rules—The BrewDog Way” encourages readers to reject traditional models for success and embrace a revolutionary, passion-driven approach. The 256-page hardcover ($26) draws from BrewDog’s unconventional history, starting with the company’s beginnings in 2007 to its eventual rise to fame as one of the most recognizable and fastest-growing British craft beer brands in the world. Tackling everything from finance and marketing to team building, the guide promises to provide a better business blueprint for a new generation of entrepreneurs. For more information, visit Businessforpunks.com. Cocktail Kingdom’s Vintage Reprints Bar supply company Cocktail Kingdom has released hardcover reprints of three…

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey Brown-Forman Corp. added a third release to its Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel collection in February. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye whiskey ($49.99 a 750-ml. bottle) is made from 70-percent rye, 18-percent corn and 12-percent malted barley. Now available nationwide, the 47-percent alcohol-by-volume (abv) spirit was aged in white oak barrels, resulting in dried fruit flavors and a soft, smooth finish. For more information, visit Jackdaniels.com or call Brown-Forman at 502-585-1100. Svedka Cucumber Lime Vodka Constellation Brands introduced a new flavor from its Svedka vodka brand in February. Svedka Cucumber Lime vodka ($12.99 a 750-ml. bottle) has cool cucumber and tart citrus flavors, with a strong lime finish. The 35-percent abv offering is available nationwide. For more information, visit Svedka.com or call the company at…

Adelphi Selection: Named for a 19th-century distillery, the company was founded in 1993 and recently began producing whisky at the new Ardnamurchan distillery in the Western Highlands. A.D. Rattray: Established in 1868, the company markets several blended Scotch whisky brands in addition to single cask bottlings. Blackadder: Founded in 1995 and named for Bishop John Blackadder of Scotland, the company focuses on unfiltered single cask releases. Chieftain’s: Along with sister IB Dun Bheagan, the label is part of Ian Macleod Distillers, which also markets the Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Isle of Skye and Smokehead brands. Creative Whisky Co.: Founded in 2005 and based in Thornhill, Scotland, the company’s Exclusive Malts range is marketed in the United States by ImpEx Beverages. Douglas Laing: Founded in 1948 by Fred Laing, the company is run…

Madison, Wisconsin—the state’s capital and fastestgrowing city—is situated on a picturesque isthmus about 120 miles from Chicago and 75 miles from Milwaukee. Long a draw for college students thanks to the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, the city has recently received accolades that have thrust it into the national spotlight. Within the past year, Madison has been heralded as one of the 15 Hottest U.S. Cities for 2016 by Business Insider. It ranks among the Top 10 Happiest Cities according to National Geographic and tops Livability.com’s 2015 list of 100 Best Places to Live. All those surveys cite Madison’s high employment rates, active residents, affordable real estate, excellent education system and ample access to health care. Meanwhile, Madison’s hospitality industry is booming. Chefs and mixologists have garnered attention for putting creative…

Southern Creates New Division To Handle Bacardi Business….With Bacardi opting in January to align with the new Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits across all its markets, Southern has formed Transatlantic Spirits to handle Bacardi’s brands. The division will be led by executive vice president and managing director Steve Cohen, senior vice president of commercial strategy Chris Minielly and national talent management director Kathleen Procario. At press time, Transatlantic Spirits was expected to start operations when Southern begins dual distribution alongside Bacardi’s incumbent distributors on March 1st (where permissible by law). Southern and Glazer’s will begin exclusive distribution for Bacardi USA on April 1st. Foley Acquires Chalone From Diageo….Diageo has sold Chalone Vineyards to Bill Foley, head of Foley Family Wines. The deal includes both the Chalone Estate Vineyard and Gavilan…

• Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center welcomed the casual Madison Tavern in January. • The pub has a varied menu that includes sandwiches, burgers, tacos, pasta and larger entrées, as well as a lengthy beer list and a roster of transit-themed cocktails and approachable wines. The space is located next to its sister restaurant, the barbecue-focused Piggyback Tavern. • The gastropub Essex Junction Craft Kitchen & Bar opened in January in Bloomfield, New Jersey, boasting a rotating list of 40 craft beers, artisanal wines and a cocktail program celebrating Garden State natives. The restaurant highlights elevated comfort food, from fried chicken and beef short rib to pulled pork. • Specializing in izakaya-style fare and sushi, Okane opened in January in San Francisco. The restaurant, run by the operators of Omakase, features…

Svedka 100 Proof And Grapefruit Jalapeño Vodka Constellation Brands extended its Svedka vodka brand last February with the launch of both Svedka 100 Proof and Svedka Grapefruit Jalapeño. Targeted toward millennials, the pair has enjoyed particular success on-premise. “Both expressions skew on-premise, but Grapefruit Jalapeño is listed in more restaurants and bars than any flavor launch to date,” says Diana Pawlik, vice president of spirits and global imports at Constellation. “With 100 Proof, we launched with the goal of bringing a quality vodka to the 100-proof category, which has been growing stronger than both 80-proof and flavored vodkas year over year.” The 35-percent alcohol-byvolume (abv) Grapefruit Jalapeño has done particularly well within the cocktail occasion, due in part to growing interest in what Pawlik calls a “sweet-heat” taste profile. Top…

Both the variety and quality of spirits on the market have risen significantly over the past two decades, and that’s especially true in the rum category. “The amount of growth in rum’s diversity has been breathtaking,” says Carlton Grooms, director of operations for Papa’s Pilar rum, a brand that launched in 2013 and pays tribute to Ernest Hemingway. Isaac Grillo, brand ambassador for Afrohead rum—which entered the U.S. market just last year—also notes this growth and adds that it shows no signs of slowing. “We now have access to so many great spirits,” he says. “It’s been exciting and delicious to watch and partake. There’s no closing the door either: People are excited about trying new things and they realize there’s so much more out there.” Indeed, today’s savvy cocktail…

Mixology flair is moving from behind the bar to patrons’ tables as innovative restaurant operators offer drinks theatrics to their dining room guests. “There’s something inexplicably fun about preparing drinks tableside,” says Leo Robitschek, bar director at Eleven Madison Park in New York City. “It’s like having your own private bartender.” Eleven Madison Park’s tableside cocktail program began with Martini service six years ago, but was later replaced with a Manhattan cart. The restaurant typically prepares 15 Manhattans ($18) tableside each night. “Once one table orders it, other guests see the magic and often place an order of their own,” Robitschek says. At Restaurant 1833 in Monterey, California, general manager Kyle Beauregard has promoted a rotating special cocktail served tableside since opening five years ago. The program has been so…

Pernod Ricard announced a series of executive changes taking effect July 1st, including naming Paul Duffy as chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America and CEO of Pernod Ricard USA. The move marks a return to the United States for Duffy, who led Pernod’s U.S. business from 2008 to 2012. He most recently served as chairman and CEO of the Absolut Co. In addition, current Americas chairman Philippe Dreano announced his retirement after 27 years with Pernod. Meanwhile, current U.S. CEO Bryan Fry will become managing director of Pernod Ricard Pacific. Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) named Bob Spooner as president of its Americas business in February, replacing Sandra LeDrew. Spooner joined TWE as chief supply officer in 2015 and previously held a number of roles with such companies as…

On-Premise News World Of Beer Announces Aggressive Expansion Plans Craft beer bar chain World of Beer has announced plans to aggressively expand in the United States, with the goal of reaching more than 100 locations by the end of 2016. Additionally, World of Beer is planning to enter the markets of Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Nevada later this year. The Tampa, Florida–based company, which opened 22 new outposts in 2015, has a current footprint of 77 locations across 20 states. Established in 2007, the World of Beer concept offers more than 550 craft and international beers, alongside a recently expanded food menu that features appetizers, flatbreads, sandwiches, burgers and seasonal items. Sommelier Alpana Singh Launches Third Restaurant Chicago sommelier Alpana Singh is preparing to open her third restaurant, Terra…

MARKET WATCH sister publication Wine Spectator has unveiled a new mobile application, Xvalues, intended to welcome newcomers into the world of wine. Xvalues—named for its curated selection of “extreme values”—is available now as a free download for iPhone and iPad. “Our goal is to make Xvalues the go-to app for wine consumers of varying ages and levels of wine expertise,” said Jessica Shanken, vice president of business development at M. Shanken Communications. “In general, millennials are new to wine. While shopping, there are many aisles with thousands of wines to choose from at all different price points. This app helps them avoid overpaying for a bottle or choosing a wine that isn’t good quality. It’s like buying insurance using Wine Spectator ratings.” The Xvalues app’s library includes a regularly updated…

Featuring tableside mixology, Clique Bar & Lounge opened in January in The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, offering classic and seasonal cocktails, including smoked whisk(e)y- and rumbased drinks and sparkling concoctions. The lounge also serves table snacks, from sliders and tacos to chicken wings. Breakfast meets the bar scene at Nighthawk Breakfast Bar, a drinks den in Los Angeles that serves morning-inspired cocktails and food late at night. The venue opened in January with a menu of diner-inspired drinks, including coffee cocktails, alcohol-enhanced floats and spiked cereal milk, as well as refined breakfast fare like French toast made with brandy. The cozy wine bar Ruffian opened in January in New York City’s East Village neighborhood. Operated by a team of alumni from Tabla restaurant, the venue lists 100 wines by the bottle…

In the rarefied world of Scotch whisky, one subcategory often gets overlooked: independently bottled whiskies, or IBs. These whiskies are produced by Scottish distilleries, but rather than being released under the distillery’s own name, they’re sold to third-party bottlers. The independent bottlers release them under a separate label, usually identified by distillery of origin and age or vintage. IBs fill a unique niche, and their role is expanding. Traditionally the province of whisky connoisseurs, they’re now finding new audiences as distillery bottlings become rarer, younger and more expensive. The IB model has its roots in 19th-century blending houses. “Historically, distilleries didn’t bottle their whisky—independents did it for them,” says Chris Riesbeck, national sales manager for Classic Imports. The company is the U.S. importer for Scotch whisky bottler Gordon & MacPhail,…