Innehållsförteckning för October 2023 från Market Watch

Recent figures from the Scotch Whisky Association showed an export slowdown to the U.S. for the first half of the year, which raised some concerns. After sharp growth in 2022, shipments to the U.S. market declined in the first half of 2023, down 5% by value to £437 million ($557 million) and falling 15% by volume to 59 million 700-ml. bottles.While the performance elicited a lot of discussion, the reality is that we don’t yet know what it all means. That’s because echoes from the twin problems of Covid-19 and the tariffs are still reverberating. The issues surrounding shipments and inventories are still not giving us a true read, but tell only part of the story. If you’re searching for the big picture, the key trend to watch is premiumization,…

Bushmills 15-Year-Old & 21-Year-Old Bushmills has announced the launch of two single malt Irish whiskies. The first is a 15-year-old single malt ($90 a 750-ml.) aged in a combination of ex-Bourbon and second-fill American oak casks, and bottled at 46% abv. The second is a 21-year-old single malt ($265) aged in Bourbon barrels and Oloroso Sherry butts for 18 years before finishing in first-fill Marsala wine casks for three years, also bottled at 46% abv. Both releases are part of the brand’s World Wood series created exclusively for travel retail, and they’re available now. For more information, visit Bushmills.com. Hardin’s Creek Kentucky Series: Boston Hardin’s Creek Boston, the latest whiskey from Beam Suntory and the James B. Beam Distilling Co., is rolling out now. Boston ($170 a 750-ml.) is a…

Each year, Market Watch sister publication Impact recognizes the fastest-growing smaller brands from around the drinks business with its “Hot Prospect” awards. This year, a total of 87 brands from the wine, spirits, and RTD cocktail categories met Impact Databank’s criteria to earn the honor. To qualify as a Hot Prospect, brands must have achieved at least 15% depletions growth for 2022, while also showing consistent growth in the two preceding years. For spirits, imported wines, and RTDs, brand volumes must be between 50,000 and 200,000 cases, while domestic wines are between 50,000 and 250,000 cases. As in years past, Tequilas and whiskies lead the way for spirits Hot Prospects, with agave spirits and whiskies making up just under two-thirds of this year’s 33 winners. Vodka, domestic and imported, made…

Campari CEO To Retire, New CEO Is Named…. Longtime Campari Group CEO Bob Kunze-Concewitz will retire in April 2024. Current Campari Asia Pacific managing director Matteo Fantacchiotti has assumed the role of deputy CEO and will succeed Kunze-Concewitz in April. During Kunze-Concewitz’s 16-year tenure, Campari has expanded markedly. Since 2015, the company has added 6.5 million cases to its global total. It ranks sixth among all spirits companies worldwide with a 2022 volume of 33.5 million 9-liter cases, up 10% from the previous year. Global revenue reached nearly $3 billion on a 16% increase last year. That growth has been fueled by gains from Aperol and Campari, along with a series of acquisitions, including Grand Marnier, Appleton Estate, and Wild Turkey, for an overall investment of €3 billion ($3.2 billion)…

There’s no question that the 25% tariffs imposed on single malt Scotch in 2019 affected the category greatly. Add to that the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, and supply issues, and 2020 sales took a substantial hit. But once the tariffs were lifted in 2021 and the pandemic ended, single malt Scotch rebounded, jumping 9% to 1.9 million 9-liter cases in 2021, according to Impact Databank. It appeared the category was well on its way to crossing the 2 million-case mark for the first time ever in 2022. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite pan out that way. Single malt Scotch sales in the U.S. slipped 5% in 2022 to 1.8 million cases, according to Impact Databank. However, single malt continues to account for more than a quarter of total Scotch whisky volume in…

Louisville, Kentucky native Miranda “Randi” Densford is passionate about her home state. Though she initially intended to work in kitchens, having received a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, she’s always been drawn to bartending and Kentucky’s history of Bourbon-making. In 2018 she was hired as brand ambassador and beverage manager for Bardstown Bourbon Co., deepening her love for Bourbon Country and crafting cocktails. After two years in this role, Densford had the opportunity to join the opening team of Barn8 Farm Restaurant & Bourbon Bar, the restaurant on Hermitage Farm in Goshen, Kentucky, which opened its doors in early 2020. “I was honored to be promoted from lead bartender to beverage director in early 2021,” Densford says. “Fueled by an unwavering passion for Barn8’s farm-to-table philosophy and commitment to seasonal…

On-Premise News: Guinness Open Gate Debuts Chicago Location Diageo opened its new Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicagoin late September. Located at 901 W. Kinzie, the taproom, restauran,t and bakery is housed in a 15,000-square-foot former rail depot in the West Loop. The venue will feature rotating experimental draughts brewed on-site and exclusively available in the taproom, alongside signature offerings like Guinness Draught stout from Dublin. Diageo Beer Co. USA was up 1.5% to just under 40 million (2.25-gallon) cases overall last year, according to Impact Databank, with its volume rising rapidly from less than 29 million cases in 2017. Off-Premise News: Total Wine Continues National Growth Total Wine & More expanded its foot-print with new stores in California and Minnesota in September, as the retail giant continues to broaden its…

Brian DuBois, assistant general manager of Charlotte, North Carolina’s Billy Sunday, argues that all people are health-conscious in one way or another. “Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution or just getting in shape, people have their reasons for wanting to eat and drink more healthfully,” he says. “Some may choose to not drink as the solution, but that cuts out the social aspect of going out to the bar or hanging with friends. The response from a bartending standpoint is to make drinks approachable for those looking for a healthier option.” Thankfully for those seeking cocktails aligned with their health goals, bartenders today have more options than ever. “There’s many great-tasting healthy ingredients out there,” notes Mariena Mercer Boarini, master mixologist for North America for Wynn Resorts. “When there are…

While they’ve largely been viewed as an offpremise phenomenon—and a powerful and rapidly growing one at that—pre-packaged RTDs are starting to make an impact in restaurants and bars, too, especially among consumers who enjoy them at home. The canned cocktail sector has expanded rapidly over the last couple years, and their influence is now being seen on-premise in a variety of bars and restaurants that list canned options alongside traditional house-crafted mixed drinks. They’re certainly not poised to overtake bartenderled cocktails, but RTDs are emerging as a new option on-premise. “For years, the RTD category was viewed as targeting the off-premise, but While Claw kicked that door down,” says Max Moreland, bar operating partner at FBR Management, the Austin, Texas-based operator of 15 restaurants and bars. “In the past six…

Danny Wirtz has been named co-chairman of Breakthru Beverage Group, succeeding his father Rocky, who passed away this summer at the age of 70. Previously vice chairman, Wirtz joins business partner Charlie Merinoff who also serves as co-chairman. Additionally, Breakthru has added fourth-generation family member Hillary Wirtz to its board. She has 11 years of experience in the business and currently leads the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy. Finally, Breakthru has appointed Dario Skocir senior vice president, market operations. Skocir comes to Breakthru from True Value, where as senior vice president of supply chain, he oversaw all aspects of endto-end supply chain and led a team of more than 2,500 associates. Pernod Ricard has appointed company veteran Colin Kavanagh as its new CMO for North America, replacing Pam Forbus…