Innehållsförteckning för September 2024 från Market Watch

There’s been much discussion lately about growth trends for American whiskey, in reaction to last year’s volume slip of 0.5% for Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey. After two decades of growth, could it be that American whiskey’s long magical ride is coming to an end? A couple of factors are in play here. One is that a post-pandemic hangover is still skewing the numbers, as inventories and trends continue to normalize. The second, more important point is this: Bourbon’s super-premium tier continues to thrive. Over the past decade, super-premium American whiskeys have risen more than three-fold, from 3.5 million cases to 11 million cases last year. The last five years alone have seen an increase of 5 million cases. With the exception of Tequila, the Bourbon category is the healthiest in…

ORCHID MIST By Kenneth Vanhooser INGREDIENTS: 1 ounce Lunazul Blanco Tequila;½ ounce Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça;½ ounce Capel Pisco;½ ounce Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto bergamot liqueur;¼ ounce Giffard Crème de Violette liqueur;¼ ounce Luxardo Maraschino liqueur;¼ ounce John D. Taylor’s velvet falernum;¾ ounce lime juice; Guava foam 1. RECIPE: In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine Tequila, Cachaça, Pisco, liqueurs, falernum, and lime juice. Shake and strain into a glass and top with guava foam. ANDORRA By Kenneth Vanhooser INGREDIENTS: 1 ounce Old Grand-Dad Bourbon;½ ounce Buffalo Trace Bourbon;½ ounce Rittenhouse rye;¼ ounce Cocchi Di Torino sweet vermouth;¼ ounce Lo-Fi Gentian amaro;2 thin slices cucumber, plus two cucumber rounds for garnish;For rim: dark treacle and ground blend of black, white, and pink peppercorns. RECIPE: In an ice-filled mixing glass, combine Bourbons,…

Pernod’s Wine Business Now With Accolade…. Pernod Ricard’s sale of its still wine brands in July to Australian Wine Holdco—a consortium of institutional investors that owns Australian wine player Accolade Wines—means that over 10 million 9-liter cases annually have now changed hands. The former Pernod portfolio includes Jacob’s Creek, Orlando, and St Hugo from Australia; Stoneleigh, Brancott Estate, and Church Road from New Zealand; and Campo Viejo, Ysios, Tarsus, and Azpilicueta from Spain. The deal included seven wineries around the world. In the U.S., Pernod’s wine volume slipped to 1.4 million cases last year, according to Impact Databank, down from 1.8 million cases in 2019. Jacob’s Creek has been the largest still wine in the portfolio, down 16% to 271,000 cases last year, followed by Campo Viejo at 217,000 cases.…

The Balvenie 14-Year-Old American Bourbon Barrel & 18-Year-Old French Pineau Cask Finish The Balvenie single malt Scotch whisky, part of the William Grant & Sons portfolio, has introduced two new limited-edition single cask expressions in its Stories Range: a 14-year-old American Bourbon Barrel and an 18-year-old French Pineau Cask Finish. The 14-year-old American Bourbon Barrel expression ($115 a 750-ml.) is bottled at 47.8% abv, while the 18-year-old Pineau Cask whisky ($400) is bottled at 47.9% abv. The Scotches are available nationwide. For more information, visit Thebalvenie.com. Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Suntory Global Spirits has launched Laphroaig Elements 2.0, the latest release from the Islay single malt distiller. The whisky ($165 a 700-ml.) is the second release in Laphraoig’s series of whiskies exploring the effects of each step of the whisky making…

Bourbon saw a slight volume decline last year as Americans overall drank less whiskey. But brands priced at $25 and above still saw growth, with the segment rising to nearly 11 million cases in 2023 (George Dickel still pictured). At Downtown Spirits in Seattle, Bourbon (shelves pictured) makes up about 10% of sales. While the area is historically bullish on craft beer, owner Marques Warren notes that demand is shifting thanks to higher salaries and transplants from other states moving into the area. For the first time in a quarter-century, U.S. consumers drank less American whiskey last year than in the previous year—however, thanks to consistent premiumization trends, the category grew in dollar terms last year, according to Impact Databank. And despite overall volume loss of 1%, the $25-and-over Bourbon…

Nearly three dozen beer brands defied overall industry trends in 2023 and turned in impressive—even dramatic—volume gains, even as the overall industry suffered through yet another year of declining sales and heightened competition. Indeed, Impact’s new “Hot Brands” for beer and flavored malt beverages (FMBs) are commendable for shining a spotlight on a category during a year that was fraught with consumer backlash against some major labels and media coverage that persistently detailed the industry’s challenges. Hot Brand honors are awarded to established brands with double-digit growth in 2021, 2022, and 2023; established brands with at least 15% growth last year; brands among the top ten in their respective categories with at least 5% growth in 2023 and at least 15% growth since 2020; and significant new products. accounted A…

At the bustling Postino WineCafé, in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch, high-energy jazz music provides a dining backdrop for the upscale young families and work-from-home professionals fueling Denver’s fast-growing economy. One of 28 Postino locations, the restaurant offers free stickers with the slogan, “Drinking Wine at Lunch Is Not a Crime.” Postino WineCafé caters to those who may like to have a glass of wine with their Mediterranean-influenced lunch. The mixture of 25 wines by-the-glass and shareable small plates has been a winning recipe for the Phoenix-based Upward Projects’ footprint across Colorado, Arizona, California, Texas, and Georgia. The Postino concept took hold in 2000 when co-founder Craig DeMarco and his wife, Kris, returned from a trip to Italy, after visiting several casual wine bars. DeMarco has since moved from…

Suntory Global Spirits has appointed Carol Robert as managing director of its U.S. RTD business, succeeding Heather Boyd, who will assume a new role at the company. A ten-year company veteran, Robert was most recently COO of Suntory Beverage & Food in Great Britain and Ireland. In her new role Robert will report to Sho Semba, CEO of Suntory RTD Co., and join both the Suntory Global Spirits North America leadership team and executive management team. She’ll relocate to the company’s New York City headquarters, working closely with Suntory Global Spirits North America president Carlo Coppola. Treasury Wine Estates has announced a series of new leadership appointments in the U.S. market, as the company continues to revamp its operations following its acquisition of Paso Robles-based Daou last year. Among the…

Charlie Wagner of Caymus Vineyards and Wagner Family of Wine has acquired a majority stake in Spokane, Washington-based craft spirits player Dry Fly Distilling for an undisclosed sum. The move builds on collaborative projects between Dry Fly and the Wagners over the past ten years, including a whiskey finished in Caymus Special Selection wine barrels that will be released next year. Dry Fly’s spirits are distributed across 35 states and include Bourbon, wheat, and triticale whiskeys, along with gin, vodka, and RTD cocktails, with pricing ranging from $30-$60 a 750-ml. “We’re taking our collaboration to the next level,” said Wagner in a statement. “Assuming a bigger stake in the company speaks to my excitement over Dry Fly’s vision, passion, and expertise, and its ability to make products that truly stand…

Rick Margaritov has dedicated his professional life to the beverage and hospitality industries, collaborating with renowned restaurateurs, winemakers, and brewers. “Early on I gained hands-on expertise in how to create impactful and memorable food and beverage experiences and managed service teams that elevated the expectations of the industry,” he says. “I led the opening of acclaimed Chef Thomas Keller’s Bar Bouchon, and opened and developed service programs for James Beard Award-winning chefs Tom Colicchio, Jonathan Waxman, and Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne.” These experiences led Margaritov to found The Drinkery, a Los Angeles- and Singapore-based distributor of craft beer and artisan wine. Ever the entrepreneur, Margaritov next set his sights on Nashville, Tennessee as the city in which to launch his own sake brewery, Pure Land Sake, with partner and…

Last year was just the second year in more than 25 that Irish whiskey consumption was down in the U.S., according to Impact Databank. The first year was 2020, when practically every business suffered due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Irish whiskey case depletion volume slipped 8% in 2023—but it certainly wasn’t alone in this, as every spirits category aside from Tequila and spirits-based RTDs posted volume loss last year. And there’s still a lot of action happening in Irish whiskey, earning the category plenty of consumer attention. Chad Montrose, manager at the Crystal Lake, Illinois location of Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse, likens the growth of Irish whiskey to Tequila, noting that both categories see new entries on the market each year. “Ireland is experiencing a resurgence in interest due to new…

Employing more sustainable practices behind the bar is a growing trend in the industry, and one born of necessity. “In my experience, the restaurant and bar industry generates a significant amount of waste, and having worked in this industry for many years, it’s become increasingly clear to me that the implementation of more sustainable practices is essential,” notes Manuel Zuluaga, head of mixology for Miami-based Riviera Dining Group. “Throughout my travels, I’ve had the opportunity to visit various bars around the world and I’ve been inspired by the diverse sustainable practices that I’ve encountered. One particular establishment that left a lasting impression on me is Alquímico in Cartagena, Colombia, which is committed to growing the majority of the produce used in the bar directly on their own farm. This approach…

Anchored by citrus, sour flavors are a key component of modern mixology, creating balanced and refreshing cocktails that are well-liked by a wide array of consumers. Sour drinks have become ubiquitous, transcending seasons and earning a spot on cocktail menus across the country. While sweet cocktails had a hot moment, sour cocktails have shown staying power and are now benefiting from creative bartenders who are playing with sharp flavors in unique ways. Trevor Langer, the beverage director at Union Square Hospitality Group’s Porchlight bar in New York City, touts the versatility of sour flavors, noting that savvy bartenders can make sour elements work with many spirits and liqueurs. “Sours are a pillar of classic and modern cocktails alike,” he says. “You can use a vast array of ingredients and techniques…

Off-Premise News: Neatly Partners With Gopuff Spirits-based RTD brand Neatly has partnered with Gopuff to bring the New Jersey-based drinks brand to more than 150 BevMo locations across the U.S. In addition to the retail expansion, the partnership will add Neatly’s vodka and green tea cocktails to Gopuff’s delivery platform in 13 states and Washington, D.C. The rollout began with California, Arizona, and Washington. This month, the next phase of the partnership will bring Neatly to Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York, via Gopuff’s platform and Liquor Barn stores. Neatly’s spiked teas are at 5% abv and come in Black Cherry, White Peach, Pina Colada, and Blueberry Honey flavors. Distributor News: Southern Glazer’s Expands In New England Top-ranked wine and spirits wholesaler Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is…