Features Archives - The Spirits Business

South Africa: the post-pandemic rebound

Tom Bruce-Gardyne — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 09:21:42 +0000

South Africa's stop-start approach to selling alcohol during the pandemic played havoc with the country's drinks trade. We explore what last effect this has had on the nation's spirits trade.

*This feature was originally published in the March 2023 edition of The Spirits Business magazine. As Scotch whisky celebrated smashing through the £6 billion (US$6.2bn) barrier in exports last year, more than £1bn greater than its previous record in 2019, South Africa made a modest contribution to that success. Its imports of Scotch rose by a third in value to £103 million on the previous year and by 15% in volume to 3m cases. Yet both figures are still below what was achieved in 2019. As with all spirits, the recovery from the pandemic remains a work in progress. Given how hard hit the sector was in South Africa, that is probably not surprising. Christelle Reade‐Jahn, director of the South African Brandy Association, vividly recalls the progression of events in 2020. “There was a complete lockdown for three weeks that was extended to five weeks, and then the shocker – that all alcohol sales would be prohibited,” she says. “What happened in South Africa was unique. We pulled together to form an alcohol‐industry working group, and presented 12 examples of prohibition around the world to the government that showed that nowhere did they actually work.” Psychological toll There were three periods of prohibition that year, totalling around 20 weeks, culminating in a final ban three days after Christmas that lasted until 1 February 2021. The domestic alcohol drinks industry was reported to have lost R25bn (£1.16bn) and around 120,000 jobs as a result. As IWSR Drinks Market Analysis reported, that last ban “took a fatal psychological toll on a consumer whose confidence was already knocked by a tanking economy, 34% unemployment rate, a disastrous vaccine rollout, and general pandemic fatigue”. “If you look at most drinks categories they have recovered pretty well,” says Reade‐Jahn. “There was obvious pantry stocking after Covid, and probably over‐purchasing due to the mindset of the government.” Restrictions and bans came in with such little warning, that consumers learned to pounce quickly. “People were thinking, ‘Instead of two bottles, I’ll buy a case of Klipdrift’,” she says referring to the country’s top‐selling brandy, owned by Distell. “These huge changes in the way people purchase obviously create supply chain issues.” While panic buying has eased since 2021, Junior Jekwa, Distell’s marketing cluster lead: brandy and liqueurs, says: “One of the biggest scars and challenges from the pandemic has been the constraints in raw materials, like glass and cans shortages, as well an increase in the costs of goods. Economic inequality is a major challenge for South Africa, but the Covid pandemic elevated this, both in reducing consumers’ disposable income with lost jobs, and the increasing cost of living. "We’ve seen during and after the pandemic that South Africans have doubled down on trusted brands and value. We are fortunate our brands offer both. That said, the brandy category is under pressure, and needs to be rejuvenated among a new, younger, and inclusive consumer. While brandy and coke is the staple serve, other categories have grown through experimentation, and by the expansion of new serves, broadening their usage of mixers and cocktails.” As of 2020, brandy was the third biggest spirits category in South Africa, on 2.6m cases, of which just 7% was Cognac and Armagnac, according to the IWSR. It was just ahead of vodka, on 2.4m cases, though behind whisky on 2.9m, which, for thefirst time, had been overtaken by gin on 3.2m, up from 2.7m the year before. These four accounted for 88% of all spirits. Distell’s Jekwa says: “Over 2022 we’ve seen sales normalise and return to pre‐Covid levels.” In its full‐year results to last June, the company’s revenue in South Africa rose by 24.4%, with volume up by 18.7%. In September, South Africa’s Competition Commission approved Heineken’s €2.2bn (US$2.3bn) bid for a 65% share of the business, although this does not include its Scotch brands, such as Scottish Leader and Bunnahabhain.

Distell is also a leading player in South African whisky, which has “had a very strong run since 2020, with double‐digit growth in a declining category”, says Dino D’Araujo, who looks after the company’s whisky, gin and vodka portfolio. He claims the success of its Three Ships whisky aligns “with the growing interest we’re seeing behind local brands. For many years international brands were perceived as being of a higher pedigree, though these views are changing. South Africans are coming into their own, and believe that they can compete with the best in the world in any field, be it art, fashion, sport or in our case whisky making.” The same dynamic has benefitted the country’s pot still brandies, which have been “growing well, but off a tiny base”, says Reade‐Jahn. With a 3%‐5% market share, they can compete in terms of quality with the best from Cognac, but are outgunned in marketing spend. She mentions the emerging middle class in Johannesburg and Pretoria as being “very conscious of labels”, and says: “They’ll buy a bottle of Hennessy, not a shot, and put it on the table in a restaurant.” Meanwhile “Diageo South Africa has really recovered to its 2018/19 level”, says its managing director, Gavin Pike: “Our volumes are a little bit behind, but revenues and margins are actually up quite strongly. Our portfolio strength is really across all main categories –the first is Scotch whisky, the second is vodka, then premium gin and rum.” Although he accepts Scotch has lost share to international whiskies, be they Irish or homegrown ones, he claims “Johnnie Walker has been a key contributor” to the company’s recent growth. In Diageo’s latest half‐year results to December 2022, South African net sales were reported to have risen by 10%.

Polarised market As well as shrinking somewhat, it seems the country’s Scotch market has become polarised. “There’s strength at the bottom, and strength at the top,” says Pike. “Our portfolio strength is in ‘premium’, and that’s meant we’ve been able to maintain a strong position in whisky.” His colleague, Natalia Celani, marketing and innovation director at Diageo South Africa, adds: “We have registered phenomenal growth with Johnnie Walker Black Label, and we’ve just launched a campaign with the actor Jonathan Majors.” In gin “our focus has been on ‘premium’, with Tanqueray and Tanqueray No Ten”, says Pike, but he accepts the category has plunged downmarket, with the ‘value’ segment accounting for a hefty 85% of volume in 2020, according to IWSR. “There has been a real commoditisation happening in gin over the past two to three years, but innovations like Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale have really helped keep consumers in the premium price points,” he says. As for vodka, where Diageo’s locally distilled Smirnoff dominates, he claims: “We’ve really found opportunities around smaller formats, and these have played a critical role in consumer occasions and price points where the consumer, under pressure, is still shopping.” He mentions innovations like Smirnoff Infusions, which, at 23% ABV, “has really played to the desire for lower alcohol”. It is early days for low‐and‐no brands in South Africa, but there has been plenty of activity. “We launched our first low‐alcohol spirit in the brandy portfolio, Viceroy Smooth Gold, in 2021, and are looking to launch a new low‐alcohol brandy for Klipdrift this year,” says Jekwa. Meanwhile, alcohol‐free Tanqueray 0.0 hit the market here in January, though “we don’t expect it become a huge brand any time soon”, says Celani. And finally, there’s Tequila. It has a small presence in the market, which was badly hit by the on‐trade closures of 2020, and leans towards cheap, ‘mixto’ brands in South Africa. But Pike talks of “the emergence of a much more premium category, and a much more considered consumer who is observing the trends coming out of the US. We’ve seen phenomenal growth off a relatively small base, and we believe it will be a significant premium category in the future.” If and when that happens, he will be ready, with a bottle of Don Julio in one hand, and a bottle of Casamigos in the other.

Is rum ready to take off at auction?

Nicola Carruthers — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 08:30:38 +0000

After years of being labelled as the next big thing it looks like rum is finally having a moment, with consumers increasingly on the hunt for rare bottlings, and auction prices heading skywards.

*This feature was first published in the March 2023 issue of The Spirits Business magazine. Rum has been touted as the next big category to watch on the secondary market, rivalling the likes of Scotch and Cognac as a more affordable investment. Demand for super‐premium‐plus rums for sipping as opposed to mixing has helped elevate rum’s image and made it more sought after, bolstered by limited releases from revered producers such as Foursquare, Appleton Estate and Havana Club. “Collectors are becoming increasingly interested in quality aged rums, demonstrated by the growing portfolios found in high‐end spirits stores and websites traditionally associated with classics such as Scotch and Cognac,” says Anne Martin, global marketing director for Cuban brand Havana Club. “The latest IWSRfigures show that growth of super‐premium (5.5% CAGR 2019‐2021) and ultra‐premium (17.2%) rums are fast outpacing that of standard/premium category growth (3%). This signifies a clear appetite for luxury and ultra‐rare expressions, and a burgeoning investor market.” Havana Club has sought to attract collectors with bottlings including Havana Club Maximo Extra Añejo (RRP €2,500), which comes in a crystal decanter, and its Tributo range, a series of annual releases. Last year’s release of the limited edition Havana Club Don Navarro exclusively through The Whisky Exchange was an “instant sellout”, says Martin. Meanwhile, Whisky Auctioneer sold the most expensive single bottle of rum to date as part of a rum‐exclusive sale in April 2021 – Wray and Nephew Rum (President’s Reserve bottling) for £31,500 (US$38,087). This led to Whisky Auctioneer creating a dedicated online auction platform, Rum Auctioneer, in response to the increasing numbers of rums appearing in its regular auctions and its ‘hugely successful’ inaugural Rum Auction.

Appetite for rum

Joe Wilson, head curator and spirits specialist at Rum Auctioneer, says the company took the plunge to launch the platform as there was a “clear indication there was an appetite for collecting rum, separate to whisky”. He says the number of bottles of rum sold in the past three or four years have doubled. Wilson believes consumers are “more inclined to come to a rum‐focused auction” rather than a whisky site that also sells rum. Interest in the sugar cane-based spirit has been dominated by closed Trinidad distillery Caroni, and Foursquare in Barbados. Wilson notes that Caroni has a dedicated following, with “interest becoming more intensive over the lastfive years” as fewer bottles remain on the market. He also describes Foursquare as having “exceptional quality and affordable pricing” with rum enthusiasts “desperate to try Foursquare”. Wilson notes particular interest in “mostly molasses‐based rums”, including those from Trinidad and Barbados, and French rums like agricole and cane‐juice rums “replicated by new producers in Indian Ocean countries”. Isabel Graham‐Yooll, auction and private client director for Whisky.Auction, has noted interest for rums from single casks, single distilleries and “unique bottles with a lot of information on there”. She points to the success seen with bottles from Luca Gargano, CEO of Italian importer Velier, a rum expert who has co‐created a number of independently bottled rums with distillers that are often snapped up quickly. She adds: “What does get a lot of interest are navy flagons, which can sell for £5,000, which is a lot. When I joined the company, they were selling for £1,000 each.” The flagons were used by the Navy until the 1960s for their daily tot of rum, and ended up in private hands once their production came to a stop, Graham‐Yooll says.

“Writers have been saying rum is the next big thing for the past 10 years, and they are correct now,” she enthuses. “Prices are going up. There’s a lot of talk about Caroni. Is Caroni the next Karuizawa? Of course it isn’t, it’s different,” she explains. “It’s a strong characterful rum that is recognisable. Karuizawa [Japanese whisky] has a broader appeal to taste, it has that richness. Caroni is distinct. There’s plenty of closed whisky distilleries that don’t get much attention, but some win the lotteries.”

Average value

At auction house Sotheby’s, rum is not a high priority but it remains of interest, according to its head of whisky and spirits, Jonny Fowle. “The one thing we don’t see from rum is a high average value,” he says. “The average value of lots we sell in the UK is US$40,000. We tend not to sell so many rums.” One issue holding back the rum category in Fowle’s opinion is the “lack of transparency” as there are no global rules for the sector, with rum being made all over the world. “Rum is so disparate and there’s nothing that really binds them together,” he says. Graham‐Yooll disagrees with this point. “I don’t think there is a lack of transparency, but there is this confusion because so many different countries have developed a rum tradition independent of others. The same happens with whisky; rules in Kentucky are different than on Islay, but you wouldn’t say that causes a lack of transparency. "In both cases there’s been a huge investment in education by the producers in explaining the category and what they do differently. You’ve got the age‐old arguments about the style of rum and the differences. Someone who is good at marketing should be doing this for the brands, and educating people. It can’t be down to just one or two people out there, it needs to be on a much larger scale. Otherwise, it can’t develop much further.”

More affordable spirits

Fowle sees a “migration away from single malt to more affordable spirits” such as rum, where drinkers are more likely to open their bottles if the price is low. He mentions older bottles from Jamaica, like Appleton Estate, that perform well on the secondary market. Wilson notes consumers are “diversifying” their spirits collections “as opposed to transitioning fully to rum. People will not abandon theirfirst love. It depends on the motives of the buyer, whether they want to collect or invest. The evidence isn’t there yet that rum will reach the stratospheric sums of whisky.” The rum category has been “established for a while but needs to get more of a foothold in the collectable sides of things”, says Wilson. “We need people to drink it and make opinions. People need to open things and discuss them, share samples, and compare tasting notes. People create a legacy.” Ken Grier is the associate creative director for Colombian rum brand Dictador and the former creative director for single malt Scotch whisky The Macallan. He believes strong branding will help build the rum category on the secondary market. “People tend not to collect regionally; they don’t bag a Macallan because it’s quintessentially Speyside,” Grier says. “It’s about the brand itself, what it stands for.”

Jim McEwan, founder of Scotland’s Dark Matter Distillers, echoes Grier’s view that the rum industry needs brands to help build the category, like a “Macallan of the rum world”. He says: “Macallan absolutely dominates the secondary whisky market, maybe rum needs one of those. Caroni was the first; it ceased production. Being a closed distillery has helped that. Hopefully a few will lead the way.” Grier believes rum could be the next big investment in the spirits world due to a number of factors: age statements, rarity, the benefit of provenance and compelling stories. Grier sees Dictador as having parallels with The Macallan, with the Colombian brand’s history going back 110 years, family involvement, and the use of the “finest ingredients and the finest wood”, as well as its coastal location in Cartagena. Dictador claims to own the world’s largest stock of aged rum, up to 45 years old.

Producer partnerships

The brand has partnered with a number of producers around the world for its Two Masters series, including Hardy’s Cognac, Royal Tokaji, and Glenfarclas. In March 2021, a 1976 vintage Dictador in a Lalique decanter also become one of the most expensive bottles of rum sold at auction after fetching £30,000 during a Sotheby’s sale. The bottle, number #0 of 300 decanters, is a blend of vintage rums produced in 1976, and aged in American oak and Port casks. The brand also sold 10 bottles of 1976 Dictador Generations as a non‐fungible token (NFT) on BlockBar, with a price tag of US$25,000 each. It’s not just the older bottlings that are attracting attention at auction. In December 2021, Scotland’s ‘first’ rum distillery, Dark Matter Distillers, sold its inaugural aged rum collection for £41,800 on Rum Auctioneer, said to be afirst for the platform. Bottle number one in the distillers’ Physicist Series, Einstein, went under the hammer for £13,000 – the third‐highest price ever secured for a single bottle through Rum Auctioneer at the time. McEwan said the sale exceeded expectations. Wilson notes the platform “hadn’t done a partnership with a rum before”, which provided an “opportunity to do something special, and create a splash for Dark Matters’ inaugural bottling”. He adds: “As much as the focus is on rare, you need new producers to create the older bottlings of the future.” New distillers are also branching out into cask sales. Grenada’s Renegade Rum Distillery recently partnered with Cask Trade for the exclusive sale of its casks for the next three years. Renegade Rum is the brainchild of Mark Reynier, the former CEO of Islay distillery Bruichladdich, and the CEO of Ireland’s Waterford Distillery. The terroir‐driven rum is made from sugarcane grown on a dozen farms around the island. Reynier set out to make rum as “profound as a single malt” that is “fully traceable and transparent”.

On the map

Meanwhile, last month Scotland’s Matugga Distillery launched its private cask ownership programme, described as a “milestone moment for Scottish rum” by the distillery’s co‐founder, Paul Rutasikwa. A limited number of rum casks are available for an initial investment of £3,300 each. Whisky writer Charles MacLean believes the cask programme will “put Scottish rum on the map”, and will benefit from its connection to the “global prestige of Scotch whisky”. As producers unveil more investment opportunities, rum could be in a good position to grow its share of the auction market.

Top 10 Barbie-inspired cocktails

Alice Brooker — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 11:23:32 +0000

From the Plastic Fantastic to the Mali-Barb, we've rounded up 10 fabulous serves for those feeling the Barbie buzz.

On the Barbie hype? Team SB is too, so we've rounded up a number of pink and pretty cocktails to satisfy your Barbie wants and needs as the blockbuster release date nears. If you're planning to bee-line for the big screen for the film's opening on 21 July, make sure you mix up one of these tipples afterwards to continue the fun. And for any Kens out there, there's a serve for you too – aptly named 'Just Ken'. For more cocktail recipes, check out our round-up of cocktails to craft from home for July.

Amaro Santoni Spritz

Taste this number at Swift in Shoreditch, London, as the venue hosts a 'disco drinks' event every Thursday night. The Amaro Santoni Disco Drinks menu claims to be the pink perfect roster to celebrate with your friends. INGREDIENTS

2 parts Santoni
3 parts Prosecco
Olives

METHOD Combine in a glass with ice and stir, garnish with an olive.

Just Ken

What would a 'Just Ken' cocktail be without simple syrup? The Cauldron Tavern in Brighton, UK, is offering up a variety of Barbie-themed drinks from 21 July for one week only. INGREDIENTS

25ml Simple syrup
2 Quartered lime wedges
1-2 Mint sprigs
75ml Bourbon
10ml Blue Curaçao (for colour)
Ice

METHOD Muddle the sugar syrup, the two quartered lime wedges and mint sprigs first of all into your cocktail mixing beaker. Then add Bourbon, Blue Curaçao and plenty of ice. Use your stirrer and dry stir for 30-50 seconds. Pour your cocktail through your strainer and into a chilled glass. Add ice and some mint to garnish.

Kwai Feh Pink Señorita

Amber Beverage's Kwai Feh pink liqueur is a must-buy this Barbie season. Go the extra mile and polish off this beverage with edible flowers. INGREDIENTS

25ml Kwai Feh
25ml Tequila
25ml Triple sec
10ml Lemon juice
Pink lemonade

METHOD Add the first four ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a Margarita glass or glass of your choice. Top up with pink lemonade and garnish with a pink rose or other pink edible flowers.

Dance the Night

Dance the Night named after the lead single in the film’s soundtrack. The pink cocktail will be served as a limited edition special between 21-23 at Savage Garden Rooftop Bar in London. INGREDIENTS

30ml Lanique Spirit of Rose
30ml Lillet
15ml Strawberry
10ml Almond syrup
15ml Sour Agent or lime or lemon juice
Bubbles

METHOD Pour all the ingredients except the bubbles in a mixing glass. Add ice and shake the cocktail. Then fine strain it using a sieve into a coupe glass. Then top it up with bubbles.

Pink Paloma Paradise

When mixing up a Barbie cocktail, there's no better friend to call on than the trusty pink grapefruit. This tipple is not only perfectly suited to those looking for an ultra-refreshing summer go-to, but also makes a picturesque cocktail for those pre- or post-cinema drinks with friends. INGREDIENTS

50ml Tequila
Lime
Pink Himalayan salt
Agave syrup (optional)
Double Dutch Pink Grapefruit Soda
Slice of grapefruit

METHOD Wet the rim of your glass with lime before dipping in your pink salt to create a salt rim. Fill your glass with ice. Pour your Tequila over ice. Squeeze in your fresh lime and optional agave for those that like their Paloma a little sweeter. Top with Double Dutch Pink Grapefruit Soda Stir carefully until evenly mixed. Garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit.

Mali-Barb

Come on Barbie, let's go party – The Cauldron's Mali-Barb hits the Barbiecore spot. INGREDIENTS

50ml Tequila
50ml Creme de mure
25ml Lime
10ml Agave syrup
150ml Ginger beer
5ml Wray and Nephew
Half lime (hollowed out)

METHOD Add all measured ingredients (excluding ginger beer & Wray and Newphew) into a cocktail shaker and shake over ice. Strain into a highball glass and top with ginger beer.

Turkish Delight

Cocktail club Off the Cuff is offering up the perfect dose of pink for all your summer events. INGREDIENTS

40ml Whitley Neil Rhubarb and Ginger Gin
15ml Monin Rose
15ml Lemon juice
15ml Cranberry
5ml Monin White Chocolate
Soda and orange garnish

METHOD Fill a highball glass with cubed ice, then pour in each ingredient as listed, fill to top with soda and garnish.

The Pink Pamplemousse

Mark the Barbie celebrations with this gin-based serve. INGREDIENTS

50ml Ginato Pompelmo Gin
50ml Prosecco
20ml Crème de Pamplemousse
20ml Soda

METHOD Garnish a Margarita or Martini glass with a popping candy rim. Combine all ingredients over cubed ice in a Margarita or Martini glass.

Plastic Fantastic

Another from The Cauldron, Plastic Fantastic is perfect for those living the Barbie hype. INGREDIENTS

75ml Cranberry juice
25ml Kwai feh
50ml Raspberry gin
20ml Pink tonic

METHOD Measure out all ingredients excluding the pink tonic into your cocktail shaker. Add plenty of ice and get shaking. Double strain and pour into your chosen glass. Top with pink tonic.

Classic Cosmopolitan

Barbie is truly an unstoppable force, now claiming the classic serve typically associated with Carrie Bradshaw from tv show Sex and the City. INGREDIENTS

35ml Cîroc Summer Citrus Vodka
20ml Lime juice
20ml Triple sec
40ml Cranberry juice
Orange zest or lime wheel
Ice

METHOD Pour citrus vodka, lime juice, triple sec and cranberry juice into a shaker with cubed ice. Shake for 15 seconds or until condensation forms on the outside of the shaker. Fine strain into your saucer and garnish with a flamed orange zest.

Top 10 spirits launches in June 2023

Georgie Collins — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 12:06:22 +0000

With the start of a new season comes a new range of seasonally appropriate spirits, from a collection of ready-to-pour sundowners to a gin that takes you back in time to summer 2022.

June was a busy month for spirits producers, as while one Scotch distillery unveiled its latest annual expression, another released one of its oldest bottlings to date. Meanwhile, one celebrity demonstrated she is the ultimate hostess by launching a range of canned cocktails she won't be able to enjoy herself, and a British producer decided to take things into her own hands and create a spirit designed for her favourite serve. For our take on the best new releases to hit shelves in June, keep scrolling.

Fettercairn 18YO annual release

Last month, Whyte & Mackay-owned Fettercairn revealed the 2023 release of its 18-year-old limited edition single malt. Having launched the first edition of Fettercairn 18 Years Old in 2022, which marked a ‘new dawn in progressive whisky making’ for the brand, the 2023 expression is said to be both innovative in style and substance, and celebrates ‘what makes Fettercairn different’. The whisky offers aromas of sugared almonds, baking spices, and a tropical sweetness of passionfruit and guava, while to taste, exotic syruped fruits, patisserie sugars, brioche, and spices with soft hints of berry fruit can be detected.

No. 3 Gin's bottled Gimlet

Berry Bros & Rudd-owned No.3 Gin unveiled a bottled Gimlet to mark World Gin Day (10 June) last month, the third ready-to-serve cocktail to be released by the London Dry gin brand. Created in collaboration with London’s Artesian bar, located in The Langham Hotel, the pre-bottled cocktail is described as a ‘unique twist on the classic Gimlet recipe’, using a blend of No.3 London Dry Gin with bergamot, citrus, and floral notes to produce a ‘deliciously zesty and refreshing drink’. The bottle features unique microscopic art by Justin Zoll, and £1 (US$1.29) from the sale of each bottle will go to Hospitality Action, a charity that supports all who work, or have worked, within hospitality in the UK.

Suntory's anniversary whiskies

To mark its centenary this year, the House of Suntory released Hakushu 18 Years Old Peated Malt and an 18-year-old Yamazaki whisky aged in mizunara oak casks last month. “Yamazaki 18 Years Old Mizunara was blended for our 100-year anniversary and features a rich texture created from a long ageing process,” said fifth-generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo. “This expresses the delicate and meticulous attention to detail that went into its craftsmanship.” Meanwhile, the new Hakushu 18 Years Old Peated Malt is comprised of malt whiskies all aged for a minimum of 18 years. The new expression is said to offer a ‘new angle to the world of peated whisky’. In addition to the two new whiskies, Suntory also created limited edition labels for its 12-year-old Yamazaki and Hakushu whiskies to commemorate its 100th anniversary.

Cambridge Distillery's seasonal gin

'Tis the season for the latest release from Cambridge Distillery: Vintage 2022 Spring Summer. The seasonal expression has been crafted by master distiller William Lowe using a novo-dimensional distillation matrix. Temperature, timing, and pressure were among the nine variables used to tailor the treatment of each fresh botanical, and the result is a gin described as elegant on the palate with restrained fruit expression from flowering redcurrant, and supple citrus from lemon balm providing an ‘extended and graceful’ finish. Lowe commented: “The hottest temperatures we’ve ever seen here in Cambridge [in summer 2022] created unparalleled ripeness and richness to this seasonal expression, whilst retaining the elegant and vibrant lift for which our spring/summer releases have become so famous”.

De Kuyper RTD cocktails

There are now six new ready-to-serve (RTS) cocktails on the market thanks to Dutch liqueur brand De Kuyper. The six new RTS drinks form part of the brand’s strategy to ‘own the cocktail’, and the line-up includes: the Espresso Martini Cocktail (14.5% ABV), the Passionfruit Martini Cocktail (12% ABV), the Piña Colada Cocktail (14.5% ABV), the Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail (14.5% ABV), the Cosmopolitan Cocktail (14.5% ABV), and the Clover Club Cocktail (12.5% ABV). Each serve in the new collection can be enjoyed in two ways: either shake the cocktails with ice to create a ‘bar-like experience’, or pour the chilled drink into a glass.

Frapin 30 Years Old

There are 3,000 bottles available of the latest Cognac to come from Frapin: the 41.8% ABV, 30-year-old Millésime 1990, each priced at RRP £205 (US$261). With an ‘infinitely long’ finish, it is made using grapes from a 1990 harvest, on the brand’s 240-hectare Chez Pet vineyard. “This 30-year-old vintage is a truly exceptional Cognac. It is a result of a complex alchemy and embodies the Frapin style with its voluptuous aromatic richness and its infinitely long finish,” said cellarmaster Patrice Piveteau. The vintage Cognac has been aged for 30 years on the brand’s estate in the humid cellars, and is the latest addition to the Millésime range, which was launched 24 years ago with a 1979 bottling.

Sphynx Tequila

Pop a bottle of Sphynx Tequila down in the middle of the table and you’ve got yourself a conversation starter. This Tequila, created by British-Indian couple Sukhvinder and Imran Javeed is the result of a decade-long ‘journey’, which saw the pair immerse themselves in the heartland of Tequila production in Mexico. All the Tequilas in the Sphynx Tequila range, which is composed of blanco, añejo, añejo cristalino, and extra-aged añejo black oak expressions, are made with 100% Blue Weber agave and contain zero additives. Each bottle of Sphynx Tequila is presented in the brand’s custom decanter, which symbolises good fortune and abundance, and is described as a timeless piece of art.

Betty Booze

Despite being known for being a teetotaller, actress Blake Lively moved into the world of hard alcohol last month with the launch of Betty Booze – a trio of RTD alcoholic canned cocktails, all of which clock in at 4.5% ABV and are crafted with sparkling water, real juice, and premium spirits. Announcing the launch of Betty Booze on her Instagram page, Lively wrote: @bettybooze [is] for those who want the alcohol… Because that’s what hosts do. We make something for everyone. And not usually ourselves.” The new line includes: Sparkling Bourbon with Apple Ginger Sour Cherry; Sparkling Tequila with Lemonade; and Sparkling Tequila with Lime Shiso.

Benriach 40 Years Old

Brown-Forman-owned Speyside distillery Benriach released two 40-year-old single malts last month: The Forty and the travel retail-exclusive Forty Octave Cask Matured. Created using ‘rare’ peated casks, The Forty (43.5% ABV) is said to be one of the oldest peated malts to be released from a Speyside distillery, and is available as an ongoing release in specialist retailers in select global markets, priced at RRP £3,200 (US$4,084). Meanwhile The Forty Octave Cask Matured was matured in small octave casks, which are an eighth of the size of a regular cask, meaning only 135 bottles of the expression are available in select international airports, priced at RRP £3,800 (US$4,850).

Neurita Tequila

You can’t have a Margarita without a Tequila, and so Lucy Smith, founder of Neurita, wanted to create a spirit that “captured the essence of what a Margarita is all about.” As such, she launched two expressions, Citrus and Rosa Neurita Tequila, which have been crafted with high-quality blue agave, and are the perfect base for both a classic and spicy Margarita. The new expressions are available to purchase directly from the brand’s website, Master of Malt, Threshers, and Amazon for RRP £29.99 (US$37.39).

SB meets… Patrick Leger, Grand Marnier

Nicola Carruthers — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 11:50:48 +0000

Patrick Leger, master blender of Grand Marnier liqueur, discusses his first project, the Exceptional range, and the company's ambition to become one of the biggest players in Cognac.

After working for family-owned Cognac maker Camus, Patrick Leger joined Campari Group as master blender for its Cognac-based Grand Marnier liqueur brand in March 2020. He sat down with The Spirits Business to discuss the brand's newest expressions, Quintessence and Révélation, which are made with XXO Cognacs from Grande Champagne. Quintessence was made with hors d’âge Cognacs aged up to 70 years old from Grande Champagne. The blend comes exclusively from 11 barrels, including two from 1947, and three demijohns from Paradis, the personal reserves of the Marnier Lapostolle family cellar, which are believed to be even older. What was the main inspiration behind Quintessence? The objective of Campari was to elevate Grand Marnier within the Cognac category. In the Cognac category you have VS, VSOP, XO and XXO. We wanted to have an XXO, which is a new category of Cognac with no limits. We have no limit in the Cognac category because we can play every year with different Cognacs, different history, terroir, types of ageing. As master blender, I’m the guardian of the temple of Grand Marnier, so I am using Cognac just coming from my predecessor. I need to preserve the stock and to build the stock for the future generation. As soon as I take vintages to use for Quintessence, I have to put in stock for 50- to 60-year-old Cognac, which can be used in 10 years, 20 years or 40 years. This is my objective. How old is the Cognac that is used in Quintessence liqueur? When did you create the product? It’s a blend of different Cognacs. The oldest is around 100 years old, very old. It was launched at the end of 2021 but it was created two years before. We started working on this product at the beginning of 2020. So the liquid is very scarce – how much is available? We have 500 carafes per year, so when we launched it we only had 1,000 carafes. So now we are working on the next addition and a new collection. How would you drink Quintessence? Neat is the best way, and of course if you want to have a dessert with it then this product is perfect, or with a coffee. What was your first experience with spirits? I was only 10 years old. My father and my grandfather were winegrowers and distillers. So my first experience in terms of tasting and smelling was in the distillery of my grandfather. But my real first experience in the business of spirits was Alizé, a [French] brand based on Cognac and passionfruit, which was very successful in the 90s. It was selling 600,000 cases annually. So it was my first big experience in the Cognac category. How did you come to work in the industry? I worked for Alizé for 11 years. At the start I was in charge of the distillery and the Cognac production, and year after year I was tasting and learning about the Cognac. I’m really fascinated by the distillation process. I learned a lot about the Cognac and its intensity, and how you can marry it with different food, different aromas and different possibilities. Afterwards I joined a family Cognac company, Camus, where I worked as a master blender, and then five years as managing director. I was mainly focused on Cognac but there was a large portfolio of products. I was also in charge of production of the company's Irish whiskey, and Chinese baijiu Moutai. What are you experimenting with at the moment? Grand Marnier is a very old brand, created in 1827, so you can imagine in 2027 we will be 200 years old. So this is something that we are working on, and I'm experimenting with something interesting. We are also working on a limited edition for Quintessence. We are also working a lot on sustainability in our production, distillation and how we can be very respectful to our planet. We're thinking about how we can reuse everything and how we can limit our impact on the environment. I’m working with the Cognac organisation, the BNIC [Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac], as part of the scientific management committee. I'm also in the managing committee of the BNIC; we are only 16 people in the Cognac area, so eight wine growers and eight brands. I’m representing Grand Marnier and Campari, so we’re working all together to find solutions at each stage of Cognac making. How we can protect the soils, how we can build less cellars and find solutions for distillation. Have you implemented any sustainability measures already? We are working on the reduction of the water that we use in the distillation process. We need water to cool the distillation process so we reuse the same water. This is probably one of the best and more easy things to do. We’re also working on how to recover energy. We are working to find the pot still of the future, without using fossil fuels. Can you tell me about your involvement in the relaunch of Bisquit & Dubouché Cognac? It’s an older brand compared to Grand Marnier as it was founded in 1819. It’s very, very old. It’s an interesting brand with a rich history. Like Grand Marnier, there's a family behind the brand. In 2022, we launched the complete range of Bisquit – VS, VSOP and XO. In the short future, we’ll have the equivalence of Quintessence. We are always working on the oldest stock to produce it. So we have a nice stock of very old Cognac – this is something we need to increase for the future of Bisquit. Bisquit was the number-two in the Cognac category in the 1950s, so now we are probably very small in the Cognac category, but with Campari we will be back in the short future in the top 10. Production was very small when Campari acquired the brand in 2018. It was also very small in terms of sales. In 2020, we started working on the new qualities, new blends, new packaging, new positioning, and we relaunched in 2022. What’s your vision for the brand? The first vision is to build a very qualitative product. We’re improving our distillation methods, and we have a longer distillation compared to our competitors. Second, to recover the brand’s place on the market. So we have the qualities, the wine growers, the partners, and we are strong because we are big in the Cognac category now we have Bisquit and Grand Marnier. In the Cognac category, we are number five, a big player.

Cocktail stories: Ode to the Oat, Hero

Alice Brooker — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:48:55 +0000

Kelvin Thairu, of Nairobi’s Hero bar, chats about the Ode to the Oat serve and going all out for flavour in his cocktails.

*This feature was first published in the February 2023 issue of The Spirits Business magazine. Paying homage to “the humble oat”, Ode to the Oat is a cocktail that recreates the base notes of single malt whisky, which there is a “local appetite” for in Kenya, according to Kelvin Thairu, bars manager for the Tribe Hotels Group. “Ode to the Oat doubles down on the flavours of single malt whisky by incorporating oat, toffee and cashew nuts into the cocktail,” he says. “The subtle notes of the pure spirit inspired the big bold flavours in the cocktail.” Oat milk, created in-house by the team, is selected as an ingredient for its silky mouthfeel. “We noticed that extending the soaking time for the toffee, cashew nut, and oat combination deepened the flavour; this would have been challenging with dairy milk, as it would likely spoil,” Thairu explains. The serve is suited to the country’s two distinct seasons: dry and wet. “The drink is designed for both warmer and cooler days,” Thairu continues. “It is refreshing and bright for a sunny day, and also a nice warm hug for a rainy night.” A classic cocktail that most closely resembles Ode to the Oat is a Milk Punch, and its palate boasts flavours of slight citrus, which cuts the thickness of the oat milk, and sweet toffee, which pairs well with whisky. The drink, which features on the bar’s permanent menu, is a “surprisingly approachable cocktail, even for those who wouldn’t necessarily drink whisky”. The bar is driving its cocktail creation towards a more sophisticated focus. “Kenya’s cocktail scene is rising. We have moved from a very tourist-driven sector of overly colourful and overly garnished cocktails you would find at lodges across the country, to now catering towards an increasingly very sophisticated palate,” says Thairu. “Kenya does have a taste for whiskies and Cognacs but also has a growing craft beverage scene. Kenyan cocktails are typically sweet, however this is changing as the industry matures and develops.” The drink features in the menu’s ‘Sensai Sips’ section. Since Hero opened, its design premise has revolved around the question of what a “hero or heroine” would drink, what it would look like, how it would taste, and how it would arrive, adds Thairu. “This one is no different,” concludes Thairu, in reference to Ode to the Oat. For more acclaimed serves to craft from your own home, check out Ruby's Old Fashioned and Charming covered in the December issue.

Ode to the Oat

Ingredients 60ml Singleton 12 Years Old 60ml Toffee-oat-milk infusion* 10ml Sugar syrup Chocolate toffee wedge (for garnish) Method Shake the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker. Strain and pour into a glass. Garnish with a chocolate toffee wedge. *To create the toffee-oat-milk infusion, place one-litre of oat milk and 350g of toffee into a vacuum bag and seal. Sous vide at 60°C for three hours. Then place in an ice bath to cool. Strain and use.

SB meets… Suvi Reinikkala, Anora Group

Melita Kiely — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 08:52:48 +0000

Anora Group's marketing director of spirits discusses why sustainability is crucial to the company’s long-term success.

What targets has Anora Group set to improve its carbon footprint? We have high ambitions that our own production is carbon neutral by 2030, and our Koskenkorva Distillery is carbon neutral by 2026 – both without compensations. We support regenerative farming, and we aim to increase the share of regeneratively farmed barley to 30% of our grain spirits products by 2030. We enhance the circular economy by reducing wastewater by 20%, increasing the recycling rate of waste to 90%, and reducing landfill waste to zero by 2030. And by 2030 all our packages will be light in weight, 100% recyclable, and made of materials from certified sources or from recycled origin. The CO₂ footprint of Anora packaging is well below the industry average. Why did Anora Group buy 3.5m kg of regeneratively farmed barley this year? A lot of farming is done in a way that’s called monoculture. It forces farmers to use a lot of pesticides and fertilisers that end up in waterbodies, and essentially make them toxic to wildlife. The soil gets worse and produces fewer crops. Regenerative farming makes the soil richer, increases biodiversity, helps it retain more water and nutrients, and produces more crops. And at the same time, it draws carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in the ground. But it requires a big shift in thinking. You need to rotate crops. Instead of simply taking resources from nature, regenerative farming is a part of nature’s natural cycle. If everyone in the world farmed regeneratively, we might be able to remove as much as 322 billion tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere. Does it affect the flavour of the spirit? To be honest we were surprised that it actually does slightly. The flavour of regeneratively farmed barley-produced vodka is fuller and deeper in a very pleasant way, which also makes it even more smooth on the palate. How has Anora Group worked to improve the sustainability of its spirits packaging? Over the past few years, Anora has increasingly shifted from glass bottles to alternative packaging materials, such as fully recyclable PET plastic bottles. With a 60%–90% lower carbon footprint than glass bottles, our innovative PET bottles and recyclable bag-in-boxes offer better options for the environment, and are at the core of Anora’s packaging strategy. With rPET (where ‘r’ stands for recycled), the carbon footprint is even smaller. We aim to increase the share of rPET to 50% by the year 2025 and to a full 100% by 2030. Is it more expensive to work with sustainable products and use more eco-friendly processes? Sustainable products and processes often require initial investments in research, development, and infrastructure. Implementing renewable energy systems or upgrading manufacturing equipment to reduce emissions can come with higher upfront costs. While sustainable products may have a higher initial cost, they often lead to long-term savings. What was the response to the launch of Koskenkorva Vodka Climate Action? Amazing. The fact that we do real things as a company that then translate into benefits for the planet, is something consumers have really embraced. Is Anora Group on track to achieve the targets outlined in the company’s Sustainability Roadmap? Yes, we are on track with our key initiatives and have been able to increase our ESG rating systematically. However, sustainability is a journey and we are an open book about our journey.

Top 10 marketing moves in June 2023

Alice Brooker — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:22:25 +0000

From stashing diamonds in bottle corks to a partnership with White Lotus star Aubrey Plaza, spirits brands took creativity to new heights in June.

Last month saw a number of exciting marketing moves from brands, as partnerships with summer festivals and distributors saw spirits boosting their presence in a number of ways. UK distillery Bimber broke a world record for a single malt reaching the highest summit, while Martini celebrated its 160th anniversary with a stylish campaign. Scroll on for the marketing moves that stood out in June. For more marketing round-ups, check out the top 10 list from May.

Nemiroff adds Whyte & Mackay

Ukrainian vodka brand Nemiroff has appointed single-malt whisky producer Whyte & Mackay as a strategic partner for the UK and Ireland. The partnership will enable Nemiroff to strengthen its position as a “leading player” in the spirits industry. Nemiroff CEO Yuriy Sorochynskiy said: “This partnership will allow us to give UK consumers the opportunity to experience a product we have been passionately creating since 1872.” Mike Greggs, Whyte and Mackay managing director, Europe & global travel retail, said: “We recognise in Nemiroff a shared ethos between us as spirits makers – a commitment to excellence. Nemiroff has built an enviable position.”

Whitley Neill prize sparkles

Halewood Artisanal Spirits’ Whitley Neill Gin has hidden £25,000 (US$31,855) worth of diamonds in its bottles to provide UK consumers with “heirlooms to pass on”. The brand cited research from OnePoll, which found that 43% of UK-based adults don’t leave heirlooms to family and friends. In an attempt to ‘reignite’ this tradition, and mark eight generations of its own distilling heritage, the gin brand has revealed it is hiding diamonds within bottles of its Distiller’s Cut London Dry Gin. Those who find one of the 15 hidden diamond engravings in the bottle corks of Distiller’s Cut Gin will win an ethical diamond with a minimum carat of 0.4. Whitley Neill will also be offering a complimentary jewellery service to winners. The Distiller’s Cut Diamond prizes can be won until the end of August.

VK van puts alco-lollies on ice

Global Brands-owned VK has launched the UK’s ‘first’ alco-popiscle van in London, with a later feature planned in Liverpool in July. The ready-to-drink brand rolled out its VK Ices Tour at Potters Fields Park on 22 June, providing alcoholic ice popsicles made with two flavours – VK Blue and VK Orange & Passionfruit. The van can hold 8,000 lollies, which each have an ABV of 4%. Free VK merchandise was also handed out. The van will also pop-up on 7 July in Liverpool at event venue Content. Charlie Leaver, head of brand at Global Brands, said: “We are thrilled to reveal the first appearance of our alcoholic VK Ices Van, and this is the first ever chance to try our limited edition VK Ices. These alcoholic ice-lollies are made with all of the fruity fun and vibes of two of our best-selling flavours.”

Mintis targets home country

Italian gin brand Mintis has committed to boosting its presence in its home country, having partnered with distributor GS Distribuzione Italia to accelerate its growth. Launched in 2021, Mintis Gin is now available in 29 countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, and Croatia. Mintis Gin co-founder Stepan Stanek said: “We are excited to work with GS Distribuzione Italia to accelerate the growth in the home country of Mintis Gin over the coming years. We are delighted to have found a partner that will focus on the brand, and that prizes independence, inspiration and uniqueness as much as we do.” The brand’s portfolio comprises four expressions: Originale, made with mint and lemons; Clementine, crafted with clementines and mint; Amarena Cherry, which sees dark cherries distilled with mint; and Blackcurrant, which also includes a ‘hint of mint freshness’.

Martini marks 160th birthday

Bacardi-owned Martini has unveiled a marketing campaign to mark its 160th anniversary. The 160 Years of Italian Taste advertising campaign will “open the gates to the world of Martini” to consumers by drawing inspiration from its “legacy as a symbol of Italian style and culture”, according to the brand. Martini was founded in 1863 by entrepreneur Alessandro Martini and herbalist Luigi Rossi. Victoria Morris, vice-president, Martini, said: “This is the year of Martini, and we’re taking our celebration across the globe with 160 Years of Italian Taste. Martini has always been at the forefront of Italian style.” The campaign will run via advertising and social media platforms.

Music to White Claw’s ears

Mark Anthony Brands-owned White Claw is expanding its festival presence with activations at UK music festivals, including London’s British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park. The hard seltzer brand has partnered with BST and All Points East, and has a 60-date line-up at festivals in the UK, aiming to become the “festival drink of choice”. BST Hyde Park is taking place until 9 July, and White Claw is hosting its Shore Club bar experience there, fitted with a four-dimensional wave experience, beach club seating, and a raised viewing floor. The brand will also be present at Dockyards from 8 to 15 July; Junction 2 on 21-22 July; All Points East from 18 to 28 August; and Fly Open Air on 16-17 September. Michael Dean, marketing director UK at White Claw, said: “White Claw is the perfect match for festivals.”

Aubrey Plaza joins Cointreau

French drinks group Rémy Cointreau has collaborated with Parks and Recreation actor Aubrey Plaza to showcase its orange liqueur brand Cointreau in a Margarita cocktail. The new campaign plays on the idea of enjoying a Margarita the ‘MargaRight’ way, as opposed to the ‘MargaWrong’ way. The campaign has produced two 30-second spots, one of which features Plaza scolding a guest for bring a giant pre-mixed Margarita cocktail. “Cointreau has a history of cinematic storytelling, with continued investment in marketing and partnerships with top-tier celebrity talent, now including Aubrey Plaza,” said Nicolas Beckers, president and CEO at Rémy Cointreau America.

Bimber hits the heights

The UK’s Bimber Distillery has set the record for a single malt reaching the highest summit, with its whisky landing at the peak of Mount Lhotse in Nepal. In May, Philip Pinchin, founding member of Bimber Distillery, began his climb of Lhotse to raise funds for medical charity Cobalt. Bimber supported this endeavour by creating a whisky made from a “unique marriage” of three cask types, including some of the distillery’s oldest and finest stock, for the climbing team to take to the top. The Lhotse Challenge 2023 bottling arrived on the summit of the mountain on 24 May at a height of 8,516 metres, which exceeds the previous record by more than 2,000 metres.

Buffalo Trace tees off golf sponsorship

Kentucky distillery Buffalo Trace has teamed up with the DP World Tour to become the sponsor of three UK golf tournaments, including the Scottish Open. Owned by Sazerac, the whiskey maker will back three events in the 2023 schedule as part of the DP World Tour, also known as the European tour. It is the leading men’s professional golf tour in Europe. Andrew Duncan, global director of American whiskey at Buffalo Trace Distillery, said: “We invite golf fans all over the globe to celebrate the world’s best players on a global stage by joining Buffalo Trace Distillery on the 19th hole for a pour of whiskey.”

The time is now for Absolut Tomorrowland

Vodka brand Absolut created a limited edition bottle in partnership with Belgium’s electronic dance festival Tomorrowland. The creation of the new bottle design marks the partners’ first on-site activation at the festival, a campaign named United We Dance. The revamped look is said to symbolise the festival spirit of ‘unlimited freedom’, with red and orange butterflies that visualise the positive change, and the ‘new beginnings’ that the festival brings. The bottle will also display a QR code for consumers in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Malta to enter the Absolut Drop It Challenge, and features a bespoke audio track and video template for entrants to record dance content and use the hashtag #UnitedWeDance. The bottles are available in Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Poland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Estonia, Dominican Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Montenegro, Malta, Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus, Brazil, and The UAE.

SB meets… Owen Martin, Angel’s Envy

Nicola Carruthers — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:58:53 +0000

Owen Martin, the new master distiller of Bacardi-owned Kentucky distillery Angel’s Envy, on being forward‐thinking when it comes to cask finishes.

What is your background in the industry? I originally got in through beer. I was finishing an engineering degree in the States, and I decided that wasn’t going to be the path I wanted to go. I started looking abroad and found a programme in Edinburgh at Heriot‐Watt University, so I started a master’s degree in brewing and distilling. The first half or more was beer, and after that we really delved into whisky production. I did a thesis with a Scotch distillery, and I thought spirits was definitely the way to go. I moved back to the US; I had a job lined up in Bourbon. What made you decide to move from Stranahan’s to Angel’s Envy? Angel’s Envy had just finished an US$8 million expansion to the visitor centre. The best way I can put it is it’s almost a Willy Wonka experience because these doors open and you get to see the whole production facility opened up in front of you. What’s in the pipeline for the year ahead? We’ll do a cask strength every year. That’s been since the earliest days of Angel’s Envy. We’re using ruby Port barrels for that. Although we’re legally allowed to use our initial American oak barrels once, we do refill the Port-finished barrels several times. There’s some other stuff in the pipeline that should be out in the near future. One of my goals with Angel’s Envy is to do something that’s familiar to our audience but also take it in a different direction. So the release I’m trying to get out doesn’t necessarily fall under any of the categories we’ve done before. My place is to hold the quality that Lincoln Henderson [the late master distiller of Angel’s Envy] created. I don’t want to change the original product as I respect the heritage of the brand and what he made. I plan to create limited edition products. Would you use barrels from other distilleries? Not that my last company didn’t have good barrels to work with, but Bacardi has a portfolio that’s pretty much unmatched. I’m trying to get some Patrón barrels. We’ve naturally always given our barrels to Scotland, to Puerto Rico. I was like, ‘now I’m going to start asking for barrels back’. But I don’t want the regular Aberfeldy batch; those are not the barrels I’m looking for. So I’m like ‘when’s your next special release? How many barrels is it? How old is it? What are the production details? And can I have those barrels?’ I’m patiently waiting for those releases to come out. Other than the rye, we haven’t done any spirit barrel finishing so I think that’s definitely a route we have to explore as the finished whiskey market gets more crowded. We have to be more forward thinking with cask finishing. Would you look at making a single malt whiskey now that there are formal regulations? Yes, I mean, nothing has been conveyed to me that anything is off the table. With my background, it makes a lot of sense. The first six months was about digging in and getting to know the production team and methods. They’ve given me a blank slate to work with, so I’m excited to get into different things there. What’s the production capacity, and are you planning to expand? We’re already looking at what the next expansion will look like. You have to be thinking about five to six years ahead of time. We’re at capacity in terms of the number of barrels we’re producing at the distillery. We’re looking at how we streamline our fermentation, and also looking at our production capacity. We have an idea of what the expansion is going to look like.

Contract thriller: third-party spirits

Alice Brooker — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 12:01:37 +0000

The days of third-party producers being a taboo secret seem to be over, as many in the industry are happy to admit they count on them for their skills, and the ability to help brands scale up quickly.

*This feature was first published in the March issue of The Spirits Business magazine. “I believe we exist to empower entrepreneurs to go out there in an industry that’s full of barriers and knock them down,” explains Anthony Moniello, co‐CEO of North Carolina--based third‐party spirits producer Next Century Spirits. Third‐party producers are considered by some to be the backbone of the craft spirits industry, all the while carrying out their work behind the scenes. Yet while their role in supporting brands remains crucial, the spotlight is rarely cast on them. “We describe a third‐party producer as a company that takes all of the production worries away from brands, allowing them to concentrate on sales and marketing to increase awareness,” Paul Miller, CEO of Wales’s Cardiff Distillery, puts it. “It allows easier, more affordable access into the industry, with limited capital investment and licensing.”

A third‐party producer will have a number of brands under its wing, with the responsibility of crafting spirits for them as they request. “Part of the business is creating brands for other people – we have 71 customers we create custom spirits for,” explains Moniello. “This is not mass production. This is truly a customised creation for people. We don’t distil ourselves, we source liquids then process them through our technology to create custom flavour profiles.” But third‐party producers’ involvement with other brands does not limit their freedom to create spirits themselves: Next Century Spirits essentially works two jobs, not just innovating for its 71 customers, but also for itself. The business produces Bear Fight whiskey in collaboration with Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. The range of brands a third‐party producer supports can also be broad, from craft to super‐premium spirits. Matt Krusemark, vice-president of distilling solutions sales at MGP Ingredients, headquartered in Kansas, US, explains that producers such as his “are necessary to support the business needs of distillers at all stages of spirits production". "We serve distillers of all sizes, from fledgling crafts to multinational organisations. Their needs often are very different: new distilleries awaiting maturation of their first batch of whiskey may need supply to generate income before they can bottle their own, and large producers may require spirits in significant quantities to ensure they can meet production goals. Others may want a specific flavour profile from MGP to use as the basis for their own branded spirit.” One issue third‐party producers have, or have had in the past, it may seem, is the brands they manage coming under fire for a lack of transparency, as some shy away from their association with the bigger producers in an attempt to retain a small, independent, and craft image. Natalie Wallis, group commercial manager for Alcohols Limited in Oldbury, near Birmingham in the UK, says: “There’s a lot of debate about whether we are good or bad. I don’t think there should be any criticism for using a third‐party distiller. There are an awful lot of benefits. "In any industry, there’s a lot of marketing, which may not be as transparent as perhaps it ought to be. From our perspective, we like to be as open and transparent as we can be. But I understand from a marketing perspective, that there may be reasons that a brand owner doesn’t wish to disclose that they’re using a third party.” Meanwhile, other third‐party producers recognise that their role was once taboo for brands, but this is less of an issue now. “I believe the taboo around third‐party contracting and sourcing has declined massively over the years, because as people begin to tell the truth to their consumers, they start to realise, ‘Oh, everyone’s done it’,” explains Moniello. He spent nine years with Diageo before joining Next Century Spirits in 2021, with a leadership team made up of representatives from Pernod Ricard, Beam Suntory, and more. “There’s contract distilling for the biggest companies to the smallest companies,” he continues. “It is a part of the industry and, frankly, I think it’s way less taboo now than it has ever been because some of your favourite brands wouldn’t exist today without contract distilling. Quite frankly, small brands that do well can’t scale up without contract distilling; it takes time to build a distillery. I won’t name other brands [with third‐party producers] because that would probably get me in trouble with every company I’ve worked for.” Krusemark emphasises that this is a problem of the past – a concern from “several years ago”, as today’s consumers are “better‐educated” about how the industry works. “Many of our contract‐distilling customers these days proudly state that MGP is their supplier,” he says. Global trends One benefit of third‐party spirits production is the ability to see global industry trends from higher up in the chain. With Alcohols Limited servicing between 500 and 600 international brands, its view of spirits trends is expansive. “We do see demand ebbing and flowing. We’re certainly seeing more demand coming from the States for British products; there have been a lot of successful brands like [gin brand] Highclere Castle over in the States,” says Wallis. “That’s starting to whet the appetite of some potential brand owners that want to get into the gin side of things and have a British product as well.” The return of vodkas, as well as a boost in demand for rum and flavoured vodka, has also been noticed by Alcohols Limited, according to Wallis. Meanwhile, both MGP Ingredients and Cardiff Distillery have witnessed a rise in demand for ready-to-drink products, with the latter seeing five to 10 enquiries a week for canned products, including low and-no serves. Aside from Bear Fight, Next Century Spirits also produces two other whiskey brands: Creek Water and TruthTeller, as well as the brands it creates as a third‐party producer. “Even small US distilleries that can’t get traction here call me to say, ‘help me in the US because I’m selling 10,000 cases in Asia, but I can’t sell anything here, and my distillery is in upstate New York’. “I would say the promiscuous Bourbon consumer is what drove the whiskey category in the US over the past 15 years. That’s now global – a global promiscuous consumer.” Finally, China’s like for higher‐proof alcohol, exemplified in the popularity of spirits such as baijiu in the country, filters into its requirements for American whiskey, as Moniello has seen “a particularly high demand for high‐proof alcohol” generally, but also in regards to American whiskey. “We get calls about 100‐proof, 120‐proof [50% ABV‐60% ABV] whiskeys now,” he explains. “That’s particularly surprising. China is a place where a lot of high‐proof alcohol wins the day.” While the taboo surrounding third‐party spirits producers has been declared nonexistent by some, it can be seen that the multi‐purpose giants serve an extensive range of benefits to the industry. Not only do the businesses open the doors for brands starting out, and in need of scaling, bringing “people’s dreams and brands alive” in doing so, according to Wallis, but the producers are also relevant for tracking global trends in the spirits industry – a much needed tracker as consumers keenly quench their thirst in a post‐pandemic world.

Cocktail recipes for July

Alice Brooker — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 11:31:58 +0000

Our round-up of cocktail recipes for at-home mixing includes a brandy-based iced latte and a non-alcoholic Mojito. Scroll on for more innovative serves.

Want a Mojito but haven't quite clocked off from work yet? Try shaking up alcohol-free Caleño's recipe, which provides a new take on the classic cocktail, on your lunch break instead. Or, give 135° East Gin's Longitude Line a go, garnished carefully with dried hibiscus flowers. Scroll down to discover 10 cocktail recipes you can create this July, and see here for June's round up. Do you have a cocktail recipe you’d like featured in next month’s round up? Email info@thespiritsbusiness.com.

Bardinet Iced Vanilla Latte

Fan of ice coffees but looking for more than a caffeine buzz? Look no further than this vegan serve. INGREDIENTS

35ml Bardinet VSOP
100ml Oat milk
20ml Vanilla syrup
1 shot or 25ml Espresso
Cinnamon

METHOD Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add the Bardinet VSOP, espresso, and vanilla syrup to the glass, then stir. Slowly top with the oat milk, then garnish with a pinch of cinnamon.

The Rebel Mule

Keep refreshed with this ginger beer-based gin cocktail. INGREDIENTS

50ml Sir Edmond Gin
25ml Fresh lime juice
Ginger beer to top up
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish

METHOD

Pour Sir Edmond Gin into a mule cup filled with ice. Add fresh lime juice and top it off with ginger beer. Give it a quick stir. Add bitters and garnish it with a lime wedge and a mint sprig.

Eden Mill Cross Court Cocktail

Serve up a celebration of summery British flavours with Eden Mill Gin. INGREDIENTS

35ml Eden Mill Wildcard Gin
10ml Monin Wild Strawberry syrup
Pink Prosecco
1 Raspberry

METHOD Pour the gin and strawberry syrup into a champagne flute. Top up with pink Prosecco and stir, then garnish with the raspberry.

Caleño Mojito

Alcohol-free cocktail recipes are having their heyday – and this serve is a good example as to why. INGREDIENTS

50ml Caleño Dark & Spicy
15ml Sugar syrup
1 Fresh lime
6-8 Fresh mint leaves
Soda water

METHOD Smack the mint and add into a highball glass with lime wedges before giving them a muddle. Pour in Caleño Dark & Spicy and sugar syrup, give it a stir and top with soda water. Garnish with a large sprig of mint and a wedge of lime on top.

Tonic No Kami

Give to your gin & tonic a Japanese touch. INGREDIENTS

40ml 135° East Hyōgo Dry Gin
80ml Tonic water
2 dashes Orange bitters (optional)
Yuzu peel

METHOD Pour gin into the glass, top with tonic water and garnish with a yuzu peel.

Longitude Line

Stir your sensorial curiosity with this intense and exotic cocktail. INGREDIENTS

30ml 135° East Hyōgo Dry Gin
10ml Akashi-Tai Umeshu
10ml Hibiscus syrup
15ml Fresh lime juice
10ml Egg white or aquafaba
Dried hibiscus flowers

METHOD Dry shake (no ice) all ingredients then shake with ice and add dried hibiscus flowers to garnish.

Espanita Lime Tequila Kiwi Smash

Refresh your senses with the invigorating taste of kiwi and lime. INGREDIENTS

60ml Espanita Lime Tequila
1 large kiwi, peeled and sliced
20ml Freshly pressed lime juice
4-5 Fresh mint leaves
70ml Chilled sparkling soda water or Topo Chico Kiwi slice

METHOD In a mixing glass, lightly muddle mint leaves, kiwi slices and lime juice. Transfer the muddled ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add Espanita lime Tequila, ice and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds. Pour the cocktail into a chilled glass filled with fresh ice. Top the drink with soda and garnish with a kiwi slice.

Appleton Estate Jamaican Daiquiri

July calls for Daiquiri recipes – we all know it. Enjoy this Appleton Estate Daiquiri in your garden this summer. INGREDIENTS

50ml Appleton Estate Signature
25ml Fresh lime juice
15ml Sugar syrup (try Demerara)

METHOD Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lime twist

The Bardin-itz

Crafted in France for more than a century, Bardinet Brandy has teamed up with cocktail expert Adrian Gomes to give this traditional spirit a summer makeover. INGREDIENTS

35ml Bardinet VSOP
10ml Limoncello
10ml Sugar syrup
Raspberry lemonade
Fresh berries
Mint

METHOD Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add the Bardinet, limoncello, and sugar syrup then top with the raspberry lemonade. Garnish with fresh berries, and mint.

Talk the Talk

The refreshing cocktail presents refreshing notes of cucumber, cilantro and citrus. INGREDIENTS

40ml Desolas Mezcal
15ml Bombay Cru gin
20ml Lime juice 10ml Agave
10ml Mandarine Napoleon liqueur
Cucumber slices

METHOD Muddle a few cucumber slices in the bottom of a shaker, add the rest of the ingredients, shake and serve on the rocks with a sea salt rim and a few cucumber slices as garnish.

The world’s biggest-selling gin brands

Georgie Collins — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 11:26:32 +0000

The gin category had a positive year in 2022, despite strong competition from emerging sectors. But which brands were at the helm of its growth?

While 2021 was a turbulent year for the gin sector, with UK exports of gin falling by £30m (US$38.14m) to £541.5m according to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs data, Euromonitor International reported gin’s total volume increased by 7.7% to 105.2 million nine-litre cases in 2022, and across our million-case sellers, all but last year’s Brand Champion, Tanqueray, witnessed growth. Pernod Ricard’s gin portfolio delivered a strong performance in the company’s full year 2022 financial results, while Diageo also saw success for its gin brands, with both Tanqueray and Gordon’s reporting double-digit growth in the 12 months to 30 June 2022. Scroll through to discover the best-selling gins of 2022, listed in order of their nine-litre-case sales. Data listed is to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023 report.

8. Gilbey's

2022: 1.2m 2021: 1.0m % change: 14.7% Place last year: 8 Diageo-owned Gilbey’s, which made its Brand Champions debut last year, saw sales soar by 14.7% to reach the 1.2m mark in 2022, a far cry from the four years of stagnant sales the brand saw before and during the pandemic. The British firm’s total sales across all of its gin brands was up by 18% in fiscal 2022, and the company saw strong growth in the category across Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as 'broad-based' gin growth in Europe.

7. Larios

2022: 1.5m 2021: 1.2m % change: 23.1% Place last year: 6 Larios, owned by Beam Suntory, climbed by 23.1% last year, returning the Spanish brand to its 2019 volumes of 1.5m cases. Beam Suntory reported double-digit net sales growth for the first half of 2022, driven by demand for premium brands.

6. Hendrick's

2022: 1.6m 2021: 1.3m % change: 17.9% Place last year: 7 William Grant’s cucumber-infused Hendrick’s saw a 17.9% boost, taking its total to 1.6m case sales for the year. The brand has now recovered and surpassed its pre-pandemic volume of 1.4m cases. Over the last year, the brand has added a new limited release to its 'Cabinet of Curiosities' series, called Hendrick’s Flora Adora. It is said that the brand will now phase out its Hendrick’s Lunar Gin to make way for the new release, and in certain markets, the new expression will sit on shelves alongside both Hendrick’s Neptunia, released in 2022, and Hendrick’s Gin.

5. Seagram's

2022: 2.5m 2021: 2.4m % change: 2.5% Place last year: 5 Standing strong at number five on our list, Seagram's climbed back up to 2.5m case sales last year, following a 2% downturn the year prior. Seagram's owner Pernod Ricard’s ‘speciality brands’ recorded a growth of 18% in its full-year results, with gin up by 43%.

4. Beefeater

2022: 3.8m 2021: 3.3m % change: 14.5% Place last year: 4 Sales of Pernod Ricard’s Beefeater jumped by 14.5% to 3.8m cases in 2022, likely aided by the launch of three products: the first, its Zesty Lemon gin, made with ‘the freshest’ lemons from London’s Covent Garden market, which offers a hint of sweetness on the palate with a burst of zesty lemon on the finish. The launch of Beefeater's Rhubarb & Cranberry gin followed in the summer, which enhances Beefeater's botanicals with the slightly richer notes of rhubarb and juicy cranberry. Finally in the autumn, Pernod Ricard released Beefeater Crown Jewel as a permanent expression in the gin brand’s portfolio. The bottling was first launched as a limited edition gin almost 20 years ago. It comes in a ruby-red bottle, which was inspired by cuts of Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.

3. Tanqueray

2022: 5.5m 2021: 5.6m % change: -0.4% Place last year: 2 Last year's Gin Brand Champion saw the slightest fall from grace in 2022, with a sales dip of 0.4%. Although knocked down a spot on our podium, the Diageo-owned brand hasn't rested on its laurels over the last year, keeping the momentum of its Unmistakably Tanqueray campaign going, and continuing to harness the power of celebrity to endorse its liquid. The Devil Wears Prada actor Stanley Tucci continued to back the brand in a series of ads, including one that focused on Tanqueray's ability to elevate a Martini: “Made with No. Ten, a Martini rises in stature and that’s why bartenders like to use it," he says in the spot.

2. Bombay Sapphire

2022: 5.7m 2021: 4.4m % change: 28.0% Place last year: 3 With sales up by more than 1m cases since 2019, and after seeing strong double-digit growth in 2022, this year’s Gin Brand Champion title has gone to Bombay Sapphire. The gin brand passed the 5m-case sales mark for the first time last year, including its RTD portfolio, overtaking the aforementioned Tanqueray. Bombay Sapphire’s growth was boosted by the release of Citron Pressé, a lemon-flavoured gin inspired by the Tom Collins cocktail. Bacardi said the new product was a response to the growing demand for citrus flavours. It followed the launch of a lemon-forward gin, Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru, which came out in late 2021.

1. Gordon's

2022: 7.7m 2021: 7.4m % change: 3.6% Place last year: 1 At the top of the other million-case sellers list sits Diageo-owned Gordon’s, which rose by 3.6% to 7.7m. Last year, Diageo expanded its non-alcoholic offering with the release of a zero-ABV Gordon’s Pink bottling. The brand first moved into pink gin in 2017, with the product selling more than one million cases in its first two years. The non-alcoholic launch was part of the brand’s innovation strategy and followed the release of new products including Gordon’s 0.0%, and flavoured bottlings Tropical Passionfruit and Morello Cherry.

Top 10 best-selling rum brands

Nicola Carruthers — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 12:08:29 +0000

The rum category was in rude health last year, driven by premium-plus variants. But how did the sector's biggest players fare?

Last year, rum continued its time in the spotlight with particularly promising growth in the premium‐plus arena. In July 2022, CGA reported that UK sales of rum surpassed £1 billion (US$1.2bn) in the previous 12 months, meaning it now accounts for a bigger market share than whisky. The research firm attributed this growth to rum’s versatility in cocktails, consumer interest in new flavoured expressions and the premiumisation trend. IWSR Drinks Market Analysis reported volume growth of 9% for rum in 2022 and the category is expected to post a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2% over the next five years. The analyst also predicted that premium-plus rum volumes would climb by a CAGR of 6% between 2021 and 2026, with the segment’s value increasing by 6.5%. Looking across the performance of million-case rum players last year, the majority were in growth, but many struggled to surpass their pre-pandemic volumes. Scroll through to discover the top 10 best-selling rums of 2022, listed in order of their nine-litre-case sales. Data listed is to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023 report.

10. Appleton Estate (including J Wray & Nephew)

2022: 1.1m 2021: 1.1m % change: -2.7% Place last year: 9 Jamaican rum brand Appleton Estate has seen its volumes hover around 1.1m cases for the past five years. The Campari Group-owned brand fell by one place to the 10th spot on our best-selling rum list after dropping by 2.7% in 2022. In a report from the company on the category last year, Campari said the popularity of aged rum is expected to grow in the next few years, with the opportunity to further educate consumers around the different expressions on offer. Perhaps the brand’s sales could recover in the future as dark spirits drinkers experiment in the rum sector and trade across to more affordable categories such as rum.

9. Božkov

2022: 1.3m 2021: 1.4m % change: -9.9% Place last year: 7 Stock Spirits’ Božkov saw sales slip by 9.9% to 1.3m cases in 2022, a stark contrast to its double-digit increase the previous year. It remains below its pre-pandemic sales high of 1.6m cases in 2019. The decline also saw it move down two spaces on our best-selling rum list.

8. Contessa

2022: 1.3m 2021: 1.3m % change: 1.6% Place last year: 8 Radico Khaitan-owned Contessa reported a slight increase in sales last year, growing by 1.6%, but it remains at 1.3m cases. Like Božkov, the brand has struggled to surpass its pre-pandemic volume and remains in its eighth spot on our best-selling list. Indian spirits producer Radico Khaitan also owns Rampur Whisky, 8PM Whisky, Magic Moments Vodka, and Old Admiral Brandy.

7. Old Port Rum

2022: 1.5m 2021: 1.1m % change: 40.6% Place last year: 10 Reporting the biggest increase among the million-case rum brands was Old Port Rum, which soared by 40.6% to 1.5m cases. It’s an astounding feat, considering the brand suffered a 32.3% decline to 1.1m cases the previous year, but it remains below the 2.1m cases it recorded in 2019. Owned by India’s Amrut Distillers, Old Port Rum is produced from molasses sourced from native Indian sugar cane and aged in ex-whisky barrels and new oak barrels.

6. Barceló

2022: 2.7m 2021: 2.4m % change: 12.5% Place last year: 6 Barceló saw a favourable outcome in 2022, registering significant growth of 12.5% and hitting 2.7m cases. It is now at its highest case sales in five years. Barceló is currently distributed in more than 80 countries worldwide. Over the last seven years, the brand recorded a compound annual growth rate of 19% in Europe and Asia. In Spain, the rum is the number-one spirits brand by both volume and value, it claimed. Produced in the Dominican Republic, the ‘world’s first’ carbon-neutral rum is made with 100% sugarcane juice from its own plantations.

5. Havana Club

2022: 4.6m 2021: 4.3m % change: 5.3% Place last year: 5 Cuban rum brand Havana Club reported its second year in growth after increasing by 5.3% in 2022. The brand has returned to its pre-pandemic volume of 4.6m after reporting a double-digit drop in 2020. Last November, Pernod Ricard-owned Havana Club debuted its global multi-media campaign, called Cuban Mode. The marketing effort could see its sales continue to grow in the future.

4. McDowell’s No.1 Rum

2022: 8.8m 2021: 8.4m % change: 5.1% Place last year: 4 Indian rum brand McDowell’s No.1 saw its volumes grow by 5.1% to 8.8m cases in 2022, but it struggled to reach its sales high of 11.2m in 2018. McDowell’s No.1 is owned by Diageo’s Indian arm, United Spirits. The firm saw net sales rise by 19.5% for the year ending 31 March 2023, led by its ‘prestige-and-above’ brands.

3. Captain Morgan

2022: 12.9m 2021: 12.7m % change: 1.9% Place last year: 3 Diageo-owned Captain Morgan saw sales grow by 1.9% to 12.9m cases, its highest sales volume to date. According to Diageo's financial results for the last six months of 2022, Captain Morgan's organic net sales rose by 5% with growth in all regions. The brand recently rolled out a new packaging design globally in March 2023, inspired by last year’s ‘Spice On’ campaign.

2. Bacardí (including RTDs)

2022: 23.6m 2021: 23.4m % change: 10.4% Place last year: 2 Bacardí, our Rum Brand Champion for the second year in a row, recorded a double-digit gain in 2022 to 23.6m cases. The figure includes the brand's ready-to-drink (RTD) portfolio. Bacardí pins its category‐leading success to its connection with the consumer. Roberto Ramirez Laverde, global senior vice‐president, Bacardí Rum, says: “Rum has had a bit of a challenging past decade. Coming out of the recession in 2008, rum was a bit left behind as consumers changed their preferences. “It was in 2017 and 2018 that Bacardí pivoted its brand strategy and went back to its roots and history with a new advertising campaign, under the umbrella of Do What Moves You.”

1. Tanduay

2022: 27.4m 2021: 23.6m % change: 16.1% Place last year: 1 The world’s biggest-selling rum brand, Tanduay, reported a double-digit increase in 2022, soaring by 16.1% to 27.4m cases. The Philippine brand remains far above its nearest competitor, Bacardí, with nearly 4m cases between them. If double-digit growth continues for Tanduay, we could see it surpass the 30m-case threshold in the near future.

What’s on in July 2023

Alice Brooker — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 11:29:46 +0000

From cocktail festivals to eye-catching mixology takeovers, this summer is packed with key events in the spirits industry that you won't want to miss.

July is a cocktail-heavy month – we all know it. Embrace the best events that the industry has to offer this month by perusing through our guide – from Tales of the Cocktail festival to a bar's live music and burlesque night, we have you covered. For all the best industry events happening around the world, scroll on.

House of US Spirits pop-up

What: Whiskey and Bourbon masterclasses Where: TT Liquor, London When: Today (4 July), 6pm-9pm BST Taking place at TT Liquor in London, this pop-up event features masterclasses and tastings with some of the 'world's most exciting spirits brands'. While the event takes place today (the schedule kicks off from 6:30pm), there's still plenty of time to head over to the masterclasses. The schedule includes: American Whiskey 101: a guide to whiskey styles made in the US (6:30pm-7pm); Maker's Mark (7pm-7:30pm); Uncle Nearest (7:30pm-8pm); Wild Turkey (8pm-8:30pm); Bourbon diversity by Luxco (8:30pm-9pm); and Spirits Cartel (Four Roses & Westward) (8:30pm-9pm). For attendees of drinks event Imbibe, a bus will be organised for transfer to TT Liquor.

Caribbean rum festival

What: Rum-themed festival Where: Old-Port of Montreal, Canada When: 6-9 July The Taste of the Caribbean festival returns to Quebec, celebrating all things rum in collaboration with Amarula. This year, the festival will promote a new product: Omerto Cocktail, a ready-to-drink bottling that blends ginger and tomato wine. The festival is free to attend from 12pm-11pm (UTC+4) daily, and will feature live performances of varying Caribbean genres of music, as well as several other on-site activities including a rum zone.

Las Vegas music and burlesque nights

What: A speakeasy's live music and seductive burlesque evening Where: 1923 Prohibition Bar, Las Vegas When: Fridays and Saturdays in July Pop along to one of Las Vegas' most lively yet hidden speakeasies, where general admission is complimentary and VIP seating is available for up to six guests. The VIP package comprises two drinks per person, plus a digital photo and a shoutout from a performer on-stage. Enjoy live music from Troy Romzek and burlesque performances by Teri London, Lola Legs, and The Kendra.

Jägermeister’s Meister Hunter Competition

What: Herbal liqueur brand's cocktail competition Where: Online When: Until 10 July Jägermeister’s Meister Hunter Competition is returning for its sixth year. The annual competition asks bartenders to create a cocktail using a minimum of 25ml of Jägermeister, Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee or Jägermeister Manifest. For those interested, it's time to get creative, as each entrant’s cocktail submission may contain a maximum of five ingredients, without garnish. Entries must be made via Instagram and include a video or image of the cocktail, plus its name and specification. Posts must tag the Meister Hunter Instagram page @meisterhunter and use the hashtag #meisterhunter23. The 2023 finals will be hosted in London this autumn.

Ruby X Candelaria

What: One-night-only agave bar takeover Where: Copenhagen. Denmark When: 11 July Acclaimed Copenhagen bar Ruby is hosting Parisian agave bar Candelaria for a one-night special, serving 'outstanding' agave cocktails in the Scandinavian venue. Throughout the evening guests will be able to experience the exclusive menu which combines flavours of Scandinavia and Mexico, fused with summery and seasonal ingredients. Cocktails served up include the Machete, combining Koch Elemental, white tea, passion fruit and vanilla wine.

London bar Spritz giveaway

What: Swift Borough provides free Spritz cocktails Where: Swift Borough, London When: 15 July (plus dates in August) Calling all cocktail-loving bargain hunters: Swift Borough's Midsummer Spritz will be free to the first 100 people through Swift Borough's doors from 3pm on 15 July. If you find yourself unable to race to the venue on this date, you'll get another chance on 5 and 26 August, when the bar will once again be giving out the drink from 3pm.

Bombay Sapphire's art installation

What: Artwork and cocktails Where: Sketch, London When: Until 16 July

Visual artist Tishk Barzanji has partnered with gin brand Bombay Sapphire to produce an art installation called 'Into the Blue'.

Guests can immerse themselves in the artwork while enjoy a Saw This, Made This cocktail from Bombay Sapphire. Saw This, Made This is a global marketing campaign that has been rolled out by the gin brand to inspire creativity.

Naked Malt hosts Simone Caporale

What: Renowned mixologist creates whisky cocktails Where: Grand Hyatt Steakhouse, Hong Kong When: 20 July Taking place 8pm-11pm (UTC+8), this takeover will see the renowned Simone Caporale showcasing his mixology skills, and 'weaving a narrative of flavour and experience' through specially-curated cocktails featuring Naked Malt. For a chance to attend the guest shift experience, book at www.grandhyatthk.eshop.buys.hk/en/ghs-naked-malt-takeover.

Tales of the Cocktail Festival

What: Acclaimed cocktail festival Where: The Ritz-Carlton hotel, New Orleans When: 23-28 July The 2023 iteration of the must-attend cocktail festival is this month, and the five‐day in‐person celebration will offer the familiar educational programming, guest shifts and pop-up bars. The theme of this year's festival has been revealed as ‘Vitalize’, which was chosen to ‘encapsulate the hospitality community’s vibrancy and adaptability’.

No-menu cocktail club

What: London's first off-menu cocktail club Where: London Art House When: from 29 July Claiming to be the first of its kind, Off the Cuff is an immersive event that sees guests design bespoke cocktails via an app. You can play around with your favourite cocktail or get experimental, and watch experienced mixologists whizz up your invention and complete the serves with canapés. Off the Cuff is a 2.5-hour experience, and will hold a bi-monthly residence at London Art House from 29 July. Tickets are priced at £85 (US$107) per person, and include three cocktails (additional drinks can be purchased), canapés, and live music.

SB’s most-read stories in June

Georgie Collins — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:15:27 +0000

From a gin brand launched by a real-life Barbie, to a limited edition bottle design that celebrates British-Asian culture, last month's most-read stories have all bases covered.

In the month that saw us publish our annual Brand Champions report, our readers were keen to delve deep into the figures of the world's biggest spirits brands. While the digital version of our supplement magazine was ultimately the most popular feature of The Spirits Business online in June, our online-only round-ups of the biggest-selling brands didn't come far behind. Of course, the month wasn't just about our Brand Champions report, with acquisitions, sustainable launches and lawsuits also capturing our readers' attention throughout the month. Keep scrolling to find out which stories were our most-read in June.

10. Brown-Forman sells Finlandia vodka for US$220m

Marking its exit from the vodka category in June, Brown-Forman's sale of Finlandia Vodka to Coca-Cola's bottling arm for US$£220 million was the 10th most-read story on SB online last month. Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC), which has distributed Finlandia for more than 17 years, said the deal ‘enhances its journey towards becoming the leading 24/7 beverage partner’. The purchase also strengthens Coca-Cola HBC’s ‘premium spirits credentials’ and boosts ‘mixability opportunities’ within the non-alcoholic ready-to-drink (NARTD) category. Read the full story here.

9. Margot Robbie debuts Papa Salt gin

Could the launch of Margot Robbie's debut gin brand have been strategically planned to coincide with the wave of marketing we've been seeing for the upcoming release of the new Barbie movie? It would appear so, as while this story first hit our digital pages in mid-May, it really captured the attention of our readers in June, just as the film's promotion ramped up. Papa Salt was inspired by the Australian coast, and is described on the brand’s website as an ‘easy-drinking gin that celebrates the subtle taste of native Australian botanicals’. It is currently only distributed in Australia via Iconic Beverages for RRP AU$85 (US$56.86). Read the full story here.

8. Absolut launches paper bottle in Tesco

Pernod Ricard-owned Absolut ramped up its sustainability efforts last month, with the launch of its paper bottle in British supermarket chain Tesco. The move marks the first time a paper-based bottle will have been sold commercially in-store by a global spirits company, the vodka producer said, and it was created in collaboration with The Paper Bottle Company (Pabaco). The two companies first teamed up in 2019. Read the full story here.

7. Remy Cointreau settles lawsuit with 50 Cent

Lawsuit plus celebrity always equals a popular story on The Spirits Business online, and this now-resolved dispute between Rémy Cointreau and rapper 50 Cent is no exception. The French drinks group had first launched a trademark dispute over the In Da Club performer's Branson Cognac brand in 2021, saying it had ‘wilfully and blatantly designed their bottle to unfairly capitalise on the goodwill and reputation’ of its Rémy Martin Cognac bottle mark. In a statement, Rémy Cointreau confirmed the two companies had now reached a settlement, but the court document remains under seal. Read the full story here.

6. The biggest-selling spirits in the world

The first of many stories in our most-read list that falls under the Brand Champions banner is our round-up of the biggest-selling spirits brands in the world. Each of the brands in this round-up have achieved some impressive figures in the last year, but none more so than this year's Supreme Brand Champion, Jinro, which surpassed the 100-million nine-litre-case sales milestone in 2022. Read the full story here.

5. Top 10 biggest-selling world whiskies

From Japan to North America, with a layover in Ireland in between – our round-up of the biggest-selling world whiskies features spirits from each third of the planet, and our readers were keen to find out which ones they were. Most million‐case‐selling American whiskeys were in growth in 2022, while the Irish whiskey contingent welcomed a new member to the million-case crew. Read the full story here.

4. Top 10 biggest-selling Tequila brands

Its undeniably one of the most popular spirits categories in the world right now, so it's not surprising that the clicks were high for our round-up of the biggest-selling Tequila brands of last year. The Mexican spirit overtook American whiskey last year to become the second most valuable spirit category in the US, as reported by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, sitting only behind vodka. By the end of 2023, IWSR expects Tequila will be in the number-one spot. Read the full story here.

3. Top 10 biggest-selling Indian whiskies

Four of the whiskies in this top 10 round-up also featured in our biggest-selling brands list included above, so its no surprise that this story was extremely popular in June. IWSR 2021 figures cited by Bacardi estimate that the Indian whisky category could exceed 250 million nine-litre cases by 2026, so going forward we expect each year's iteration of this story to continue making big impressions with our Indian whisky-loving readers. Read the full story here.

2. Top 10 biggest-selling Scotch whiskies

There's no doubt about it, readers of SB love a Scotch whisky story, a point proven by the two most popular articles of the month. The top 10 biggest-selling Scotch whisky brands of 2022 has taken second position on the podium, demonstrating the category's ever-growing popularity. Read the full story here.

1. Johnnie Walker unveils limited edition bottle

And finally, the maker of the world's biggest-selling Scotch whisky brand has also taken the top spot in our list of June's most-read stories. Following the Diageo-owned brand's invitation for artists and designers to put their own ‘creative stamp’ on a limited edition bottle of its Black Label blended whisky, Kushiaania was named the winning entry. Her ‘vibrant design’ was inspired by the Brit-Asian ‘culture-clash’ world, and is described as ‘a powerful celebration of self-expression, feminine strength, and joy’. Read the full story here.

The Gin Masters 2023 – First Tasting results

Nicola Carruthers — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 09:36:26 +0000

The popularity of gin shows no sign of letting up, and the sheer number of brands from all over the world releasing interesting expressions means we have again split our annual blind tasting into two sessions.

After the effects of the global Covid‐19 pandemic and Brexit, the gin category is now in rude health as drinkers indulge in new flavours, and experiment with cocktails. Globally, last year gin volume grew by 8%, and it is predicted to increase by 3% over the next five years, data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis showed. However, the category is now in a ‘long‐term decline’ in the UK (down by 12% last year), and is predicted to drop by 6% in the market from 2022 to 2027, the IWSR said. Exports of UK gin also bounced back by more than a third last year to surpass pre‐pandemic levels, as figures from The Gin Guild revealed this year. The Gin Guild noted the category’s popularity in Spain, Italy, and Germany, while the US remains the largest export market for the juniper‐based spirit. There was significant growth for UK gin in Asian markets, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Gin Guild also said markets in South America showed huge growth, led by Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Quality and variety Pal Gleed, director general of The Gin Guild, said the growth “reflects the quality, variety and reputation of British gin. These latest figures show the potential for gin sales to continue to grow around the world as the spirit gains market share from other drinks that have traditionally dominated in some countries.” Gleed also spoke about the tests gin faces: “Despite the ongoing challenges of spiralling energy costs, price inflation, rising interest rates, and the war in Ukraine, which all affect trading conditions, gin distillers have shown their resilience and their ability to innovate over the past three years.” In spite of the declining demand for gin in the UK, there are opportunities for the category to grow overseas, but producers in competitive markets will have to ramp up their innovation efforts to keep consumers interested in the category. “As interest increases in other drinks, retailers will be reluctant to give as much shelf space to gin. New flavours come in and out of fashion quickly and regular innovation will be needed to maintain consumer interest,” the IWSR said about the UK gin market. With a vast number of gins on offer to drinkers, our latest competition sought to pick out the best of the bunch and reward medals to the most impressive bottlings. Held every year, The Gin Masters is one of the biggest blind tastings in The Global Spirits Masters Competitions (GSMC), where judges are tasked with tasting hundreds of juniper spirits across different price tiers and subcategories. From organic to microdistillery and ultra‐premium to contemporary, the competition showcases the diversity of the gin category and the high‐quality standards set by producers. This year’s contest was held at private members club Home House in London, and will be the first of two gin tastings, with the second to be held in November. Ten panels came together for the tasting in May 2023, made up of journalists, buyers, bartenders and spirits experts. The first panel comprised Melita Kiely, editor of The Spirits Business and chair of The GSMC, Will Keogh, founder and CEO of Woolf Drinks, and Clinton Cawood, freelance spirits writer. The second panel, chaired by Nicola Carruthers, deputy editor of The Spirits Business, included Herchelle Perez Terrado, director of Drinks Partnership; Laurence Baker, general manager, The Nest at Treehouse hotel; and Nick Larsson‐Bell, senior buyer, Harvey Nichols. Sarah Miller, founder of the Gin A Ding Ding blog, chaired another group, which included: Ian Wisniewski, freelance writer, and Emma Stokes, ‘chief monkey’ at Gin Monkey. Another panel was chaired by Bryan Rodriguez‐Curtis, wine and spirits buyer at Harvey Nichols, who was joined by: Ruchira Neotia, partner at Collectivino; Alan Uresti, head of mixology at Annabel’s; and Dan Greifer, bar manager at The Proofing Room at Milroy’s of Spitalfields. David T Smith, spirits consultant, writer and co‐founder of the Craft Distilling Expo, chaired another group. Forming his panel were: Anne Jones, drinks expert at Waitrose; and Keegan Menezes, drinks consultant. Other judges on the day included Whisky Squad co‐host Elise Craft, who chaired a panel that included: Stephen Kennard, consultant at SMJK Consulting; and Allison Strydom, founder of GinSquares. Antony Moss MW led a panel that included: Angelo Sparvoli, head bartender, St James Bar; and Graham McAteer, spirit partnerships lead at Craft Gin Club. Another panel was formed of: chair Karen Taylor, co‐founder of the Whisky For Everyone blog; Ben Thapa of Ginscentive/Highginx; and Claire Filer of The Filer Files. A further group was formed of: Marie Cheong‐Thong of The Larder at 36; Masha Twemlow, associate at International Drinks Specialists; and Tobias Gorn, co‐ founder and senior partner of International Drinks Specialists, who chaired the panel. Dimple Athavia, founder of All Things Drinks, chaired a group that included: Joyce Chou, translation project manager at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET); and Sara Jane Eichler, founder of the Negroni Club UK. The competition kicked off with the Standard flight of gins, with two Golds being dished out, to Saaremaa Dry Gin, for being “juniper‐forward with a slight hint of liquorice”, and Sinestesia London Dry Gin, lauded for having a “soft and floral nose “ with an “extra level of complexity”. Two Silvers completed the round. The Premium flight, comprised of gins priced between £16 and £20, resulted in one Gold and three Silver medals. Gold medallist Tolmanns Premium Dry Gin was described by Wisniewski as having a “fresh, rich aroma with hints of juniper and aniseed, extending into lemon meringue”. Miller said of the segment: “A nice range in the category, proving you can get a solid gin at an affordable price point.” Moving up the price bracket to Super Premium bottlings, the judges discovered three Master medallists. The first, Hernö Pink Btl Gin, was praised by Craft for being “a deftly crafted classic gin – fresh and bright, juniper on the palate with nicely balanced ripe citrus”. The second Master went to Bathtub Gin Damson & Bay, which impressed Smith with its “plump fruity nose, jammy damson on the palate. Quite sweet and bay leaf comes through too; balanced sweetness and some dry botanicals and spice come through on the finish.” The final Master, Mermaid Gin, was described as a “soft and herbal gin” with “lovely citrus notes” and would make a “great Martini”. The flight included 22 Golds and 11 Silvers. Among the Gold winners were 135°East Hyogo Dry Gin, with its “lightly fragranced orange blossoms and lemon sherbet”, the “herbal and grassy” Martin Miller’s Westbourne Gin, Naud Distilled Gin, lauded for being “fresh and zingy”, Jaffa Cake Gin for its “chocolate orange nose”, the “exquisitely balanced” The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, with its “fresh pine aroma”, and Skagerrak Nordic Dry Gin, “spicy with coriander and juniper”. Jones praised the number of styles on offer: “A broad and diverse category, given the breadth of price points. Great to see innovation in flavours being well‐handled, as well as some more traditional classic styles.” However, Rodriguez‐Curtis noted that some of the products lacked the key juniper ingredient. “The category lacked real definition, many of the gins lacked the real juniper aroma needed to really tell the story of gin,” he said. “Producers need to remember juniper is king.” The Master standard continued in the next category, where judges assessed ultra‐ premium variants priced £36 and above. Six Master medals were awarded, including three to Sweden’s Hernö Gin Distillery for its Hernö Gin, Hernö Juniper Cask Gin, and Hernö Navy Strength Gin. Twemlow said of Hernö Gin: “Inviting aromas of juniper, woody herbs, and lifted citrus. Slightly sweet, rounded and classic palate. The alcohol is very well‐integrated.” Meanwhile, Gorn lauded Hernö Juniper Cask Gin for its “gorgeous and creamy texture with a lot of freshness and expressive botanicals all in balance”. Hernö’s navy strength expression impressed Gorn for being a “lovely and crisp dry gin with extremely well‐integrated alcohol”, while Cheong‐Thong said it had a “big balanced complexed long finish with a hit of habanero – great for cocktails”. Of Master medallist Banks and Bloom Signature Gin, Twemlow said: “Gentle pine and green herbs and lemon zest. Creamy palate with plenty of earthy spicy notes supported by clean juniper.” Scottish brand Lind & Lime Gin was praised by Gorn, who noted: “Green kaffir lime leaves and citrus oil on the nose intertwined with some pine and juniper. The palate is focused, and it replicates the nose with a touch of richness giving it extra depth. Very cleverly composed.” The final Master medallist in the round, King’s Hill – Original, was enjoyed for its “fresh nose with coriander, citrus. Smooth palate despite the ABV, pleasant and clean, fresh finish.” Nineteen Golds followed, including Martin Miller’s 9 Moons Gin, lauded for its “zesty and fresh on the palate with a silky, light wood influence”, Silent Pool Gin, with its “rich earthy quality and a slightly sharp texture”, Downpour Scottish Dry Gin, enjoyed for its “rich florals, stone fruit and a long, sweet spicy finish”, Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin, for its “lemon peel and piney juniper on the nose with nutty coriander”, and the “smooth and mellow” Labyrinth Gin. The flight ended with eight Silver medallists. London Dry was the next flight put to the taste test, where six Master medals were discovered. Among them were Xin Gin, Hernö Gin, Mallard Point London Dry Gin, Home House Gin, Heaven & Hell London Dry Gin Kocbek, and 58 and Co London Dry. Cawood praised Xin Gin for its “candied aniseed, coriander seed, backed by lemon oil. Lovely bright nose. Oily unctuous palate, more spice and lemon, a bit like lemon tart, and a long, citrus finish.” Taking home one of the top accolade was the “vibrant” Hernö Gin Palate, described by Kiely as having “bright citrus, juniper prevails, some cardamom, coriander and herbaceous notes towards the finish. Well balanced.” Eichler enjoyed Master winner Mallard Point London Dry Gin, noting its “lovely sweet citrus and a hint of warming cardamom on the nose, which carries through to the palate, lovely bright citrus and resinous juniper, and an aromatic spice on the finish”. Home House Gin was lauded by Chou for its “woody, citrus peel, spicy note on the nose, light on the palate, crispy texture, a sweet taste on the finish and good length.” Eichler was also enamoured by Heaven & Hell London Dry Gin Kocbek. It offered “lovely herbaceous floral notes on the nose, aromatic spice and citrus on the palate with a punch of spice on the finish, lovely mouthfeel and smooth for the ABV”, she said. Final Master winner 58 and Co London Dry was lauded for its “nice floral note, herby, lemon, light spiciness, and very good complexity but easy to drink,” said Chou. Twenty‐five Golds and 21 Silvers completed the flight. Miller called the London Dry round a “strong flight with nice variety, and solid gins at a range of ABVs”. Meanwhile, Stokes noted the “decent juniper presence throughout the London Dry category”. Wisniewksi said it was “interesting to see different levels of juniper and juniper playing a different role in gins – not always the upfront leader of the pack”. Among the Gold medallists were the “elegant and earthy” Whitley Neill Distiller’s Cut, the “salty and savoury” Edinburgh Gin Seaside, the “minty and herbal” AmberChes Botanical Gin, the “complex and interesting” København Klassisk Gin”, and Jawbox Export Strength Gin, described as “very smooth for a 47%‐ABV gin”. The panels then moved onto the Contemporary flight, where eight more Master medals were found. The first was given to Beefeater 24, which impressed Rodriguez‐Curtis, who said: “A delicate and soft nose on the start, light juniper, citrus, the nose is quite light but it shows a good juniper character. A good gin on the palate, fantastic smoothness on the palate, good well‐balanced alcohol. Delicate and enjoyable.” Of Master medallist Hernö Juniper Cask Gin, Twemlow said: “Big and bold, with a great range of aromas and flavours, from cooling juniper and bright zesty citrus to lovely warm and earthy notes.” Muff Gin was worthy of the top accolade, described as “like sipping on a Negroni” with a “good balance of flavours – orange, bitter and spice with cherry notes”. AmberChes Christmas Gin also took home a Master medal, enjoyed for its notes of “winter spice, candy, cinnamon, cherry cubes. Some cloves. Soft, integrated warming alcohol. A little spice, with clove on the finish which is a little drying but very well made”, Kennard said. Tempus Two Shiraz Gin was praised by Eichler for being: “Wonderfully jammy on the nose, stone fruit, cherry and grape, juicy and bright with delicious plumminess and resinous juniper, heady and moorish with a glorious drying finish”. Jones particularly liked Master medallist, Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin: “Curry leaf and spice, intriguing, smooth and yet with plenty of classic gin character, well‐integrated alcohol. Bright and fresh.” Kiely enjoyed the two Masters from Australia’s Four Pillars. Of Four Pillars Olive Leaf she said: “Velvet‐like texture, with olive‐ oil‐like notes. This would be brilliant in a Dirty Martini. Brilliant Gin. Juniper lingers on the finish.” And of the Four Pillars Spiced Negroni, she said: “The palate brings warming spice, some pepper. A touch of orange, coriander, very complex flavour profile. Once again, offering a good point of difference in the gin category, while still remaining ‘gin’.” Twenty‐eight Golds were also given out, alongside 23 Silver medals. The Gold medallists included Renais, with its “citrusy nose and flavours of juniper and angelica”, Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin with its “sweet lemon peel and creamy vanilla note”, the “bright and citrusy” Lady Trieu Mekong Delta Dry Gin, Etsu Pacific Ocean Water praised for its “unusual salt and sweet combination”, Sir Edmond Gin, enjoyed for its notes of “sweet vanilla and fresh lemon sponge cake”, and Affinty Gin, lauded for being “fruity and spicy with a fresh bell pepper brightness”. After the flight, Jones said: “As ever, this category runs the whole gamut from modest citrus‐led simplicity to overt characterful coloured sweetness – with everything in between. Quality in general is reliable in terms of the base spirit, but we are still seeing lots of entries without adequate ‘gin’ character, or overburdened by sugar without the flavour concentration or complexity to balance it.” The Old Tom flight saw two Gold medals go to Lydén Distillery’s Old Tom Gin, with its “savoury and herbal nose”, and Hernö Old Tom Gin, enjoyed for its “gentle spices throughout, cardamom and ginger elevating it past just a standard Old Tom gin”. Rodriguez‐Curtis said of the flight: “Old Tom is not enjoyed enough; it is a good category for drinkers to play with and experiment. These gins showed good character and showed the potential for Old Tom.” Up next was the Cask‐Aged category and the Master standard continued, with five medals awarded. Peddlers Barrel Aged Gin took home a Master for its “good balance of flavours, spice and slight menthol finish, and very good balance for its high ABV”. Fellow Master medallist Four Pillars Whiskey Barrel Gin #1 was enjoyed for its hints of “rich Sherry, coffee cake and walnuts” and “soft vanilla notes”. The London Nº1 Sherry Cask scored highly with the judges for bring “light, fresh and fruity with a good balance of complexity”. Tolmanns Barrel Aged Gin also took home a Master, described as: “Beautifully integrated – soft spice cake, creamy toffee, fruits and raw sugars without becoming sweet.” Master medallist Greater Than Broken Bat Gin offered “bright maritime salinity, beachside barbeque, very unique – exactly what makes cask aging in gin really exciting”, said Craft. Two Golds and a Silver were also given out. The Gold medallists were the "light and pleasantly warming” Seventy One Gin,”, and Hernö Juniper Cask Gin, enjoyed for its “slightly toasted clove and allspice. Three Golds were awarded in the following flight – Organic. L’Acrobate offered a “complex nose with sea salt, very fresh and delicate”, while Truce of Gin presented “lots of fresh pine, earthiness, liquorice notes”. The final Gold winner, Hernö Old Tom Gin, was praised for its “coriander on the nose" and good juniper presence”. Craft particularly enjoyed the flight: “Absolutely delicious, exceptional gins in this category. Worth noting that bottling at cask strength is not automatically a good thing, and requires restraint. Judging them all without knowing the casks was a great way to approach this category – we would encourage people to focus less on the wood and more on the impact and enjoyment this category offers.” The Microdistillery flight saw one product come out on top. Master‐winning Hernö Navy Strength Gin was noted as “very smooth at 57% ABV with a good structure” and a “slightly herbal nose”. Five worthy Gold medallists followed, including Xibal Gin, said to be “sweet and earthy” on the palate, and the “very aromatic” Copperpenny Distilling Gin 005 with “chocolatey, malt notes”. Swedish distiller Hernö also scored three more Golds for its Hernö Gin, Hernö Old Tom Gin and Hernö Pink Btl Gin. Four Silvers concluded the flight. Peraz Terrado said of the flight: “I really enjoyed that, there was a good standard. A lot more diverse use of botanicals within the flight, some interesting ones that stood out. All were fairly approachable.” Navy strength bottlings were put to the test next with two Masters going to Mainline Spirit Co’s Navvy and Hernö Navy Strength Gin. Sparvoli said of the former: “Clean and elegant nose with rose and sweet notes. Oily and creamy palate with notes of cacao. Chocolaty finish, very nice.” Hernö Navy Strength Gin took its second Master medal of the day, impressing judges with its “lovely balance of citrus and herbal, sugary hit up front and bittersweet finish”. Five Golds were also found: Plymouth Navy Strength Gin with its “notes of coriander and strong juniper on the nose”; Ki No Bi Sei Kyoto Dry Gin with its “clean and elegant nose”; Wentworth East with its “citrus spicy nose and nice texture”; The Green Vault – Strength Dry Gin with its “vegetal nose, heavy and warming on the palate”; and Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin, with “sweet orange, lemon peel and peppery spices”. Five Silvers concluded the tasting. ‘Lovely and floral' Sailing to the top of the Pink Gin flight was Master‐winning Mirabeau Dry Gin. Eichler said: “Delicate perfumed nose, lovely and floral with some peppery juniper and a lovely fruity spiced finish, just glorious.” Five Golds followed, including “sweet and peppery” Pinkster, Listoke Cacao & Rapsberry Gin with “milk chocolate and strawberry cream on the nose”, Xibal Equinox Gin with “delicate floral notes”, “bold and fruity” Pure Origin Tasmania Pink Gin, and Collesi Gin Pink, enjoyed for its “inviting nose and smooth and creamy palate”. Four Silvers were also given out. One of the biggest subcategories in the competition is flavoured gin, where judges found a complexity of flavours. Twenty‐one Gold medallists and 33 Silvers were awarded in this round. Among the Gold winners was the “zesty and balanced” Malfy Orange, which had a “good blood orange nose”. Another Gold went to Haysmith’s Bramble Gin, with “sweet blackberries and black pepper on the nose, while House of Medusa took Gold for being “juicy and succulent”. Gold medallist Saarema Ore Gin impressed with its “bitter orange notes and a tingle of Asian spices”. The penultimate flight of the day, Sloe Gin, saw a Master go to Plymouth Sloe Gin. Eichler said of the expression: “Cherry and almond notes on the nose, tart, juicy and plummy on the palate with a welcome sour greeness on the finish.” Two Golds were also dished out to Downpour Sloe & Bramble Gin, enjoyed for its “ginger, savoury notes”, and Hernö Sloe Gin, praised for its hints of “marzipan and cherries”. Miller said it was a “pretty solid flight – nice to see less sugar use as a whole and a progression within category”. Uresti said: “Producers need to find the right way to extract flavours and blend with the right distillate to find harmony.” ‘Balance is key' Jones offered some insight into the category: “Flavoured gins is always a fascinating category thanks to the huge diversity of styles – some really sophisticated combinations were great this year, and we hope to see them come to market – and stay there. Less successful examples were those in which the flavour wasn’t recognisable or was too overbearing – balance is key here.” Smith added: “It’s surprising how many gins don’t taste like the flavours they propose; however gins that really do work and are highly awarded balance their designated flavour with gin character well.” Rodriguez‐Curtis noted the absence of juniper within the segment: “Flavoured gin is tricky, trying to create a gin that shows juniper but also shows the flavour needed is a tricky situation. Here, this flight shows a real lack of juniper and ‘ginniness’, a lot of these flavours feel synthetic and fake and some lacked sweetness which could of helped balance out some of the rougher edges. Some samples showed promise, others really need to be remade from scratch.” The competition concluded with the Gin Liqueurs flight, with two Masters awarded to Ian Macleod Distillers’ Edinburgh Gin brand. Rodriguez‐Curtis particularly enjoyed Edinburgh Gin Elderflower Liqueur: “Good light elderflower nose, light freshness on the nose. The palate has a wonderful sweetness but also very fresh and vibrant citrus note that balances the alcohol perfectly. The elderflower is fresh and lovely and I can see this being enjoyed with Prosecco.” Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur also took a Master, and was praised by Neotia, who said: “The ginger pairs exceptionally with the juniper and brings out a very balanced spice character to the sweetness.” Rodriguez‐Curtis added: “Very good rhubarb and ginger; it gives you exactly what you want. Brilliant definition of flavour. Strong palate, smooth, perfectly balanced alcohol and perfect flavour of ginger and rhubarb with some juniper in the back. The palate is fresh, vibrant and perfectly balanced. The sweetness is not cloying, very well done.” Two Golds were also awarded to Tanglin Triple Tangerine, lauded for its “tangerine‐ heavy nose and pine freshness” and Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Liqueur, with its “light and delicate red berry nose and palate”. Uresti said of the round: “There were very good examples of extracting flavour and achieving good flavours and not resulting to synthetic flavours.” Rodriguez Curtis was also positive about the segment: “A strong category showing how well made gin liqueurs can be. Good vibrant acidity and comforting flavours.” Griefer called the liqueurs round his favourite – “they all delivered on the flavours they promised”. Summing up the gin competition, judges were pleased with the quality and diversity found among entrants. Peraz Terrado also noted the varying levels of alcohol strength among this year’s entrants. “I was surprised by the levels of ABV. If you compare to previous years, everyone was either 43% or 40%. The breadth of ABV choice is really nice, some delightful ones at the higher ABV were not overpowering and were well balanced with good structure.” While a Taste Master is normally selected at the end of our competitions, to ensure that all gin entrants get a fair chance at the title, the Master medallists from this tasting will be sipped alongside its counterparts in the second part of The Gin Masters later this year, when the ultimate contender will be decided.

Standard (£0-£15)
Company	Product	Medal
Anora Estonia	Saaremaa Dry Gin	Gold
Sinestesia Micro Destileria	Sinestesia London Dry Gin	Gold
Royal Flush Gin	Royal Flush Gin	Silver
Royal Flush Gin	Royal Flush Amber Gin	Silver

Premium (£16-£20)
Company	Product	Medal
Tolmanns Distillery	Tolmanns Premium Dry Gin	Gold
MBG International Premium Brands	Sears	Silver
Thirsty Group	Truepenny	Silver
Corby Spirit & Wine	Ungava Gin	Silver

Super Premium (£21-£35)
Company	Product	Medal
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Pink Btl Gin	Master
Atom Brands	Bathtub Gin Damson & Bay	Master
MBG International Premium Brands	Mermaid Gin	Master
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Gin	Gold
Kaikyo Distillery	135°East Hyogo Dry Gin	Gold
Hermit Spirits	Hermit Dutch Coastal Gin	Gold
Zamora Company	Martin Miller's Westbourne Gin	Gold
Wenneker Distilleries	Wenneker Elderflower Dry Gin	Gold
John Distilleries	Malhar Citrus Indian Graft Gin	Gold
Atom Brands	Bathtub Gin - Persian Lime & Orange Blossom	Gold
Naud Distillery	Naud Distilled Gin	Gold
Tiny Tower Liquor	Small Batch Martello Gin	Gold
Twenty Third Street Distillery	Signature Gin	Gold
Atom Brands	Jaffa Cake Gin	Gold
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Old Tom Gin	Gold
Maison Ferrand	Citadelle Jardin d'été	Gold
Langley Distillery	Palmers Gin	Gold
Indian Summer Gin Co	Indian Summer Saffron Infused Gin	Gold
Atom Brands	Bathtub Gin - Rose & Cardamom	Gold
Wenneker Distilleries	Wenneker Rosemary & Fig Dry Gin	Gold
Gonzalez Byass	The London N°1	Gold
Steffen & Pfaff	Step Gin	Gold
Anora Group	Skagerrak Nordic Dry Gin	Gold
Bruichladdich Distillery Company	The Botanist Islay Dry Gin	Gold
TS Spirits	Capjari Gin	Gold
Brockmans Gin	Brockmans Gin	Silver
Cygnet Brand Holdings	Cygnet Welsh Dry	Silver
Maison Ferrand	Citadelle Original	Silver
The McCaffrey Collection	Irish Gin	Silver
Tiny Tower Liquor	Small Batch Serata Gin	Silver
Atom Group	Bathtub Gin	Silver
John Distilleries	Malhar Classic Dry Indian Craft Gin	Silver
The Green Vault Distillery	The Green Vault - London Dry Gin	Silver
Tiger Gin	Tiger Gin	Silver
Black Diamond Distilleries	DMND London Dry Gin	Silver
Zamora Company	Martin Miller's Original Gin	Silver

Ultra Premium (£36+)
Company	Product	Medal
Banks and Bloom	Banks and Bloom Signiture Gin	Master
Muckle Brig	Lind & Lime Gin	Master
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Gin	Master
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Juniper Cask Gin	Master
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Navy Strength Gin	Master
The Pentland Still	Kings Hill - Original	Master
Zamora Company Global	Martin Miller's 9 Moons Gin	Gold
Leoube	Mediterranean Gin by Leoube	Gold
Mousehall Distillery & Winery	Mousehall Sussex Dry Gin	Gold
Berentsens Distillery	Herbarium New Forest Gin	Gold
J A Frey & Co Distillery	Labyrinth Gin	Gold
J A Frey & Co Distillery	Willamette Valley Gin	Gold
Erbe Gin	Erbe Gin	Gold
La Martiniquaise	Generous Gin - Original	Gold
Langley Distillery	Palmers Gin - Distillers Cut	Gold
Bruichladdich Distillery Company	The Botanist Hebridean Strength	Gold
Silent Pool Distillers	Silent Pool Gin	Gold
Skellig Distillers	Skellig Six18 Pot Still Gin	Gold
North Uist Distillery Co	Downpour Coast & Croft Gin	Gold
The Oro Distilling Co	Home House	Gold
The Kyoto Distillery	Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin	Gold
Wolfcraig Distillers	Wolfcraig Gin	Gold
Berry Bros & Rudd	No.3 London Dry Gin	Gold
North Uist Distillery Co	Downpour Scottish Dry Gin	Gold
Silent Pool Distillers	Silent Pool Black Juniper Gin	Gold
Renais Spirits	Renais Gin	Silver
Cygnet Brand Holdings	Cygnet 22	Silver
NorweGin Holdings	NorweGin	Silver
Kirker Greer Spirits	Ukiyo Japanese Yuzu Gin	Silver
Atlas Beverages	Seventy One gin	Silver
Twenty Third Street Distillery	Quattro Gin	Silver
Pravda Spirits International	Ashmont Gin	Silver
Kerry Spirits	The Ring of Kerry Gin	Silver

London Dry
Company	Product	Medal
Ahascragh Distillers	Xin Gin	Master
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Gin	Master
Mallard Point	Mallard Point London Dry Gin	Master
Home House	Home House Gin	Master
Kiss of Immortality	Heaven & Hell London Dry Gin Kocbek	Master
58 and Co	London Dry	Master
E18teen Distillery	London Dry Gin	Gold
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater Crown Jewel	Gold
Anibal Torres	London Mate Dry Gin	Gold
Devil's Botany	Devil's Botany London Dry Gin	Gold
Halewood Artisanal Spirits	Whitley Neill Distiller's Cut	Gold
Beemer Distillery	Beemer Gin	Gold
Montbel Vins et Spiritueux	Bold Gin	Gold
Kirker Greer Spirits	Jawbox Export Strength Gin	Gold
lan Macleod Distillers	Edinburgh Gin Seaside	Gold
Harrel	Harrel Dry Gin	Gold
Black Diamond Distilleries	DMND London Dry Gin	Gold
Third Eye Distillery	Short Story Dry Gin	Gold
lan Macleod Distillers	Edinburgh Gin Classic	Gold
Aldi	Haysmith's London Dry Gin	Gold
AmberChes Spirits Distillery	AmberChes Botanical Gin	Gold
Zephyr Gin	Zephyr Black Gin	Gold
Nordic Gin House	Kobenhavn Klassisk Gin	Gold
Kiss of Immortality	Heaven & Hell London dry gin	Gold
Pernod Ricard UK	Plymouth Original Gin	Gold
Darnley's Gin	Spiced	Gold
Rola & Co	Gin Johnsen London Dry	Gold
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater London Dry	Gold
Thoran Distillery	Marberg	Gold
Highclere Castle Spirits	Highclere Castle Gin	Gold
Reminisce Drinks	Reminisce London Dry Gin	Gold
Wenneker Distilleries	Wenneker Original London Dry Gin	Silver
Quaich Distillers	Spey Fly Gin	Silver
Lucano 1894	Giass Milano London Dry Gin	Silver
Harrel AB	Crazy Donkey	Silver
Highclere Castle Spirits	Highclere Castle Gin	Silver
Distilleria Orobica Autonoma	DOA London Dry Gin	Silver
Singapore Distillery	Merlion Gin	Silver
Coles Liquor	Mayfair London Dry Gin	Silver
La Martiniquaise	Gibson's - London Dry Gin	Silver
González Byass	MOM Rocks	Silver
Reminisce Drinks	Reminisce London Dry Gin	Silver
Nao Spirits and Beverages	Greater Than London Dry Gin	Silver
Latin Gin	Latin Secco Gin	Silver
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater London Garden	Silver
Tristacci Indústria e Comercio de Bebidas	Arpo Gin	Silver
Oldwalls Collection	Knot Dy Gin	Silver
Aura Proizvodi	Aura Gin Karbun	Silver
Blazer Tech	Murska Dekla London Dry Gin	Silver
Glendalough Distillery	Glendalough Wild Botanical Irish Gin	Silver
Hampton Court Gin	The Six Wives	Silver
Darnley's Gin	Original	Silver

Contemporary
Company	Product	Medal
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater 24	Master
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Juniper Cask Gin	Master
The Muff Liquor Company	Muff Gin	Master
AmberChes Spirits Distillery	AmberChes Christmas Gin	Master
AVL Wines	Tempus Two Shiraz Gin	Master
Nao Spirits and Beverages	Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin	Master
Four Pillars Distillery	Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin	Master
Four Pillars Distillery	Four Pillars Spiced Negroni Gin	Master
The Kyoto Distillery	Ki No Tea Kyoto Dry Gin	Gold
Outcast Brands	Blood Monkey Spice Storm	Gold
Four Pillars Distillery	Four Pillars Fresh Yuzu Gin	Gold
AmberChes Spirits Distillery	AmberChes Lemon Myrtle Gin	Gold
Levante Spirits	Ginepraio Organic Mediterranean Dry Gin	Gold
Las Californias	Las Californias Nativo	Gold
Distilleria Orobica Autonoma	DOA Orobic Dry Gin	Gold
Sisu Gin	Sisu	Gold
Mousehall Estate	Mousehall Sussex Dry Gin	Gold
Aldi	Toradh Scottish Gin – Seville Orange	Gold
Renais Spirits	Renais Gin	Gold
Karu Distillery	Affinity Gin	Gold
Tanglin Gin	Tanglin Singapore Gin	Gold
Waegner & Back	Niederrheiner Gin	Gold
Hickson House Distilling Co	Hickson Rd Harbour Strength Gin	Gold
Zephyr Gin	Zephyr Gin	Gold
BBC Spirits	Etsu Pacific Ocean Water	Gold
BBC Spirits	Etsu Original	Gold
Four Pillars Distillery	Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin	Gold
Sir Edmond Gin	Sir Edmond Gin	Gold
Three Wrens Distillery	Three Wrens Gin -Spiced London Dry	Gold
Tanglin Gin	Tanglin Orchid Gin	Gold
Nguyen Nguyen Distillery Company	Lady Trieu Mekong Delta Dry Gin	Gold
Nguyen Nguyen Distillery Company	Lady Trieu Hoi An Spice Road Gin	Gold
Nguyen Nguyen Distillery Company	Lady Trieu Sapa Citrus Tea Gin	Gold
D'Arenberg	Settlers Spirits Rare Dry Gin	Gold
Heineken Beverages	Amarula African Gin	Gold
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Old Tom Gin	Gold

Contemporary, continued
Company	Product	Medal
Zephyr Gin	Zephyr Black Gin	Silver
Utazo Spirits	Utazo South American Inspired Gin	Silver
Twenty Third Street Distillery	Violet Gin	Silver
Station 22	Seventh Heaven Premium Canadian Dry Gin	Silver
Condesa Gin	Condesa Gin – Prickly Pear and Orange Blossom	Silver
Condesa Gin	Condesa Gin Clasica	Silver
Atlas Beverages	Seventy One Gin	Silver
Naught Distilling	Naught Australian Dry Gin	Silver
Neptuns Soehne	Coastberry Gin	Silver
Urar Gin	Urar Gin	Silver
Stuzzi Gin	Stuzzi Gin	Silver
La Bay Gin – Distillerie Californienne	La Bay Gin – Distillerie Californienne	Silver
Aura Proizvodi	Aura Gin Karbun Limited Sea Edition	Silver
Isle of Cumbrae Distillers	Maura	Silver
Forty Spotted Gin	Classic Tassie Gin	Silver
AVL Wines	Tempus Two Wild Botanical Gin	Silver
Nguyen Nguyen Distillery Company	Lady Trieu Contemporary Vietnam Gin	Silver
Hickson House Distilling Co	Hickson Rd Australian Dry Gin	Silver
BBC Spirits	Mankai Original	Silver
Caledonia Spirits	Barr Hill Gin	Silver
Coles Liquor	Pure Origin Tasmanian Gin	Silver
Quinta de Ventozelo	Ventozelo Craft Dry Gin	Silver
Copperpenny Distilling Co	Copperpenny No. 006 Oyster Shell Gin	Silver

Old Tom
Company	Product	Medal
Lydén Distillery	Lydén Distillery - Old Tom Gin	Gold
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Old Tom Gin	Gold

Cask-Aged
Company	Product	Medal
Peddlers Shanghai Gin	Peddlers Barrel Aged Gin	Master
Four Pillars Distillery	Four Pillars Whiskey Barrel Gin #1	Master
González Byass	The London N°1 Sherry cask	Master
Tolmanns Distillery	Tolmanns Barrel Aged Gin	Master
Nao Spirits and Beverages	Greater Than Broken Bat Gin	Master
Atlas Beverages	Seventy One Gin	Gold
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Juniper Cask Gin	Gold
Caledonia Spirits	Tom Cat Gin Kingdom Strength	Silver

Organic
Company	Product	Medal
Les Bienheureux	L'Acrobate	Gold
K Antonakakis	Truce of Gin	Gold
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Old Tom Gin	Gold
Agri Sielva Stelvio	Stelvio-Gin Organic	Silver
Mentzendorff & Co	Anae Gin	Silver

Microdistillery
Company	Product	Medal
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Navy Strength Gin	Master
Licores de Guatemala	Xibal Gin	Gold
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Gin	Gold
Copperpenny Distilling Co	Copperpenny Distilling Gin 005	Gold
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Old Tom Gin	Gold
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Pink BTL Gin	Gold
Adventurist Spirits Distillery	Tamras	Silver
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Juniper Cask Gin	Silver
Copperpenny Distilling Co	Copperpenny No. 006 Oyster Shell Gin	Silver
Mestres das Ribeiras	Gin D'Ilha	Silver

Navy Strength
Company	Product	Medal
Mainline Spirit Co	Navvy	Master
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Navy Strength Gin	Master
Pernod Ricard UK	Plymouth Navy Strength Gin	Gold
The Kyoto Distillery	Ki No Bi Sei Kyoto Dry Gin	Gold
The Oro Distilling Co	Wentworth East	Gold
The Green Vault Distillery	The Green Vault - Strength Dry Gin	Gold
Four Pillars Distillery	Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin	Gold
lan Macleod Distillers	Edinburgh Gin Cannonball	Silver
Naught Distilling Pty	Naught Overproof Gin	Silver
Aura Proizvodi	Aura Gin Karbun Navy Strength	Silver
Karu Distillery	Lightning Gin	Silver
58 and Co	Navy Strength	Silver

Pink Gin
Company	Product	Medal
Maison Mirabeau	Mirabeau Dry Gin	Master
Pinkster	Pinkster	Gold
Listoke Distillery	Listoke Cacao & Raspberry Gin	Gold
Licores de Guatemala	Xibal Equinox Gin	Gold
Coles Liquor	Pure Origin Tasmanian Pink Gin	Gold
Distillerie Tenute Collesi	Collesi Gin Pink	Gold
Coles Liquor	Mayfair Pink Gin	Silver
Forty Spotted Gin	Wild Rose	Silver
The McCaffrey Collection	Pink Gin	Silver
La Martiniquaise	Gibson's - Pink	Silver

Flavoured Gin
Company	Product	Medal
Three Wrens Distillery	Bloody Apricot	Gold
Pernod Ricard UK	Malfy Arancia	Gold
Aldi	Haysmith's Rhubarb & Ginger	Gold
House of Medusa	House of Medusa	Gold
Cherry River Distillery & Co	Gin Lychee & Tangerine	Gold
The Pentland Still	King's Hill Rhubarb & Raspberry	Gold
Aldi	Haysmith's Bramble Gin	Gold
Forty Spotted Gin	Bush Honey	Gold
Anora Estonia	Saaremaa Ore Gin	Gold
Anora Estonia	Saaremaa Cur Gin	Gold
The Pentland Still	Kings Hill - Sea Buckthorn & Kelp	Gold
58 and Co	Apple and Hibiscus	Gold
Four Pillars Distillery	Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz	Gold
Naught Distilling	Naught Sangiovese Gin	Gold
Aldi	Haysmith's Rosa Pink Grapefruit Gin	Gold
Old Carrick Mill	Mo Chara Passion Fruit and Mango	Gold
St Giles Gin	St Giles Mandarin & Passion Fruit	Gold
BBC Spirits	Etsu Double Yuzu	Gold
Stock Polska	Millhill's Pineapple Breeze	Gold
lan Macleod Distillers	Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger	Gold
Brockmans Gin	Brockmans Orange Kiss	Gold

Flavoured Gin, continued
Company	Product	Medal
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater Zesty Lemon	Silver
Aldi	Haysmith's Raspberry & Redcurrant	Silver
Aldi	Toradh Scottish Gin – Traditional	Silver
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater Pink Strawberry	Silver
Pernod Ricard UK	Malfy Originale	Silver
Twenty Third Street Distillery	Mulberry Gin	Silver
Twenty Third Street Distillery	Yuzu Gin	Silver
Twenty Third Street Distillery	Tropical Gin	Silver
Glendalough Distillery	Glendalough Wild Rose Irish Gin	Silver
Las Californias	Las Californias Citrico	Silver
Pernod Ricard UK	Malfy Rosa`	Silver
BBC Spirits	Mankai Orange	Silver
Aldi	Toradh Scottish Gin – Traditional	Silver
lan Macleod Distillers	Edinburgh Gin Lemon and Jasmine	Silver
Coles Liquor	Pure Origin Tasmanian Bramble Gin	Silver
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater Peach & Raspberry	Silver
Distillerie Tenute Collesi	Collesi Gin Saaz	Silver
lan Macleod Distillers	Edinburgh Gin Raspberry	Silver
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater Blackberry	Silver
Anora Estonia	Saaremaa Rhu Gin	Silver
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater Pink Light	Silver
Forty Spotted Gin	Citrus and Pepperberry	Silver
D'Arenberg	Settlers Spirits Yuzu Gin	Silver
Terre à Boire	Forest Gin	Silver
Appalaches Distillerie	Kepler Celeste	Silver
Four Pillars Distillery	Four Pillars X Warners Fresh Apple & Rhubarb Gin	Silver
Pernod Ricard UK	Beefeater Blood Orange	Silver
Forty Spotted Gin	Pinot Noir	Silver
Aldi	Haysmith's Cranberry & Clementine Gin	Silver
Aldi	Haysmith's Blood Orange Gin	Silver
Aqua Sativa	Aqua Sativa CBD Infused Strawberry Gin	Silver
Aldi	Haysmith's Seville Orange & Persian Lime	Silver
Anora Estonia	Saaremaa RAS Gin	Silver

Sloe Gin
Company	Product	Medal
Pernod Ricard UK	Plymouth Sloe Gin	Master
North Uist Distillery Co.	Downpour Sloe & Bramble Gin	Gold
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Sloe Gin	Gold

Gin Liqueur
Company	Product	Medal
lan Macleod Distillers	Edinburgh Gin Elderflower Liqueur	Master
lan Macleod Distillers	Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur	Master
Tanglin	Tanglin Triple Tangerine	Gold
lan Macleod Distillers	Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Liqueur	Gold

Catching Zs: how drinks brands can tap into the Gen Z market

Georgie Collins — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 11:33:29 +0000

Thanks to a groundbreaking app experience, drinks brands are targeting the hard-to-reach Gen Z market, offering free drinks in return for harvesting vital data about them.

*This feature was first published in the March issue of The Spirits Business magazine.

For alcohol brands, Gen Z – people born in the mid to late 1990s up until the middle of the 2010s – is often considered the Enigma code of the generations. With changing behaviours and shifting attitudes, combined with a volatile socio‐economic environment, working out how to target this upcoming generation of drinkers is difficult. However, Sophie Abrahamovitch has a source on the inside that is giving brands the intel on how to reach this elusive demographic. Abrahamovitch is the CEO of Dusk, a UK-based ‘free drink’ app that brings together consumers, drinks brands and on‐trade venues via a three‐way mutually beneficial model: consumers sample free drinks, brands get liquid on lips, and bars host the whole thing (and reap the rewards afterwards). Formerly known as Drinki, Abrahamovitch launched Dusk on the App Store in 2018. At the time, it was a popular London‐centric application offering free drinks in return for social media advertising, but Abrahamovitch admits it wasn’t being used to its full potential in the way it is now. “We kind of knew there was something there, but we weren’t quite sure what it was,” she explains. “Back then it was all based on social media; checking in to venues, and the idea of micro‐influencers. We thought if you show your friends where you’re going, you should get a free drink for advertising. That was basically the point.” Realising potential But it wasn’t long before the real potential of the app was realised. Dusk now offers brands the chance to drive people to trial their products in multiple UK venues, which in turn generates awareness, incentivises purchase in the on‐ and off‐trade, and tracks consumer behaviour and feedback in real time. It’s that real‐time data that makes Dusk the key to a brand’s marketing plan. With 790,000 installs and 65,000 monthly active users, Dusk is able to determine the who, when, and what people are drinking, and – most importantly – the verdict. For brands this information is priceless, especially when it comes to the hard‐to‐reach and often misunderstood demographics. “When you’re in the app, and after you’ve redeemed your drink, we ask a lot of questions,” Abrahamovitch says. “We gather a lot of data from our users, both quantitative and qualitative, and we’re seeing some really amazing stats.” While reports suggest Gen Z consumers are more likely to abstain from drinking alcohol (a study by alcohol education charity Drinkaware found those aged between 18 and 24 were least likely to consume alcohol, with 26% of that age group being fully teetotal), Abrahamovitch says the average active Dusk user is 24. However, in January the app ran a trial of non‐alcoholic cocktails in Adventure Group bars in London and Brighton using Ceder’s non‐alcoholic ‘gin’ alternative, and during the month, Dusk saw a 30% upswing in free‐drink redemptions compared with December. “We found the reason people were choosing our Dry January products was 4% saying they’re teetotal, and all the rest were like, ‘I didn’t fancy drinking tonight’ – that kind of approach – which shows that people are just looking at drinking in a slightly different way.” Abrahamovitch went on to cite health as being one of the biggest concerns for city-dwelling Gen Z drinkers when it comes to watching their alcohol intake. “That speaks to the premiumisation trend we’re seeing as well,” she said. “They care what’s going into their drink, how much they’re drinking, and what the ingredients are. We’re seeing the rise of better mixers, not‐so‐sugary cocktails, and more thought‐through recipes.” When it comes to spirits, the Dusk data suggests Tequila is what this generation is reaching for. “We had one of our best campaigns ever with Patrón,” she tells me. “That was quite a simple serve – a Paloma. It’s a pink drink, which everyone loves. It’s a really Instagrammable or TikTok‐able brand.” However, 75% of those who redeemed their free Patrón Paloma had never heard of the brand. “In the Dusk office we couldn’t believe it, because we as Millennials breathe Patrón as a brand… but, actually, the average Gen Z consumer apparently doesn’t.” These gaps in Gen Z’s brand awareness are where Dusk demonstrates the power it holds. With liquid‐on‐lips being a key driver to brand advocacy, on‐trade sampling soon becomes obvious for those looking to build their brand in new markets. Furthermore, with the rising trend of premiumisation combined with a cost‐of‐living crisis, never has there been a better time for generating advocacy for premium‐plus brands in this demographic. Recent findings from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis found consumers of all ages are employing new strategies to make budgets go further, including selective upgrading – opting to spend more on better‐quality products in smaller quantities. This means Gen Z, which is estimated to boast spending power to the value of US$10.7 billion, is likely to seek out higher‐ quality and trustworthy brands that it enjoys over cheaper, lower‐quality products. However, they won’t take risks with their purchases unless completely sure of their investment, which is where Dusk’s on‐trade sampling comes into play. As well as brand advocation, Dusk also allows for entire spirits categories to open themselves up to new generations of drinkers. Abrahamovitch confirms that Dusk saw “really interesting results” with a Johnnie Walker campaign last August. The Diageo-owned brand partnered with the app to give away 270,000 Johnnie & Lemonades. “Their remit with us was to introduce Johnnie Walker to a new generation, and try to get away from the stigma that whisky is snobby. We’ve had amazing results. All the feedback is like, ‘I didn’t think I liked whisky, but this is really nice’. So it’s been really interesting.” Incentivising bar visits At a time when the UK on‐trade is suffering the effects of train strikes, staffing issues, and a cost‐of‐living‐meets‐energy crisis, Dusk’s model also gives drinkers incentive to visit bars. The Johnnie Walker campaign was projected to drive £4 million (US$3.3m) in revenue for the venues involved via a 12.5% rise in sales of the brand’s Black Label expression, as, according to the app’s data, 75% of users go on to buy a drink after claiming their free serve. This equates to an average spend of £14.02 per head, all of which tends to fall in the middle of the week. However, Dusk’s data suggests that relying on the app alone to generate footfall can only go so far. If the on‐trade wants to attract returning Gen Z consumers, it needs to focus on authenticity, Abrahamovitch says. “Gen Z are looking for the TikTok approach, something much more authentic. Gimmicks are done, people just want to go out with their mates and be entertained.” Abrahamovitch also stresses the importance of venues and brands to prioritise relevance alongside authenticity. “There’s a lot that is really easy to get wrong,” she continues. “Diageo have done some cool stuff, working with good influencers and finding good, relevant fits for their brands in terms of the audiences they want to capture. The brands trying to connect in person with Gen Z, with physical events and touch points rather than just going for a digital approach, are the ones getting it right.”

Spring’s hottest global bar openings

Georgie Collins — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 10:44:32 +0000

Now that we’ve had the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and we’re officially in the midst of summer, we’re looking back at the 10 biggest bar openings around the world this spring.

From a sky-high bar in Melbourne that champions vintage spirits, to a futuristic bar in Hong Kong that hasn't held back on luxury – the global bar scene this spring has not disappointed when it comes to fresh new venues. Here, we look at 10 of the hottest global bars that have opened their doors over the last few months. If you would like your new bar to feature in our next seasonal round-up, send details to info@thespiritsbusiness.com. For more new bar openings, check out the hottest new drinking dens from last winter.

Coya Marbella, Spain

To kick things off, we're casting our memories back to April when Peruvian luxury lifestyle group Coya opened its latest venue in one of the most luxurious residential areas along the Mediterranean coast. Located at the Puente Romano luxury resort in Marbella, Spain, Coya Marbella is the ideal place to hit up if you're looking to spend a night in a vibrant setting, with Pisco Sours and Peruvian dishes on tap. It boasts the Coya day pool, a first for the group, where guests can lounge while enjoying a range of signature Peruvian favourites that are blended with local ingredients and styles.

Fox Liquor Bar, North Carolina

Located in Raleigh, NC, Fox Liquor Bar is a subterranean drinking den from Ashley Christensen’s AC Restaurants that features classic and contemporary cocktails, a sprightly zero-proof programme, and 'craveable' bar snacks. The drinks menu is said to balance excellent but approachable libations of the spirited and spirit-free varieties, including B’s Secret Sauce, a play on the hot chicken sandwich from upstairs neighbour Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, made with with Bourbon, dry Curaçao, hot honey, and lemon; and the Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, a non-alcoholic cocktail featuring lemongrass, Seedlip Garden 108, lemon, and soda.

Post Haste, Philadelphia

Located in Philadelphia’s East Kensington, Post Haste is a cocktail bar with a farm-to-glass beverage philosophy and robust food programme. Helmed by Gabe Guerrero (formerly of The Dandelion and El Vez) and Fred Beebe (previously found at Momofuku and Sunday in Brooklyn) Post Haste’s drinks menu exclusively features spirits, beers, wines, citrus, herbs, produce and mixers from the Mid-Atlantic. Nothing is imported in an effort to both support local suppliers and address the bar’s environmental impact by reducing food miles. An outpost helmed by musicians, the cocktail menu offers four categories, including 'Covers', featuring variations of classics made with local ingredients, 'Remixes', showcasing signature spins built on a familiar base, and 'Experimental Pop' for adventurous drinkers interested in brand-new cocktail creations, as well as robust non-alcoholic options in their 'Free Spirit' section.

Artifact bar, Hong Kong

This new Hong Kong bar is the future. Or at least, it looks like the future, with its ultra-modern, minimalist design. At Artifact, brown spirits are the focus, and the cocktail and spirit offering is a constantly evolving one that tells a story of how whisky, brandy, rum, gin, Tequila and wine are affected by age, the ocean, land and the hand of man. If you enjoy the finer things in life, you'll enjoy this bar's penchant for championing luxury products. In the Caviar Martini, you'll find a generous inclusion of the eponymous savoury ingredient, while one whisky cocktail on the menu, called Bitter, makes use of Wagyu jus.

Alba Accanto, New York

This New York spot is the latest from the innovative team at Prince Street Hospitality. Located below the High Line and on the ground floor of the Lantern House in West Chelsea, this Italian holiday bar will transport you to a dreamy Positano escape, where you can sample the pleasures of an Amalfi Coast adventure without ever leaving the city. The space embodies the grandeur of the Mediterranean with playful interiors, pastel colours, and hand-painted tableware sourced from Puglia, while the drinks, curated under the creative direction of beverage director Tristan Burnell, are all Italian-coast-inspired, such as the Calabrese, a mezcal-based punchy blood orange house beverage; and the Portofino, the signature reposado Tequila-based pineapple Margarita that has already proven itself to be a fan favourite.

Cameo Bar, Melbourne

Boasting a top-down view of Melbourne's impressive skyline, Cameo is a new intimate and luxurious destination bar that shines a light on vintage and antique spirits from the 80th floor of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Cameo is an homage to the golden age of cocktails – the period that spans 1860 to 1920 and and the era we have to thank for classics such as the Martini and Old Fashioned. At Cameo there are seven antique cocktails to try, including a 1917 Sidecar, created using Calvet Grande Champagne Cognac made in 1917; a 1930s' Old Fashioned made using Hiram Walker’s fine bourbon made in 1930; and the 1931 Manhattan which utilises Barclay Gold rye made in – you guessed it – 1931. The 30-seat space was originally set aside for a private dining room, but the restaurant's loss is every cocktail connoisseurs gain.

Superbueno, New York

More than a cocktail bar, Superbueno is described as a place for shared conviviality and joyful gatherings that pays homage to Mexican culture while distinctly reflecting its home in New York. Here, hospitality industry powerhouse Ignacio 'Nacho' Jimenez has approached cocktails in the same way a chef would approach food, focusing on quality ingredients and culinary techniques to create well-balanced drinks, hitting an array of tastes for any palate. This vibrant bar's cocktails are about pushing the boundaries and expectations of what Mexican cocktail culture can be, by highlighting noteworthy Mexican ingredients and dishes through creative creations. The carefully crafted menu features 10 cocktails alongside non-alcoholic serves and a selection of Mexican beers and wines.

Gothic Bar, London

Absinthe and eaux-de-vie are the star ingredients of the concise and sophisticated cocktail menu found at this new opulent bar in London's King's Cross. Located within the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, the ornate soaring painted ceilings and lavish details (such as the peacock-print velvet banquettes) make every corner of this bar jaw-dropping, and that's before you've looked at the menu, created by bar manager Jack Porter. The menu is split into two; The Gothic Signatures, which encompasses eight drinks and sits alongside three Grand Signatures, which best embody the wider team’s ambitions for the Gothic. Highlights include the Eau de Martini (with guests encouraged to choose their own eaux-de-vie) and the seasonally-changing Grand Royale (Champagne, strawberry trilogy, and absinthe).

Thief, New York

This new bar in New York's Lower East Side neighbourhood is the second location for the Thief brand, owned by industry heavyweight John McNulty. At this new location, McNulty pairs classic and modern art pieces, graffiti murals and a killer playlist with a distinctive cocktail menu and expansive food offering. Inspired by the thriving art and music scene of New York City in the 80s, the space is decked out with pieces sourced from some very talented artists such as Maripol and Lynn Goldsmith, and boasts a large mural opposite the bar by Bisco Smith. Some soon-to-be-favourite menu items include the Dillinger’s Downfall cocktail (rum, papaya, banana, honey, lemon), described as the perfect drink for a spring day in NYC, as well as their signature 'friesling' (frozen riesling) on tap, a popular choice for summer months.

3’6 Bar at Fortnum & Mason, London

Reimagined in partnership with pioneering French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani, 3'6 is the latest venue to open within luxury grocer Fortnum & Mason flagship store in London. 3’6 Bar is said to reflect the evolution of Fortnum’s as an experimental industry leader, not only in its approach to design, but in the way it challenges customers to engage with culture, food and drink. In the daytime, it acts as a bookable workspace serving hand roasted small batch coffee, tea, smoothies and softs; come evening, it transforms into a laboratory for Fortnum’s mixologist Mustafa Tumburi – perfect for creative cocktails and dining. Customers can experience the world of mixology, from clarifying and dehydrating ingredients to nitrogen aged spirits, and watch on as the bar teams who work across Fortnum & Mason trial new techniques.

World’s biggest-selling Cognacs

Melita Kiely — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 09:07:02 +0000

The number of million-case-selling Cognacs are few and far between, but which brand is the world’s best-seller?

Cognac had a difficult year in 2022, with exports down by 3.7%, the Fédération des Exportateurs de Vins & Spiritueux de France (Fevs) reported. A recent webinar exploring the global beverage alcohol category by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis revealed a decline in volume in the US and China, two markets for Cognac, contributed greatly to the category’s drop in volume sales last year. This decline was felt by all three million-case-selling Cognac brands featured in this year’s Brand Champions report. Once again, Rémy Martin declined to share its volume sales for 2022, hence its omission from the report. However, while total Cognac volume was down, value was up by 9.3% in 2022, Fevs said, reflecting a trend towards premiumisation across the category. So there remains a lot to be optimistic about across the category. Cognac has previously been grouped with the top-selling brandies, but has been given its own spotlight this year. Scroll down to take a closer look at the world’s biggest-selling Cognac brands. Data listed is to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023 report.

3. Courvoisier

2022: 1.2m 2021: 1.5m % change: -19.4% Courvoisier is sitting dangerously close to the million-case threshold after its volume sales dropped by almost a fifth in 2022 (down by 19.4%). It’s a far cry from two years ago when the brand was crowned 2021's Cognac Brand Champion. Owned by Beam Suntory, Courvoisier made moves in travel last year, opening its first boutique store in Haikou International Shopping Mall in the Chinese province of Hainan. In February last year, the brand also appointed Thibaut Hontanx as its chief blender and revealed a new global campaign and packaging redesign.

2. Martell

2022: 2.3m 2021: 2.6m % change: -11.1% This year’s Cognac Brand Champion title was bestowed upon Martell, despite a double-digit volume decline in 2022. While 11.1% might sound like a lot, it equates to 290,000 nine-litre cases – not a massive drop from the brand’s 2.6m cases in 2021 to 2.3m last year. It is actually the same amount as Beam Suntory’s Courvoisier; but Martell was able to minimise its percentage decline from a larger starting base – meaning it should stay comfortably in the million-case ranks, even if 2023 is unkind to its volume sales. A spokesperson for Martell highlighted the brand’s diversified growth in various regions as a contributing factor to its performance last year. “In China, which is one of the largest markets in the world for Martell, the strong Mid-Autumn Festival [was] balanced by [the] soft Q2 due to Covid restrictions,” the spokesperson noted.

1. Hennessy

2022: 7.9m 2021: 8.6m % change: -8.1% Hennessy took the Cognac Brand Champion title in 2022, but suffered an 8.1% decline in volume sales last year, slipping below the 8m-case mark to 7.9m cases. In spite of this, it remains the undisputed leader of the Cognac category, selling nearly three times more than its closest rival, Martell. Hennessy has been active in its marketing campaigns so far in 2023, no doubt keen to bring its volume sales back into growth. In February this year, the brand partnered with singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, before teaming up with designer Kim Jones in March. Next year’s Brand Champions report will tell if its efforts have paid off. If you're looking for more information about million-case-selling spirits, take a look at the world's biggest-selling brandies.

Top 10 biggest-selling RTDs

Georgie Collins — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:53:40 +0000

Last year, eight ready-to-drink (RTD) brands registered a breach of the one million nine-litre-case sales mark. This year, five more have joined the ranks. But which 10 RTDs came out on top?

Towards the end of 2022, IWSR Drinks Market Analysis reviewed 10 focus markets, including China, the US, Australia and the UK, and predicted the RTD category would grow by 24% in volume over the next five years, led by spirits-based cocktails and long drinks. The study also found that the RTD category in these key markets would increase in value by an impressive US$11.6 billion during this period. One brand riding the sector’s wave of success is The Finnish Long Drink, backed by actor Miles Teller. In Finland, ‘long drink’ refers to a mix of gin and, most commonly, grapefruit soda. The company’s case sales more than doubled in 2022, soaring by 114.2% to surpass the million-case mark for the first time. Also joining the million-case club was Pernod Ricard’s Malibu RTD brand, with sales up by 96.9% in 2022 compared with the previous year. The US is seeing new markets and players in the RTD category. In February 2023, California and Texas introduced bills for spirit-based RTDs to be sold in grocery and convenience stores. Meanwhile in the UK, RTD brands including Moth Drinks and Trip joined together to launch a campaign calling on the on-trade to adopt canned cocktails. All of this suggests the category’s future is bright, especially when combined with the low-and-no sector: IWSR projects that non-alcoholic RTD products in the US will grow by 18% in volume between 2022 and 2026, driven by pre-mixed cocktails. Scroll through to discover the top 10 best-selling RTDs of 2022, listed in order of their nine-litre-case sales. Data listed is to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023 report.

10. 1800 Ultimate Margs

2022: 1.2m 2021: 1.3m % change: -11.2% Place last year: N/A As Proximo Spirits declined to share its sales data with The Spirits Business last year, its brands were omitted from our report. This year, however, we have been able to include two of its brands in our top 10 list, the first of which is its bottled Ultimate Margs range. Despite an 11.2% dip, the Tequila brand still recorded 1.2m case sales of its ready-to-serve Margarita portfolio, which includes flavours such as Strawberry, Passion Fruit, Mango, Blood Orange, and Black Cherry.

9. Campari Soda

2022: 1.6m 2021: 1.6m % change: 1.3% Place last year: 8 While this 10% ABV pre-mixed apéritif from the Campari Group saw some growth in 2022 (1.3%), its figures are no way near as impressive as those it recorded the year prior, when the brand witnessed a sales leap of 33.3%. Nevertheless, it has still out-performed its pre-pandemic figures, which the Italian firm will no doubt be pleased with.

8. Jose Cuervo Authentic Margs

2022: 3.2m 2021: 3.6m % change: -11.2% Place last year: N/A Another newcomer to the list, all expressions in the Authentic Cuervo Margaritas line-up are made exclusively with Jose Cuervo Tequila, and are presented at 9.95% ABV. In the last year, the brand has witnessed an 11.2% drop in sales, which may be a result of the growing trend of home bartending. Flavours in the portfolio include Classic Lime, Strawberry Lime, Mango, Grapefruit-Tangerine, Raspberry, Pink Lemonade, Coconut-Pineapple, Watermelon, Red Sangria, Orange-Pineapple, and Cherry Limeade, and the brand has even created a line-up of 'no-guilt Light Margaritas'.

7. Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails

2022: 3.9m 2021: 3.1m % change: 24.2% Place last year: 7 While it has kept the number seven spot on our list, Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails has continued going from strength to strength. The brand has now enjoyed year-on-year growth for six consecutive years, and will top 4m cases in 2023 if it can continue this trajectory. Owned by Brown-Forman, the RTDs include eight flavours: Black Jack Cola, Cherry Limeade, Berry Punch, Downhome Punch, Lynchburg Lemonade, Watermelon Punch, Southern Peach, and Southern Citrus.

6. New Mix

2022: 9.1m 2021: 7.4m % change: 23.0% Place last year: 4 Brown-Forman’s New Mix RTD bounced back after a tricky post-pandemic year. After reporting an 8.5% decline in 2021, dropping from 8.0m cases to 7.4m, the Tequila-based serve saw an impressive 23.0% leap last year, taking it up to 9.1m case sales. The brand first launched in Mexico more than 20 years ago, and the RTD range offers classic cocktails, such as the Paloma, in pre-mixed formats using El Jimador Tequila.

5. Horoyoi

2022: 10.8m 2021: 12.3m % change: -11.6% Place last year: N/A Available in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Philippines, Horoyoi is a popular canned chu-hi beverage with an alcohol content of 3% ABV. The RTDs include flavours such as peach, lemon, and grape. With a variety of unique flavours offered year-round, as well as highly anticipated limited edition seasonal editions, the Suntory-owned brand has consistently sold in excess of 10m cases over the last five years, however for the first time since the pandemic, it suffered a sales drop in 2022, taking it from 12.3m cases down to 10.8m.

4. Jack Daniel's RTDs (excluding JD Country Cocktails)

2022: 11.3m 2021: 10.8m % change: 4.6% Place last year: 6 Take Brown-Forman’s Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails brand out of the mix, and its collective JD pre-mixed portfolio still surpasses the million-case mark by quite some margin. In 2022, this part of the brand’s stable grew by 4.6% to hit 11.3m cases, thanks in part to the impressive growth of its classic JD & Cola serve, which is well-known and loved around the world. This segment of the brand's pre-mixed option had a solid 2022, growing by 6.6% to reach 7.4m cases. However, now that the brand has partnered with Coca Cola, could we be about to see the thunder stolen by this named brand partnership? We'll find out this time next year. Other Jack Daniel’s pre-mixed variants include Jack Daniel’s Honey & Lemonade, and Jack Daniel’s Apple Fizz.

3. High Noon

2022: 17.2m 2021: 8.8m % change: 94.7% Place last year: 5 Quenching the growing thirst for spirits-based on-the-go serves, E&J Gallo-owned High Noon earned the title of RTD Brand Champion for 2023. This range of vodka sodas flavoured with fruit juice saw sales catapult by an astonishing 94.7% last year, from 8.8m cases in 2021 to 17.2m in 2022, also making it one of the fastest-growing brands of the last 12 months.

2. -196ºC Strong Zero

2022: 21.0m 2021: 23.0m % change: -8.8% Place last year: 2 For the second year in a row, Suntory Spirits-owned -190^oC Strong Zero has seen sales figures tumble, this year by 8.8% down to 21.0m case sales. The range is largely consumed in Japan, consisting of a selection of Highball-style drinks. The name derives from the production technique used to make the RTD, whereby fruits are frozen at -190^oC and crushed into a powder, which is used to make the liquid.

1. White Claw

2022: 59.0m 2021: 61.6m % change: -4.2% Place last year: 1 A brand that lost its impressive momentum in 2022 was the one that kicked off the hard seltzer revolution in the US. Launched in 2016, Mark Anthony Brands’ White Claw saw substantial volume growth each year through to 2021, when it earned the title of RTD Brand Champion. However, last year the brand posted a dip in sales for the first time, falling by 4.2% to 59m cases. And yet, its enormous sales are still more than double those of the second-biggest-selling RTD brand, so it'll probably be a while before it has any need to panic.

Top 10 biggest-selling Indian whiskies

Georgie Collins — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 11:46:28 +0000

Indian spirits have world domination in their sights, but it's the country's whiskies that are making significant waves in the industry, as our look at the best-sellers confirms.

There is much optimism for the Indian whisky segment, with nearly all million-case players reporting increases in 2022. A report from Global Data at the end of last year estimated the spirits market in India would grow by double digits in 2022, driven by the premium and super-premium segments and led by the return of the on-trade and steady at-home consumption. Innovation has been the key for many Indian whisky producers. Bacardi made its first foray into the category with its Legacy blend, and Diageo revealed its Godawan single malt last summer. IWSR 2021 figures cited by Bacardi estimate that the Indian whisky category could exceed 250 million nine-litre cases by 2026, and when you consider four of the 10 biggest-selling spirits brands across all categories last year were Indian whiskies, it's not difficult to see this becoming a reality. Scroll through to discover the top 10 best-selling Indian whiskies of 2022, listed in order of their nine-litre-case sales. Data listed is to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023 report.

10. Signature

2022: 2.5m 2021: 2.0m % change: 27.4% Place last year: N/A Despite having consistently sold more than one million cases since 2009, making its debut in the top 10 list this year is Signature, a product of United Spirits. The brand initially launched into the super-premium segment of the Indian whisky market in 1994, but was lowered to the premium category in 2001. This didn't stunt the brand's popularity though, and in the last year has seen impressive double-digit gains that has taken it to the 2.5m case mark.

9. Director's Special

2022: 3.0m 2021: 2.9m % change: 3.4 % Place last year: N/A Another newcomer to the top 10, and another brand owned by United Spirits, Director's Special takes the ninth spot on the list with its sales of 3 million cases. The whisky is molasses based, and was previously the subject of a lawsuit that saw Indian liquor manufacturer Shaw Wallace & Company successfully go up against the Scotch Whisky Association to be able to legally sell the product as a whisky in the US.

8. Sterling Reserve

2022: 5.0m 2021: 3.6m % change: 39.4% Place last year: N/A Last year, not even being awarded the title of Indian Whisky Brand Champion was enough to land Sterling Reserve a place in the top 10 biggest-sellers list. However, this year the brand's sales have soared by 39.4% to reach 5 million cases, giving it a solid eighth position on the leaderboard.

7. Royal Challenge

2022: 7.2m 2021: 4.7m % change: 52.5% Place last year: 9 Considering the pandemic saw Royal Challenge's sales drop by almost a quarter, it's great to see this whisky brand return to glory with an impressive sales increase of 52.5% in 2022. Now boasting 7.2 million annual case sales, this more than makes up for the brand's Covid-19-induced setbacks, far surpassing its 2019 figures of 5.5m cases.

6. Blenders Pride

2022: 9.5m 2021: 8.0m % change: 18.7% Place last year: 7 Pernod Ricard-owned Blenders Pride has seen very impressive growth over the last year, adding 1.5 million case sales to its already impressive annual sales tally. The whisky, made from a blend of Indian grain spirit and Scottish malt, has climbed 18.7% in the last year, making it the sixth best-selling whisky on our list.

5. 8PM

2022: 11.9m 2021: 11.4m % change: 4.6% Place last year: 6 Radico Khaitan’s flagship whisky has seen a respectable 4.6% increase in the last year, with a sales increase of half a million cases that has allowed it to creep its way up the table to take fifth position. 8PM has witnessed steady growth since taking the Brand Champion title in 2017.

4. Imperial Blue

2022: 24.0m 2021: 24.1m % change: -0.6% Place last year: 2 A small decrease of 0.6% has seen Imperial Blue drop two places in our top 10 list this year to find itself officially off the podium. Despite returning to strength after a difficult pandemic year, momentum appears to have slowed for the Allied Blenders & Distillers-owned whisky, recording case sales of 24 million in 2022.

3. Officer's Choice

2022: 24.9m 2021: 23.2m % change: 7.3% Place last year: 3 With its stablemate's dip of 0.6%, Allied Blenders & Distillers-owned Officer’s Choice has retained its third-place spot on the table, despite being overtaken by Royal Stag. Although the brand saw impressive 7.3% growth over the 12 months of 2022, its pre-Covid figures, which saw case sales exceed the 30-million-mark for three years, are yet to return.

2. Royal Stag

2022: 27.1m 2021: 22.4m % change: 21.2% Place last year: 4 With a sales increase of more than a fifth to 27.1 million cases, Pernod Ricard’s Royal Stag has not only taken the number two spot on the list from Imperial Blue, it has also been named this year’s Indian Whisky Brand Champion. The brand is gaining ground on category giant McDowell’s and has also overtaken Officer’s Choice to become the second-biggest-selling Indian whisky. It is Pernod Ricard’s largest-selling brand globally, according to Kartik Mohindra, chief marketing officer for Pernod Ricard India.

1. McDowell's No.1 Whisky

2022: 30.8m 2021: 30.1m % change: 2.3% Place last year: 1 United Spirits-owned McDowell’s has taken the top spot for the forth year in a row after seeing its sales increase by 2.3% to take it to the 30.8-million-mark in the last 12 months. Last year, United Spirits announced it would be offloading much of its portfolio via a mass sale of 32 of its brands to Inbrew Beverages, a move which aligns well with the Diageo subsidiary’s plans to focus on its more premium line. However, McDowell's was a brand the firm chose to keep, and the way this brand has dug its heels into the top seller spot, it's no surprise to see why.

The world’s biggest-selling brandies

Alice Brooker — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:41:10 +0000

The brandy sector saw a mixed bag of results in 2022, with some brands seeing sales spikes and other dropping in volume.

Year after year, the brandy sector is faced with the challenge of retaining its relevance, given its reputation as a more traditional spirit, while simultaneously keeping up with innovation. The category has certainly seen some shaking up lately: the first dedicated brandy distillery on the British Isles, Burnt Faith, officially opened in March, while spirits producer Seven Tails Distillers released what is thought to be the world’s first spiced brandy at the end of last year. Brandy is also known to have more freedom to innovate than Cognac, which it is frequently compared to, as the appellation rules for Cognac don't apply to brandy made outside of the region. Four brandy brands tied in 2022 nine-litre case sales, all posting 1.1 million cases. Last year was certainly not consistently successful for brandy: while three brandies recorded growth of more than 40%, four brands published sales declines in 2022.

Scroll through to discover the top 10 best-selling brandies of 2022, listed in order of their nine-litre-case sales.

Data listed is to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023 report.

7. Courrier Napoleon Brandy

2022: 1.0 2021: 0.7 % change: 40.3% Place last year: N/A Tilaknagar Industries-owned Courrier Napoleon Brandy achieved one-million-case sales for the first time this year, an impressive jump of 40.3% in sales since 2021. In its two largest markets, Kerala and Puducherry, the brand recorded more than 40% growth and 88% growth, respectively. The brandy is sold in Canteen Stores Department and in more than eight states across India, with the brand taking a 15% market share in the ‘prestige’ brandy segment.

6= Torres

2022: 1.1 2021: 1.1 % change: -0.3% Place last year: 9 Spanish brandy Torres fared a dip in sales in 2022, an unfortunate turn for the company given its recording a 4.0% boost between 2020-2021. The brandy is distilled from white wines and aged in oak barrels.

6= McDowell’s No. 1 Brandy

2022: 1.1 2021: 1.0 % change: 8.8% Place last year: 10 United Spirits-owned McDowell’s No. 1 benefitted from a boost of 8.8% in case-sales last year, which is a particular bonus after its 9.7% fall between 2020-2021. The brandy’s owner recently reported its full-year sales soar by 19.5% for the year ending 31 March 2023, led by its prestige-and-above brands, of which grew by 22.8%.

6= Morpheus

2022: 1.1 2021: 0.8 % change: 45.5% Place last year: N/A Radico Khaitan’s Morpheus Brandy saw the biggest leap in sales across the brandy category in 2022, taking the brandy from 0.8 million case sales to 1.1m. The newcomer to the Brand Champions report even made it into our round up of fastest-growing spirits in the world. This premium aged brandy is named after Morpheus, the winged Greek God of Dreams, and boasts 10 years of master craftsmanship in India.

6= Christian Brothers

2022: 1.1 2021: 1.2 % change: -3.0% Place last year: 8 American brandy Christian Brothers saw a slight decline in sales in 2022, dropping from 1.2 million cases to 1.1m. Owned by Heaven Hill Brands, it was originally produced by The Christian Brothers, the largest religious community of men devoted entirely to education worldwide. The brothers were laymen who devoted their lives to living and working in a teaching congregation. The Christian Brothers range includes The Christian Brothers Brandy VS expression, along with a line of flavoured brandies, including apple, peach and honey.

5. Silver Cup

2022: 1.3 2021: 1.4 % change: -2.8% Place last year: N/A Amrut Distillers’ Silver Cup first ticked over the million-case sales mark in 2021, and has remained over the line in 2022, despite recording a 2.8% decline. Amrut Distillers is an Indian Distiller, best known in export markets for its range of single malt whiskies.

4. Shustoff

2022: 1.6 2021: 1.6 % change: 5.2% Place last year: 6 Last year’s Brand Champion winner has climbed two spots this year, claiming fourth place after clocking 1.6m case sales for the second year running. Owned by Global Spirits, the brandy is produced at the Odessa Cognac Factory, which dates back to 1836. It was also crowned Brandy Brand Champion in 2021.

3. Dreher

2022: 2.4 2021: 2.8 % change: -14.3% Place last year: 4 Dreher experienced a particularly difficult year in 2022 with the biggest fall among our biggest-selling brandies. Yet, the Campari Group-owned Brazilian spirit still managed to take the third spot in our top 10 round up. The company has fared a tumultuous few years in sales since 2017.

2. Old Admiral

2022: 4.3 2021: 3.8 % change: 13.8% Place last year: 3 Moving up a spot is Radico Khaitan’s Old Admiral Brandy. Its 13.8% growth last year saw the brand post 4.3m case-sales in 2022. The brand was given the title of Brandy Brand Champion in 2020, and last year revealed it planned to target new markets and hit four million case sales in the years to come – which it has since achieved.

1. Mansion House

2022: 7.1 2021: 4.5 % change: 59.8% Place last year: 2 This year’s Brandy Brand Champion is Mansion House, which posted a phenomenal leap of almost 60% in sales in 2022. Mansion House also made the list of fastest-growing spirits this year, ranking fourth among its peers. The brand moved into flavoured brandies last year, with Orange, Cherry, and Peach offerings.

Top 10 biggest-selling Tequila brands

Melita Kiely — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:26:19 +0000

Ask any industry expert what the hottest spirits category is right now, and most are likely to say Tequila. But how are the world’s biggest brands performing?

The Mexican spirit overtook American whiskey last year to become the second most valuable spirit category in the US, as reported by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, sitting only behind vodka. By the end of 2023, IWSR expects Tequila will be in the number-one spot. Figures from the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) revealed Tequila and mezcal’s revenue rose to US$6 billion last year – up by 17.2%. This year’s Tequila Brand Champion title was bestowed upon Hornitos, owned by Beam Suntory. The brand delivered double-digit volume growth in 2022 (10.0%) following consistent year-on-year growth. While Beam Suntory’s Sauza slipped below the million-case mark, a newcomer from Bacardi means there are still 10 million-case-selling Tequila brands, which we explore below. Data is listed to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023.

10. Cazadores

2022: 1.0m 2021: 0.8m % change: 31.5% Place last year: N/A Bacardi-owned Cazadores made its Brand Champions debut this year after passing the million-case sales mark in 2022. The brand enjoyed 32.5% growth to reach 1.0m cases. Cazadores is made today using the brand’s original 1922 recipe – including 100% Blue Weber Agave. The production process prides itself on creating no waste – and also includes Mozart. The composer’s music is played during the long fermentation process, as it is believed music can ‘soothe the yeast and water particles’ to create a ‘better-tasting Tequila’.

9. Olmeca (including Altos)

2022: 1.1m 2021: 1.1m % change: 3.6% Place last year: 7 Olmeca Tequila (including Altos) rose by 3.6% last year, remaining just above the million-case threshold at 1.1m nine-litre cases. The brand was relatively active in 2022, and unveiled a packaging redesign in February last year. The new look aimed to showcase the spirit’s fun side and attract a younger, party-going audience. In May last year, the brand also created the industry’s first virtual influencer, once again designed to connect with younger, legal-drinking-age consumers. This was followed by an RTD (ready-to-drink) launch in November: Altos Margarita Classic Lime.

8. Espolòn

2022: 1.3m 2021: 1.1m % change: 19.8% Place last year: 8 Last year marked the third year of consecutive growth for Espolòn, which grew by almost a fifth (19.8%) to hit 1.3m cases. The growth allowed the Campari Group-owned brand to remain in the Brand Champions ranking, after it made its debut appearance the year prior. The Tequila’s portfolio comprises five different expressions, all made from 100% Blue Weber Agave: Blanco, Reposado, Reposado Chardonnay, Añejo, and Cristalino.

7. El Jimador

2022: 1.7m 2021: 1.4m % change: 21.4% Place last year: 6 Brown-Forman reported the biggest volume increase for El Jimador Tequila since 2018 last year. Following a rather stagnant few years, El Jimador grew by more than a fifth (21.4%) to reach 1.7m cases. If this newfound growth trajectory continues throughout 2023, there is every chance the Tequila brand could be seeing the 2m-case mark for the first time at the end of the year.

6. Hornitos

2022: 2.1m 2021: 1.9m % change: 10.0% Place last year: 5 A solid 10.0% sales increase in 2022 saw Hornitos Tequila pass the 2m-case mark for the first time to reach 2.1m. The double-digit growth marked consistent year-on-year increases for the Beam Suntory-owned brand, resulting in Hornitos being crowned Tequila Brand Champion. The brand was able to grow throughout the pandemic in an increasingly competitive category – one that has become widely associated with celebrity-backed brands. “While we have achieved overall growth across the portfolio, Hornitos Plata and Hornitos Reposado continue to be the driving force behind the brand’s success,” Rashidi Hodari, managing director for Tequila at Beam Suntory, told The Spirits Business in May.

5. 1800 Tequila

2022: 2.5m 2021: 2.1m % change: 22.5% Place last year: N/A Proximo Spirits put a lot of love into growing 1800 Tequila last year, revealing a packaging redesign as part of a wider brand launch in July 2022. The revamp included a ‘language shift’ by calling out the category variant and Spanish language accents to highlight its authenticity. Moves such as this helped the Tequila brand, which is owned by Proximo Spirits, to grow by more than a fifth last year – up by 22.5%. 1800 Tequila sold a total of 2.5m cases in 2022 – a million more than in 2018.

4. Casamigos

2022: 3.2m 2021: 2.2m % change: 42.5% Place last year: 4 George Clooney-founded and now Diageo-owned Casamigos Tequila continues to go from strength to strength. The 2022 Tequila Brand Champion and Supreme Brand Champion had another strong year in 2022, when its volume sales jumped up by 42.5% to 3.2m cases. It just goes to show the power of Diageo’s influence as the world’s leading spirits conglomerate. Casamigos is now in line with our fourth-place Tequila, Don Julio, also owned by Diageo. If Casamigos continues to grow at such a rapid rate, it’s likely to overtake its stablemate by next year’s report. In January this year, e-commerce platform Drizly named Casamigos as its top-performing, celebrity-backed spirit brand.

3. Don Julio

2022: 3.2m 2021: 2.7m % change: 16.9% Place last year: 3 Don Julio has more than doubled its volume sales since 2018, when it shifted 1.5m cases. Fast-forward to 2022, and the brand delivered strong double-digit growth (16.9%) to reach 3.2m cases last year. As mentioned above, it will have to give a strong 2023 performance as Casamigos is hot on its heels – and showing little signs of slowing down. However, if Don Julio continues to entice consumers with new product development and limited edition launches, such as the second bottling of its extra añejo Ultima Reserva last November, there is everything to play for.

2. Patrón

2022: 3.5m 2021: 3.2m % change: 10.1% Place last year: 2 Marketing efforts from Patrón appear to be paying off handsomely, as the brand enjoyed 10.1% volume growth last year to hit 3.5m cases. The Bacardi-owned Tequila brand holds the position of the world’s second-biggest-selling Tequila by volume – but with more than one brand hot on its heels, it will need to continue its effective marketing efforts throughout 2023 to retain its position. In 2022, not only did the brand connect with the on-trade through its annual Patrón Perfectionists cocktail competition, but it also tapped into the advancement of the digital world by creating a virtual reality cocktail experience in Decentraland. Meanwhile, towards the end of 2022, the brand revealed its latest campaign – Our Hands – in tribute to the local artisans who contribute to the brand.

1. Jose Cuervo

2022: 9.2m 2021: 7.9m % change: 15.9% Place last year: 1 The undisputed Tequila category leader is Jose Cuervo, whose 15.9% growth resulted in the brand breaking through the 9m-case mark last year. Owned by Proximo Spirits, Jose Cuervo sold 9.2m cases in 2022. The brand started last year by tapping into the resurgence of travel since the Covid-19 pandemic. The company’s owner, Proximo Spirits, created a 700-square-foot interactive retail space dedicated to premium Tequila in New York City’s JFK International Airport at the end of 2021. Unless another Tequila brand is able to triple its sales in 2023, or Jose Cuervo suddenly sees a sales plummet, it’s unlikely that this Tequila titan will be moved from the top spot next year. Looking for more information about the world’s biggest-selling spirits brands? Read The Brand Champions 2023 report.

Top 10 best-selling world whisky brands

Nicola Carruthers — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 12:16:10 +0000

As interest in whisky from across the world swells, we analyse the performances of the leading players from North America, Japan and Ireland.

Whisky is enjoying strong momentum across the globe as consumers seek out premium aged bottlings to add to their drinks cabinets. Whisky is expected to post an increase of 23% in volume and 29% in value by 2026, according to data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, with an increase in activity particularly in its largest global markets, India and the US. In the States, whisky is predicted to be bigger than vodka by volume for the first time in two decades. Earlier this month, we released our Brand Champions 2023 report outlining the sales of the world’s biggest spirits brands. Excluding Scotch and Indian whisky, which each has its own dedicated section in the report, we analysed the performances of the biggest-selling whisky brands from Canada, the US, Japan and Ireland. Most million‐case‐selling American whiskeys were in growth in 2022, while the Irish whiskey contingent welcomed a new member to the million-case crew. However, this brand is not (yet) among the top 10 best-sellers. Scroll through to discover the top 10 best-selling world whisky brands of 2022, listed in order of their nine-litre-case sales. Data listed is to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023 report.

10. Maker’s Mark

2022: 2.8m 2021: 2.6m % change: 5.3% Place last year: 10 Beam Suntory’s Bourbon brand, Maker’s Mark, retained its 10^th position with a healthy 5.3% growth in 2022. In Beam Suntory’s 2022 full-year financial results, the brand saw its sales rise by 11%. Maker’s Mark also surpassed Bulleit as the top-selling Bourbon brand on US e-commerce platform Drizly last year. The American whiskey brand also received B Corp certification in January 2022, becoming the largest distillery in the world to achieve the title, it claimed at the time.

9. Tory’s (including Highball)

2022: 2.9m 2021: 2.9m % change: 1.7% Place last year: 9 Like its stablemate Maker’s Mark, Japanese whisky Tory’s also held on to its ninth-place position. Despite a slight increase in 2022, its sales have remained at 2.9m cases for the last three years. Suntory recently revealed a 10 billion JPY (US$77 million) investment into its Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries to celebrate the company’s 100th whisky-making anniversary. Perhaps the company’s enhanced focus on its Japanese whisky portfolio this year could lead to an improvement in Tory’s sales in the future.

8. Evan Williams

2022: 3.1m 2021: 3.1m % change: 1.5% Place last year: 8 Bourbon giant Heaven Hill’s largest American whiskey brand, Evan Williams, saw a small uptick in sales last year. Speaking to The Spirits Business last year, Heaven Hill co-president Kate Latts noted “interesting activity” for the brand in South Korea. “We have a great partner in South Korea who’s really leaning into opportunities on that brand, and I would say that’s taken us by surprise – in a good way,” she said at the time. A focus on Asian markets could see the brand reach new sales heights in the future.

7. Black Nikka

2022: 3.3m 2021: 3.3m % change: 0.0% Place last year: 7 Asahi Breweries-owned Black Nikka Japanese whisky reported stagnant sales last year, sitting at 3.3m cases since 2020. Last year, the company released Nikka Discovery 2022, a pair of single malts, Yoichi and Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast. Nikka Whisky will celebrate its 90^th anniversary in 2024, which should bring some momentum to the brand’s sales as it plans commemorative releases and activities.

6. Suntory Kakubin

2022: 6.1m 2021: 5.2m % change: 16.6% Place last year: 3 Japanese whisky Suntory Kakubin reported a double-digit increase in 2022 to 6.1m cases. It was the only million-case-selling Japanese whisky brand to report significant growth in 2022. Kakubin was first created in 1937 by Shinjiro Torii, Suntory's founder and first master blender. Described as a ‘highly versatile’ whisky by Suntory, the brand is typically used as the base for a Highball cocktail in Japan.

5. Canadian Club

2022: 6.5m 2021: 6.2m % change: 4.9% Place last year: 6 Beam Suntory’s Canadian whisky brand continued its upward trajectory in 2022 with a modest 4.9% increase. It marked its third year in growth. In Beam Suntory’s 2022 financial results, the brand noted that its ready-to-drink Canadian Club & Dry (mixed with ginger ale) grew by double digits. The brand remains the second-biggest-selling Canadian whisky in the world.

4. Crown Royal

2022: 8.4m 2021: 9.0m % change: -5.9% Place last year: 5 Diageo-owned Crown Royal saw its sales slip by 5.9% in 2022 after a particularly strong performance in 2021 when case sales increased by almost 1m. In March 2022, Diageo revealed plans to open a CA$245 million (US$190.96m) carbon-neutral distillery in Canada for the whisky brand. Earlier this year, the Canadian whisky teamed up with Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl to release a spot for the Super Bowl. The celebrity collaboration will likely help to increase the brand’s sales in 2023.

3. Jameson

2022: 11.1m 2021: 9.6m % change: 15.1% Place last year: 4 The world’s biggest Irish whiskey brand has reported its second year of double-digit growth with sales growing by an impressive 15.1%. The brand now sits at 11.1m cases and is targeting 15m by 2030, according to Brendan Buckley, international marketing director at Jameson owner Irish Distillers, the Irish whiskey arm of Pernod Ricard. The Irish whiskey recently partnered with actor and comedian Aisling Bea to create its latest responsible drinking campaign.

2. Jack Daniel’s

2022: 14.6m 2021: 13.5m % change: 7.9% Place last year: 2 Brown-Forman’s Tennessee whiskey brand, Jack Daniel’s, reported its second year of growth after rising by 7.9% in 2022. The brand’s growth for the year to 30 April 2023 was bolstered by its core variant, its ready-to-drink portfolio, and the launch of Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey. Last year, the brand also entered the American single malt category with a new whiskey, exclusively in global travel retail, and a limited edition bottling finished in oloroso Sherry casks.

1. Jim Beam

2022: 16.7m 2021: 17.0m % change: -1.6% Place last year: 1 Remaining at the top of the world whisky leader board is Bourbon brand Jim Beam, which saw sales dip by 1.6% in 2022. Brand owner Beam Suntory noted that the company's sales growth in 2022 ‘accelerated’ up the price ladder for its key Bourbon brands with Maker’s Mark and Basil Hayden’s growing by double-digits, while Jim Beam was up single digits. However, it noted double-digit growth for Jim Beam’s ready-to-drink portfolio. Last year, the firm announced a US$400m investment in its Booker Noe Distillery in Kentucky to increase production capacity for Jim Beam.

The world’s best-selling local spirits

Alice Brooker — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 11:11:53 +0000

While 2022 saw local spirits remain in a mirrored ranking of 2021, it was a positive year for the category with nearly all brands in growth. We look at the performance of the category's biggest players.

Local spirits comprise those outside of traditional categories, such as rum and vodka, and these bottlings are typically consumed in markets such as China, Chile and Korea – yet are working to reach new drinkers. From cachaça and pisco to Korean soju, we've uncovered eight local spirits making waves in both their home markets and globally, after independently collecting data for The Brand Champions 2023 report. Each brand remarkably ranks in the same position as the 2022 round-up, yet local spirits saw sales dip, grow, and remain the same. Data is listed to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023. Scroll through to discover the best-selling local spirits brands of 2022, listed in order of their nine-litre-case sales.

8. Shui Jing Fang

2022: 1.3m 2021: 1.2m % change: 2.5% Place last year: 8 Diageo's baijiu has seen a small boost in growth in 2022, and was a newcomer to the list last year after it surpassed one million cases for the first time. The brand is said to be crafted in 'the oldest distillery in China' which has more than 600 years of continuous production.

7. Yeni

2022: 2.3m 2021: 2.3m % change: 0.0% Place last year: 7 Another Diageo-owned company on the list is raki brand Yeni, which didn't budge in growth between 2021 and 2022. The brand recorded negative sales growth for five years before 2021, and a 9.1% boost between 2020-2021. Yeni remains below its sales high of 3m cases in 2018.

6. Mistral

2022: 2.4m 2021: 2.3m % change: 2.6% Place last year: 6 Chilean brand Mistral was crowned the Local Spirits Brand Champion in 2022 and continued to grow in 2022 to report its highest case sales at 2.4m. Owned by Compañía Pisquera de Chile, the pisco revealed last year it would roll out three major campaigns comprising TV advertising, out-of-home, radio and digital investment in 2022, which could be attributed to its 2.6% growth.

5. Kanoka

2022: 3.5m 2021: 3.4m % change: 2.9% Place last year: 5 Remaining in fifth place for the second year running, Asahi Breweries-owned shochu Kanoka saw a small boost of 2.9% between 2021-2022. This is an improvement on last year, when the brand reported a 5.6% drop in sales, from 3.6m cases to 3.4m. The brand offers several expressions, including a sweet potato shōchū, a rice shōchū and a barley shōchū.

4. Ypióca

2022: 3.7m 2021: 3.6m % change: 1.7% Place last year: 4 Diageo's cachaça brand, Ypióca, saw an ever so slight rise in sales last year, with 1.7% growth recorded as case sales reached 3.7m. The results will be a relief for the brand, having recorded consecutive sales declines since 2018.

3. Iichiko

2022: 7.1m 2021: 7.0m % change: 1.4% Place last year: 3 The second shochu on the list, Iichiko, only jumped up by 1.4% in sales in 2022, but is flogging a larger number of cases than the majority of other brands on the best-selling local spirits list. The brand's sales have been up and down since 2018, wavering between 7.2m and 7.0m nine-litre case sales. Iichiko is a barely-made spirit owned by Sanwa Shurui.

2. Chum Churum

2022: 26.0m 2021: 19.0m % change: 36.7% Place last year: 2 Chum Churum was a soju newcomer in 2020, and has seen great success in 2022 having leapt 36.7% in case sales to 26.0 million cases. It's particularly good news for the brand given that it suffered a 22% drop between 2019-2020, and 4.4% decline between 2020-2021. At 16.5% ABV, the Korean soju is made from rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes and tapioca.

1. Jinro

2022: 100.9 2021: 94.5 % change: 6.8% Place last year: 1 Jinro is the world's biggest-selling spirit, returning to growth in 2022 after a minor decrease in 2021. The brand was previously crowned Local Spirits Brand Champion in 2021 and 2023, as well as Supreme Brand Champion for 2023. Having surpassed 100 million cases in 2022, the brand has hit a major milestone, and the spotlight is starting to truly shine on the Korean soju. This achievement marks its fifth year of consecutive growth for the brand. In 2022, we interviewed Hwang Jung-Ho, the managing director of HiteJinro’s overseas business. Last year, the brand sponsored the London-based All Points East music festival last summer.

The world’s biggest-selling liqueurs

Melita Kiely — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 10:11:21 +0000

There is a wealth of styles and flavours to explore when it comes to liqueurs, meaning competition at the top has never been fiercer.

French liqueurs appear to be in particularly rude health, with exports up by 14.1% in volume and 12.8% in value last year, according to trade body the Fédération des Exportateurs de Vins & Spiritueux de France (Fevs). This year, the title of Liqueur Brand Champion was bestowed upon De Kuyper following the brand’s 3.2% volume growth in 2022. But how did the other million-case-selling liqueurs fare last year? Regular readers of The Brand Champions report will know the ‘Brand Champion’ titles are not awarded for sales volume alone. Here, we count down the world’s biggest-selling liqueur brands. It is worth noting that this year, South African firm Distell declined to provide figures for its Amarula brand after the company was taken over by brewing giant Heineken in April. Furthermore, Rémy Cointreau also opted not to share figures for its Cointreau liqueur brand for the second year running. Data is listed to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023.

6. Choya

2022: 1.5m 2021: 1.6m % change: -5.2% Place last year: 8 Japanese liqueur Choya struggled to retain its 2021 sales last year with a 5.2% volume decline. The fruit liqueur brand dropped to 1.5m cases – below its 2020 peak and in line with its 2018 and 2019 performances.

5. Kahlùa

2022: 1.8m 2021: 1.8m % change: 3.4% Place last year: 6 Pernod Ricard-owned Kahlùa enjoyed a slight rise in sales last year with 3.4% growth. The coffee liqueur sold 1.8m nine-litre cases in 2022 – and since November last year, the brand has been made entirely from sustainable coffee. To help other brands become more environmentally friendly, Kahlùa released a free toolkit with advice on how to adopt more eco-friendly practices.

4. Lubelska

2022: 1.9m 2021: 1.9m % change: 0.0% Place last year: 5 It’s been a steady three years for Lubelska. The liqueur brand, owned by Stock Spirits Group, has maintained its 1.9m-case sales since 2020 – but not quite managed to reach the 2.0m cases it sold in 2019.

3. De Kuyper

2022: 3.6m 2021: 3.5m % change: 3.2% Place last year: 3 Dutch brand De Kuyper enjoyed its biggest volume sales in the last five years in 2022, climbing by 3.2% to hit 3.6m cases. The liqueur brand had an active 2022, which included launching five bottled cocktails in the on-trade last August. That same month, the brand appointed a new global marketing director.

2. Malibu

2022: 4.8m 2021: 4.9m % change: -1.8% Place last year: 2 Despite a 1.8% dip in sales in 2022, Pernod Ricard-owned Malibu’s volume sales remained high compared with its pre-pandemic performance. The rum-based liqueur sold 4.8m cases last year, and kept its marketing efforts elevated to maintain Malibu’s ‘momentum’. In April last year, Malibu launched the ‘Welcome to Malibu’ global video campaign, before releasing a UK-focused push in July to position the brand as a year-round drink.

1. Baileys

2022: 8.8m 2021: 8.8m % change: 0.2% Place last year: 1 Diageo-owned Baileys had a stagnant 2022, just nudging sales up by 0.2%. At 8.8m cases, the volume is still more than 1.5m cases higher than the brand’s pre-pandemic sales. New-product-development has clearly kept consumers intrigued in the brand, and included the launch of a s’mores-inspired bottling in September last year. In addition, Baileys became a B Corp-certified company last September, which is likely to appeal to consumers' penchant for sustainably-led brands. Looking for more million-case-selling updates? Check out the world’s biggest-selling speciality spirits.

The world’s biggest-selling speciality spirits

Georgie Collins — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:42:43 +0000

It appears cocktail culture will continue its rise in the post-pandemic era, if the across-the-board growth of these popular speciality spirits is anything to go by.

Data from Euromonitor International shows sales of bitters rose by 6.2% last year, from 51 million cases in 2021 to 54.2m in 2022. Meanwhile, the speciality spirits in this report – all popular cocktail ingredients – enjoyed impressive gains. Alcohol e-commerce platform Drizly recently published its fifth annual Consumer Trend Report, which found that to avoid rising inflation costs, 26% of US consumers are spending more money on beverages to drink at home rather than going out to bars. Furthermore, the report found that more than a quarter (28%) surveyed said they have a home bar setup, with 63% saying they restock it at least once a month. Could this mean the growth for the category next year will be even more impressive? Time will tell. Earlier this month, we released our Brand Champions 2023 report outlining the sales of the world’s biggest spirits brands. Based on our findings, we’re counting down the biggest-selling speciality spirits on the market now. Scroll through to discover the best-selling speciality spirits brands of 2022, listed in order of their nine-litre-case sales. Data listed is to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023 report. Absent from the table is Fernet-Branca, as owner Fratelli Branca failed to share its 2022 figures.

8. Lillet

2022: 1.3m 2021: 1m % change: 24.8% Pernod Ricard once again has seen major success in the speciality spirits category in the last year, with the French firm’s wine-based apéritif, Lillet, experiencing growth of 24.8% to hit 1.3m cases. The French firm revealed Lillet, alongside its other speciality brands, contributed to 10% growth for the segment in the first nine months of fiscal 2023.

7. Ramazzotti

2022: 1.5m 2021: 1.3m % change: 15.9% Italian bitter brand Ramazzotti posted impressive growth of 15.9% in 2022, taking it to total case sales of 1.5m. Pernod Ricard-owned Ramazzotti was awarded the title of Speciality Spirits Brand Champion 2021, as the only brand that didn’t fare a decline in growth in 2020, and it credited its new Ramazozotti Crema for keeping it afloat. The innovation was said to have attracted new consumers in the 34-to-45 age bracket, and it’s clearly a move that has continued to work wonders for the brand.

6. Orijin Bitters

2022: 2.4m 2021: 2.1m % change: 14.0% Diageo’s only feature on the best-selling list for speciality spirits, Orijin Bitters, saw 14% growth in 2022 as it racked up case sales of 2.4m. With the growing popularity of the Martini cocktail, we may see more bitters rising through the ranks in the coming years.

5. Campari

2022: 4.5m 2021: 3.9m % change: 15.6% Campari Group’s namesake red bitter, a staple of the classic Negroni, continued its upward trajectory in 2022, increasing sales by 15.6% and shifting 4.5m cases. The brand benefitted from an injection of cocktail virality in 2022, when an interview between HBO series House of the Dragon actors Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke highlighted the Negroni Sbagliato – another serve that makes key use of the red bitter. The clip went viral on TikTok, causing a spike in searches for the cocktail, and caused the serve to become the top trending cocktail in Google search (up 5,640% growth in queries versus 2021). The boost in interest also had a halo effect on the classic Negroni, as the cocktail was not too far behind as the number-four trending drink (up 90% versus 2021).

4. Ricard

2022: 4.6m 2021: 4.3m % change: 6.9% Pernod's aptly named pastis brand, Ricard, grew by 6.9% to reach 4.6m cases in 2022. The bottling is the only anis to make the list, and was created by Marseille native Paul Ricard in 1932, who put his name to the product because he was “sure of the quality of this pastis and proud of its unique taste”.

3. Aperol

2022: 8.8m 2021: 7.1m % change: 23% For the second year in a row, our Speciality Spirits Brand Champion is Aperol. The Campari-owned brand posted double-digit growth in 2022 and has increased its sales by nearly 4m cases in the last five years. It’s now hot on the tail of Jägermeister, which sold 9.4m cases last year, rising by 7.8%. In 2022, the orange aperitivo grew its volumes to 8.8m nine-litre cases, after clocking 7.1m in 2021 – an increase of 23%. Could Aperol overtake Mast-Jägermeister’s flagship brand in the year ahead?

2. Jägermeister

2022: 9.4m 2021: 8.7m % change: 7.8% Our 2023 Speciality Spirits Brand Champion would have a mission on its hands if it was hoping to overtake the German liqueur, given its gains in the global travel retail (GTR) market and its 7.8% volume increase which saw it sell 9.4m nine-litre cases last year. In March, Jägermeister was named the eighth-largest premium spirit brand in GTR after recording double-digit growth in the channel.

1. Martini

2022: 10m 2021: 9.7m % change: 3.0% Last year, Bacardi-owned Martini vermouth passed the 10m-case sales mark for the first time, and once again it has retained its place a tthe top of the podium in our best-sellers list. This year, the brand is marking its 160th anniversary with a multi-channel marketing campaign, with creatives designed to reflect consumers’ changing drinking habits. As such, the brand’s hero product, Martini Fiero, a lower-ABV vermouth, is front and centre in the visuals and represents how Martini is meeting the demand for the rise in mindful drinking, while remaining ‘grounded’ in aperitivo culture.

The transformation of the happy hour

Claire Dodd — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:38:26 +0000

Once a cornerstone of many bars’ success, happy hour is being tweaked in line with changing consumption patterns.

*This feature was originally published in the February 2023 edition of The Spirits Business. It’s five o’clock, and the bar is empty. But not for long. As the after-work crowd rounds up the stragglers from the office, the orders from the happy hour menu start pouring in. Or at least, that’s how things used to play out before the world changed. Covid‐19, cost increases, wars, changing lifestyles, staff shortages and the cost‐of-living crisis. All these things and more have had a colossal financial impact on hospitality businesses and consumers alike over the past few years. A recent study by Opinion Research found 55% of British consumers are spending less money in bars, while data consultancy CGA reports one‐in‐five Canadian consumers are planning to reduce visits to the on‐trade in the wake of rising costs. So, are promotions and happy hours more essential than ever for enticing cautious customers to spend? Or can venues even still afford to discount in the face of rising costs? One thing is certain: as the world has changed, businesses have had to change too. For happy hours, that’s meant a rethink. “The way people socialise since the pandemic has changed. The make‐up of the week has completely changed,” says Sarah Willingham, former Dragons’ Den star, and founder and CEO of Nightcap. The UK company, which has 47 bars across the country, owns The Cocktail Club brand, The Adventure Bar Group – which includes Covent Garden’s Blame Gloria, and the Tonight Josephine chain – and the Dirty Martini cocktail bar chain. In late 2021 it bought Barrio Bars, a brand known for its happy hours andfixed‐price bottomless brunches, which attract a largely late Gen Z and early Millennial crowd. Themed on anything from Cardi B to bingo, ’80s pop to ’90s hip‐hop, attendance to the Saturday‐morning parties are available via pre‐booked tickets for £50 (sold as a minimum of four). Ticket buyers get a two-course brunch, bottomless drinks, including prosecco, for 90 minutes, and entertainment, as well an after-party from 4pm. “It’s not all about discounting. It’s about what do you do to enhance the customers’ experience in that particular moment,” adds Willingham. But she warns against a discount culture similar to that seen in casual dining in the late 2000s, where two‐for‐one offers became so ubiquitous, customers became reticent to enter some venues without them. Happy hours account for less than 20% of business in the group but are a vital way of keeping customers in venues longer, adds Willingham. “We’ve seen that, especially in the downturn, people want to know exactly what they’ll get and for how long. That really helps people with planning their monthly budget,” she says. Rising costs, a fundamental shift in consumer mindsets, and a move to partially working from home has meant the hours, days, and content of the group’s happy hours have had to change too. “Friday is definitely something we’ve had a big discussion over,” she adds. “It used to be a massive night, but it is nowhere as big as it used to be. It’s much more about Saturday. We’ve looked at what offers we can have on a Friday night, which we’d never have done before.” In The Cocktail Club, the company has now changed its happy hour to let customers sample the whole menu – even its most premium serves – on a two‐for‐£12 offer from 4pm‐7pm every day. Happy hour in Singapore In the business hub of Singapore too, leading bars have been looking closely at this new consumer landscape and have adapted. “It used to be almost purely tactical,” says Indra Kantono, co‐founder of the Jigger & Pony Group, alongside his wife Gan Guoyi. Seen as pioneers of cocktail culture in Singapore, the duo opened Jigger & Pony in 2012; it’s currently ranked 12th on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 list. They now have three additional bars (Gibson, Live Twice, and Sugarhall) and three restaurants (Humpback, Caffe Fernet, and Rosemead) in Singapore. With a business‐led market, its daily happy hour from 6pm‐7.30pm is a tool for encouraging the after-work crowd, “a big group of people who don’t drink cocktails as a default [in Singapore]”, says Kantono. “We’ve always had a happy hour in our bars. Offering something price‐accessible was the goal. Post‐Covid, we have to be a little bit more strategic. Now, our happy hours reflect the core offerings of each brand.” Shifting the offer away from approachable drinks with the best margins to its core drinks, they’ve reduced the number of wine and beers, instead focusing on the signature cocktails of each venue, such as Jigger & Pony’s bestseller, the Yuzu Whiskey Sour. Though it gives existing customers a reason to come in early, it’s mainly a calling card to new customers. “We see it as a way to establish new habits, and introduce guests to us, so they will come back again for the full offering,” adds Kantono. Targeting serves that are the most repeat‐purchased also helps maintain margins. Drinks on the core menu go up to SGD$28 (US$21), whereas happy hour cocktails are SGD$18. Repeat purchases, partnering with brands, and devising some happy‐hour specials with premium rather than super-premium spirits means the margin on a happy‐hour drink is around 71%-73%, compared with 75% on the core menu. At Jigger & Pony, happy hour contributes to about 15% of the business. “We may reduce it over time, but we don’t want to take it away completely. We don’t want our brand to become inaccessible to this audience,” Kantono says. In Mexico City, Ritual Hospitalidad, which owns Licorería Limantour (number four in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022) and Baltra Bar (number 32), is taking a different approach. At Baltra, when action was needed to save quiet Tuesday nights, the company decided to specialise in a serve that wasn’t yet common in the city, to stand out. Martini Martes, or Martini Tuesdays, was born.

Different twist

A different twist is offered on the Martini serve each week, backed by a changing array of brand partners, and guest shifts from visiting bartenders. Priced at MXN$150, or around US$8, drinks on the core menu sit around US$9–US$13. In a market dominated by beer and only just embracing cocktails, it was a bold move. After starting it two years ago, Tuesday is now the bar’s third biggest night. “We’ve been very careful about not having offers across all our concepts,” says Alberto González Rivas, director at Ritual Hospitalidad. “Tuesdays were the worst day. We were very worried. Martinis are something risky in Mexico. They’re expensive. But we’re very passionate about what we do, and we know cocktails. Martinis are a classic, and our audience were in need of those kind of drinks, but at a special price. “We claimed to be preparing the best. That can be very arrogant and can sound very empty. But if you put your heart and your brain behind it, it can grow your business significantly. It’s been a great way to learn that offers are very important.”

SB meets… Puerto de Indias’ team

Alice Brooker — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 10:11:26 +0000

We sat down with the operations director and international sales manager of gin brand Puerto de Indias to discuss new launches, category challenges and sustainability.

Puerto de Indias is based in Seville, Spain, and produces a number of expressions including its flagship flavours Strawberry and Blackberry. Eduardo Cornago Egido has held the role of operations director for the brand since January 2021, while Raúl Blanco has been international sales manager since September 2022. We sat down with the two to discuss the brand, and how it competes in an ever-growing market.

What makes the Porto de Indias distillery unique? Cornago Egido: From my point of view, we have three important characteristics of our distillery. First of all is, this is the oldest distillery here in Andalucia. So, this is our distillation area of more than 100 years. The second reason is what we do with our distillation – it is completely natural, with natural fruits, compounds, all of the raw materials are natural. This is one of the most particular parts of our process. And the third reason is that we are in the same place where we began, we have maintained the distillation here, because the soul of this area is fundamental for us. And it’s quite important to maintain our origins. What is the feedback to the Blackberry gin launch in the UK? Blanco: We launched Blackberry in the UK one year after we launched it in Spain. Taking into consideration the great success of this new gin in Spain, we are very confident of the great outcome we’ll get with Blackberry in the UK. It is still a new gin, launched in September 2022, and the feedback received from the on-trade, mainly cocktail bars, is that it is a great gin for cocktails, very versatile, which allows them to invent new cocktails. Following the UK launch, do you have plans to launch the Blackberry flavour in America? Cornago Egido: We need to be sure the UK launch goes very well. After this, we will continue to launch more flavours. We need to go step by step, and not launch all flavours at once. It would not be great for the consumer because there would be too many flavours [to choose from]. Blanco: After the UK, we’ve been launching it in other markets. Regarding America, Blackberry has already launched with great success in key markets like Mexico or Paraguay. Latin America is a very important geographic area for us, and Blackberry is also present in Uruguay, Bolivia and Costa Rica. The plan is to keep launching Blackberry in other markets in the area, with special emphasis in US, where we are already in the process of registration. How does this gin compete against other brands? Cornago Egido: Our gins are original and completely natural. The majority of the rest of the competitors are working with artificial flavours, and so that's the difference between us. Blanco: Blackberry has already had great acceptance with our consumers. After the great success in Spain, we are sure that this gin is going to work very well in the UK market. It is a very versatile flavour for cocktails, and considering the huge cocktail culture of the UK, blackberry shouldn’t be missing in any cocktail menu. What sustainable practices is the brand carrying out at the moment? Cornago Egido: With the sustainability of people, and jobs, we always try to do have workers from this area – Carmona – especially. In terms of the environment for example, during the last year, we have been working to eliminate all the waste. So we're working to segregate 100% of waste, glass, carton, and plastic. We have containers which segregate waste. We work with providers that have the certification of zero waste. In the future, are you looking into a scheme involving the reuse of bottles? Cornago Egido: We are thinking about it, but it's very, very difficult. It's not like Coca-Cola or soft drinks – we have an idea but it's very, very complicated now. But, what we are doing is reducing the weight of the bottles in the next month. I think it is by 17%, and we’re reducing the weight of our cases too. We work with providers that are based around our factory, because it’s important for the [reduction of] transport, to eliminate or reduce the use of energy. We are growing the size of our orders, because it's better to have only one trip than two as it uses less energy. We are trying to reduce all the energy, the transport. What challenges does the gin category face right now, specifically Puerto de Indias? Cornago Egido: Here in Spain, we were the first to launch a flavoured gin. We have grown in the market, and we are the leaders. The rest of our competitors, during the last year, they were copying us, the flavours of our launches. Two or three months later, they’d launch the same products. Some of them have decided to eliminate the flavoured gin products, and are mixing flavoured gin with the 0% alcohol category, so they are launching strawberry gin with no alcohol. We are growing the flavours, with lemon, melon, blackberry. What we are doing in Spain is growing in the market with more flavours. The rest of the competitors are copying us. The challenge is to create new flavours, and as we are sure they are going to copy us. I think it’s good they’re copying us, they’re helping us to grow the market, and they’re pushing us and helping us. They are waiting for us to launch so they can copy us, but it’s good. It’s a way for us to get new consumers. Blanco: The category is contracting in the UK, the purchasing power of the population is decreasing, and thus, the whole on-trade channel is being affected. However, Puerto de Indias is growing its distribution in the UK, and our main challenge, is to keep growing in a declining category. It is the main market in the world for flavoured gin, and the potential of growth of Puerto de Indias is huge. Also, one of our main challenges is becoming a loved brand for the UK consumers, like in Spain, where we are the number-one flavoured gin.

Top 10 biggest-selling Scotch whiskies

Georgie Collins — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 08:50:27 +0000

What a year 2022 was for Scotch whisky, with records set for the category and highs especially felt by these top 10 best-selling brands.

Exports of Scotland’s native spirit hit £6.2 billion (US$7.5bn) last year, topping £6bn for the first time. Exports by volume also rose substantially, with the number of 700ml bottles shipped overseas up by 21% to 1.67bn, Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) figures showed. Earlier this month, we released our Brand Champions 2023 report outlining the sales of the world’s biggest spirits brands. Based on our findings, we’re counting down the biggest-selling Scotch whiskies on the market now. Scroll through to discover the top 10 best-selling Scotch whisky brands of 2022, listed in order of their nine-litre-case sales. Data listed is to one decimal place for ease of reading, but the percentage changes are based on the full data supplied to The Brand Champions 2023 report.

10. White Horse

2022: 2.6m 2021: 2.6m % change: -3% Place last year: N/A While a number of the category’s household names experienced stagnant or declining sales last year, this left space for White Horse to make its debut in the top 10 best-sellers list. While the brand saw a minor sales dip of 3% in 2022, its 2.6m case sales has remained an impressive enough figure to let it into the top 10.

9. William Peel

2022: 2.7m 2021: 2.7m % change: -1.2% Place last year: 7 For the second consecutive year, William Peel witnessed a slight fall in sales in 2022, dropping by 1.2% to record 2.7m cases. The brand’s owner, Paris-based Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits (MBWS), posted 7.8% revenue growth for 2022, with sales reaching €181.3m (US$193.7m) – an improvement on its previous year's 1% dip.

8. J&B

2022: 2.9m 2021: 2.8m % change: 3.2% Place last year: 10 After suffering some substantial loses during the height of the pandemic in 2020, Justerini & Brooks, more commonly known as J&B, bounced back with half a million more case sales in 2021. The figures continued to rise for the Diageo-owned brand in 2022 as is maintained its spot on our best-selling list, creeping up two places thanks to its 3.2% sales boost. The way its figures are going, we predict the brand will return to its 2019 sales figures of 3m cases next year if the trajectory continues.

7. William Lawson’s

2022: 3.5m 2021: 3.4m % change: 1.5% Place last year: 4 Found within the Bacardi portfolio, blended Scotch whisky William Lawson has seen a steady rise in sales over the last few years, and despite dropping a few places in this year's list, posted a 1.5% sales increase in 2022.

6. Dewar’s

2022: 3.5m 2021: 2.9m % change: 20.3% Place last year: 9 William Lawson's stablemate Dewar’s saw strong double-digit growth, with sales up by 20.3% to 3.5m cases in 2022. Finally breaching the 3m-case-mark, Dewar's boosted its portfolio in 2022 with the launch of its inaugural NFT (non-fungible token): Dewar’s Double Double 21 Years Old Rye Cask Finish. While only 50 bottles of the NFT were made available, the launch likely boosted the blended Scotch brand's profile and help aid its impressive sales leap.

5. Black & White

2022: 3.6m 2021: 3.2m % change: 14.5% Place last year: 6 This Diageo-owned brand has climbed a spot in our top 10 list this year, with impressive double-digit gains taking it up to a total of 3.6m cases in 2022. The blended Scotch is currently only sold outside of the UK, and claims to see most of its success in France, Venezuela and Brazil.

4. Grant’s

2022: 4.2m 2021: 4.1m % change: 2.2% Place last year: 3 Minor gains for Grant's in 2022 has seen the brand drop one place in our top 10 list, but it still remains one of the biggest Scotch brands in the world. The William Grant & Sons-owned brand suffered during the pandemic, but now appears to be back to full strength, leaping from 3.6m to 4.2m sales in two years.

3. Chivas Regal

2022: 5.2m 2021: 4.1m % change: 26% Place last year: 5 Pernod Ricard’s Chivas Regal grew by more than a quarter in 2022 to reach 5.2m cases. The Scotch whisky arm of Pernod Ricard, Chivas Brothers, saw net sales soar by 25% during the company’s 2022 fiscal year, and the Chivas Regal brand saw global growth of 29% during FY22, as well as a boost of 42% in emerging markets.

Meanwhile, Pernod Ricard’s full-year results for fiscal 2022 revealed a significant increase in global demand for Scotch.

Last year, the brand entered the Metaverse with K-pop star Lisa, and added a Margeaux-cask finished expression to its line-up.

2. Ballantine’s

2022: 9.2m 2021: 8.7m % change: 5.5% Place last year: 2 Pernod Ricard’s second brand to make the top 10 list is Ballantine’s, which held onto its second-place position with growth of 5.5% in 2022. Beating its 2020 volume by more than 2m cases, Ballantine's kept up with trends in the industry last year, partnering with video game series Borderlands to launch a limited edition bottling. The move marked the brand's first foray into the world of gaming.

1. Johnnie Walker

2022: 22.7m 2021: 19.1m % change: 18.6% Place last year: 1 Johnnie Walker played a key role in the category’s growth last year, enabling the Diageo-owned brand to retain its title of Scotch Whisky Brand Champion for another year. The blended Scotch achieved the status last year after a return to growth in 2021 following the Covid-19 pandemic – a rebound that took it past its pre-pandemic sales. In 2022, the brand soared by more than 3m cases to hit 22.7m, which may be credited to its numerous product launches, including its fifth Ghost and Rare expression, a Blue Label utopian collection, and a collaboration with Air Link, which saw six limited edition bottles for its Black Label series, made using an ink made from air pollution.