Articles Tagged with ''flavored whiskey''

In HBO’s “Game of Thrones” series, various characters have tried to battle their way to claim the Iron Throne using everything from brute force to social cunning. Within the spirits industry, the battle for the throne has been a bit more civilized, but, nonetheless, the alcohol category now has a new king.

At InterBev last month, I attended an educational session about alcohol trends called “Where did my drink go?” presented by Nik Modi, managing director at RBC Capital Markets, New York.

Hard ciders were popular in the United Kingdom for years before reaching the mainstream U.S. market. Likewise, stevia was used as a sweetener in Japan for decades before getting approval as a safe food additive in the United States in the form of Rebaudioside A, according to Cargill. Many trends are born overseas and eventually make their way to the U.S. market. But that doesn’t mean Americans can’t be trendsetters too.

In line with the growing popularity of Irish and flavored whiskeys, Pernod Ricard USA introduced two new products that cover both trends.

On March 1, Independent Distillers USA will add After Dark and Vanzilla spirits to its Woodstock brand family of flavored Kentucky bourbons.

Beam Inc. added two new varieties to its Jim Beam portfolio.

Beam Inc. introduced Canadian Club Dock No. 57, which is a blackberry-flavored whisky designed to help bring younger consumers of legal drinking age into the whisky category.

Constellation Brands Inc. introduced the first flavored whisky for the Black Velvet brand.