Wine & Spirits

RSS

Domestic table wines dominate the wine scene in restaurants, bars and other on-premise locations, according to Technomic's 2013 BarTAB Report.

Brown-Forman Corp., Louisville, Ky., reported financial results for the second quarter and first half of its fiscal-year 2014, which ended Oct. 31. In the second quarter, the company’s reported net sales grew by 6 percent to nearly $1.1 billion and reported operating income grew 19 percent to $311 million compared with the prior-year period. For the first six months of the year, reported net sales increased 4 percent and reported operating income increased 9 percent.

Premium adult beverages are providing momentum to the on-premise channel, according to Chicago-based Technomic Inc.’s 2013 BarTAB Report. Although the channel is slowing overall as consumers control their spending, higher-priced spirits and beers are growing in restaurants and bars, Technomic reports. In 2012, the on-premise channel grew in 0.7 percent in total volume to reach 1.9 billion gallons, and sales rose 3.5 percent to $97.3 billion, it reports. However, Technomic projects there will be slight declines in volume but continued dollar growth in 2013 and 2014.

Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc., Louisville, Ky., opened a new $10.5 million artisanal distillery to bring tourism and a unique brand experience for Evan Williams drinkers to the area. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience opened to the public on Nov. 15. The new artisanal distillery and tourism experience is officially the eighth stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour and the first stop in Louisville.

Wild Turkey, a brand of San Francisco-based Campari America, is bringing back its Wild Turkey 101 Rye. After an absence from the market for approximately a year because of the unexpected high demand, the Kentucky straight rye whiskey is returning to bars in select markets this month.

In anticipation of the return of the PBS series “Downton Abbey” in January, Wines That Rock launched the Downton Abbey Wine Collection.

In the wake of the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan on Friday, Nov. 8, beverage companies are working fast to send aid to affected communities in the Philippines. The typhoon flattened towns, destroying at least 80,000 homes and leaving more than 582,000 people homeless and more than 2,275 dead, according to a CNN report.
 

Speakeasy Spirits launched an American version of what often is called “Irish cream.”

Wine on tap began to catch on in the late 2000s in major metropolitan areas like New York City and San Francisco as a way for cost-conscious consumers to sample premium wines without having to purchase an entire bottle. In recent years, the popularity of wine on tap has spread inland.

Independent Distillers launched Big Shots 50-ml prepared shots.