Wine & Spirits

RSS

As the economy continues to expand, premium and super-premium distilled spirits are coming back stronger than ever, according to the Beverage Information & Insights Group’s “2014 Liquor Handbook.” The Norwalk, Conn.-based company reports that this premiumization trend means that consumers are drinking less but drinking “better,” which resulted in slower case sales growth of 2.2 percent, reaching 210 million 9-liter cases in 2013.

Stillhouse Spirits Co. added Red Hot, Peach Tea, Apple Crisp and Coconut flavored moonshines to its portfolio.

Veev Spirits LLC announced the launch of Veev 2.0, a full brand repositioning that includes a reformulated 70-proof spirit, a redesigned bottle, and a strategic focus on the vodka category.

Pernod Ricard USA, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard SA, released a new line of Café de Paris sparkling wines.

Within the wine and spirits categories, dark spirits and blended wines are leading growth, according to analysts.

Pernod Ricard USA, New York, completed its acquisition of a significant majority stake in Avión Spirits LLC, owner of the ultra-premium tequila brand Avión, from its joint-venture partner Tequila Avión.

Friends Beverage Group introduced two new beverages that combine wine and coffee.

Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc., Bardstown, Ky., announced it has acquired the worldwide rights to Domaine de Canton French ginger liqueur from Maurice Cooper et Cie. of Miami.

Milagro Tequila, a spirits brand of New York-based William Grant & Sons, launched a new, limited-edition expression: Unico, Second Edition. Following the success of the first edition, the extremely rare expression combines aged silver tequila with rare barrel-aged reposado and añejo reserves, creating a super-premium joven blend, the brand says. The new tequila will be available nationwide in extremely limited quantities in September.

Since the start of the FIFA World Cup on June 12, soccer (or football) has taken the world by storm. Just this week at IFT in New Orleans, tradeshow attendees gathered around exhibitor booths with TVs to catch the action. In some moments, you almost forgot you were at a tradeshow when the fan crowd roared and cheered.