Beverage Dynamics Newsletter – 2/19/13

Burt Notarius has created a new, larger, ultra-modern version of his long successful Premier Wine and Spirits, while his sons Mark and Jon have established a new Premier Gourmet store right next door, as their businesses reach for new heights in Western New York.

Patron recently announced a new holiday gift pack for Valentine’€™s Day. The red heart-shaped package contains a 375-ml. bottle of Patron Silver tequila and a 375-ml. bottle of Patron XO Café Dark Cocoa coffee liqueur. The gift set also contains a recipe for an Espresso Cocoa Martini, which contains both spirits. The gift set is available for a suggested retail price of $40.

Vina Pomal Crianza 2009 and Zaco 2010 are the two newest wines from Aveniu Brands, a line of wines from Bodegas Bilbainas, the largest vineyard owner in Haro, Spain. The Crianza is made from 100% tempranillo and aged 12 months in American Oak, while the Zaco is also made from 100% tempranillo and offers fresh red berries, notes of licorice and undertones of spice. Both wines have a suggested retail price of $15.

Campari America has three new limited editions of single-malt Scotches. The Auchentoshan Valinch 2012 Limited Edition Vintage is the second bottling of the limited edition of Scotland’€™s only triple-distilled malt. With a cask strength of 57.2% ABV, it’€™s available for a suggested retail price of $59.99. The Bowmore Dorus Mor Small Batch Release is a 10-year-old malt from Islay, bottled at 55.1% ABV and available for a suggested retail price of $119.99. The Glen Garioch 1986 Vintage , the fifth expression from the Highland distillery, has 3,000 bottles available worldwide at 54.6% ABV and a suggested retail price of $249.99.

The brand has backed off from its decision to reduce the proof of Maker’s Mark down to 84, and will continue production at 90 proof going forward.

The third annual BDLive! conference was held in Dallas, TX last week. Off-premise managers from across the country gathered to learn from industry experts, share insights with each other, and become more knowledgeable and efficient beverage alcohol retailers. Among the most interesting and practical pieces of advice were:

Now that the “Big Game” is over, the beer industry titans can get back to work on the $20 billion offer being blocked by the Justice Department.

On January 21, Heineken helped Toast the Inauguration in Washington DC as the exclusive beer sponsor of two of the evening’€™s gala celebrations. At the Hip Hop Ball, President & CEO, Dolf van den Brink accepted the Community Catalyst Award on behalf of the company. The award is in recognition of the company’€™s support of the Hip Hop culture and Hip Hop music. Rapper 2 Chainz, a fellow award winner that night, also posed for the photo.