News & Notes

High West Distillery Bought Buy Constellation Brands

Constellation Brands has added High West Distillery to its portfolio. The company announced today the purchase of the Utah-based distillery. Reports put the acquisition cost at approximately $150 million. This expands the reach of Constellation Brands...

Copper & Kings Expands Distribution Into California, Michigan

Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. is expanding its distribution footprint. The Louisville-based company reports that it has appointed new distribution and broker representation partners for its brandy and absinthe spirits in two states: California and...

Behind Belvedere’s Commitment to Purity

You can make vodka from a number of things, from grains and grapes to rice and potatoes. Belvedere crafts its vodka from rye—Dankowskie rye grown on central Poland’s Mazovian Plains. In fact, rye and...

How American Vodkas Highlight Origin To Compete With Imports

Like amber fields of grain, a wave of patriotism is rousing sentiments and opening pocketbooks of American consumers. Certainly, a buy-American impulse is helping sales of domestic vodkas, many of which have made that...

The Glenlivet Vintage 1966

The Glenlivet has unveiled the second edition of The Glenlivet Winchester Collection — a series of 50-year-old single malt whiskies — with the launch of Vintage 1966. This whisky was created by The Glenlivet Master...

Pernod Ricard Sells Frïs Vodka to Sazerac

Pernod Ricard has announced the signing and completion of the sale of Frïs Vodka to Sazerac. "The disposal is in line with the Pernod Ricard strategy to focus on its priority spirits and wines brands,"...

Odessa V.S.O.P. Brandy

Global Spirits USA has initially introduced its newest product, Odessa Brandy, in Maryland and Georgia through the company’s distributors, Potomac Wines & Spirits and Savannah Distributing, respectively. Odessa is named after a major seaport in...

6 Trends in Scotch Seen By Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker Master Blender

Jim Beveridge has seen a few trends come and go in the Scotch category. He’s worked for Johnnie Walker for more than 36 years. In 2001 he became the brand’s master blender. Beveridge (pictured...

First Female Winner Crowned At 2016 Diageo World Class Cocktail Competition

France’s Jennifer Le Nechet made history last week by becoming the first female bartender crowned global winner of Diageo’s annual World Class bartender competition. Le Nechet emerged victorious after a four-day competition in South Beach, Miami,...

Chateau St. Jean 2014 North Coast Chardonnay

Chateau St. Jean has unveiled their 2014 North Coast Chardonnay. Working with many neighboring counties around Sonoma, Chateau St. Jean Winemaker Margo Van Staaveren had flexibility in fruit sourcing to make a "rich, delicious and fruit forward Chardonnay,"...