News & Notes

Boodles Mulberry Gin

Boodles Gin – a London Dry Gin – pays homage to the popular mulberry tree that is seen throughout the English countryside with the brand new Boodles Mulberry. This mulberry gin will be available for a limited time this holiday...

Van Winkle Bourbon Annual Release

The annual release of the Van Winkle bourbons will begin in November. Unfortunately, the company says, the angel's share was worse this year than in past, meaning lower whiskey yields in 2015. "The result is less 15 year-old...

Diageo Sells Wine Interests to Treasury Wine Estates

TWE bought Chateau and Estate Wines, along with Percy Fox, for $552 million. This follows Diageo's stated goal of moving away from non-core businesses. Following the transaction, Diageo's wine portfolio will include a number...
AB InBev logo

AB Inbev and SABMiller Agree to Tentative Merger Deal

The world's two largest brewers may soon merge into one. After weeks of courting SABMiller, only to be rebuffed again and again for buy-out proposals deemed too low, AB Inbev has entered into agreement to acquire its chief competitor. According to...

Sonoma makes great Pinot Noir, but it’s not all in the Label

Pinot Noir is the sexy grape that makes Sonoma chic.  There are so many marquee Pinot wineries in the region with signature names like Rochioli, Hirsch, Marcassin,  Kistler and Williams Selyem. I have been professionally...

Independence Pays Off for Edrington

It’s been a full year since Edrington launched Edrington Americas, its wholly owned sales, marketing and distribution company for the U.S. market. I talked to Raul Gonzalez (pictured above), Marketing Director for single malts at Edrington,...

Everything You Need to Know About Sake

So. You think you’ve figured out wine pretty well. Then craft beer got big, and you had to learn what IBUs were. Craft cocktails came sneaking up behind you, and suddenly American whiskey has...

New Bacardi Marketing Aimed at Millennials

Bacardi rum has unveiled a 30-second TV spot, experiential House Party campaign and comprehensive digital, mobile and partnership strategy designed to connect with millennials on their terms, the company says. This is the first campaign launch since...

Duckhorn 2013 Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington State's Duckhorn Wine Company is releasing its second vintage nationally, beginning this month. Like the 2012 vintage, the 2013 Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted using grapes from some of Red Mountain’s most renowned vineyards,...

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye

Russell’s Reserve has unveiled its Single Barrel Rye. "Rye Whiskey is booming, and Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell are responding the only way they know how – a 104 proof, barrel-aged spice bomb like only...