Halloween Sales Up 22%: Drizly

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Drizly reports Halloween weekend sales were up 22% compared to the average sales of the past four weekends in October. On the day of Halloween, Sunday the 31st, sales were up 11% compared to the average of the previous 4 Sundays.

 Drizly’s average order value was also up, increasing 5.2% on the day of Halloween compared to the previous 4 Sundays, which may suggest that customers buy slightly more when shopping for occasions.

In the liquor category, tequila continues to see growth as a trending subcategory – particularly during holiday and celebratory occasions like Halloween.

Consumer demand for champagne and prosecco isn’t slowing down. As we approach holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years with supply chain concerns, consumers will continue to seek these products and may need to look to alternatives with expected shortages.

Despite uncertainties on how consumers will celebrate holidays in 2021 as the country continues to open up and restrictions ease, key events and occasions like Halloween are still driving sales for at-home consumption.

Compared to 2020 Halloween sales, liquor held the top-selling category on Drizly, but eased a bit to 41% from 45% while wine experienced year-over-year gains from 32% to 38%. Beer sales were down year-over-year from 20% to 18%.

Red wine increased in share to 34% from 32%over Halloween weekend compared to October 2020.  White wine dropped slightly from 28% to 27%, Champagne dropped slightly from 14% to 13%, Ready-to-drink share gained from 3% to 4% over Halloween weekend, Silver/Blanco Tequila gained share from 10% to 12%, and hard seltzer increased share over Halloween weekend from 21% to 24%.

Champagne and prosecco continued to be a consumer favorite over Halloween weekend, as well as red wine, with Meiomi Pinot Noir Red Wine moving from the #9 to #7 best-selling wine on Drizly.

Tequila was a winner among customers in the liquor category on Halloween. Espolòn Tequila Blanco gained share from the #8 spot in October overall to #3 on the holiday weekend, and Clase Azul Reposado Tequila moved into the top 10.

RTDs also maintain their popularity for holiday moments, with High Noon Hard Seltzer Variety Pack moving into the #6 spot on Halloween weekend, a significant scale from its #21 spot in October overall.

Hard seltzer SKUs continue in popularity, with White Claw Hard Seltzer Variety Pack Flavor Collection No. 1 moving from the #2 to #1 best-selling beer on Drizly on Halloween weekend compared to October sales overall.

Among fast-growing products, La Marca Prosecco has scaled, moving from the #6 top-selling SKU across all categories in 2019 to #2 in 2021. Similarly, Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne grew from #75 in 2019 to the #20 top-selling SKU across all categories on Halloween weekend.

 

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Alfred Giraud Sets Sail with Giraud Voyage

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Alfred Giraud, the premium portfolio of refined, elegant French Malt Whiskies, introduced Alfred Giraud Voyage French Malt Whisky to the US market as the first release in the brand’s new “Exploratory Range.” Available in select markets beginning November 2021 with a suggested retail price of $180.00, this rare, luxury whisky will see an annual worldwide release of just five casks.

Cellar Masters Georges Clot and Gaetan Mariolle reach the perfect balance by marrying two of the best French single malts, one leaning on fruity notes and the other on cereal notes. Each is matured in casks with bold characteristics: new French Robinia casks, a powerful and rare wood found locally in France imparting strong white floral notes, and Sauternes wine casks sourced from nearby French producers bestowing sweet matured grape notes. The whisky sees its final aging in ex-cognac casks before bottling.

“We are thrilled to bring the first of our Exploratory Range, Voyage, to our audience of discerning whisky enthusiasts in the United States,” says Philippe Giraud, fifth generation Giraud family member and first-generation proprietor of Alfred Giraud French Malt Whisky.

“This series represents the Giraud family’s dedication to innovation and craftmanship, highlighting our finest single malts matured in distinctive and unusual casks not usually seen in whisky aging, with exciting results. We are so proud to introduce this beautiful expression of distinctly French Whisky, crafted from the precise, expert eye of our Cellar Masters Georges Clot and Gaetan Mariolle.”

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With Updated Look, Darnley’s Gin Expands in U.S.

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Darnley’s Gin updated its packaging to add color and speak more to the ingredients and botanicals it contains.  It’s currently in 24 U.S. markets, and is the exclusive premium gin of the Independent Distributor Network and as they add new member wholesalers in additional states we will grow with them into these markets.”  SRP:$31.99.

 

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Wine.com, 100% Cork to Promote Cork Recycling

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Using the services of ReCork, Wine.com will provide envelopes made from durable recycled paper for shipping and recycling used cork closures. Each envelope holds up to 55 natural corks and features a QR code that wine lovers can scan to create shipping labels allowing for easy drop off at USPS locations. The QR codes will also provide additional discounts on select premium wines bottled under natural cork on Wine.com, as well as special offers on high-end products made from recycled corks, including yoga blocks, performance footbeds, and footwear at ReCork and SOLE.

Natural cork closures have a negative carbon footprint when used to seal wines bottled in glass containers, according to recent studies conducted by three of the world’s largest auditing companies. A single stopper has a balance of up to – 309 grams of CO2; numbers for sparkling wine stoppers go even higher at up to – 589 grams.

Working with ReCork, 100% Cork will help educate wine lovers around the country about the full life cycle of cork closures once they are pulled from a bottle, highlighting the small but highly impactful ways that wine drinkers can become climate activists through the simple process of recycling cork, through its initiative with Wine.com.

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Johnnie Walker High Rye Blended Scotch Whisky Debuts

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Johnnie Walker High Rye Blended Scotch Whisky features a unique mash bill of 60% rye aged in American oak barrels, and includes notable single malts that are central to the Johnnie Walker Black Label flavor profile.

This is the first whisky from the brand to showcase a high rye profile and Johnnie Walker Master Blender, Jim Beveridge, and Johnnie Walker Whisky Specialist, George Harper, crafted it to be an exceptional whisky, perfect for mixing cocktails like a Manhattan, yet pleasantly smooth to be enjoyed on its own, the Diageo brand said.

The launch will be supported with a robust marketing campaign beginning this fall that will include sampling, traditional and digital advertising, social media, influencer and public relations support. The packaging features the iconic square-bottle and slanted label, while accompanied by new creative inspired by the blend of Scotch and rye whisky traditions, with bold undertones that highlight the innovative spirt captured within each bottle.  SRP: $34.99.

Diageo closed at $201.19, up $1.52, in New York Stock Exchange trading.

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NY Times: Working Rich Will Pay for Biden’s Social Programs

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

The most striking thing about the tax provisions that made it into the framework President Biden announced on Thursday is how they preserve the ability of business owners to accumulate vast fortunes with minimal taxation — while extracting more money from the highest-paid people those owners employ. It is these “working rich,” as the investor Clifford Asness has called them, who would pay much of the bill for an expanded social welfare system. (New York Times)

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