Paper Shortage, Delays Cause Disruption in Printing of Wine Labels (Napa Valley Register)
Journalist-Turned-Cattle Farmer Beth Hoffman on the Impossible Math of Starting a Farm
It’s not about growing winegrapes, but it’s worth reading anyway. The author of ‘Bet the Farm’ talks about becoming a new farmer in middle age, the huge barriers to entry, and preparing for climate change. (Civil Eats)
People are drinking more beer.
That’s the obvious conclusion from BeerBoard’s latest report on the locations it services.
After climbing 13.7%, 10.8% and 3.8% in the three prior periods, volume at locations monitored by BeerBoard was up 4.7% in the weekend of Oct. 7-10, BeerBoard reports. The two prior periods were Sept. 23-25 and Aug. 28-29.
Some 91% of locations were open. That’s the fifth consecutive period that 91% of all locations were open, and the average number of taps remains at 20 per location. Michigan was the only state to gain on the weekend, adding one handle (24). South Carolina dropped a handle to check in at 17 total.
The percentage of taps pouring also stayed at 74%. Five states tracked tallied the same percentage as last period, while three saw a one-point increase (Georgia, Illinois and Texas). Nevada and Tennessee each fell one percentage point on the weekend.
Mexican imports are surging, but Sol Chelada‘s 9.5% growth outpaces the segment, Molson Coors Beverage Co. says.
“Mexican imports are doing well in spite of some supply chain issues, and cheladas are part of that growth,” says Cara Lauritzen, marketing manager for the Sol family of brands. “We have great momentum on Sol Chelada, and we look forward to keeping that going into 2022.”
Year-to-date, Sol Chelada’s 9.5% growth is outpacing the segment’s 8.5% rate, according to IRI multi-outlet and convenience store data for the week ended Sept. 12. It’s performing particularly well in the Pacific region, where it’s grown about 31% in Nevada, 26% in California and 23% in New Mexico, per IRI. And with velocity up 35% versus a year ago, it’s the fastest-turning major brand in the chelada segment.
“Sol Chelada is succeeding because of the quality of the liquid and the authenticity of the brand,” Lauritzen says. “People know and love Sol and Sol Chelada in Mexico, and they’re seeking it out in the U.S., as well.”
The Sol brand is looking to build on its strong year in the months ahead. It is renewing a partnership with Banda MS, one of Mexico’s biggest musical groups, and plans to go big with Banda during posadas, when friends and family gather to celebrate around the Christmas holiday, Lauritzen says.
“Working with Banda MS is a huge win for Sol. The band has billions of viewers, is the most-streamed Mexican group and keeps winning awards for their work,” she says.
Sol’s flagship lager will continue its artist series next summer, partnering with acclaimed Mexican street and mural artist Farid Rueda, to update the brand’s packaging to help stand out at retail, she says.
“Farid’s design will make Sol’s packaging even more impactful at retail, celebrating the brand’s authentic Mexican heritage,” she says. “What’s more, it will make it easy for retailers to make a really vibrant display simply by stacking cases.”
Disaronno International announces the launch of a new Italian gin, inspired by motorsports and hand-crafted with 100% organic Italian ingredients. EnGINe Gin is the creation of fashion and spirits entrepreneur Paolo Dalla Mora, who drew inspiration from his love of classic cars and motorcycles and his enjoyment of traditional North Italian flavors, blending them together into an elegant spirit packaged in a unique tin vessel.
Made in small lots in Langhe, the heart of Italy’s automobile industry, EnGINe Gin incorporates traditional Italian botanicals that are 100% organic, including Ligurian sage, lemon, licorice root, and damask rose. Vacuum distillation using a rotary evaporator preserves the most delicate aromas and flavors, allowing the true character of the gin to shine. Drawing on its founder’s love of motorsports, EnGINe Gin is packaged not in a bottle but a unique tin oil can that evokes the classic age of automobiles.
“The idea to develop EnGINe stems from a union of my two great passions, the world of motors and spirits, a market I have worked in for over 10 years. For some time, I had in mind a beverage project and one day, while I was working on my bike in the garage in Barbaresco drinking a cup of the traditional Langa digestive with hot water, lemon peel and sage leaves, I thought it would be interesting to reproduce those very flavors in an alcoholic version and taste it in a long drink,” said Paolo Dalla Mora, Founder of EnGINe Gin.
“Once the formula was defined with the help of expert hands and good palates, I started imagining what the aesthetics of the project could be and, considering that it all took shape in my garage, I thought it would be suitable for EnGINe to have an identity that went in another direction with respect to the transparency that spirits look for today—something dirtier, unexpected, capable of completely distorting the concept of a bottle. EnGINe is, in fact, the first gin in a tin container, and with its strong, decisive spirit, it radically contrasts with a gin aesthetic which instead is becoming increasingly limpid, pure and clean.”
EnGINe Gin stands out for its distinctly Italian flavors, with vivacious lemon and intense sage contrasting with classic juniper notes, supported by sweet licorice and delicate rose. It makes a unique Gin and Tonic, garnished with a fresh sage leaf, and works well in any classic gin cocktail, from the Martini to the Negroni. Given its motor-inspired creation, EnGINe is also perfect for the Automobile, a classic cocktail made with gin, scotch, sweet vermouth and orange bitters.
EnGINe Gin is 42% abv and carries a suggested retail price of $29.99. It will be available nationwide at fine retail stores.
House by Heineken will once again be bringing great music and delicious beverages to Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco Oct. 29-31. It’s unique outdoor, open-air format will welcome headlining artists Kelis, Sango and The Egyptian Lover to the House by Heineken stage.
“As Outside Lands makes its highly anticipated return, we know there will be great enthusiasm among attendees for it to be an event to remember,” said Christine Karimi, Senior Manager of Partnerships and Consumer Experience at Heineken USA. “We want to deliver an innovative, open-air concept for fans looking for a new way to experience music. While evolving with how people socialize today, House by Heineken will continue connecting people through great sound, delicious beverages and good vibes.”
In addition to the exciting music lineup, festival goers at House by Heineken for the first time will be able to enjoy AriZona SunRise Hard Seltzer, released by Heineken USA and Hornell Brewing Co. in fall 2020, in addition to ice cold Heineken, Heineken 0.0 and Heineken Light. People can also capture Insta-worthy moments at the photo walls staged throughout House by Heineken.
Woodford Reserve (Brown-Forman) is turning 25, and there will be the usual celebrations. But what’s most important is the brand’s focus on the future.
Earlier this year, Woodford Reserve said it would double its capacity, increasing its three iconic copper pot stills to six stills. A new building will house utilities and storage space, clearing the way for new fermenters in the current distillery building. Additional grain and barrel unloading areas as well as a training center for employees are also being planned.
Woodford Reserve sits on Kentucky’s oldest distilling site where Elijah Pepper began crafting whiskey in 1812. Owsley Brown II, former Brown-Forman CEO, had a vision in the mid-1990s – to create a homeplace where guests could learn the history of bourbon while sipping on the world’s finest bourbon.
“The words of Owsley Brown II still hold true today,” Elizabeth McCall, assistant master distiller, said. “Woodford Reserve is a labor of love for everyone involved. A love of this place, a love of history and a love of making superb whiskey.”
Brown-Forman renovated the historic distillery and – in 1996 – opened it to the public for tours.
To conserve this National Historic Landmark, where many whiskey innovations occurred in the 1800s and 1900s, Woodford Reserve collaborated with historic preservation leaders in Frankfort and Washington so the design of this latest building will complement the older structures.
The global brand helped elevate American Whiskey as a category worldwide when it partnered with renowned French fine crystal producer Baccarat to create the Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition.
The Woodford Reserve family of brands now includes five permanent expressions — bourbon, rye, double oaked, malt and wheat — along with limited edition expressions, including the Master’s Collection and the very highly sought after Double Double Oaked with its cult following.
And yesterday (10/11), Master Distiller Chris Morris and McCall laid down a new whiskey.
