News Briefs for March 26, 2014
March 26, 2014•Prost Beverage Company is introducing Tim Smith’s Original Climax Moonshine to the U.S. market following successful test launches in a handful of states. Climax can currently be found in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, Delaware, Ohio, Maryland and Washington D.C. for around $29.99 to $34.99 a bottle. A new distillery is set to open next month, allowing the company to expand in June to Kentucky, Florida, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Mississippi and Alabama, with a pending agreement in Virginia. Tim Smith, star of the Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners,” and Prost Beverage plan to donate $1.00 for every nine-liter case of Climax sold to the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. Flavors are planned for later this year and 2015.
•Sazerac Co. is set to begin operations at the Maine plant it acquired from Beam last year. The former White Rock Distilleries plant, located in Lewiston, will now produce Sazerac’s Mr. Boston Coffee Brandy, a key brand in the Maine market, as well as Canadian LTD, Fleischmann’s Vodka and Fleischmann’s Blended Whiskey, Crown Russe Vodka and Barton Vodka. According to local reports, Sazerac says that it’s also looking at building a microdistillery at the Lewiston site within three years with the aim of developing new Maine-influenced spirits.
•CIL U.S. Wine & Spirits, the American subsidiary of Cognac producer Camus, has been named the exclusive U.S. distributor for GDL Imports’ Trianon Tequila. Billed as a small-batch, handcrafted Tequila, the super-premium Trianon range includes Blanco ($39.99 a 750-ml.), Reposado ($45.99), Anejo ($49.99) and Trianon Triple Bottle ($79.99) expressions. Under the CIL U.S. agreement, Trianon—which launched in Tennessee in late 2012—will initially expand its presence into Florida, New York and Georgia. CIL U.S. Wine & Spirits is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida.
•Jackson Family Wines (JFW) has appointed beverage industry veteran David Bowman as senior vice president, estate strategy, with a focus on the company’s estate wineries such as Freemark Abbey, Stonestreet, Byron and Arrowood and others. Bowman has worked in the beverage industry for more than 15 years, most recently in management roles at Fiji Water, Justin Vineyards & Winery and Landmark Vineyards. Prior to Fiji Water, Bowman was vice president of marketing for the premium and fine wine portfolio at E.&J. Gallo Winery.
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