News Briefs for December 14, 2016

•Whisky Advocate has named Amrut Spectrum as its World Whisky of the Year. Amrut Spectrum is 50% abv and retails at £100 ($127) a bottle. Whisky Advocate is announcing its annual award winners from across 11 different whisky segments one day at a time on its blog through December 19. The awards will culminate with the naming of a Lifetime Achievement honoree on December 20 and the Distiller of the Year announcement on December 21.

•California’s Infinium Spirits has expanded distribution for Kerrygold Irish Cream liqueur to 36 states. The 17%-abv blend of Irish cream, oak-aged Irish whiskey, Irish spirits and chocolate—which is owned by Ornua, Ireland’s largest dairy exporter—has added 20 states to its distribution footprint over the course of this year. In 2017, the brand ($25) will also be featured in a new “Made for this Moment” campaign. Kerrygold came to Infinium in May. It was previously handled in the U.S. by Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits America.

•Irvine, California-based G.K. Skaggs has been named the exclusive U.S. importer of the Philippines’ Emperador brandy. In the first quarter of 2017, G.K. Skaggs will launch Emperador and Emperador Light (both $15 a 750-ml.) in major markets around the country. Emperador is controlled by Chinese Filipino billionaire Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group. It’s the third-largest spirits brand worldwide at 33.5 million cases, according to Impact Databank, deriving much of its volume within the low-priced Philippine brandy market. Emperador also owns the Whyte & Mackay Scotch whisky portfolio—including the Dalmore and Jura single malts, which are imported by E.&J. Gallo in the U.S.—and recently partnered with Gonzalez Byass to acquire Mexico’s Domecq brandies from Pernod Ricard.

Tagged : Emperador, G.K. Skaggs, Infinium Spirits, Kerrygold, Whisky Advocate

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