News Briefs for October 17, 2018
October 17, 2018•Diageo has unveiled The John Walker Masters’ Edition, the first 50-year-old whisky in the brand’s portfolio. The new ultra-luxury offering contains single malt whiskies from Glen Albyn, Glenury Royal, and Blair Athol, as well as grain whiskies from Caledonian, Cambus, and Port Dundas. Finished in a bespoke marrying cask made of 100-year-old oak staves, it’s packaged in a double-cased black crystal Baccarat decanter and cabinet. The John Walker Masters’ Edition is at 43.3%-abv and retails at $25,000, with 100 bottles produced. One bottle will be auctioned at Bonhams, Hong Kong, next year.
•Michter’s Distillery has debuted the latest edition of 20-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The whiskey is aged in new, charred American white oak barrels and clocks in at 114.2 proof. This is the first 20-year-old Bourbon Michter’s has released since 2016. The new whiskey will be available for a limited time, retail priced at $700 a 750-ml. Chatham Imports handles Michter’s whiskies in the U.S. market.
•After 36 years with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, executive vice president of winemaking, vineyards, and operations Doug Gore is retiring. Gore joined Chateau Ste. Michelle’s winemaking team in 1982, and was soon after named winemaker for the Columbia Crest brand. Eventually, he oversaw all wineries in the Ste. Michelle portfolio. Juan Muñoz-Oca, who currently oversees Ste. Michelle’s 14 Hands, Borne of Fire, Columbia Crest, Intrinsic, Northstar, and Spring Valley Vineyard labels, will replace Gore, effective January 1, 2019. Additionally, vice president of winemaking Bob Bertheau—who presides over the Chateau Ste. Michelle and Col Solare brands—has been promoted to senior vice president of winemaking, also effective January 1, 2019. The changes come after the October 1 departure of longtime Ste. Michelle president and CEO Ted Baseler, who was replaced by former Philip Morris and Miller Brewing executive Jim Mortensen.
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