News Briefs for June 20, 2023
June 20, 2023•Zamora Co. has promoted Matt Appleby to CEO of its Dallas-based U.S. unit. Previously marketing director, Appleby replaces the retiring Bill Corbett, who will stay on as a senior adviser through September. Appleby has been serving as interim CEO since last fall. Now officially taking on the role, he’ll report to Javier Pijoan, CEO of the Madrid-based parent company. Zamora Co. USA’s brands include Licor 43, Yellow Rose Whiskey, Don Papa Rum, Fercullen Irish Whiskey, Martin Miller’s Gin, Lolea Sangria, San Cosme Mezcal, Villa Massa Limoncello, Amaretto, and Vermouth, plus Spanish wines Ramon Bilbao, Cruz De Alba, and Mar de Frades.
•Sassenach Spirits, the company founded by Scottish actor Sam Heughan, has launched the Sassenach Wild Scottish gin. The 42% abv spirit is made with Scottish botanicals including heather, Scottish apples, and Scots pine, among other gin botanicals. The brand is handled by Southern Glazer’s in the U.S. and carries a suggested retail price of $40 a 750-ml. The gin is now rolling out to select retailers and on-premise accounts across the U.S. Wild Scottish gin joins Sassenach Whisky ($120) in the Sassenach Spirits portfolio.
•Mezcal Amarás has announced the Artists’ Series, giving six artists the opportunity to create works to be featured on the brand’s Mezcal Verde Amarás labels. For the first series of labels the company tasked artists with exploring “the celebration and preservation of Mexican traditions of art and culture in pursuit of a Better World.” The brand teamed with the AndArt agency to create the program. The new labels began rolling out globally in May. Last week, Mezcal Amarás announced a new strategic partnership with Beam Suntory, bringing the brand to the U.S. through Beam’s distribution network.
•Chopin Vodka is introducing Bartender’s Choice, a 59.8% abv rye vodka. Billed as providing a fuller flavor profile resulting in a more pronounced presence in cocktails, Bartender’s Choice is made at Chopin’s Krzesk, Poland distillery by master distiller Waldemar Durakiewicz and retails at $35 a 750-ml. It joins Chopin Potato, Chopin Wheat, Chopin Rye, Chopin Family Reserve, Vera Wang x Chopin, and Chopin Rye Organic in the brand’s range.
•California’s Bogle Family Wine Collection has appointed Tim Hill as director of sales, Central Division and Tara Kelly to the newly created role of director of sales, trade marketing. Hill most recently served as vice president of sales at Romano Regal Wine Company. He’ll oversee 21 states across the Southwest and Midwest markets. Kelly spent the last seven years in a trade and shopper marketing role with Delicato Family Wines. In her new role she’ll leverage her experience in managing budgets, planning strategies, and developing customized, shopper-activation programs. Known for its 2.3-million-case namesake brand, Bogle recently earned an Impact “Hot Brand” award for Juggernaut, now over a quarter-million cases.
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