News Briefs for May 14, 2024

•California’s Bronco Wine Co. has launched Panther Rock, a new luxury wine brand made from Napa Valley grapes. The brand’s first release, 2021 Panther Rock Napa Valley Meritage, is made from 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot and matured in French oak (50% new barrels) for one year. The release retails for $90 and 1,100 6-packs will be available for this vintage. The first release from Panther Rock is now available in California through Classic Wines of California and through the brand’s website for DTC shipping.

•Spirits-based RTD brand Talkhouse Encore has expanded its portfolio with a new Iced Tea & Lemonade Vodka Soda. The 5% abv RTD is made using vodka, black tea, lemonade, and sparkling water and comes in at 130 calories per can. The new release is available in 4-packs of 12-ounce cans as well as in the brand’s new variety pack which features the new flavor alongside Blood Orange Tequila Soda, Lime Vodka Soda, and Grapefruit Tequila Soda. Talkhouse’s 4-packs carry a suggested price of $14 with the variety pack retailing for around $27. Talkhouse is available in retailers in New York as well as through the brand’s website.

•Kentucky’s Bardstown Bourbon Company has announced three new additions to the company’s Collaborative Series, set to hit shelves over the course of 2024. The first release sees Bardstown working with Indian single malt producer Amrut. The 55% abv whiskey blends 8- and 9-year-old ryes aged Amrut casks for 18 months with 10-, 11-, and 14-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon and carries a suggested price of $160. The Amrut Collaborative Series whiskey is rolling out now in limited quantities. The second release, scheduled for summer, is a collaboration with California winery Silver Oak. Finally, in the fall Bardstown will release a whiskey made in partnership with Tennessee’s Blackberry Farm Brewery.

•Pernod Ricard’s Skrewball Whiskey has kicked off “Skrew the Usual,” a new advertising campaign and slogan for the peanut butter flavored whiskey. The campaign is centered on a 30 second ad titled “House of High Spirits” featuring Skrew, the brand’s new fictional spokesperson. In addition, the campaign consists of 15- and 6-second ads. “Skrew the Usual” was designed by the Martin Agency and is running now online in video and social channels. Out-of-home ads will launch in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles in June. Last year, Skrewball was at 520,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.

•Diageo has extended Smirnoff Ice with Ice Smash, new iced tea flavored releases. The new FMBs come in at 8% abv and are available in peach and lemon flavors. Both are available in 16- and 23.5-ounce cans retailing for $2 and $2.50, respectively. Smirnoff Ice Smash is now available in retailers across the U.S. The new releases follow Smirnoff Ice’s full brand refresh, launched in late April.

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