News Briefs for May 21, 2024
May 21, 2024•Sicily’s Planeta, part of the Palm Bay International portfolio, is debuting a new look. The makeover is rolling out with the 2021 vintage for its red wines and the 2023 vintage for its white wines, launching nationwide this month. The new design includes images of the flora of the brand’s Sicilian countryside. The collection includes La Segreta Grillo and La Segreta Nero d’Avola, as well as La Segreta Bianco and La Segreta Rosso, each retailing for $20. Additionally, with the release of the 2023 vintage, the entire portfolio of Planeta wines will be certified organic, including the La Segreta range.
•Diageo has expanded hard seltzer brand Lone River with a new flavor alongside a packaging refresh for the line. The new flavor—Blackberry Ranch Water—is at 4% abv and contains 80 calories per 12-ounce can. The seltzer is made with agave nectar and blackberry and lime flavorings. The packaging refresh, according to the company, uses color to highlight the variety of flavors offered by the brand. In addition to Lone River’s Ranch Water hard seltzers, the company also releases Ranch Ritas, 5.8% abv Margarita-inspired drinks.
•Napa, California’s Quintessential has expanded into spirits, adding France’s Le Gin 13 to the company’s import portfolio. Le Gin 13 is distilled from organic grapes in the Rhone by Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer Andre Brunel. The spirit is made with a blend of 13 botanicals including juniper, coriander, Sichuan pepper, and rosemary, and is bottled at 45% abv. Le Gin 13 will be available in the U.S. by fall 2024.
•Bushmills Irish whiskey, part of the Proximo stable, has released the fourth and final whiskey in the distiller’s Rare Casks Series. Rare Cask 04 is a 31-year-old single malt that spent its first 14 years in a combination of ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks before being transferred to new American oak. The whiskey is bottled at 45.6% abv and carries a suggested retail price of $2,600. The rollout is limited to 780 bottles available on ReserveBar and in select retailers across the U.S. Last year, Bushmills was at 185,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
•Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company has announced the launch of the second batch of its rum barrel-finished Bourbon. The 54.55% abv whiskey follows Peerless Double Oak Bourbon as the newest cask-finished release from the distiller. The new whiskey’s launch will be celebrated at Peerless’ Louisville, Kentucky distillery in June.
•Italy’s Tenute Agricole Masciarelli has expanded with the purchase of fellow Abruzzo-based producer Valori. Valori’s wines are available in 25 states, imported by New York’s Dark Star Imports. As of the 2013 vintage, all are certified organic. Annual production stands at around 12,500 cases. Valori’s offerings include Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC ($15), Abruzzo Pecorino DOC Valori ($17), Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC ($19), and Montepulciano Vigna Sant’Angelo, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC ($35).
•Newport, Kentucky’s New Riff has announced Ol’ New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Kentucky Straight rye, a pair of whiskies exploring 19th century whiskey-making traditions. Both whiskies are bottled-in-bond at 50% abv. The Bourbon is made from a mash of 60% heirloom corn, 26% balboa rye, and 14% two-row malted barley; and the rye is made using 65% balboa rye, 30% heirloom corn, and 15% two-row malted barley. Both whiskies carry a suggested price of $55 a bottle and will be available in limited quantities throughout Kentucky.
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