News Briefs for November 12, 2024
November 12, 2024•Maker’s Mark, part of the Suntory Global Spirits portfolio, has named Dr. Blake Layfield as the brand’s new master distiller and Beth Buckner as lead blender. Since joining Suntory Global Spirits from Diageo in 2019, Layfield has held a series of R&D and quality leadership roles in Kentucky, serving most recently as senior director of innovation, blending and quality for Maker’s Mark. Buckner began her tenure at Maker’s Mark in 2013 and leads innovation at the distillery. Maker’s Mark had volume of 2.2 million cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.
•Fresh releases from Old Grand-Dad, Stranahan’s, and Barrell, along with newcomers from Templeton and The Hearach are among the offerings included in Whisky Advocate’s latest weekly roundup. The website has all the details.
•Blake Lively’s Betty Booze is adding a new expression to its range of cocktails, Sparkling Bourbon with Peach Honey Mint. The brand is also introducing a Bourbon variety pack which includes two each of the Sparkling Bourbon with Apple Sour Cherry, Sparkling Bourbon with Oak Smoked Lemonade, and the new Sparkling Bourbon with Peach Honey Mint offerings. The new 4-pack of Sparking Bourbon with Peach Honey Mint retails around $15 and the variety 6-pack retails around $22. Betty Booze is distributed to grocery and liquor stores across the U.S., including Total Wine & More, BevMo, and Jewel-Osco, as well as local independent retailers.
•Blended Scotch specialist Compass Box has announced its latest limited edition, Secrets of Smoke. The 52% abv bottling retails at $165 a 700-ml., with just under 10,000 bottles released worldwide. The newcomer includes Caol Ila finished in Palo Cortado sherry-seasoned butts, The Peat Monster finished in second-fill red wine casks, and Laphroaig finished in Marsala barriques, and is intended to showcase sweeter flavors not often associated with peated whiskies.
•Edrington chairman Crawford Gillies will step down March 31, to be replaced by Angus Cockburn. Cockburn was previously chief financial officer of Serco Group plc and before that CFO of Aggreko plc, among other senior executive roles. During Cockburn’s eight-year tenure Edrington has seen sustained growth, with highlights including the opening of the new distillery at The Macallan in 2018 and core revenue rising to over £1 billion ($1.3b). Led by Macallan, Edrington saw core sales climb 11% to £1.2 billion ($1.5b) in its fiscal year through March. Profit before tax increased 6% to £411 million ($521m).
Tagged : Betty Booze, Compass Box, Edrington, Maker's Mark
