News Briefs for March 19, 2025

•Opici Wines & Spirits has been appointed exclusive U.S. importer of the U.K.’s Dutch Barn Vodka. Made by Ellers Farm Distillery in Yorkshire from British apples with a hint of potato spirit, Dutch Barn  is debuting across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. before rolling out to other states. It retails at $30 a bottle. Actor Ricky Gervais is a co-owner of the distillery.

•The Duckhorn Portfolio has struck a three-year deal to become the official wine partner of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. The Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, and Sonoma-Cutrer brands will be featured at this year’s ACM events. The 60th ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will stream globally on Prime Video on Thursday, May 8, from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Duckhorn’s wines will be served at the ACM Kickoff event for upwards of 8,000 attendees, the 60th Anniversary Gala, the VIP Pre-Show Reception, on the Red Carpet, during the Awards, and at the Official After Party.

•Spirit of Gallo is toasting a milestone, having reached the 50th anniversary of Gallo’s entry into the spirits business. Marked by the first bottling of E&J Brandy in March 1975, the anniversary celebrates the company’s evolution from a single-brand business to a portfolio that includes more than 30 brands across Tequila, rum, vodka, gin, and other categories. Most prominently, Gallo’s High Noon brand now leads the spirits business in volume terms in the U.S. market at nearly 25 million cases, according to Impact Databank. “We look forward to where the next 50 years and beyond will take us, always staying mindful of our commitment to consumers and the entrepreneurial spirit of our founders,” said Britt West, chief commercial officer, Gallo Wine & Spirits.

•Brown-Forman has launched Jack & Coca-Cola Vanilla, the newest offshoot of the brand’s line of RTDs. It’s exclusively available in a new Flavors Pack, a 6-pack in which it’s paired with two cans each of the original and Jack & Coca-Cola Cherry. All three are at 7% abv and the suggested retail price of the Flavors Pack is $18 a 6-pack. Last year, Jack Daniel’s RTDs (excluding the malt-based Country Cocktails) were down 13% to 902,000 cases according to Impact Databank.

•Mixer and RTD brand Zing Zang has released Dill Pickle, the first flavored offshoot of the brand’s popular Blood Mary mix. The new release takes the original recipe—made with seven vegetable juices, hot sauce, spices, and Worcestershire—and adds pickle brine. Dill Pickle will get its official launch at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships at the end of April. Along with Dill Pickle and the brand’s original Bloody Mary mix, Zing Zang also sells a spicier Bloody Mary mix, a variety of Margarita and other cocktail mixers, and a line of RTD Bloody Marys and Margaritas.

Tagged : Brown-Forman, duckhorn, Dutch Barn, Jack & Coca-Cola, Opici, Spirit of Gallo, Zing Zang

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