News Briefs for May 16, 2025
May 16, 2025•Coors Spirits Co.’s Blue Run has released the third collection of whiskies in the brand’s Flight Series. The six new whiskies, dubbed “micro-batch” by the brand, are blended from four or fewer barrels and mash bills. Series III consists of six whiskies, bottled between 54% and 59% abv. The whiskies used for Series III were contract distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Company, Castle & Key, and an undisclosed distillery. Each of the six whiskies is available in limited quantities across the U.S., carrying a suggested price of $125 per bottle.
•Vinarchy, the new company created by the merger of the Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers portfolios, has appointed Diageo veteran Danny Celoni as CEO. Current Vinarchy executive chairman Ben Clarke will become non-executive chairman when Celoni starts in August. Celoni comes to Vinarchy from Asahi-owned Carlton and United Breweries, where he served as CEO. Prior to that he spent 18 years at Diageo in executive roles throughout the Asia Pacific region. With brands like Hardys, Jacob’s Creek, and Campo Viejo, Vinarchy has revenues above A$1.5 billion ($960m).
•Pernod Ricard’s Skrewball Whiskey has launched new 4-packs of 50-ml. bottles across the U.S. The new format for the 35% abv peanut butter flavored whiskey carries a suggested price of $8. The mini pack is accompanied by Skrew A’Round, a new promotional sweepstakes with a top prize of $25,000. Last year, Skrewball was at 485,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
•Spirits-based RTD brand Talkhouse Encore has launched a new pineapple flavored Tequila soda. The 5% abv drink is the seventh flavor in Talkhouse’s portfolio and joins other releases like iced tea lemonade vodka soda, blood orange Tequila soda, grapefruit Tequila soda, lime vodka soda, cranberry vodka soda, and Hampton Mule. The new release is available in 4-packs of 12-ounce cans that carry a suggested price of $14 in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
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