News Briefs for April 12, 2023
April 12, 2023•Molson Coors has announced that Topo Chico Spirited, the new line of spirits-based RTDs from the Coca-Cola-owned sparkling water brand, is rolling out across the U.S. this month. The line launches with three flavors—Tequila & Lemon, Tequila & Grapefruit, and Vodka & Lemon—all at 5.9% abv and either 130 (the lemon-flavored releases) or 150 (grapefruit) calories per 12-ounce can. Topo Chico’s new RTDs will be available in individual flavor 4-packs of 12-ounce cans in 23 markets across the U.S. Molson Coors and Coca-Cola are also partnered on the existing Topo Chico hard seltzer as well as Simply Spiked hard lemonades.
•Johnson Brothers has launched a new luxury wine and spirits unit, Oxford Street Merchants. Named for the Saint Paul, Minnesota street where founder Lynn Johnson first opened Johnson Brothers in 1953, the new division is intended to “provide dedicated coverage and accountability against targeted accounts to drive results for its luxury wine and spirits supplier partners,” according to the company, building on the distributor’s existing Epiphany division. Oxford Street will be led by vice president Yale Johnson.
•Foley Family Wines has appointed Jason Daniel as chief marketing officer. Daniel will lead all marketing strategy and execution for the nearly 2-million-case portfolio, including new brand and product innovation, according to the company. A two-decade industry veteran, Daniel has held key marketing roles across wine, spirits, and craft beer both domestically and globally at companies including Beam Suntory, Constellation Brands, and Campari Group.
•Chopin Imports is adding American whiskey producer Cedar Ridge to its range, agreeing to handle sales and marketing for the Iowa-based distiller. The deal covers a variety of Cedar Ridge’s whiskies including their Straight Bourbon and Straight rye (each retailing for around $35), their Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon and rye ($50), Quintessential American Single Malt Whiskey ($60), and the distillery’s collaboration with the band Slipknot, No9. Whiskey ($40). The deal gives Chopin its first American whiskey portfolio, which will sit alongside the company’s namesake vodka, Gordon & MacPhail Scotch whiskies, and Benromach Scotch, among others, in the lineup.
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