News Briefs for July 3, 2024

•The Balvenie single malt Scotch whisky, part of the William Grant & Sons portfolio, is introducing two new limited-edition single cask expressions in its Stories Range: a 14-Year-Old American Bourbon Barrel and an 18-Year-Old French Pineau Cask Finish. The 14-year American Bourbon Barrel offering is bottled at 47.8% abv and retails at $115 a bottle, while the 18-year Pineau Cask whisky is bottled at 47.9% abv and retails at $400. The new entries are rolling out in the U.S. this summer. The Balvenie is the fifth-largest single malt Scotch brand in the U.S., according to Impact Databank, with depletions of 88,000 cases last year.

•Suntory Global Spirits has launched Laphroaig Elements 2.0, the latest release from the Islay single malt distiller. The whisky is the second release in Laphraoig’s series of whiskies exploring the effects of each step of the whisky making process on the final spirit. In this case, the team at the distillery extended fermentation to up to 115 hours from Laphroiag’s usual 55. Additionally, the fermenting whisky is aerated to maintain mash conditions, which, according to the company, creates a fruitier final product. Elements 2.0 is bottled at 59.6% abv and carries a suggested price of $165 a 700-ml.

•Johnson Brothers has appointed Keith Gass as general manager of the Wisconsin market, while Mike Spring has been promoted to general manager of Johnson Brothers of Indiana. Gass is a three-decade industry veteran who previously served as a senior executive at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada overseeing the off-premise division for wine, spirits, and beer. Spring joined Johnson Brothers in 2022 as retail director after previously serving with Gallo and Breakthru. Johnson Brothers is the fourth-ranked wholesaler of wine and spirits in the U.S., according to Shanken’s Impact Newsletter, with 2024 revenues projected at just under $3.3 billion.

•Napa’s Trefethen Family Vineyards has appointed Tony Baldini as the company’s new president. Baldini, a longtime industry veteran, joins Trefethen from Cliff Lede Vineyards, where he served as COO and president. Previously, Baldini has served as president and CEO of Hahn Family Wines. In his new role, Baldini will work alongside Trefethen proprietors Hailey and Lorenzo Trefethen, to guide the winery into its sixth decade. The family-owned winery is based in Napa’s Oak Knoll AVA.

Tagged : Johnson Brothers, Laphroaig, Suntory Global Spirits, The Balvenie, Trefethen Family Vineyards, William Grant & Sons

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