News Briefs for September 3, 2024

•The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is launching Booker’s Bourbon “The Reserves,” billed as Booker’s first innovation in five years. The Reserves is a new annual limited-release series by master distiller Freddie Noe to commemorate his grandfather, 6th generation master distiller Booker Noe, founder of the “small batch” Bourbon category. The first release of ‘The Reserves’ is an 8- to 14-year-old blend. The 125.9 proof Bourbon retails at $130 a bottle, and is debuting nationwide in limited quantities.

•Napa Valley’s Shafer Vineyards is introducing new packaging for its portfolio, with a spotlight on its flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, Hillside Select. The centerpiece of Shafer’s new presentation for Hillside Select is a three-bottle wooden box, accompanied by an updated label. Additionally, this fall the 2023 Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, 2022 TD-9 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021 Relentless Syrah, and 2022 One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon will all see updated label designs. Shafer was acquired by Korean luxury firm Shinsegae Property in 2022. Earlier this summer, the winery tapped RNDC as its California distributor, and joined the Wilson Daniels Wholesale lineup across New York, New Jersey, and Washington state.

•More stalking horse bids were approved last week for the assets of bankrupt California wine group Vintage Wine Estates. Among them, Texas-based Adair Winery Inc. (led by billionaire Jay Adair of Copart auto salvage yards) has bid $70 million for the B.R. Cohn, Kunde, and Viansa wineries in Sonoma along with Clos Pegase and Girard in Napa. Additionally, Full Glass Licensing bid $3.2 million for the Cameron Hughes, Vinesse, and Windsor Vineyards brands, while Ejnar Knudsen of AGR Partners bid $9.3 million for Laetitia Vineyard & Winery on the Central Coast and Owen Roe in Washington state.

•Parker’s Heritage, Peerless Cognac Cask, and newcomers from New Riff and Pursuit United are among the offerings featured in Whisky Advocate’s latest weekly roundup. The website has all the details.

•North Carolina-based Southern Distilling Company is launching a new special edition commemorating three decades of Carolina Panthers football. Rolling out in a commemorative bottle, the offering is a small batch Paragon Cognac finish of Southern Star Cask Strength Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It will be available at North Carolina ABC liquor stores and select South Carolina retailers, as well as at the Southern Distilling tasting room. Retailing at $100 a bottle, the limited edition is bottled at 106 proof. Southern Star is the official craft Bourbon of the Carolina Panthers.

Tagged : Adair, B.R. Cohn, Booker's, Carolina Panters, Girard, Glos Pegase, James B. Beam, Kunde, Southern Distilling Company, Suntory Global Spirits, Viansa, Vintage Wine Estates, Whisky Advocate

GET YOUR FIRST LOOK AT 2025 ESTIMATES AND 2030 PROJECTIONS FOR THE WINE AND SPIRITS INDUSTRIES. ORDER YOUR 2025 IMPACT DATABANK REPORTS. CLICK HERE.