News Briefs for October 22, 2024
October 22, 2024•Armand de Brignac Champagne, jointly owned by Moët Hennessy and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, has announced its first vintage release, Blanc de Noirs Vintage 2015. The new release is rolling out in a supply of 1,258 magnums, each individually numbered and priced at $3,400 apiece. It’s made with 70% Pinot Noir from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, including Mailly and Verzenay. The remaining 30% Pinot Meunier comes from Chigny les Roses, Rilly la Montagne, and Ludes.
•Woodford Reserve is adding a Madeira Cask Finish as the 20th release in its Master’s Collection. Finished in Madeira casks and blended with wheat whiskey, the newcomer is available in limited quantities in Kentucky and at the distillery, as well as online for shipping to select states. Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Madeira Cask Finish retails at $169 a 700-ml. Woodford reached 1.4 million cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank, and grew 6% by volume in control states this year through July.
•Old Potrero, part of the Hotaling & Co. portfolio, is releasing Christmas Spirit, distilled from San Francisco Christmas Spiced Ale. Bottled at 50% abv, the special edition retails at $140 a 700-ml. Old Potrero made the new release by distilling the ale twice in copper pot stills before aging for 12 years in once-used Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey Barrels.
•Chihuahua, Mexico-based Acrónimo Spirits has launched Acrónimo Gin in the U.S. The 84-proof gin is distilled in a traditional copper sotol pot still using 10 locally sourced botanicals, including juniper from the Sierra Tarahumara Mountains. The gin is then finished with 17% sotol blanco made from the wild Dasylirion Wheeleri plant. The 700-ml retails for $55 and is available in Florida and California through Park Street, as well as online. Acrónimo Spirits launched its first product, Acrónimo Sotol Blanco, earlier this year.
•Via Carota Craft Cocktails is extending with a Classic Margarita. Selling at $39 a 375-ml, the new entry is at 18% abv and is launching online with retail distribution to follow. The Via Carota range also includes a Classic Negroni, White Negroni, Old Fashioned, Signature Manhattan, Espresso Martini, Signature Martini, and Margarita, along with a sparkling line that features a Negroni Sbagliato, White Negroni Sbagliato, Spritz, Paloma, and French 75.
Tagged : Acronimo, Armand de Brignac, Brown-Forman, Hotaling & Co., Moet Hennessy, Old Potrero, Via Carota, Woodford Reserve
