News Briefs for November 18, 2014
November 18, 2014•William Grant & Sons is supporting its recently-acquired Drambuie liqueur brand with a new television spot in the U.S. Created by New York agency Opperman Weiss, the ad is titled “Found Film” and is set in New York City in the 1960s. The spot features a traditional Drambuie “Scotch & Honey” jingle from the era, as well as an original Drambuie bottle from the 1960s. Both 15- and 30-second versions of the new TV ad are set to run in the U.S. through the holiday season. William Grant purchased Drambuie from Scotland’s MacKinnon family in September for an undisclosed sum. The Scotch whisky-based liqueur brand was down 12% to 61,000 cases last year in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
•Acampo, California-based LCF Wines, a collaboration among the LangeTwins, Coors and Ficeli families, is launching a new brand called Ivory & Burt. The newcomer includes a Chardonnay, Zinfandel and a Red Blend and retails at $16.99 a 750-ml. Initially, Ivory & Burt is debuting at BevMo locations in Arizona, California and Washington, with distribution throughout the U.S. to follow next year. The new label is named for early Lodi pioneers Charles Ivory and J.M. Burt. Formed this year, LCF’s other brands include LangeTwins, Goosecross, Assembly, Caricature and others.
•Hiro Sake will enter the California, Texas and Nevada markets next month through a series of distribution agreements. This follows Hiro’s expansion into Arizona last month. Epic Wines & Spirits will handle the premium Japanese brand in California, while Southern Wine & Spirits will distribute Hiro in Nevada and United Distributors is appointed for Texas. Hiro’s Junmai (Hiro Red) and Junmai Ginjo (Hiro Blue) will be available in 720-ml. and 300-ml. bottles for a $29.99/$15.99 and $39.99/$19.99, respectively. Hiro Sake is brewed in Japan’s Niagata Prefecture and imported by Hiro Sake USA based in Manhasset, New York.
•Indianapolis-based 21st Amendment Wine & Spirits recently opened its largest store to date in the Indianapolis suburb of Westfield, Indiana. The 10,000-square-foot store stocks some 6,500 wine, spirits and beer SKUs, with founder Jim James estimating that wine accounts for 2,500 of the SKUs. “It’s a very unique store,” James, who founded the store in 1971, told Shanken News Daily. The Westfield shop is the chain’s 20th location, including its wine-focused Wine Gallery by 21st Amendment stores. Competition has intensified lately in the Indianapolis beverage alcohol market. Bloomington, Indiana’s Big Red Liquors, the largest liquor store chain in the state, moved into Indianapolis last year with its acquisition of 24 United Package Liquor stores.
•California’s Hawk and Horse Vineyards has announced a series of new distribution partnerships across four states. Starting this fall, Hawk and Horse’s Cabernet Sauvignon ($65 a bottle) and Cabernet-based Port-style wine Latigo ($85) will be available in Texas via New Vintage Wines, Florida via Wines By Sophie, Maine via Tannery Street Wine Company and Colorado via European Wines & Spirits. Located in the Red Hills AVA of Lake County, Hawk and Horse Vineyards comprises 18 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot and specializes in biodynamic viticulture.
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Tagged : 21st Amendment Wine & Spirits, Assembly, BevMo, Big Red Liquors, Caricature, Drambuie, Epic Wine & Spirits, European Wines & Spirits, Goosecross, Hawk and Horse Vineyards, Hiro Sake, Ivory & Burt, LangeTwins, Latigo, LCF Wines, New Vintage Wines, Opperman Weiss, Southern Wine & Spirits, Spec's, Tannery Street Wine Co., United Distributors, United Package Liquor, William Grant & Sons, WInes By Sophie
