News Briefs for February 21, 2017

•After an initial launch in key markets last fall, luxury Tequila brand Código 1530 is gearing up to enter five new states. Currently available in California, New York, Colorado, Texas and Tennessee, Código 1530 is adding Illinois, Nevada, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma in the coming months. The brand includes Blanco ($49), Reposado ($69), Añejo ($119) and Origen Extra Añejo ($249) variants, as well as newly launched Rosa ($65), which is finished in Napa Cabernet barrels. Código 1530 was co-founded by partners Federico Vaughan and Ron Snyder (formerly CEO of Crocs), and includes country music star George Strait among its investors.

•New York-based auction house Acker Merrall & Condit raked in more than $10 million in sales in the first six weeks of 2017. Acker’s most recent auction, held February 11 in New York, totaled $3.75 million, with the top lot a six-magnum original case of 2005 Rousseau Chambertin that sold for $43,225. Acker Merrall has two live auctions scheduled for March in New York and Hong Kong respectively, as well as events on April 6 and 8 in New York, in which the collection of Wolfgang Grunewald will be offered for sale.

•Brown-Forman has named Rachel Barrie as whisky maker for its Scotch portfolio, which includes the BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh distilleries. Barrie is moving from Morrison Bowmore Distillers (Beam Suntory), where she’s been master blender for the past five years. Whisky Advocate has the full story.

Tagged : Acker Merrall & Condit, Beam Suntory, BenRiach, Brown-Forman, Código 1530, Glendronach, Glenglassaugh, Morrison Bowmore Distillers, Rousseau Chambertin

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