News Briefs for August 24, 2017

•DoubleLine Capital founder Jeffrey Gundlach is suing a Napa Valley wine retailer for more than $1 million, accusing the company of selling him 67 bottles of trophy wines that an expert labeled fakes. In a lawsuit filed July 28 with the Los Angeles Superior Court, Gundlach accused Soutirage of false advertising, breach of contract and breach of warranty. “Disguising itself as a legitimate Napa Valley wine retailer, Soutirage has been operating a criminal enterprise for over a decade,” states the complaint. Wine Spectator has the full story.

•Stoli Group USA’s Kentucky Owl Bourbon will release its Batch #7 in September and, for the first time, the whiskey will be available outside of Kentucky. The 59%-abv Bourbon is blended from whiskies older than 13 years and between eight and nine years. Kentucky Owl Batch #7 will be available in limited quantities in California (Southern Glazer’s), Florida (Breakthru), Kentucky (RNDC), Illinois (Southern Glazer’s), New York (Empire Merchants), Tennessee (Empire Distributors) and Texas (RNDC). The whiskey will retail for a suggested price of $200. Only 2,535 750-ml. bottles are available.

•The Fladgate Partnership has released a trio of single quinta vintage Ports in the U.S. market. Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port 2015, Croft Quinta da Roêda 2015 Vintage Port and Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port 2015 will be available nationwide starting in September, retailing at $57.99, $49.99 and $57.99 a 750-ml., respectively. Single quinta vintage Ports are only produced in exceptional years when a general vintage isn’t declared. Kobrand Wine & Spirits handles The Fladgate Partnership’s brands in the U.S.

•The GlenDronach single malt Scotch whisky—part of the BenRiach Distillery Co. portfolio that was acquired by Brown-Forman last year—has launched the Kingsman Edition 1991. The special edition is a collaboration with Marv films and Twentieth Century Fox to mark the release of the movie “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.” A total of 240 bottles of Kingsman 1991 are allocated for the U.S. market at a suggested retail price of $900 a 750-ml. The 48.2%-abv whisky will be sold at select specialty retailers beginning early this fall.

•Prestige Beverage Group has debuted Kinky Vixen, a seasonal extension of its Kinky Cocktails line. The 5%-abv Kinky Vixen is an autumnal blend of cranberry, green apple and ginger, and follows the successful relaunch of the brand’s summer seasonal flavor, Kinky Summer. Starting September 1, the new entry will be available nationwide, retailing at $8.99 a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles. The Kinky Cocktails lineup also includes Kinky Sunshine and Kinky Pink.

Tagged : BenRiach Distillery Co., Jeffrey Gundlach, Kentucky Owl Bourbon, Kinky Vixen, Prestige Beverage Group, Stoli Group USA, The Fladgate Partnership, The GlenDronach

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