News Briefs for November 11

•A new organic Tequila brand, Hermosa, is debuting across 10 states. Hermosa includes Silver ($45), Reposado ($53), and Añejo ($60) expressions, with the Reposado and Añejo spending eight and 18 months in American oak barrels, respectively. It’s made at family-owned Tequilas Las Americas NOM 1480, a third-generation distillery and agave grower based in Amatitán, Jalisco. Founder Will Elger said the inspiration for the brand came from an old bottle of homemade Tequila given to his father, who was a local hotel manager. The name “Hermosa” was written on the label of that bottle from 1939.

•Teeling Irish whiskey has announced a 30-year-old single malt, the latest in the brand’s series of extra-aged whiskies. The 46% abv whiskey was distilled in 1991 and first matured in ex-Bourbon barrels before spending nine years in Sauternes casks before bottling. The release is limited to 4,000 bottles and will be available at the Teeling Distillery in Dublin this month and the U.S. in January 2022 for a suggested price of $2,200 a 750-ml. Last year, Teeling reached 22,000 cases, up nearly 10% in the U.S., according to Impact Databank. Bacardi has a minority stake in Teeling.

•WeSake, a new canned sake, has launched in the U.S. The Junmai Gingo sake comes in at 13% abv and is made from only rice, water, yeast, and koji. The brand is taking aim at new sake drinkers, as well as those looking for portable alternatives to beer and canned RTDs and wines. WeSake, created by Pablo Rivera, formerly of AB InBev’s ZX Ventures, is now available in New York, California, Connecticut, and Georgia, in 4-packs of 200-ml. cans for a suggested price of $19. Additionally, WeSake is available through the brand’s website.

•Mezcal brand Vamonos Riendo has entered California and Illinois, partnering with RNDC for the former and Southern Glazer’s for the latter. The new partnership will see the super-premium priced mezcal sold in chains like Total Wine and Binny’s, plus independent stores in California and Chicagoland. Vamonos Riendo is an ensemble mezcal triple distilled from Tobala and Espadin agaves (with fruit added for the final distillation) and bottled at 42% abv. It’s available for a suggested price of $60 a 750-ml.

Tagged : Bacardi, Hermosa, Teeling, Vamonos Riendo, WeSake

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