News Briefs for May 9, 2023

•Woodinville, Washington’s Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has named Robert Carruthers as the company’s new vice president, east region. Carruthers joins the company with over 20 years of wine industry experience, mostly recently working at Foley Family Wines as that company’s vice president for strategic/national accounts. In addition to his time at Foley, Carruthers worked at Terlato and E.&J. Gallo Winery in leadership positions. In his new role, he’ll be responsible for leading Ste. Michelle’s sales teams in Delaware, Washington D.C., Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina. Carruthers replaces Derek VanTine, Ste. Michelle’s previous vice president, east region, who now works as Ste. Michelle’s vice president of customer marketing.

•Beam Suntory’s Basil Hayden has been named the official whiskey of the Michelin Guide. The partnership between the Bourbon and the restaurant guide will see Basil Hayden as an official partner of the 2023 Michelin Guide Ceremonies and will present the Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award. In addition, Basil Hayden and Michelin will present a pop-up tasting garden featuring cocktails and small bites at six food, beverage, and arts festivals across the U.S. The tour begins in July and runs through November.

•Starward Australian Whisky has launched Ginger Beer Cask #7 in the U.S. The 48% abv single malt is a blend of Starward’s Nova and Solera whiskies (aged in Aussie red wine and Apera barrels, respectively), that finished for a year in French and American oak barrels used to hold ginger beer. The whisky will be available in limited quantities in the U.S. through a ballot system on Starward’s website. When released, the whisky will retail for $100 a 700-ml. bottle.

Tagged : Basil Hayden, Beam Suntory, Starward, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

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