News Briefs for May 23, 2023
May 23, 2023•Four-time NBA Champion and two-time MVP Stephen Curry is entering the spirits industry with the upcoming launch of Gentleman’s Cut Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Gentleman’s Cut has signed a national distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, and will retail at $80. To create the brand, Curry’s SC30 Inc partnered with John Schwartz (owner of Amuse Bouche Winery in Napa Valley) to form a joint venture with Kentucky’s Boone County Distilling Co. Distilled in 500-gallon copper pot stills, the whiskey is aged five to seven years in charred new white oak barrels.
•Brother’s Bond Bourbon, the brand from actors Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder, is introducing two new expressions, Brother’s Bond American Blended Rye and Brother’s Bond Cask Strength. Distilled and aged in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, American Blended Rye is bottled at 47.5% abv and retails at $60, while Cask Strength Bourbon is at 57.5% abv and sells at $85. Both are now available now online and in retailers nationwide. Brother’s Bond volume reached 27,000 9-liter cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.
•Casa Azul, the Tequila soda brand backed by actress Eiza Gonzalez and NFL star Travis Kelce, is debuting a new grapefruit expression. In addition to Grapefruit, Casa Azul Tequila Soda is available in Lime Margarita, Strawberry Margarita, Peach Mango, and Watermelon variants, carrying an abv of 5%. Along with the new flavor launch, Casa Azul announced the addition of an Organic Tequila line in March. The brand is present across top retailers like Total Wine, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits in Florida, Spec’s in Texas, Binny’s in Illinois, Ralphs in California, and online at GetStocked and Drizly.
•Arizona-based wholesaler Hensley Beverage Company has completed the acquisition of New Mexico-based Premier Distributing Company for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition adds around 7.5 million cases to Hensley’s portfolio. A leading distributor of craft, domestic, and import beer, spirits, fine wine, and non-alcoholic beverages throughout Arizona, Hensley will now expand its sales and service of Anheuser-Busch InBev beverages throughout the majority of New Mexico. The company will continue to operate all the New Mexico locations as Premier Distributing Company.
•Clase Azul México has named John Solomon global commercial president of the company’s Tequila and Mezcal division. Since 2020, Solomon has overseen the international commercial growth of the brand, introducing Clase Azul México to 20 new international markets. In his new role, Solomon will spearhead global commercial strategy, unifying efforts between teams in the U.S., Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Subscribe to Shanken News Daily’s Email Newsletter, delivered to your inbox each morning.Tagged : Boone County Distilling Co., Brother's Bond, Casa Azul, Clase Azul, Gentlemen's Cut, Hensley Beverage, Premier Distributing, Southern Glazer's
