EMPERADOR & FUNDADOR FORM THE LARGEST BRANDY COMPANY

Andrew Lim Tan is a Chinese Filipino billionaire with business interests in real estate, liquor and fast food. In 2011, Forbes magazine rated him fourth on the list of the "Philippines 40 richest" with an estimated net worth of $2 billion.

This year 2016, Andrew Tan’s company successfully acquired Spain’s oldest and largest brandy company, i.e., Fundador.

Acquisition makes Emperador the biggest brandy company in the world.

Emperador Brandy and Fundador Brandy

“A new era begins not just for Fundador, but the whole brandy and sherry industry in Spain. This is an era that will bring in more innovation and new ideas,” Andrew Tan said. “If the world’s best whiskies are aged in sherry casks in Jerez, then many of the brandy products now aged in sherry casks in Jerez should become the best brandy in the world. In Bodegas Fundador, we have a sizable inventory of brandy that has been aged for more than 50 years. 

Once they are bottled, they should become one of the most valuable brandies in the world.”

The agreement includes the Fundador, Harveys, Terry and Tres Cepas brands, as well as production operations in Jerez and Tomelloso, Spain.

“A recent review of our portfolio of brands and supply chain footprint led us to believe that our Spain-based brandy and sherry business could be of greater value to another company,” said Steve Fechheimer, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development at Beam Suntory. “Our teams in Jerez and Tomelloso are outstanding, and I am confident that the operations and the brands produced there have a very bright future as part of Emperador Inc.”

Emperador Inc. is the world’s largest brandy producer through the Emperador brand. “We are very excited about adding the iconic brands of Fundador (the Philippines’ premier imported brandy brand), Terry Centenario (Spain’s number one selling brandy), Tres Cepas (number one brandy in Equatorial Guinea) and Harveys (number one selling sherry wine in the United Kingdom) to the Emperador portfolio,” said Winston Co, President of Emperador Inc. “We look forward to continuing to invest behind the acquired brands, welcoming the transferring employees to Emperador and engaging with the local community.”
The all-cash transaction was valued at 275 million Euros.

Sources: BeamSuntory.com, Kickerdaily.com

CRAFT SPIRIT BUSINESS IS LOOKING GOOD IN THE USA

The last time I check just about 4 or 5 years ago there were approximately 250 distilleries in the USA.

Now this week the Spirits Business online news announces 1315 distilleries in the USA.

What happened?

The US craft spirits industry is booming according to The American Craft Spirits Association (ASCA) and the International Wine and Spirits Research (IWSR).

American Craft Spirits Association Logo

Through collaboration these two organizations are currently running a research called the 'Craft Spirits Data Project'.

Main Findings from the Craft Spirits Data Project:

• The U.S. craft spirits industry is growing rapidly. As of August 2016, there were 1,315 craft distillers active in the U.S. The U.S. craft spirits market reached 4.9 million cases and $2.4 billion in retail sales in 2015, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.4 percent in volume and 27.9 percent in value between 2010 and 2015. The market share of U.S. craft spirits reached 2.2 percent in volume and 3.0 percent in value in 2015, up from 0.8 percent and 1.1 percent in 2010, respectively.
• Exports offer an additional runway for growth. Exports of U.S. craft spirits reached 523,000 cases in 2015, adding more than 10% of additional volume to U.S. craft distiller total sales.
• Employment and investment are on the rise among craft distillers. In 2016, the industry employed over 12,000 full-time employees (FTEs). Investments by the U.S. craft industry have reached close to $300 million in 2015, which primarily covered the build out of tasting rooms and other visitor experiences, equipment to increase production capacity, and associated labor costs.
• Geographically, the study found the US craft distilling market to be “concentrated”, with the top five states (states containing the highest number of craft distilleries) making up 35.6% of the category: California, New York, Washington, Colorado and Texas.
• The next five states – Oregon, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio and Florida – comprise an additional 16.5% of the market.

Source: The Spirits Business; Craft Brewing Business

EDUCATION IS KEY TO COGNAC'S FUTURE: CASE STUDY 'LA MAISON REMY MARTIN'

Rémy Martin Cognac is hosting an interactive experience which will allow the guests to immerse in the universe of Rémy Martin and its One Life & Live Them lifestyle. 

This interactive experience is called "La Maison Rémy Martin".

La Maison Remy Martin Logo

It is starting from late October to late November in 3 cities: New York, Chicago, and then Los Angeles .

The experience will consist in giving you a view into cognac; from the grapes on the vine, to the blending process, to the magical cellars where cognac is aged.

You will discover the century’s old artisanship behind cognac making with a contemporary lens through curated workshops and interactive programming.

The objective: get the millennials, largest drinking age group to experience the authenticity and quality of craftmanship needed to make cognac. They will learn about (1) Terroirs, (2) People and (3) Time.

Drinking cognac is an experience and a lifestyle.

Sources: http://www.lamaisonremymartin.com

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAX COINTREAU

Max Cointreau passed away last Wednesday 19th October 2016 at aged 94.

He was a prominent figure in the wine and spirits since 1942, being related to Renaud Remy Martin, Frapin, Domaine Château de Fontpinot, Cointreau SA, Vedrenne and Gosset Champagne.

Frapin, Château de Fontpinot

His involvement in the cognac industry, and the drinks trade more widely, extended far beyond into political leadership as as a president of the National Union of Liquor Manufacturers, of the GIE Grandes Liqueurs de France and president of the Social Commission of the National Council of Wine and Spirit for eight years, and as the mayor of his home town Gensac la Pallue from 1969 to 2001.

Sources: Frapin, Imbibe, La Republic.fr

BOURBON-LIKE MASTER BLENDER'S SELECTION FROM HENNESSY COGNAC

Hennessy is trying to capitalize on the bourbon whiskey boom by making a cognac that emulates the tasting notes of a bourbon, a new cognac called the 'Master Blender's Selection' = MBS.

According to adult beverage research firm IWSR, sales of super-premium bourbon increased 28.8 percent from 2011 to 2015. Meanwhile, comparable cognac sales increased 9.5 percent.

A more biting 43 percent ABV, a distillation with high levels of lees, not just fermented juice but skins too. Tastings show more spices and long finish with candied apricot and almond notes, and rugged square bottle shape.

Hennessy MBS 1, Bourbon Like

Another particularity of MBS, is that these cognacs are supposed to be one-off production. This goes against the tradition of making consistent cognac made the same year-after-year.

This is a great idea, and I expect a number 2 and 3 and so forth...

Master Blender’s Selection No. 1 will be available in 375ml ($45) and 750ml ($80) sizes, with a total case run of 9,300, sold exclusively in the U.S. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

Source: Bloomberg

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT COGNAC IN YOUR NEXT VISIT? CHECK COGNAC TASTING TOUR

To learn about the various facets of the Cognac why not taking a day tour with one of the most dynamic and enthusiastic experts in the region: Cognac Tasting Tour.

about Cognac Tasting Tour

They even offer accomodations to their guests in their family run B&B in the heart of the Grande Champagne in St-Preuil.

Cognac Tasting Tour Photo

Other activities offered are golf, ballon rides, but also visits of the Bordeaux vineyards as well as masterclasses in cognac tasting.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CognacTasting

Source: Cognac Tasting Tour

TATTOO ARTIST SCOTT CAMPBELL SIGNS LAST HENNESSY COGNAC LIMITED EDITION VS

The Hennessy V.S Limited Edition by Scott Campbell embodies a shared a passion to Blend the Unexpected with artistry and expertise.

Hennessy VS Scott Campbell

The Hennessy legacy of artistic collaboration continues with Hennessy V.S Limited Edition by Scott Campbell. It is the sixth in a prestigious series that includes world-renowned artists such as Shepard Fairey, Futura, and Ryan McGinness.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWvh6qxVqFk&w=560&h=315]

Hollywood’s famous tattoo artist Scott Campbell uses his design talent usually applied to tattoos for the limited edition label VS from Hennessy. Very graphic, round lines and a touch feminine characterize Scott Campbell's style and can be easily recognized on the label.

It looks very nice and why not!

Hennessy VS Scott Campbell

Source: Hennessy.com

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