Thursday, July 13, 2017

NEW SINGLE CASK SELECTION FROM THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY

SMWS Single Cask Spirits, Cognac Selection of Single Casks 
SMWS Single Cask Spirits, Cognac Selection of Single Casks

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) more known for their scotch whisky selection and single cask scotch whiskies is now introducing a few Single Cask Cognacs. This is not the first time as they had one Single Cask Cognac in late 2015.

In addition, they are working with Michelle Brachet who has recently joined the world of cognac after working on a documentary assignment about cognac in 2014 which got her started thinking about cognac, and her interests grew further since.

SMWS is rather influential in the scotch whisky category. Let's hope that their venture in creating other single cask selections and in particular cognac will get whisky drinkers to become interested in cognac.

Source:  TheDrinksReport.com

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

SALES GROWTH FOR CALVADOS BUT COUNTERFEITING COMES WITH IT

Calvados, Cider and Pommeau
Calvados, Cider and Pommeau

Calvados is suffering counterfeiting as well now with a 7% growth/year. Fake or want-to-be brands are copying or just simply alluding to Calvados to gain consumer attention but this is not fair and fraud really.

Since the 1990 Calvados has enjoyed growth thanks to export in about 100 countries. It might not be the mainstrean spirit but the little protected appellation in Normandy is getting attention all across the world.
No wonder, an original Calvados is delicious and unequalled!

Source: RVI

OLD POTSTILL DISTILLATION IN FRANCE

Distilling Plum brandy in France using an old school trailer potstill for home made use.
'Fait Maison'!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCx4IHx2ZqM&w=560&h=315]

Source: Youtube.com

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

A STATEMENT ON TRADE SHOWS & VINEXPO BORDEAUX

Vinexpo 2017 Bordeaux Logo
Vinexpo 2017 Bordeaux Logo

Clearly Vinexpo has changed!Used to be the go-to Wine & Spirits trade show.Now there are competitors, such as Prowein. In addition, Vinexpo is later in the year, too late: ie, late June.

It has started cannibalizing itself with sub-regional Vinexpos such as Vinexpo Hong Kong and Vinexpo Tokyo, ie, if your Asian why going to Bordeaux. This March 2018 will start Vinexpo New York. If you are from America why will you go to Vinexpo Bordeaux any longer. Essentially, there are less reasons to go to Bordeaux than there were before.Plus Vinexpo is too wine focused and not enough spirit driven.

The Supervisory Board of Vinexpo SAS, which met on 6 April 2017, has appointed Christophe Navarre, Chief Executive Officer of Moët Hennessy, as its new President.Christophe Navarre, CEO of  Moët-Hennessy since May 2001, the wine & spirits group of LVMH, which includes Cognac Hennessy and other spirits, in particular the scotch whiskies Glenmorangie and Ardbeg and the vodka Belvedere, but also champagne brands such as Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Mercier, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart et Krug,  and many wine labels outside of France.Hence, Moët-Hennessy had a booth/display at Vinexpo 2017 last month.

Will Christophe Navarre mark a positive change for Vinexpo?

Source: Vinexpo-Newsroom

Monday, July 3, 2017

SUNTORY'S NEW SINGLE GRAIN WHISKY FROM CHITA DISTILLERY

Suntory's Chita Single Grain Whisky 
Suntory's Chita Single Grain Whisky

Suntory launched a new Japanese single grain whisky in the UK named Chita Single Grain Whisky.
This whisky was matured into Spanish oak casks and American white oak casks.

The Chita Distillery was established in 1972 in Aichi region, and it has been dedicated for single grain distillation.

Source: Drinks International

Sunday, July 2, 2017

FRENCH AND JAPANESE EXCELLENCE MIXED TOGETHER THROUGH SPIRITS

Monteru Brandy Ippon, Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask, same oak and cask used by the most famous Whisky made in Japan. First bottle ever, and bottle One of One. 
Monteru Brandy Ippon, Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask, same oak and cask used by the most famous Whisky made in Japan. First bottle ever, and bottle One of One.[/caption]

Experts and consumers are increasingly recognizing whiskies and single malts made in Japan as some of the best in the world. This reputation is largely explained by the type of oak casks the Japanese use to craft these whiskies called 'mizunara' oak. These original oak casks are more than 10 times more expensive than most of the commercial oak and often just not available outside of Japan.

Monteru Brandy since 2009 has started reviving the world of luxury brandy with revolutionary ideas such as crafting the first 'single grape brandy’ with a variety of grape varietals such as cabernet, chardonnay, merlot, etc.

In 2015, they offered a line of small batch of rare cask finished brandies including sauternes, sherry and heavily charred American oak cask finished. There is no 'run of the mill' to foresee coming out of Monteru, but the most transparent and inspiring craft spirits expected to come out from France with 96 pts and above from recent ratings.

Monteru Brandy is the result of the visionary leadership of Jean-Michel Naud and Franck Vigneron, artisan distillers and passionate cellar masters.
"We are very proud to offer a unique experience to the growing luxury brandy segment which are not only looking for innovations but also uncompromizing authentic products" says Pierre Naud, Monteru's international sales manager.

Today, once again, Monteru is innovating with the first ever brandy finished in Japanese mizunara cask. Not only this is the first ever brandy but the first ever French spirits crafted using oak casks made from authentic mizunara oak from Japan.

These casks were made using Japanese traditional cooperage methods and directly imported to the Maison Monteru in Charente Maritime, South West of France.

Before offering a small allocation of a few bottles from the first batch, Monteru Brandy will release a single bottle of Monteru Brandy Mizunara, limited bottle serial number 1 of one.

This one bottle limited edition is coming into an ultra luxury and custom presentation named 'IPPON' which means 'one piece' and 'a perfect full point' as this is the highest score a fighter can achieve in judo, a Japanese martial art.

Monteru Brandy Ippon, Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask. First tasting.

Monteru Brandy Ippon was revealed to the public for the first time on Monday 19th june 2017 at Vinexpo 2017 in Bordeaux France. There was a real excitement among connoisseurs and journalists that knew of the importance for this release as this makes a full circle between today's many trends.
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Saturday, July 1, 2017

MARC NEWSOME DESIGNS THE NEW HENNESSY XO

Hennessy XO, Limited Edition designed by Australian Marc Newsome
Hennessy XO, Limited Edition designed by Australian Marc Newsome

Hennessy is launching this mont of July 2017 a new XO Cognac created by industrial designer Marc Newson.

The limited edition Marc Newson designed Hennessy XO bottle will retail for $200.

In 2016, Hennessy reached 22% to 3.7 million cases in the U.S., which makes 75% of the cognac category, helping to keep the category relevant.

Source: Photo (www.hennessy.com)