The US subsidiary of the French drinks group said the whipped flavour segment is the “fastest growing in the spirits category (source: Neilsen, January 2012)” and described the Hiram Walker variant as having a “smooth whipped cream flavour”. The product is made from “sugar, alcohol and water” and classified as an “imitation liqueur”, not a cream liqueur. It will be available in…

The brand has called on its fans to submit blog posts, artwork and “creative concepts” to the new website www.vedettgazett.com; a number of which will be chosen to appear on an estimated 1,000-10,000 Vedett bottles. The scheme is piloting in the UK, Vedett’s third largest market, but will roll-out to its top two markets Belgium and the Netherlands if successful. Since 2003…

Wilkes, who started his career in the wine trade with Hedges & Butler before joining Griersons and then Geoffrey Roberts Associates, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, April 3 . He joined Negociants UK, an arm of Australian winery Yalumba, in 1992, leaving in 2004 to set up his own business The Wine Shed in Somerset, UK. Michael Cox, Wines of…

Since its debut in 2009 BarSmarts Wired has registered more than 5,000 bartenders and mixologists from the US and overseas. The programme, which is updated twice a year, covers topics including Spirits Knowledge and Tasting, Industry History, Cocktail Knowledge and Technique, Bartending for Career Advancement, and Service and Profit.   According to Pernod Ricard USA, those who complete the training are eligible for “advanced education, VIP…

Distributed by Maxxium Travel Retail, the €25.99 (1 litre) bourbon will initially be available in Heinemann, Eurotrade and Aerofirst stores. Antony Kime, Beam’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa travel retail business manager, said: “European travel retail is an important showcase for Jim Beam and also a key market, particularly in Germany and Russia. “The addition of Devil’s Cut to our growing portfolio forms part of…

In an article by the research firm, senior alcoholic drinks analyst Jeremy Cunnington said emerging markets (Asia Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East and Africa) will see volumes increase again this year while developed regions (Western Europe, North America and Australasia) will witness decline. In the case of Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa, Cunnington forecasted volume growth will exceed…

The expression, which launched in the US (US$37 per bottle) last year and Australia (AU$69.90) last week, has seen black pepper, bell pepper, chilli pepper, horseradish, lemon, vinegar distillate and tomato macerated in 40% abv Belvedere vodka for a month. Bloody Mary joins a line of macerated Belvedere vodkas available in the UK, comprising Citrus, Orange, Black Raspberry and Pink Grapefruit. With a recommended retail price…

As part of the deal the Panama-based group has pledged to purchase US$27.5 million worth of Oval Vodka over five years. The newly formed Rok Stars, a consumer goods company headed by Patrón Spirits co-founder John Paul DeJoria and UK businessman Jonathan Kendrick, announced it had bought the Austrian vodka brand in November 2011. In December 2012 Rok Stars signed a…

At a trade press briefing organisers said the loss of some of the UK’s key wine operators had made an impact on the show’s size – which will be 24,000m2 and will comprise around 1,000 exhibitors from 34 countries – but that absentees were reacting to market conditions rather than the show itself. Of the total exhibitors, 50-60 will be spirits brands, with Distil taking…