London’s first dedicated gin distillery visitor centre opened its doors in May. Christened Beefeater London: The Home of Gin, this is a classy act, but exactly what you would expect from a producer in the premium Pernod Ricard-owned Chivas Brothers stable. It seems all the experience the company has with its scotch whisky visitors centres has been put to good use, and I’ve no…
Recently I was lucky enough to be invited by Diageo to a roundtable meeting to detail the rationale about its up and coming launch of Haig Club – its first mainstream foray into the grain Scotch whisky market. The aim was to explain the importance of grain whisky in its own right and, of course, to taste it. The information was in confidence until…
After Pernod Ricard’s takeover of the by-then struggling Allied Domecq back in 2005, it seemed the drinks world would be forever divided between the French multinational and Diageo. Aside from AD the pair had seen off the likes of Seagram and IDV (the merger of which created Diageo) and along the way had divested themselves of unwanted brands, so that by 2010 all the…
Easy to drink, usually fruity and relatively low in alcohol, and that’s just for starters. One would be forgiven for thinking that liqueurs were invented for today’s drinking environment. Indeed, with their versatility and mixability, liqueurs also play a vital role in the expanding cocktail arena and the growing popularity of the cocktail is aiding and abetting progress. As a result innovation is central…
Following the comings and goings at Rémy Martin the downturn in China continues to take its toll, as evidenced by the first half-year results unveiled by both Diageo and Pernod Ricard. Diageo reported that net sales of its luxury Baiju brand Shui Jing Fang “declined significantly” and that Johnnie Walker Black Label sales also “declined”. But that said, “super and ultra-premium Scotch performed strongly, while…
It’s business as usual then at Whyte & Mackay – that is the Glasgow-based spirits producer is once more up for sale. Incredibly this is the 10th time since the beginning of the ’70s and in those 40-plus years there have been no fewer than 18 MDs or CEOs come and go, and heaven only knows how many different marketing departments. This…
Over the past five years and against the backdrop of the global economic downturn, it’s been interesting to note the subtle and not so subtle changes that have been made on the brand marketing front. In terms of brand values, authenticity and heritage have always played major roles, but in recent times a noble worthiness is beginning to make its presence felt at the…
ONE WAY OR T’OTHER there’s a lot going on in the Cognac arena. There are acquisitions – Rémy acquired Larsen at the tail end of 2012 and then in June this year sold the Cognac house on to Altia while, after six months with the For Sale sign flapping outside its GHQ Hine has at last found new owners. Amid all…
To misquote Jane Austen completely: “It is a truth – not, I think, universally acknowledged – that a single man in possession of a good fortune and after an excellent meal must be in want of herbal bitters to aid the digestion.” Although it’s hard to imagine any of Ms Austen’s heroes, let alone her heroines, swigging back (and surviving) a swift jigger of…
IT MAY HAVE TAKEN more than 10 years but it’s fair to say that gin has at last shaken off its old fuddy-duddy ‘gin and jag’ image and has not only emerged as the preferred white spirit among the top mixing fraternity in über watering holes around the world, but is finding favour with a growing band of trendy “young things” – aka consumers. …
