Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery
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THE SEPTEMBER 2018 • $6.95 TASTING PANEL TASTING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE • SEPTEM B ER 2018 meet MADDALENA RIBOLI THE ICON SHARES HER VISION FOR THE RIBOLI FAMILY OF SAN ANTONIO WINERY TP0918_ .indd 1 8/30/18 2:09 PM TP0918_068-100_KNV2.inddTP0918_068-100_KNV2.indd 100 101 8/29/18 1:34 8/29/18PM 1:34TP0918_001-31_KNV2.indd PM 1 8/30/18 4:23 PM ONE RYE. TWO ESTATES. tastingpanel The Man Behind the Brands SMOGÓRY FOREST SMOGÓRY FOREST is bold and savory, made from Dankowskie ins Diamond rye born in the lush forests of Western Poland. l El chae © Mi oto Ph . C LL , ts, piri S 123spirits.com 23 17 1 20 EU Organic © ONE RYE. TWO ESTATES. TP0918_ .indd 2 123 Spirits 6 Bottle_Ad_TastingPanel_8.375x10.875.indd 1 8/30/189/19/17 6:344:19 MPM TP0918_001-31_KNV2.indd 2 8/29/18 1:34 PM TP0918_068-100_KNV2.indd 99 8/29/18 1:34 PM ONE RYE. TWO ESTATES. tastingTHE panel MAGAZINE September 2018 • Vol. 76 No. 8 editor in chief publisher / editorial director vp / associate publisher managing editor Anthony Dias Blue Meridith May Rachel Burkons Jesse Hom-Dawson [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 818-990-0350 senior design director senior wine editor Michael Viggiano [email protected] Jessie Birschbach [email protected] vp, sales and marketing senior editor Bill Brandel [email protected] Kate Newton [email protected] special projects editor CONTRIBUTORS David Gadd [email protected] Jeremy Ball, Claire Barrett, Rachel Coward, Madelyn Gagnon, east coast editor Van Gallick, Chris Granger, Jennifer Johnson, Nick Klein, Albert Letizia, Michelle Metter, Hardy Wilson, Deborah Parker Wong David Ransom rocky mountain editor CORRECTIONS www.Facebook.com/TastingPanelMagazine Ruth Tobias @TastingPanel on Instagram features editor Michelle Ball editor-at-large Published eleven times a year Cliff Rames ISSN# 2153-0122 USPS 476-430 wine country editor Chairman/CEO: Anthony Dias Blue Chris Sawyer President/COO: Meridith May Subscription Rate: $36 One Year; $60 Two Years; Single Copy: $6.95 vp / finance director SMOGÓRY For all subscriptions, email: [email protected] Periodicals Postage Paid at Van Nuys and at additional mailing offices Anna Russell [email protected] Devoted to the interests and welfare of United States restaurant and retail store licensees, wholesalers, spirits editor FOREST importers and manufacturers in the beverage industry. Mara Marski [email protected] POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: SMOGÓRY FOREST is bold and savory, made from Dankowskie The Tasting Panel Magazine administrative assistant 6345 Balboa Blvd; Ste 111, Encino, California 91316, Sierra Doxey Diamond rye born in the lush forests of Western Poland. 818-990-0350 contributing editors Mitch Bechard, Ian Buxton, Emily Coleman, ©2018 The Tasting Panel Magazine. All rights reserved. Richard Carleton Hacker, Matt Jackson, Kelly Magyarics, Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Lori Moffatt, Merrill Shindler september 2018 / the tasting panel / 3 ONE RYE. TWO ESTATES. TP0918_001-31_KNV2.indd 3 8/29/18 1:34 PM tales 2.0 GROUNDBREAKING BRAND ACTIVATIONS BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO NEW ORLEANS’ TALES OF THE COCKTAIL Under new management, the updated Tales of the Cocktail enables brands like ABSOLUT Elyx to pull out all the stops to get feet—and fins!—in the door. 4 / the tasting panel / september 2018 TP0918_001-31_KNV2.indd 4 8/29/18 1:34 PM Ole Smoky Moonshine recreated its famous distillery, The Holler, for a pop-up tasting room experience at Tales of the Cocktail. by Rachel Burkons The spirits world waited with bated breath until mid-July to see what the future would hold for Tales of the Cocktail "Tales has always been under the convention’s new ownership and management in 2018. As industry professionals from around the globe gathered in hotel about bartenders and lobbies, on street corners, and in iconic bars and restaurants across New Orleans, the answer we’d excitedly awaited finally became brand representatives clear: Not only has Tales 2.0 arrived, it just might be primed to thrive like never before. While there were some notable differences and a slightly more convening to revel in subdued feel overall, the new Tales placed even more of an empha- sis on education, advocacy, and industry responsibility than its the magical moments predecessors, with seminars tackling everything from diversity and wellness to life-saving training focused on reversing the effects of their shared craft an opioid overdose. This understated, serious tone extended all the way to the convention’s new logos and branded artwork, breathing creates . It was professional focus onto an event that’s trended more toward bac- chanalia than business in recent years. The William Grant & Sons portfolio party served as one of the abundantly clear they most notable hints that things would be a bit different for Tales in 2018. The annual kick-off event has consistently set the tone for form the lifeblood of experimentation and excellence as far as brand activations go, and this year proved no different, with the supplier paying homage Tales of the Cocktail." to the 1988 filmCocktail by way of music, good vibes, and décor dominated by New Orleans’ famed Mardi Gras floats. september 2018 / the tasting panel / 5 TP0918_001-31_KNV2.indd 5 8/30/18 3:36 PM Considering the occasion, it was “Going ‘spiritfree’ in this way will stop drinking alcohol; there’s just a surprising to find a particular item allows us to promote responsible need for more good choices across the missing from this shindig: alcohol. consumption by proving that we board for the times when people are In a somewhat unprecedented can come together and have just not drinking for any one of a myriad of move, one of the biggest spirits as much fun without alcohol,” reasons.” suppliers in the world decided William Grant Portfolio But Tales of the Cocktail is, after all, a to throw a gigantic party for Ambassador Charlotte Voisey celebration of all things spirited, so the bartenders without serving said. “We need to be comfort- festivities returned to business as usual any of its products. Instead, able with that as an industry.” the following morning at the William this “spiritfree” soiree melded According to Voisey, the Grant whisky tasting room. Hidden the talents of WGS’ brand spiritfree and responsibility- behind a curtain for VIP palates only ambassadors roster with focused elements implemented was the new release from Glenfiddich’s those of mocktail expert Julia this year at Tales are part of a experimental series: Fire & Cane, a Momose. Their collaborative larger trend. “In my opinion, the smoky, sweet sipper that marries peated menu featured beverages like industry will continue to be at and non-peated whisky aged side by Sailor Jerry–inspired root beer its best when it moves forward side in ex-bourbon casks. Matured in floats, malted barley and apricot with balance of all things—for Latin American rum casks, the resulting sodas that mimicked the classic example, the full integration spirit exudes Glenfiddich’s signature Speyside notes in Glenfiddich of all types of beverages on rich fruitiness with a caramelized whiskies, and a virgin take on cocktail menus rather than undertone of smoked toffee. (Editor’s a Hendrick’s Long Island Iced Glenfiddich’s segregating ‘mocktails’ off to note: Look for more from Glenfiddich Tea with cold brew, chicory newest release: the side as an afterthought,” and its experimental series in upcoming tonic, and pickled cucumber. Fire & Cane. she said. “I don’t think people issues of The Tasting Panel.) While some brands used their tasting rooms to show off new expressions, oth- ers transformed their designated areas into immersive experiences, like Ole Smoky Moonshine, which opted to bring a piece of the Great Smoky Mountains to the Crescent City. As guests entered the tasting suite to the sounds of live music, they were greeted with bars proffering cocktails and neat tastes meant to emulate the atmosphere at the brand’s flagship distillery, The Holler— the most-visited facility of its kind in the world. (For more on the activation, turn to page 72.) Attendees encountered yet another transformative experience just a few blocks away at the Garden of Elyx, where ABSOLUT turned a classic French Quarter courtyard into its own private palace—complete with fancy slushy cocktails, infused popsicles, and abundant copper glassware—in honor of its ABSOLUT Elyx expression. While these showstopping activa- tions brought a glitz to Tales reminis- cent of previous years, some brands took a quieter approach. Pasote Tequila and Bozal Mezcal, for example, hosted a private happy hour with the labels’ distillers, providing an intimate respite At William Grant & Sons’ annual portfolio party, Portfolio Ambassador Charlotte from the usual hubbub. “It is important Voisey and “spiritfree” bartender Julia Momose celebrated the art of mixology to bring our distillers to this year’s sans alcohol. Tales of the Cocktail to bridge the gap 6 / the tasting panel / september 2018 TP0918_001-31_KNV2.indd 6 8/29/18 1:34 PM Bartenders served drinks in copper vessels of various shapes and sizes at the ABSOLUT Elyx House. between them and the industry’s gate- to really shine: It encourages brands to keepers,” explains August Sebastiani, embrace their identities and share them President of the brands’ parent com- with the leading bartenders of the world pany, 3 Badge Beverage Corporation. for a week spent joyously celebrating “With an opportunity to drill down the industry’s past, present, and future. on the craft process and production One special moment during Tales 2.0, techniques, the educational aspect is however, managed to bring attendees a valuable component that bartenders together more than any swanky party and mixologists can take home and could.