JULY 2010 INSIDE THIS MONTH MILLION- Cachaça 51 CASE SALES ACCOMPANYING The cool spirit of Brazil THIS ISSUE – DRINKS INTERNATIONAL'S ANNUAL MILLIONAIRES SUPPLEMENT COCKTAIL CHALLENGE WINNING RECIPES FROM OUR COMPETTION ISC MEDALS INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE LATEST RESULTS LIQUEURS LATEST ROUND-UP OF WHAT'S NEW Contents Agile Media Ltd, Gateway Place, 42a East Park, 17 Crawley, West Sussex RH10 6AS Direct line: +44 (0)1293 590040 Fax: +44 (0)1293 474010 The runners and riders 38 t is that time of the year again: the publication of Drinks International’s annual survey of million- case spirits brands. Every year it gets a little more comprehensive as new countries, companies and Ibrands enter the fray. The serious number-crunching has been done, for the third year, by Euromonitor International. I would like to pay a particular tribute to Jeremy Cunnington and his team for their fortitude and professionalism in collating, assessing and confirming as fair and accurate the sales/shipments data received, in good faith, from spirits producers. 27 22 With the soccer World Cup culminating this month, it is difficult – nay, impossible – to avoid a football analogy. Looking at the various league tables with all the minuses News 35 Spanish Wine due to the global economic downturn, one cannot help 05 Business News Patricia Langton finds Spanish potential drawing a comparison with the early departure of football 08 People and Events in the UK and US as the country tries to superbrands Italy and France from the FIFA competition. 10 Travel Retail break free of deep discounting There is also the good showing of South America (think 12 What’s New 38 Closures scotch). Then there has been the emergence of spritely Christian Davis talks to major multiple Japan, Slovakia and Mexico (think Asia, central Europe and Analysis retailers about the type of closure they are Central/South America in terms of drinks growth). 14 Profile: Bill Roberts looking for. He discovers natural cork and In spirits, our multinationals and global brands have taken Christian Davis catches up with the new screwcap high up on the agenda a pasting. The likes of Johnnie Walker, Ballantine’s, Chivas man in charge of EMEA for E&J Gallo 44 International Beer Challenge Regal, Smirnoff, Bacardi and Absolut, have all fared badly Beers from 16 countires feature in this as consumers have switched to cheaper brands and/or voted Features year’s roll of honour with their feet by not using them to go out for a drink. These 17 International Spirits Challenge 48 Cider phenomena have resulted in local/domestic brands benefiting The results are in for the liqueurs & Nigel Huddleston finds cider to be a and being more resilient, while the “in-between” regionals specialities and tequila categories regional phenomenon with potential for a have diminished significantly in number. 22 liqueurs bigger bite of the apple Brands moving up the league, such as Bagpiper, Label 5 or Jaq Bayles finds new products, new ideas Cysta de Luxe, along with companies such as United Spirits and some green credentials and Stock, need to be viewed in a new light. There is also the 27 Cocktail Challenge Final Last call emerging Soju/Shochu sector in Korea and Japan, which we London’s Distil was the stage for this year’s 52 Bar Zone in the west have failed to take seriously. final as mixologists stirred, muddled and Lucy Britner heads to Bénédictine for some Be it Millionaires or football, the Old shook up their medal-winning recipes cocktail monk-ey business Guard, Ancien Régime, is under threat 31 Cachaça 54 Departure Zone from a raft of newcomers – “upstarts” in Brazil’s party spirit is perfect for the Christian Davis leaves us with a lighter the nicest possible way. Caipirinha, but what else is it good for? look at the drinks trade. Expect at least Lucy Britner investigates one yacht and a major sporting event... Christian Davis Editor july 2010 DRINKSINT.COM DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 3 News uK Budget skips alcohol Montana brand name he UK Chancellor, George TOsborne, has delivered the replaced by Brancott Conservative/Liberal Democrat’s first budget, in which he did not increase ernod Ricard has decided At the moment Montana (and million cases annually. tax on cigarettes or alcohol. to drop the Montana Brancott) the brand sells 1.2 It has also been announced that However, VAT is to rise to 20% Pbrand name and rename million 9-litre cases and accounts Brancott Estate will be the official from 17.5%, from January 4 2011. New Zealand’s flagship Sauvignon for 10% of New Zealand wine sponsor of the Rugby World Cup, The trade has welcomed the decision Blanc Brancott Estate. exports (12 months to July which takes place in New Zealand in not to add more tax to alcohol and The decision follows intensive 2009). Exports account for 75% September next year. The tournament tobacco – the first time the government consumer research, according to of total sales. is expected to be seen by a worldwide has frozen excise duty since 2001. Mathew Bird, marketing director Bird told Drinks International audience estimated at 4 billion, with The former Labour government’s for wines, Pernod Ricard UK. that Pernod’s commitment 20 nations competing in 48 matches. plan to increase duty on cider by 10% Brancott is the name of the to the brand and the name Pernod Ricard New Zealand above inflation will be scrapped. estate in Marlborough, on change will be evidenced by managing director Fabian Partigliani The Scotch Whisky Association New Zealand’s South Island, its doubling of investment said: “Our sponsorship of Rugby urged the government to press ahead where Sauvignon Blanc during the transition from World Cup 2011 provides the perfect with a review of the excise duty grapes were first planted in Montana to Brancott platform to help drive immediate system, which is supposed to happen 1975, the first harvest being Estate. global awareness of Brancott Estate as during the last quarter of 2010. 1979. He said it will take a leading New Zealand wine brand, Wine & Spirit Trade Association A key factor in changing the nascent brand into particularly in key export markets chief executive Jeremy Beadles said: the name of what is one of the top four UK wine such as the UK, Asia and Australia “The announcement provides some the best-known wine brands brands, currently Jacob’s and, of course, our home market in relief for a sector that has faced is probably that in the US Creek (also owned by New Zealand.” substantial tax increases in recent years. the wine is already called Pernod Ricard), Blossom He added: “The name change from Repeated tax hikes have produced less Brancott Estate, to avoid US Hill (Diageo), Hardys Montana to Brancott Estate will be revenue for the Treasury and punished consumers thinking the wine (Constellation) and Wolf rolled out globally from September responsible drinkers, while failing to may come from Montana Blass (Foster’s). The aim 2010 to coincide with the impressive tackle the problem of binge-drinking.” state in the upper mid-west. is to take the brand to 2 2010 vintage.” Scotch whisky sales far outstrip Cognac among the French ore scotch whisky is sold the total French spirits market. Min France in a month than Industry figures for 2009 revealed cognac in a year, according to the the value of scotch whisky exports Scotch Whisky Association. to France has more than doubled to The SWA said a 12% rise in exports £407m over the past decade, with in 2009 confirmed France as scotch scotch whisky accounting for around whisky’s largest market by volume, a quarter of all Scottish exports to the with the equivalent of 179m bottles market. shipped. Some five bottles of scotch Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the are shipped to France every second. SWA, said: “Last year was a record The association said scotch also one for scotch whisky distillers in outsells traditional anise-based drinks what has become our largest market Shutterstock and accounts for more than a third of by volume.” Estonian alcohol producer Drinks International has Bombay Sapphire gin Around 16,000 road- AS Liviko has acquired launched an International is to launch a global traffic injuries and 170 News 50% of Japanese import Cider Challenge to find digital campaign, aimed deaths in Britain could be and distribution company the best ciders and perries at the social media prevented in the first year Hanza Trading. AS Liviko in the world. See website market. Consumers will if the government lowers In Brief has undertaken to invest drinksint.com for more be encouraged to build the blood-alcohol limit for 50 million yen in the information. an image of themselves drivers, according to a new business. The parties are in the form of a mosaic study of the drink-drive Industry stories from not disclosing the amount compiled from pictures that laws in the uK. of the transaction. reflect different aspects of around the globe their lives. july 2010 DRINKSINT.COM DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 5 News Producers welcome lower NZ harvest Million-case spirits he 2010 New Zealand grape harvest totalled revealed in 2010 list 266,000 tonnes – 19,000 tonnes less than the 2009 Tcrop and in line with the pre-harvest forecast. The pre-harvest forecast suggested a grape intake of he 2010 Drinks International Millionaires category with the most brands on the list, at 46, between 265,000 and 285,000 tonnes from a producing research has been compiled. Based on but it is tailed closely by vodka, with 43. area estimated to have been 33,200 hectares – up 2,000ha Tsales volumes for 2009, this year saw a To find out which brands top the tables, see the on 2009.