Connecticut’s only trade magazine and comprehensive online resource for the local licensed beer, wine and spirits industry. Market’s Largest Product Source Brand & Price Index Local News, Photos & Columns GET LEARN READ SHOP MARKET INFORMATION ABOUT NEW NEWS, BE NEWS PRODUCTS & PRICES PRODUCTS ANYTIME INCLUDED IN YOUR SUBSCRIPTION PASSWORD TO ACCESS THE ONLINE PRODUCT PORTAL REAL-TIME PRODUCTS AND PRICES, ANYTIME, VIA MOBILE PHONE, TABLET OR LAPTOP ONLINE ORDERING 24/7 CONTACT US TO SUBSCRIBE CALL US AT 203.288.3375 | VISIT US AT WWW.THEBEVERAGEJOURNAL.COM OCTOBER2015 FEATURES 26 Vineyard View For the family-run DiGrazia Vineyards, the past enhances the future. 28 Return to Greatness Cockburn’s celebrates two centuries by looking ahead. 26 32 Retail Review Thompson Liquor’s location fosters fortuitous growth. 38 Legal Matters Advertising makes reaching new customers easy; but can those mailers make life di cult? 44 Scotch’s Deep Secret The barrel regimen can have an even greater impact on whisky than the grain, the peat or the blend. 28 32 44 October 2015 CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL 3 OCTOBER2015 50 Falling for Calvados Buoyed by the cider and craft trends, France’s signature apple brandy is back in the spotlight. 54 Nine in California Wine From pop-up Cabs to rosé in a can, the tricks and trends never stop. 58 An Islay Icon Turns 200 50 Laphroaig celebrates two centuries of distinctiveness. 60 Smooth Sailing for Gosling’s Bermuda’s beloved dark rum sets a course for success. 62 Taste of the Island Life Blue Chair Bay Rum embraces a lifestyle of freedom, adventure and giving. 66 Bar Talk Shawn Chen complements Chinese specialties at RedFarm and Decoy in NYC. 54 66 62 DEPARTMENTS 5 Market Point 25 Guest Column 40 Beer Column 6 News Front 30 Wine Buzz 42 Serving Up 10 Around Town 34 New Products & Promotions 64 RumChata Profi le HOW BEER, WINE LIQUOR BRAND INDEX JOURNAL CLASSIFIED AND SPIRITS WINE BRAND INDEX SHOPPING NETWORK Page 1a GET TO THE BEER BRAND INDEX THE INDEX MARKETPLACE The largest compilation of beverage alcohol price and brand information. 4 CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL October 2015 See www.thebeveragejournal.com for online product access CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL The October issue is scaring up seasonal spirits and trends. VOLUME o 80 N 10 OCTOBER 2015 The fall-into-winter transition highlights no tricks, only treats, { ISSN 0744-1843 } for new selling opportunities. PUBLISHER GERALD P. SLONE “Scotch’s Deep Secret” is our cover story and it’s a barrel of fun. Turn the pages [email protected] to uncover important distinctions, particularly among single malts. EDITOR & ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER DANA SLONE France’s famous brandy made from apples, Calvados, is in focus this fall. Buoyed [email protected] by cider and craft cocktails, this spirit is harvesting new fans. DIRECTOR OF WHOLESALER SERVICES LAURIE BUICK The California wine industry continues to innovate… look for nine trends [email protected] happening now and learn of the future foretold. SUBSCRIPTION/RETAIL SERVICES BRIAN SLONE What a summer of events! Beer took center stage, cocktail competitions [email protected] crafted up fun, and new tastes moved into the market, in a very lively “Around Town” section. DESIGN EVAN FRASER [email protected] EDITORIAL ADMINISTRATOR SAVANNAH MUL [email protected] WRITER LAUREN DALEY SUBSCRIPTIONS & RENEWALS $40 FOR ONE YEAR $8 FOR SINGLE COPY Locally, this month’s guest columnist highlights regional grapes and unique $68 FOR TWO YEARS (Includes shipping and handling) attributes, complementing our quarterly “Vineyard View;” and it’s DiGrazia Subscription includes Vineyards, where family is central to the business. Web portal product user ID and password All sales are final. And so much more… three rum brand profiles, Laphroaig turns 200, new thebeveragejournal.com 203.288.3375 products and consumer-friendly finds are making their way on the shelves and in the bar! Published Monthly By: Beverage Publications, Inc; 2508 Whitney Avenue, P.O. Box 185159; Hamden, CT 06518 is devoted to all liquor, wine and beer licensees as An important reminder: your print subscription also includes access to our described by the Department of Consumer Protection, secure trade shopping website. It’s a direct link to wholesalers and their Liquor Control Division. Nothing may be reproduced or uploaded without written portfolios, as well on- and off-premise support tools. Plus, coming this winter, permission from the publisher. This includes articles, an iPhone/iPad app with even more time-saving cool tools and direct ordering pictures, pdf files, online or electronic versions. Not responsible for unsolicited material or advertising claims. access. Try it today; it’s all part of the package. The opinions expressed here are that of the individual authors and not necessarily the views of Beverage Publication, Inc. We reserve the right to reject any material that is flawed due to content or design. All advertisements and price list advertising are subject to the approval of The Beverage Journal which reserves ON THE the right to edit, reject or properly classify. COVER Periodicals postage paid at New Haven, CT. Postmaster: Send address changes to: CT Beverage Journal, P.O. Box 185159, Hamden CT 06518 Photograph by Justin D. Sullivan DO NOT FORWARD. ImageBrief.com National Coverage, Local Advantage The Beverage Network Publications are served by: Beverage Media Group, Inc. 116 John Street, 23rd floor, New York, NY 10038 tel 212.571.3232 fax 212.571.4443 www.bevnetwork.com October 2015 CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL 5 NEWSFRONT BACARDI WINS TOP HONORS, RECOGNIZED technologies, and allows us to support consumer-proven products FOR CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS early in their lifecycle. We are excited to work with the forward- thinking team at Crafthouse as they continue to grow their brand Bacardi Limited’s 2015 sustainability and create new opportunities for consumers to enjoy a premium campaign, titled “Bacardi Good cocktail experience,” said Bill Newlands, Executive Vice President Spirited: Building a Sustainable and Chief Growth Officer, Constellation Brands. Crafthouse Future,” was named the “Best in Cocktails are created under the direction of renowned mixologist Variety” of domestic and international Charles Joly. categories by Ragan’s PR Daily Awards, Hermes Creative Awards, American Business Awards and International Public Relations DEEP EDDY VODKA AVAILABLE IN HEAVEN Association. The Bacardi Good Spirited campaign was designed HILL BRANDS PORTFOLIO to showcase the brand’s heritage and reduce environmental impact in sourcing, packaging and operations. “The global Heaven Hill Brands has added Deep corporate communications team is committed to excellence in Eddy Vodka to its portfolio. The communications and it’s an honor to be recognized for something Austin, Texas-based spirit company, we are so passionate about as a company,” said Jim Gallagher, which launched in 2010 with Deep Chief Communications Officer of family-owned Bacardi Limited. Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, has since expanded to offering straight vodka and fruit flavors. In 2013, DISTILLED SPIRITS CONSUMPTION CONTINUES their Deep Eddy Ruby Red vodka resulted in an over 300-percent GROWTH TREND SAYS NEW REPORT sales growth. “This is a milestone day for Heaven Hill Brands as we add Deep Eddy Vodka and their entire team to our dynamic Beverage Information Group’s and innovative family,” said Max L. Shapira, President of Heaven Liquor Handbook 2015 reported Hill Brands. “Deep Eddy Vodka is a star on the rise in the spirits that the American whiskey category industry and is redefining the premium vodka market with a quality drove distilled spirits growth for product and iconic marketing programs. The brand is a perfect fit the eighteenth consecutive year, for our established portfolio of rapidly-growing products.” up 1.5-percent and reaching 211.8 million 9-liter cases in 2014. Straight whiskey sales increased by LABOR SHORTAGE MAY BE MAKING 6.4-percent and vodka increased by 1.0-percent, tequila increased A COMEBACK FOR RESTAURANTS by 5-percent, as well as Brandy and Cognac increased by 3.5-percent. The recently released report said on- and off-premise sales in Restaurants added more than 1.8 distilled spirits rose in 2014 compared to 2013. Canadian whiskey, million jobs since the end of the Scotch whiskey, gin, rum and prepared cocktails reported overall recession, and the expectation decline. The Liquor Handbook 2015 follows sales trends in the is for continued growth in the U.S. spirits industry and studies consumption data, projected sales months ahead, according to the National Restaurant Association. in category and market, leading brands and historical information. However, there are indications that job vacancies are becoming more difficult to fill, according to the NRA’s chief economist CONSTELLATION BRANDS’ VENTURE ARM Bruce Grindy in his latest Economist’s Notebook. ACQUIRES STAKE IN CRAFTHOUSE COCKTAIL “The restaurant industry closed out the summer with a solid month of job growth, according to preliminary figures from the Constellation Brands has acquired a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).” End-of-month job openings in minority stake in Crafthouse Cocktails, the hospitality sector averaged 650,000 during the first half of a producer of ready-to-drink, spirit-based 2015, which represented an increase of nearly 70,000 job openings cocktails. This investment is the first for over the first half of 2014. This year marks