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 MAY2015 FEATURES 10 Numbers Game The March release of Sunday sales fi gures o ers di erent interpretations as proposed legislation is considered. 12 Industry Accolade Dichello Distributors in Orange, Conn. takes center stage with Anheuser-Busch. 12 14 Making a Statement This month’s guest columnist ponders whether a whiskey’s age is what makes it better. 44 Do You Speak ‘Botanical’? London Dry, New Western and Beyond, botanicals give gins their complex identities. 50 The New Whiskey Paradox Amid high demand and short supply, how do distillers 44 manage to keep new whiskies fl owing? 56 Bianchi’s Turn Beyond the “big two,” Italian white wines are primed to charm Americans. 60 Speakeasy: Fresh Focus A conversation with Tim Hassett, President, Beam Suntory 50 North America. 56 60 May 2015 CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL 3 MAY2015 62 Washington Wine Grows Up Quietly, yet unmistakably, Washington has become a force to be reckoned with. 66 All in the Family 62 The Palm Bay International craft spirits portfolio emphasizes family and quality. 68 Brand Profi le Wild Turkey tastes the sweet success of its American Honey brand. 70 The Pursuit of Hoppiness Understanding hops is key to selling beer today. 74 Bar Talk 66 Gin is in at Chicago’s Betty in Fulton Market. 76 Delivery 2.0 Using a smartphone to order food is one thing. Can it work for alcohol? 74 70 DEPARTMENTS 5 Market Point 36 The Find 78 Beer Column 6 News Front 38 New Products & Promotions 80 Wine Buzz 16 Around Town 40 Legal View 82 By The Numbers 34 Retail Review 42 Serving Up 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 May 2015 See www.thebeveragejournal.com for online product access CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL Volume 80, May 2015, No. 5 (ISSN 0744-1843) The month of May warms up on trends to watch: especially in gin, whiskey and wine. Thaw out sales with increased PUBLISHER industry insight. Gerald P. Slone [email protected] Our May cover story is gin, which may well be the most retro and progressive EDITOR & ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER spirit on the market today. We focus on the botanical character of gin and each Dana Slone [email protected] brand’s unique expression. DIRECTOR OF WHOLESALE SERVICES We look at the way suppliers have managed to continue creating new whiskey Laurie Buick brand extensions, batches and special bottlings in response to the sales boom. [email protected] Similarly, a local guest columnist shares his view on NAS whiskies by asking, SUBSCRIPTION/RETAIL SERVICES Brian Slone “when is done, done?” [email protected] In wine, topics include under-the-radar Italian white wines and a deeper look at DESIGN Washington State. Evan Fraser [email protected] WRITERS Lauren Daley Bob Sample SUBSCRIPTIONS & RENEWALS $40 FOR ONE YEAR $8 FOR SINGLE COPY $68 FOR TWO YEARS (Includes shipping and handling) Subscription includes Springtime means charitable events and community contributions from within Cellar user ID and password the industry. Legal View’s FAQ advises on how to do it right. All sales are final. thebeveragejournal.com 203.288.3375 State Sunday sales numbers are a point of contention between the current administration and the local industry. The figures have continued to create a Published Monthly By: Beverage Publications, Inc; 2508 Whitney Avenue, P.O. Box 185159; Hamden, CT 06518 heated debate. is devoted to all liquor, wine and beer licensees as described by the Department of Consumer Protection, Liquor Control Division. The demographics of the U.S. beer drinking public are dynamic, as are movements by brewers to grow and profit. The Beer Column explores. Nothing may be reproduced or uploaded without written permission from the publisher. This includes articles, pictures, pdf files, online or electronic versions. Not Plus, this month’s local news includes an extra-large Around Town, Serving Up, responsible for unsolicited material or advertising claims. Retail Review and a close-up look at a special industry accolade for Dichello. The opinions expressed here are that of the individual The state is rockin’ with activity. Share your news and share the spotlight. 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 the right to edit, reject or properly classify. ON THE Periodicals postage paid at New Haven, CT. COVER Postmaster: Send address changes to: CT Beverage Journal, P.O. Box 185159, Hamden CT 06518 DO NOT FORWARD. Gin Sour cocktail photograph by Sophie Carr National Coverage, Local Advantage The Beverage Network Publications are served by: ImageBrief.com Beverage Media Group, Inc. 116 John Street, 23rd floor, New York, NY 10038 tel 212.571.3232 fax 212.571.4443 www.bevnetwork.com May 2015 CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL 5 NEWSFRONT BROWN-FORMAN NAMES CAMPBELL BROWN marketing will be supported through a mix of traditional and paid PRESIDENT OF OLD FORESTER media, digital media, public relations and experiential marketing. “As a cider fan, the idea of working with Strongbow was very Brown-Forman announced appealing, and the tone of their creative idea paired perfectly with that Campbell Brown has been my own,” said Stewart. “We had a great time filming the spots.” In promoted to the new position of addition to the new TV campaign, Strongbow has unveiled two President, Old Forester, effective new flavors, Strongbow Red Berries and Strongbow Ginger, as May 1, 2015. Brown, who is a part of a brand new variety pack launch. fifth generation descendent of company founder George Garvin Brown, will be responsible for DICKEL’S FORMER MASTER DISTILLER JOINS the worldwide growth of the Old Forester trademark. He will be POPCORN SUTTON DISTILLING charged with leveraging the current momentum of Old Forester, which has experienced a recent growth in sales for the first time in decades, to develop it into a national and international iconic Popcorn Sutton Distilling American bourbon brand. Brown will also guide the development announced in March that John R. of the Old Forester Distillery on Louisville’s historic West Main Lunn has assumed the position of Street. Brown will report to Lawson Whiting, Chief Brands and Master Distiller with the company. Strategy Officer. The move comes as the company continues to expand its regional presence and distribution nationwide. Lunn most recently DIAGEO RECOGNIZED BY NATIONAL served as Director of the Southern Hub and Master Distiller ASSOCIATION FOR FEMALE EXECUTIVES with multinational alcoholic beverage company, Diageo. In this role, Lunn was responsible for distillation, maturation, bottling The National Association for and visitor center operations at the George Dickel Distillery in Female Executives (NAFE) has Tullahoma, Tenn., and the modernization of the historic Stitzel- named Diageo as one of their 2015 Weller Distillery in Louisville, Ky. “Americans love authentic “Top Companies for Executive Women.” As one of the country’s craft brands, white spirits and bourbon, which I think makes largest associations for women professionals and business owners, Popcorn Sutton perfectly positioned for growth. I can’t think NAFE releases the list annually to honor American corporations of a better person to lead us into the future than John,” said that identify, promote and nurture successful women. This is the Megan Kvamme, CEO of Popcorn Sutton Distilling. fourth time NAFE has selected Diageo for the Top 50 list. “At Diageo, we are enriched by the unique ideas and perspectives that every one of our employees brings to work each day,” said Tara Hunt, ROYAL WINE CORP. ADDS INDUSTRY VETERAN General Counsel and Senior Vice President Human Resources, TO TEAM Diageo North America. Diageo offers a variety of flexible working arrangements including job share, flextime, compressed hours and Royal Wine Corporation (RWC), the opportunities to work from home. world’s largest kosher wine producer and importer, announced that Charles Lynch has joined its wine and spirits SIR PATRICK STEWART STARS IN NEW team in the newly-created position of STRONGBOW CIDER CAMPAIGN Vice President of Business Development Global brand Strongbow Ciders – Spirits & Liqueurs. Lynch will be launched its latest television responsible for sourcing new brands and continuing to build commercial campaign starring on the growth that Royal Wine Corp. has seen in the spirits legendary actor Sir Patrick Stewart. category. Lynch has more than 35 years of experience with The national campaign highlights other wine and spirits industry leaders, such as Brown-Forman, why Strongbow over ice is the CEDC and Charmer. Over the course of his career, he has “bestest”