NOVEMBER 2017 ALABAMA Select Spirits PUBLISHED BY Dear Licensees: American Wine & Spirits, LLC PO Box 380832 Birmingham, Al 35283 The holidays come and go in a blur as we struggle to provide the best of everything for [email protected] our friends and families. If you haven’t already, now is the time to do a quick audit. Your customers probably have different buying habits during the holiday season CREATIVE DIRECTOR than they do at any other time of the year. It’s the time of year when many brands Pilar Taylor fulfill their annual sales and profit objectives because of the volume of sales driven by holiday shopping. Liquor brands spend more money in December, coinciding with CONTRIBUTING WRITER their highest sales period. It’s the time when every possible medium is filled with ads Norma Butterworth-McKittrick for the latest and greatest gift ideas. And what better way to celebrate the season ADVERTISING & than with a gift of your dad’s favorite bourbon or your aunt’s much sought after PRODUCTION MANAGER liqueur. After all, it is the gift-giving season. Success depends on your ability to keep Margriet Linthout your shelves stocked with fast-moving, profitable items. We encourage you to get your For more information about this publica- orders in early and to please let us know how we can better serve you. tion, advertising rates, production specs, recipes and digital copies of recent and cur- rent issues visit americanwineandspirits. com or call 205-368-5740 There is ample evidence that alcohol sales increase during the holidays. As we are all aware, there are many more “drinking occasions,” with every kind of party from your PHOTOGRAPHY office to your neighborhood. As friends and family gather to celebrate the holidays IStockPhoto, BigStock and DepositPhoto or to mark special occasions, please remember that a license to sell alcohol is a Alabama Select Spirits is published quar- privilege, not a right. It is also your right and your responsibility to refuse illegal sales terly under the direction of the Alabama to minors and to intoxicated customers. We encourage everyone to make responsible Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board. decisions to ensure safe and happy celebrations. Prices are subject to change at the discretion of the ABC without prior notice. All art in this publication ©2017 American Wine & Spirits. All rights reserved. Reproduction The ABC Board, our employees and I send out good wishes for a happy holiday season in whole or in part without written permis- and a prosperous New Year! sion is prohibited. American Wine & Spirits makes every effort to publish a correct price list and editorial content, however certain information is furnished to American Wine & Spirits by others. American Wine & Spirits is not responsible for any mis- Sincerely, representations or errors in information furnished to us by others within its control. The materials contained in this publication may not be copied, duplicated or used in H.M. Gipson any other way by any other person, firm or organization, in whole or part, without the express written consent of American Wine & Spirits, LLC. 1 1 CRANBERRY JUICE—THE PERFECT HOLIDAY MIXER IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL RED COLOR, Basic Cranberry Kiss Place fresh ice in the prepared serving glass. Add the cranberry juice, gin or vodka, and lime juice; Serve in a chilled martini or specialty glass. IT PROVIDES RICH AND REFRESH- stir to mix. Fill the glass with the soda, and garnish ING FLAVOR, AND IT PAIRS BEAU- 2-3 lime wedges with the cranberries and mint. TIFULLY WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF 6-8 mint leaves 2-2½ ounces chilled cranberry juice or cranberry- Basic “Rudolph” Cocktail SPIRITS—CRANBERRY JUICE, THE flavored drink Serve in a chilled collins or specialty glass. PERFECT MIXER FOR THE HOLI- ½-1 ounce cranberry-flavored vodka ½-1 ounce superfine sugar 1½-2 ounces rum or flavored rum DAY SEASON! ENCOURAGE YOUR Additional mint leaf 1-1¼ ounces fresh lemon juice ½-1 ounce grenadine or cranberry or CUSTOMERS TO TRY MIXING IT Muddle the lime wedges and mint leaves, and pomegranate liqueur scrape the mixture into a cocktail shaker half-filled WITH ALL OF THEIR FAVORITE Cranberry juice or cranberry-flavored drink, chilled with fresh ice. Add the juice, vodka, and sugar; SPIRITS IN COCKTAILS AND SPE- Fresh or frozen cranberries shake vigorously. Strain the mixed drink into the 2 cinnamon sticks CIAL CELEBRATION DRINKS. prepared serving glass; garnish with the additional Basic Cranberry Cocktail mint leaf. Place fresh ice in the prepared serving glass. Add the rum, lemon juice, and grenadine or liqueur; stir Serve in a chilled collins or specialty glass. Basic “Mistletoe” Cocktail to mix. Fill the glass with the cranberry juice, and garnish with the cranberries and cinnamon sticks. 2-2½ ounces bourbon, gin, rum, Scotch, tequila, Serve in a chilled collins or specialty glass. vodka, or whiskey 5-6 ounces chilled cranberry juice or cranberry- 3-3½ ounces chilled cranberry juice or cranberry- Basic Cranberry Martini flavored drink flavored drink Serve in frosted martini or specialty glass. Fresh or frozen cranberries 1½-2 ounces gin or vodka ¼-½ ounce fresh lime juice 1½-2 ounces vodka or gin Place fresh ice in the prepared serving glass. Add Lemon-lime soda, chilled ½-¾ ounce almond, orange, or other the spirit of choice and cranberry juice; stir gently. Fresh or frozen cranberries complementary liqueur Garnish with the cranberries. Mint leaf ½-¾ ounce vermouth 3½-4 ounces chilled cranberry juice or cranberry- continued on page 4 2 continued from page 2 flavored drink Fresh or frozen cranberries Combine the vodka or gin, liqueur, vermouth, and cranberry juice in a mixing glass or shaker half-filled with fresh ice. Stir well or shake vigorously, and strain the mixed drink into the prepared serving glass. Garnish with the cranberries. Basic Cranberry Tonic Serve in a chilled or frosted old-fashioned glass. 2-2½ ounces chilled cranberry juice or cranberry- flavored drink 1-1½ ounces gin ¼-½ ounce fresh lime juice 2-2½ ounces tonic water, chilled Fresh or frozen cranberries Fill the prepared serving glass with fresh ice. Add the cranberry juice, gin, and lime juice; stir to mix. Fill the glass with the tonic water, and garnish with the cranberries. 4 GOING WITH THE FLOW The definition may be fluid, but the cordials and liqueurs category is showing solid growth. BY THOMAS HENRY STRENK covering a treasure trove in cordials and liqueurs. “Consumers Note: This excerpt is printed with permission from the July/August do not want to drink the same old, same old,” says Tom Maas, 2017 issue of StateWays—the Beverage Alcohol Merchandising founder and master blender of RumChata. Magazine for Control States. “We are witnessing consumers becoming increasingly more “THE CORDIALS CATEGORY HAS TREMENDOUS knowledgeable and seeking products with panache and dif- DIVERSITY AND TENDS TO BE A CATCHALL for ferentiation and are willing to pay more for it, driving premi- anything that isn’t a standard base spirit,” says Cherie Koster, umization in beverages,” says Morgan Robbat, vice president of senior brand manager for St-Germain liqueur. marketing for Anchor Distilling Company. Indeed, the fluid, anomalous, and wide-ranging character of “The modern drinker is more educated these days, and they the cordial and liqueur category is both a strength and a chal- appreciate natural flavors along with some education, prov- lenge. Among the varied products are liqueurs flavored with enance, and heritage in what they are consuming. Consumers fruit, nuts, roots, flowers, spices, and veggies; herbal concoc- are looking to discover new combinations of flavors,” says tions; cream cordials; flavored whiskeys (which have taken on a Willy Shine, Jagermeister Brand Meister. “We are also noticing life of their own); amari; aperitifs; and many one-offs. a slight exhaustion to overly sweet and salty favor profiles, with This diversity means that a variety of consumer trends are a lean toward bitter.” driving interest and sales, including a thirst for the new and Many liqueurs and amari hail from Italy, France, Germany, novel, lower-ABV [Alcohol By Volume] drinks, flavor fashions, and other parts of Europe. Now a number of American craft and, of course, the cocktail movement. The category is churning distillers are getting into the arena. For example, Washington, with plenty of acquisitions, new products, line extensions, and D.C.–based Don Ciccio & Figli is translating generations of startups coming into the fold. amaro expertise from the Amalfi Coast of Italy to the American Many consumers today, especially the questing and curious market. “We were trying to create a new domestic category," Millennials, are seeking out new taste experiences—and are dis- says founder Francesco Amodeo.” continued on page 10 6 continued on page 10 Luxurious Chocolate, Richer Cream... NOW AVAILABLE CODE #A1743 Kerrygold Espresso Martini 1 oz. Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur .5 oz. Vanilla Vodka 1 oz. Espresso Coffee Dark Chocolate for Garnish Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add vodka, espresso and Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with grated chocolate. @KerrygoldIrishCreamUSA | Please enjoy responsibly COGNAC’S CHARGE Brandy and Cognac are rising along with the brown spirits category. BY JEREMY NEDELKA other store customization pieces for retail. And Bacardi’s mixol- Note: This excerpt is printed with permission from the November/ ogy team also created a number of classic winter cocktails with December 2016 issue of StateWays—the Beverage Alcohol D’Usse as the main ingredient. Merchandising Magazine for Control States. Louisville-based Copper & Kings American Brandy offers a THE MAJOR COGNAC HOUSES ARE CONTINUING TO full lineup of craft brandy. The company uses copper pot stills to INTRODUCE LINE EXTENSIONS and innovate within their distill wine at a low temperature and non-chill filter the resulting portfolios, as new brands enter the market to compete against the product.