Malternatives
From Phusion Projects Inc. comes four maXed, a line extension of the caffeinated malt beverage line four. Four maXed, like Four, contains the controversial
ingredient wormwood oil, but the new product is the first 10 percent alcohol by volume caffeinated beverage available and the only grape flavored caffeinated malt beverage on the market. Pricing varies by state, but ranges between $1.39 - $1.69 per can and $4.99 - $5.99 per 4-pack of 16 oz. cans. Initial states include Wisconsin, Indiana, California, Arizona, and Nevada. For more information,
call Phusion at (888) 402-5247.
Beer
United States Beverage, L.L.C. has announced that Black Dog Ale is now offering a variety pack of its most popular brews. The 12-pack includes American Pale Ale, Honey Raspberry Ale and the original Black Dog Ale. The 12-packs are $12.99 - $13.99 and available year-round wherever Black Dog Ales are sold – nationwide. For more information,
contact U.S. Beverage at (212) 584-4317.
U.S. Beverage is also importing the Les Brasseurs
de Gayant line-up of premium, high-quality specialty beers from France into the United States. These rare, high-quality styles include La Goudale, Amadeus and La Divine. The Gayant Brewery, a family owned independent company founded in 1919 in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, is the largest independent specialty French brewer. La Goudale boasts a deep gold color, earthy, fruity aroma and a foamy white head, along with a full malty flavor to mask the high alcohol content of 7.8 percent ABV. Amadeus, an unfiltered wheat beer, is characterized by its light body and strong lemon flavor with a peppery finish. La Divine, the newest addition to the Gayant portfolio, is an abbey
beer made with specialty yeasts. La Divine is a “Grand Cru” style that is high in gravity and has eight percent ABV. The three brews are sold in unique 750 mL bottles and retail for between $10.99 and $12.99.
New York City-based International Beverage Holdings USA has begun selling Chang Beer, Thailand’s No. 1 selling beer. Newly formed IBHL USA is the exclusive importer of Chang and is supporting the U.S. introduction of the super premium
import with a powerful marketing campaign for on-premise and off-premise customers with a keen focus on the growing number of more than 5,000 U.S. restaurants that serve Thai and Asian Fusion cuisine. In the U.S. Chang is now available in two popular size bottles, 6-packs of 330 mL (11.2 oz.) bottles and 640 mL (22 oz.) bottles. The dark amber Chang bottles feature the distinctive green and gold logo with a pair of white elephants facing each other under a golden fountain. For more information
about Chang Beer call (646) 896-3807.
United States Beverage, has also added Estrella
Damm to its growing line of imported beers. Widely recognized as one of the best premium quality beers in Spain, it is brewed at its original headquarters in Barcelona, where August Kuentzmann
Damm established the first brewery 131 years ago. This product retails for between $7.99-$8.99/six pack. Popular in Spain’s nightlife scene and beaches, Estrella Damm will continue its push in the U.S. following success across Europe
and Asia. For more information, call (212) 584-4291.
Spirits
Boz Spirits has launched two new additions to its 267 Infusions line, the first fruit-infused, ultra-premium
spirits. Introduced last year, these award-winning alcohols are not flavored, but are infused with fruit and do not contain chemicals or preservatives.
Each 267 Infusion offers another surprise: since they have real fruit inside. 267 Infusions’ Tequila Chili Pepper showcases the autumnal-colored
fruits visible through the centerpiece-worthy bottle, while 267 Infusions’ Vodka Cranberry is available this winter. Six additional varieties of vodkas, rums and tequilas are available in 250 mL and 750 mL bottles and are priced at $10 and $25 respectively. For more information call (714) 830-0161.
Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. has announced
the U.S. launch of Courvoisier Exclusif Cognac. Exclusif was designed as a mixable cognac
with a distinctive, mellow and fine taste, and with the revival of the cocktail culture, this product will compete with vodkas and other base spirits in cocktails. Exclusif is a super-premium cognac characterized as a modern take on the classic Courvoisier
portfolio, an image that allows the brand to continue capitalizing on the current growth of the super-premium VSOP category. Just under 4,000 9 L cases of Exclusif will be initially introduced into the U.S. and the brand will be available in 50 mL, 200 mL, 750 mL and 1 L bottles. The 750 mL bottle has a suggested retail price of $50.00, but will vary by market. The contact number for Beam Global is 847-948-8888.
Bacardi U.S.A, Inc. has launched Bacardi Peach Red, the newest member of the Bacardi family of flavored rums. Representing the continuing evolution
of flavors, this product is infused with the most flavorful part of the peach – the nectar found at the heart, which is intense when ripe and features
a rich, red hue. The 35 percent alcohol-by-volume flavored rum has a suggested retail price of $13.99 for a 750 mL bottle and is also available
in 50, 200 and 375 mL bottles, along with 1 L and 1.75 L sizes. For more information, call (212) 246-6515.
The Blackmint Distillery and Altamar Brands, LLC have formed a partnership to bring the first authentic Swiss Absinthe to the United States market in nearly 100 years. The brand, Kubler, is produced in Motiers, Switzerland and the Kubler family has produced absinthe in Val-de-Travers, beginning in 1875. Kubler launched in New York City in late September, and Boston in October. The Midwest and West will follow after the first of the year. “Swiss Absinthe Superieure Kubler” is liquor distilled with herbs grown in the Val-de-Travers. Artemisia Absinthium (more commonly know as wormwood) is the primary ingredient in a formula that also includes coriander, mint, anise and fennel among other herbs and botanicals. It will be sold at 53 percent ABV in the U.S. at $49.99 per 1 L bottle.
Named after Poland's King Jan III Sobieski who saved Europe from the rampaging Ottoman Empire,
Sobieski Vodka is entering the U.S. market to overthrow overpriced vodkas. The #1 premium vodka in vodka's birthplace of Poland, Sobieski will carry a suggested retail price of $10.99 for a 750 mL bottle and $19.99 for a 1.75 L bottle, and will be available in major retail stores throughout the U.S. For more information, call (212) 721-2090.
Now available across the country, The Margarita
King is the only top-shelf margarita cocktail in a bottle to be awarded the gold three times by the Beverage Testing Institute of Chicago. The Margarita
King is shaking things up across America because
it uses only premium ingredients: the finest double-distilled Blue Agave tequila imported from Mexico, double-distilled orange liqueur, real limes and lemons, plus pure natural sugar cane. This product sells for between $16 and $18 per 24 oz. bottle. For more information, call (415) 788-6161.
United States Beverage is now importing 26000, New Zealand’s fastest growing vodka. It will be available in the U.S. for the first time beginning in January 2008. Originally launched in New Zealand
in 2006, 26000 Vodka is triple distilled grain seamlessly blended with pristine Tasman paleowater
for a distinctly unique taste. Created at the end of the last ice age, the water source has been untouched for the past 260 centuries, allowing for 26000 to truly be the most immaculate vodka on the market today. USB will launch all three flavors of 26000, including its signature pure Crystalline, the striking red Raspberry & Lemon Drop, and Lychee
-- one of the first of this flavor to be available in the United States. 26000 Vodka is 40 percent ABV (80 proof) and comes in a 750 mL bottle. The price point ranges from $27.99-$29.99.For more information, call (212) 584-4294.
From Foster's Wine Estates comes Boomerang Vodka, the first 100 percent grape-based vodka imported from Australia. Sourced from 100 percent
premium Chardonnay grapes from the Baros sa Valley, instead of the standard grain or corn-based vodkas, it is five times distilled, charcoal filtered and bottled close to its source in South Australia, producing a smooth, well-balanced and supple mouthfeel. The Suggested Retail Price for the 750 mL bottle is $19.99. Boomerang Vodka is also available in 1 L and 1.75 L bottles priced at $25.99 and $34.99, respectively. This product is available nationwide. For more information, call (707) 299-3264.
From Pernod Ricard’s Austin Nichols line, Austin
Nichols Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and his son, Associate Distiller Eddie Russell, have joined forces to create Russell’s Reserve Rye, a handcrafted
six-year-old, small-batch rye whiskey. Bottled
at 90 proof, Russell’s Reserve Rye has a rich, tawny color with notes of almond and allspice. Russell’s Reserve Rye will be available exclusively in the U.S. beginning in October in limited quantities.
It will be available in a 750 mL at a suggested retail price is $24.99. For more information about this product, call (203) 254-8225.
Heaven Hill Distilleries has released a 1998 Vintage
Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon. The 86.6 proof Bourbon is matured under the careful supervision of Heaven Hill’s father and son team of Parker and Craig Beam, who monitor the progress
of each year’s vintage to ensure it maintains its intended flavor profile and superb quality. The 1998 Vintage will be available nationally beginning in January 2007 at an average retail price of $24.99 for a 750 mL bottle. For more information, contact Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. at (502) 413-0220.