drinks news The new beer will be available early next year.
Innis & Gunn releases Irish whiskey stout
SCOTTISH beer firm Innis & Gunn is preparing to unleash a new limited edition stout that has been matured in Irish whiskey casks.
Innis & Gunn Irish Whiskey Cask marks the first time the firm has produced a stout and it’s claimed to be the world’s first beer matured in Irish whiskey barrels. Scheduled for release in early 2012, the stout will be sold in bottles in the UK, Sweden, Canada, the US and Ireland, and will also be available in draught format in Canada and the US.
The beer’s flavour is described as intense dark chocolate and treacle, accompanied by Innis & Gunn’s signature vanilla and oak notes. “We have never brewed a stout before, but when we learned that we could get hold of these Irish barrels we got very excited at the prospect of maturing a Scottish stout in former Irish whiskey barrels,” said managing director Dougal Sharp. “Of course Ireland is more famous for making stout, and Scotland more famous for making whisky, so we were fascinated to see how this beer might turn out.”
The Irish Whiskey Cask is the latest limited edition from Innis & Gunn. The company currently has four other limited editions on release: Highland Cask, Canada Dry, Winter Dry and Spiced Rum Finish.
Size matters for Martini
MARTINI has launched a smaller, 20cl bottle for its sparkling wines in the approach to Christmas. The smaller bottles of Prosecco, Rosé and Asti have been released in the on-trade as well as the wholesale and convenience sectors. Martini, part of Bacardi Brown-
Forman Brands, reckons the bottles will appeal to bartenders who are reluctant to open a larger bottle of sparkling wine for sales by the glass. Caroline Herbert, marketing manager for Martini, said the new bottles provide “a fantastic opportunity to build loyalty to the brand”.
16 - SLTN - November 24, 2011
Balvenie toasts the big 40
Inver House launches new packaging for Old Pulteney single malt S
PEYSIDE distillery The Balvenie has just released what it describes
as its rarest expression: The Balvenie Forty.
Only 18 of the bottles will be released in the UK through specialist retailers, priced at £2500 each.
The liquid itself has been taken from six different casks that have been matured for forty years, each hand- picked by The Balvenie master distiller David Stewart. Three of the casks are sherry butts and three are refill hogsheads.
The Balvenie Forty is described as having rich, floral notes and a taste of sweet vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and oak, combined with butter toffee. Dr Andrew Forrester, UK brand ambassador for The Balvenie, which is part of the William Grant & Sons stable, said the reaction from high-end on- trade establishments has been “really encouraging”. “They’re going to be fairly exclusive on-trade outlets [that buy it],” Forrester told SLTN. “There’s only 18 bottles to sell within the UK market and they could very easily be snapped up by the independent specialists and sold to collectors. “It’s actually a challenge to have sufficient (bottles) for the level of interest.” Forrester said several bars in London
Only 18 bottles of The Balvenie Forty (left) are on sale; above, the new-look Old Pulteney malt.
are expected to stock The Balvenie Forty in the near future. Meanwhile, the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, Old Pulteney, has refreshed the design of its entire range. The new look runs across the distillery’s 12, 17 and 21 year old expressions. The design features a new logo,
greater use of foil and bolder lettering as well as a re-drawing of the traditional herring drifter that has
become a symbol for the Old Pulteney brand. Margaret Mary Clarke, senior brand manager for Old Pulteney, said the re-design “will bring greater visibility and appeal, providing a contemporary edge that continues to communicate our whisky’s quality and rich heritage”. Old Pulteney 21 year old was recently named ‘world whisky of the year’ in the 2012 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
Savanna back for seasonal push
SOUTH African cider brand Savanna Dry has embarked on a fresh marketing push this month ahead of the festive season.
A ten-second TV ad was launched on ITV2 earlier in the month that will reach an estimated 2.5 million 20-35 year-old consumers in the course of its run. The activity is the second burst of TV advertising for Savanna this year, following an initial TV campaign on Channel 5 and ITV1 during the summer. “Savanna is the third largest selling cider worldwide and although still relatively new in the UK, is making great strides here,” said Sian
Ballantine, European marketing manager for Savanna. “We have invested heavily in the brand because we recognise there is considerable potential given the reception it has received and the unique proposition.
“This second tranche of investment
will reinforce Savanna’s presence in the take home/on-trade sector during what is a busy sales period in the run up to Christmas.” Savanna is produced in and imported from the Western Cape, distributed in the UK by Babco UK.
Savanna is “making great strides” in the UK.
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