Spirits – Page 6 – Keep It Overproof!

Alcohol may have saved humanity’s ape ancestors

The ability to consume and tolerate low levels of alcohol in overripe, fermenting fruit may have helped the ape ancestors of human beings avoid extinction a new book posits. The book, ‘Alcohol and Humans: A Long and Social Affair’ by two British researchers, Dr Kim Hockings, senior lecturer in conservation science at Exeter University and Dr Robin Dunbar, professor of evolutionary psychology at Oxford, suggests that a common ancestor of humans and other great apes may have evolved to carry a protein that helps to metabolise alcohol some 10 million years ago. The ability to consume extra calories...

Analysis: The performance of major drinks groups this year

In a year which has seen an activist investor take a 2.5% stake in Pernod Ricard, Diageo’s share price continue to rise and LVMH make the largest acquisition in its history, Ron Emler explores how drinks groups have fared in 2019. Battle lines drawn, but no sign of hostilities. A year ago US hedge fund Elliott took a 2.5% stake in Pernod Ricard worth $1bn and triggered expectations that it would shake up the French spirits giant. The aggressive investor was looking for luxury returns from an investment in premium drinks. Premium drinks have become a “safe haven” for investors...

Seafood restaurant recycles leftover oyster shells to flavour gin

London seafood specialist Wright Brothers has jumped on the flavoured gin train and launched a spirit distilled with oyster shells, Amalfi lemon and kelp seaweed. Produced with partners The Ginstitute Distillery of West London, the gin has has been designed to complement Wright Brothers’ menu of oysters, shellfish and fish. It is a savoury gin with high mineral notes and a pink pepper finish. The fishy liquid has been made in partnership with The Ginstitute, which also produces west London gin label Portobello Road, and “provides a sustainable way to reuse oyster shells from Wright...

UK beer trademarks reach record high

The number of beer names trademarked in the UK reached a record high last year, as the beer market becomes increasingly diverse. Beer trademarks have almost doubled in five years. (Photo: RPC) The number of beers trademarked in the UK rose 6% in 2018 to 2,519, up from 2,372 in 2017*, according to London law firm RPC. BrewDog, for example, now has over 130 trademarks registered in the UK, while brewers such as Heineken, Guinness, and Ab InBev have added more beers to their portfolios in recent months. Registered trademarks for beer have almost doubled in the last five years, rising 89% from...

More Mike’s: $4 Bill in Revenues Next Year; No Debt; Sourcing More From Wine than Spirits

Dear Client: Mike’s Hard is targeting close to $2 billion in revenue this year, “on track to grow 85%,” after having accelerated each year for almost a decade. But the real shocker is that they’re targeting twice that next year, to $4 billion in 2020 “driven by increased capacity, household penetration, distribution and velocity growth,” … Continue reading “More Mike’s: $4 Bill in Revenues Next Year; No Debt; Sourcing More From Wine than Spirits” You are unauthorized to view this page. Read the full article

Singaporean Tanglin Gin launches new flavours

Tanglin Gin, Singapore’s first gin distillery founded in 2018, has launched three new gins in the run-up to Christmas. Tanglin has brought three new spirits to market; a Barrel-Aged Gin, Black Powder Gin, and a red-hued Cranberry Gin. The Barrel-Aged Gin pays homage to thousands of barrels of Jenever that were rumoured to be lost to the Channel, rocking and rolling for months before eventually washing up on the coast, according to the brand. The gin itself is made from Tanglin’s original Orchid Gin that has been rolled continuously for months in Bourbon barrels. Black Powder Gin is the city-state’s...

Pernod Ricard faces legal challenge over alleged harmful drinking culture

French drinks group Pernod Ricard has denied claims made at an employment tribunal, during which a former staff member said that there was a “constant pressure” to consume alcohol. As reported by French media site Le Parisien, two former Pernod Ricard employees and one still working for the company reported being under pressure to drink. One former sales manager, referred to as ‘Julien’ in the Le Parisien article, who had worked for the French company for 16 years, told the publication that when he complained about the quantity of alcohol he was expected to consume,...

Halewood faces opposition from Vera Lynn over gin trademark

Centenarian singer dubbed the ‘Forces’ Sweetheart’, Dame Vera Lynn, has opposed an application by Halewood Wines & Spirits to trademark her name in relation to a proposed gin. Image: Wiki Commons Lynn, known for her war-time anthems including We’ll Meet Again and The White Cliffs of Dover, is reported to have opposed Halewood’s application to trademark a gin brand. According to records published by the Intellectual Property Office, a trademark for ‘Vera Lynn’ was submitted by Halewood on 14 June last year. However, on 2 October, the application...

Prowine China 2019: The first-timers of the show

Without a doubt China is one of the most fascinating growing markets for the global wine and spirits industry. While Prowine China in Shanghai is seeing an ever-increasing number of exhibitors at the show, dbHK spoke to few of the first-timers in the show (or even China) to see what attracted them to the market. Domaine Richard French wine producer and distributor Domaine Richard has long been a major player in the Paris on-trade business, supplying close to 30 million bottles to restaurants in Paris each year. The family also owns a number of properties around Bordeaux, the Rhône Valley and...

New data reveals drinks industry deals valued at over US$12bn this summer

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Mergers and acquisitions in the drinks industry between July and September were valued at more than US$12 billion, according to new figures. Research from analyst firm Global Data found that drinks brand sales were valued 328% higher in the three months to September 2019 than they were in the previous financial quarter. The analyst said that the overall highest value acquisition came was Asahi Group’s purchase of Carlton & United Brewers for $11.3bn. The proceeds from the deal are being used to pay off AB InBev’s debt. It said the biggest spirits deal of the three-month period was...

Tag: Spirits