Articles Tagged with ''Scotch whisky''

Although Scotch whisky exports to some key markets, such as France, increased during the first half of 2014, the overall trend was downward with economic headwinds and uncertainty having an impact, according to the Scotch Whisky Association.

After citizens in Scotland voted to keep the country a member of the United Kingdom, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), Edinburgh, Scotland, released a statement.“The people of Scotland have made a historic choice against the background of the most profound national debate,” said David Frost, chief executive officer of the SWA, in a statement.

Premium spirits business and independent Scottish family distillers William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd., New York, acquired the Drambuie Liqueur Co. Ltd., the Glasgow, Scotland-based owner of the Drambuie whisky liqueur brand.

Brown spirits are leading much of the growth in the U.S. spirits market, with the segment growing 3 percent in the first four months of 2014, according to New York-based Rabobank’s latest global spirits report. More specifically, sales of Tennessee whiskey and bourbon expanded their already large shares, while flavored whiskey, rye, small-batch whiskey, and Irish whiskey and single-malt Scotch whisky maintained their impressive growth rates, it reports.

London-based Diageo plc announced the upcoming global launch of Haig Club Single Grain Scotch Whisky in partnership with professional soccer player David Beckham and British entrepreneur Simon Fuller, who is the founder of XIX Entertainment and creator of the entertainment TV show “American Idol.”

Edrington Distillers Ltd. added Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch Whisky to its portfolio.

Restaurant Sciences LLC, a Newton, Mass.-based firm that tracks food and beverage sales throughout the North American foodservice industry, reported that single-malt Scotches grew 3.1 percent in U.S. dollar sales and 3.6 percent in case volume sales in the three months ending November 2013 versus the same three-month period in 2012.

Johnnie Walker, a Scotch whisky label imported by Diageo North America, redesigned its Johnnie Walker Red Label bottle to match the other whiskey blends in the portfolio.

Premium adult beverages are providing momentum to the on-premise channel, according to Chicago-based Technomic Inc.’s 2013 BarTAB Report. Although the channel is slowing overall as consumers control their spending, higher-priced spirits and beers are growing in restaurants and bars, Technomic reports. In 2012, the on-premise channel grew in 0.7 percent in total volume to reach 1.9 billion gallons, and sales rose 3.5 percent to $97.3 billion, it reports. However, Technomic projects there will be slight declines in volume but continued dollar growth in 2013 and 2014.

Pernod Ricard USA released a new look for its Ballantine’s Finest Blended Scotch Whisky.