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Diageo acquires premium cold brew coffee liqueur, Mr Black

Diageo recently announced that it has acquired Mr Black, the Australian premium cold brew coffee liqueur. Mr Black was launched in 2013, by designer Tom Baker and award-winning distiller, Philip Moore, with the vision of bringing the global coffee culture to the world of spirits and cocktails. Mr Black has grown to become the leading premium-priced coffee liqueur in the United States, applying modern coffee brewing techniques and quality sourcing to reinvigorate coffee cocktail culture and consumers’ desire for premium coffee cocktails, such as the espresso martini and coffee old fashioned.

Over the last five years, Mr Black has been the fastest growing brand in the global coffee liqueur category. Now available in 22 countries, the brand appeals to craft cocktail lovers and consumers seeking delicious tasting cocktails in bars and restaurants, and for indulgent, at-home occasions. Mr Black sources and roasts coffee to its own bespoke specification, creating the premium liqueur with a delicious and rich coffee taste.

In 2015, Diageo acquired a minority stake in Mr Black through Distill Ventures, the Diageo-backed accelerator programme. Distill Ventures receives funding from Diageo and works with the company to support entrepreneurs as they launch and grow innovative drinks brands.

Co-founder, Tom Baker, will remain actively involved with the brand, working with the Diageo team to build on Mr Black’s success.

Claudia Schubert, President, U.S. Spirits and Canada, Diageo said, “With its award-winning liquid, eye-catching design and packaging, and ability to thrive in culture, we believe Mr Black is just getting started in the dynamic coffee liqueur segment. This acquisition is in line with our strategy to acquire high growth brands in exciting categories, and we are delighted to welcome Mr Black into our portfolio.”

Tom Baker, Co-founder of Mr Black said, “Coffee is more than just a drink – it’s a culture, ritual, obsession, aesthetic, experience, tradition and a community.

UK wants to say Cheers with Scotch despite tariffs

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In a recent visit to India, UK Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson decided to push for a Free Trade Agreement. The idea was to have fewer trade barriers between the two countries. In other words, an agreement that would help both countries ship products and services without excessive taxes.

For the UK Scotch whisky is the elixir perhaps because of Brexit. UK voted to leave the European Union and perhaps what went unnoticed was third of the country’s whisky exports - £1.3 billion ($1.65 billion) worth actually, went to EU countries. Post-Brexit however, that isn’t the case. The move has cost the scotch whiskey industry £5 million ($6.3 million) every week. And now they’re being forced to work with every EU country independently. They have to deal with different shipping norms, separate customs requirements and a whole host of packaging regulations.

It turns out that all these issues have prompted the UK to think differently and find newer markets. First, they targetted Australia and struck a deal — to remove a 5% tariff on scotch whisky. Elsewhere the UK managed to obtain the coveted “protected status” for its whisky by inking separate deals with Japan, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This will protect their scotch whisky from imitation, misuse, or any other forms of intellectual abuse.

And the focus shifted to India, a country that consumes more whiskey than any other country in the world. One in every two bottles of whiskey is now sold in India and the UK wants to make up for the loss in sales in the European Union by growing its market in India.

The UK allows ALL imports of Alcoholic Beverages into the country to be taxed to NIL customs duty and this is not just from India, it’s from 70+ other countries, that supply AlcoBev to the UK. Similarly, the conditions about a minimum three-year maturity, type of substrate used, the absence of additives, etc. are all equally applicable to Whiskies from all supplying countries, including the UK. So, there are no India-specific barriers that some players are seeking removal of. On the other hand, India imposes customs duty of 150% on all imports of Alcoholic Spirits, from all countries including the UK (which has the largest share of such imports), says I P Suresh Menon, Secretary General, ISWAI (International Spirits and Wine Association of India).

But the whiskey definitely dominates the Indian market, almost contributing 60% of sales to the IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) segment. But if you’re a person who enjoys a glass every now and then, you’d know there’s a difference between Indian whiskey and Scotch whisky.

Scotch whiskey is typically of Scottish origin and made from grains - primarily barley. On the other hand, IMFL is made from molasses, a by-product of sugar production and grains. It is much cheaper. So in some ways, IMFL liquor outsells its foreign counterpart in a massive way. But there’s another roadblock for foreign manufacturers - Taxes! See, taxing liquor is a wonderful source of revenue for the Indian government. For instance, five southern states namely Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala generate 10% of their revenues from taxes on liquor sales alone. And you can see why they want to impose even higher taxes on imported liquor. In fact, import duties can go as high as 150% in some cases. And that means, even though Scotch Whisky imports in the country have risen 200% in the past decade, it still only commands a tiny 2% market share in the Indian markets.

Now imagine if the tariffs were removed completely. What would that mean for the UK and Scotch Whisky industry. Well market sources contend that the market share could reach as high as 6%.

And so you can see why this makes total sense for whiskey manufacturers in the UK. But do Indians benefit in any way?

Well, for starters Scotch Whisky will likely become more affordable and more Indian whisky producers will use more Scotch in their IMFL and will premiumise their brands to an extent that the difference between Scotch and IMFL would not be much different. So it will mean that Indian consumers will get a product as good as Scotch at a favourable price. But cutting importing duties could also bump up revenues for the government. For instance, last year, the Maharashtra government slashed excise duty by 50% on imported liquor. And it now expects revenue to rise by ₹150 crores — from the sale of imported scotch annually.

And finally, with over 19 million new consumers coming of “legal drinking age” each year, India is definitely a market that liquor makers would like to tap into. Guess it will be a win-win situation for consumers. The Indian government may be tempted to go ahead with deal as the possibility of revenues rising in a sustainable manner is a good possibility.

According to Director General of the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC apex body for domestic liquor firms), Vinod Giri, this FTA also holds significant importance for India in the scope of future trade with the United Kingdom as trade competitors like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan enjoy duty-free merits under the UK’s generalised scheme of preferences. Indian liquor producers are keen to enjoy newer markets for their products in the United Kingdom but are hindered by the stipulation that whiskey exported to the Brits should be Grain based and aged for three years. At the same time, liquor produced in India is not aged.

Refined Oil (9.7% of all UK goods imported from India)
Clothing (9.6%)
Medical and pharmaceutical Products (5.6 %)
Miscellaneous Metal Manufactures (5.1%)
Textile Fabrics (5.0%)

All these products were the primary imports to India from the United Kingdom, but as the pact stands on the brink of either collapse or being executed after several reconsiderations. A recent list had brought forward 240 odd items which would face trade duty deductions once the agreement is executed. From this pool of 240 things, a few that stand out are whisky, cars, vaccines, basmati rice, wool, and tea premix. As of now, no indication has been released about the possible way out of the situation, but in the coming future, it’s possible that the pact might be passed with several reconsiderations and follow-up procedures. Currently, diplomatic negotiations of the highest level are going on between the countries.

Amid reports of the UK seeking massive tariff concessions on imports of scotch whiskey during ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, liquor sector association Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has written to the government strongly objecting to any plans to slash Basic Customs Duty (BCD).

A reduction in BCD, it said, will adversely affect Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands since imports already dominate the Indian alcoholic beverages market. CIABC has been part of several recent meetings hosted by the Ministry of Commerce with stakeholders before the trade talks with the UK.

“India exports just ₹5 crore worth of alcoholic beverages annually to the UK against an import of ₹1,300 crores. Exports to the UK constitute only 0.2% of India’s total exports of alcoholic beverages whereas imports from the UK are 24% of India’s total import of alcoholic beverages,” said Vinod Giri, DG, CIABC.

Giri further noted that “restrictive” trade policies are also hampering the growth of Indian exports. “While the export of alcoholic beverages from India stood at 7.3 million cases (9 litre each) in the year 2019-20, exports to the entire EU (including the UK) were less than 30,000 cases which consisted of Indian super premium malt whiskies,” he pointed out.

CIABC said that the United Kingdom should also remove restrictions such as a minimum three years’ maturation period for whiskey and rum, since it has been scientifically established that in warm Indian conditions, spirit ages 3-3.5 times faster than in the UK. Giri added that a BCD cut would skew the balance of trade.

A notion worth dispelling is that Scotch whiskies are costlier to produce; it is 50% more expensive to produce it in India than in Scotland.

In wake of the Indo-UK trade discussions, many ‘experts’ argue for reduction in tariff, particularly slashing custom tariffs on imported Scotch and on ‘Intermediate’ products which they say are nothing but high-strength, potable, undenatured ethyl alcohol used for bottling and blending in India.

They argue on three main grounds. One, that India has a large trade surplus in the category and can afford greater imports; two, customs duty reduction on intermediate products will encourage ‘Make in India’; and three, even if tariff is reduced the bulk of consumption will remain locally produced whiskies — so why bother.

This industry contributes nearly ₹250,000 crore in taxes and for most states it constitutes 15-30% of revenue. Customs duty is not even ₹5000 crore in comparison. Second, this industry uses agricultural products as primary raw material and nearly 50 lakh farmers depend on it. It provides employment to 20 lakh people. Any disruption will have widespread ramifications for the government, farmers and labour market.

The problem with the first argument is that it hides the true balance of trade on alcoholic beverages using a wider head of ‘Food and Drinks’. If one separates alcoholic beverages/products for human consumption from the wider clubbing of ‘Food and Drinks’, a very different picture emerges.

As per DGFT data for 2018-19, India exports only ₹5 crore worth of alcoholic products/beverages to the UK, against import of ₹1300 crore. Clubbing alcohol under a much bigger ‘Food & Drink’ category to claim favourable balance of trade is highly misleading.

The second argument is also a misconception. Scotch Whisky goes through two major stages of productions — distillation and bottling. The ‘Intermediate’ Scotch whisky is actually the output of the first stage, it has been produced and matured in Scotland. What happens in India is only bottling. Therefore, while incentivising intermediate products through reduced or zero duty will lead to an increase of usage of bottling plants in India, which will be a big loss for Indian farmers and manufacturers.

The third argument misses out on three vital points. One, in product categories with multiple price segments like whisky, consumers seamlessly shift to the next category up or down depending on affordability.

So, when a Scotch whisky is sold at a lower price it takes away consumers from products in the price segment, starting a domino effect that makes the domestic industry the net loser. Two, introduction of Scotch whisky at lower price attacks the profit driving end of portfolio of Indian companies, thus jeopardising their viability. Third, Indian premium whiskies like Amrut, Paul John or Rampur are now regarded amongst the best in the world but are unable to make the same headway in the domestic market due to an unsupportive regime and reducing customs duty further just will not help.

Another notion worth dispelling is that Scotch whiskies are costlier to produce. Rather, it costs at least 50% more to produce a whisky of similar quality in India than in Scotland. This is primarily on account of a higher cost of capital and higher taxes in India, interstate restrictions and higher evaporation losses.

Also, many states offer concessionary taxes on imported products, but reduction in customs tariffs cannot be done without removing compensatory state-based concessions as otherwise it will create a hugely discriminatory tax regime against Indian products.

If we talk about reciprocal duty concessions, the problem is that barriers put up by the UK are not tariff based but non-tariff ones. India, being a sugar producing country, has evolved whisky recipes based on spirit distilled from molasses. The UK does not accept this as it is not “recipe standards”. The result of these non-tariff barriers is that of the 70 lakh cases of whisky exported from India every year, the whole of the EU including the UK accounts for less than 30,000!

Indian industry is not against reducing customs duty on alcohol, but it should be in a phased manner and up to a point where it creates a level playing field.

Accordingly, it has put forward its recommendation to reduce import taxes, aggregate of customs duty and AIDC, from 150% to 100% now and to 75% in five years’ time. It has also recommended a threshold import price for taxation at $5 per bottle, and reciprocal concessions from the UK allowing whiskies from India to be allowed in the UK market as ‘Indian Whisky’ without minimum maturity conditions.

Anheuser-Busch InBev launches Budweiser Magnum whiskey in India

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For a numero uno beer brand to become a whisky brand is step in the right direction especially if the country is India which is a whisky drinking country.

The world over, whiskey has been seeing a renaissance. Bourbons, Scotch, craft distillations are all riding a wave of popularity among millennials. There has never been a better time to be a whiskey lover. The brown liquor is now more popular, more diverse and, most importantly, more delicious than ever.

The Indian alcohol market has been dominated by darker liquids, with 72% of total spirits’ consumption in the country being whiskey. According to the research report – ‘India Whisky Market Outlook, 2027-28’ – India consumed 237.22 million cases of whiskey in 2021 and the consumption is to reach 289.49 million cases by 2027-28, which would generate revenue of over ₹287000 crores.

In a first, brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev or AB InBev, which has a diverse portfolio of global beer brands, including Budweiser, Corona, Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, among others, entered the spirits market in India with the launch of blended American whiskey under its brand Magnum Double Barrel in select markets. The move is part of the company’s Beyond Beer portfolio. It also is in line with its strategy to tap the trend towards premiumisation in the alcoholic beverages market in the country, while keeping consumer centricity at the core.

Artfully curated for the Indian palate but distinctively global in manufacturing craftsmanship, Magnum Double Barrel whiskey is a combination of American corn whiskey aged in white oak barrels in Kentucky and the finest of Indian single malts aged in ex-Bourbon casks, in Goa. The company is sourcing and blending Magnum Double Barrel whiskey in partnership with Sazerac and their Indian subsidiary JDPL; which has resulted in a blend of signature flavours that are silky soft with a malty and complex, creamy finish.

Commenting on the Beyond Beer portfolio and product launch, Vineet Sharma, Vice President Marketing – South Asia, AB InBev said, “Beyond being the 2nd largest spirits’ market in the world (10% of global spirits consumption) and the biggest whiskey market by volume / consumption — India also enjoys the benefits of favourable demographics, trends complimentary to premiumisation, a positive outlook on ease of doing business (EODB), and policy. We see a huge opportunity for premium offerings across the beverage category, in line with our overall premiumisation strategy. For Indian consumers, the attitude towards premiumisation is category agnostic making the country a lucrative ground for innovations across price points and categories. As a consumer-first organisation, we are actively listening to our patrons and tracking trends, behaviours and the launch of American blended whiskey — Magnum Double Barrel — is an effort to energise, reinvigorate the category, adding much-needed newness, fereshness to it. It is a true homage to the collaboration and exchange between continents, countries and cultures. The unique concoction of American corn whiskey with the finest Indian single malt is a first for the Indian audience.”

For most Indian drinkers, whiskey is an aspirational drink and the elemental choice. Widespread up-trading was evident pre-pandemic; 2021 has seen the trend accelerate significantly. As the second-largest importer of Scotch after France, India has the necessary expertise and skill to distil superior quality, globally admired, critically acclaimed liquids and ready audience in the country’s LDA (legal drinking age) + millennial consumers with disposable income that allows them to experiment. Thus, it’s a lucrative market to tap.

Taking us through their distribution strategy, Sharma said, “India is now amongst the top five markets for Budweiser globally and holds steadfast in its position as the country’s fastest growing premium brand. Over the last few years, we have gone from strength-to-strength and have an established distribution network across the nation. At present, Magnum Double Barrel will be available at select alcohol retail outlets, premium pubs, bars and leading restaurants. The plan is to listen, learn and expand.”

The company has already introduced the product in leading alcohol retail outlets in Maharashtra at ₹2,800, Goa at ₹1,800 for a 750ml bottle, and soon will be available in Karnataka, Haryana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.

Further revealing the plans to promote the brand, Sharma informed that Magnum Double Barrel’s launch campaign — Make New Happen — delivers on the spirit of innovation and originality. “The objective of the campaign is to liberate whiskey by creatively tapping the cultural nerve of consumers who are rewriting the rules of its consumption and breaking perceptions around it. The communication caters to the ever-evolving, diverse tastes and preferences of consumers above legal drinking age who emphasise savouring their drinks by experimenting with flavours and discovering premium alternatives to classic blends. We also have long-standing relationships with music festivals, events, and allied partners, and we will be sampling across to get feedback from consumers. We really want the unique blend to take center stage and let the product speak for itself. We will continue to spotlight people, places, and passions by expertly crafting experiences for contemporary India,” he added.

Diageo India initiates removal of mono cartons of VAT 69, Black & White and Black Dog

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In line with its initiative Society 2030: Spirit of Progress and its 10-year ESG action plan, Diageo India will be initiating a phased removal of mono cartons from its popular Scotch brands in India VAT 69, Black & White and Black Dog. Although there isn’t a clear timeline on when this removal is expected to commence, it includes Diageo’s global effort to be zero-waste to landfill from its own operations and offices by 2030.

The move comes following the announcement in May this year for the removal of mono cartons from its scotch portfolio brands globally, which included brands like Johnnie Walker Black Label, Johnnie Walker Red Label, Buchanan’s Blended Scotch Whisky and Bell’s Original Blended Scotch Whisky.

Although there isn’t a timeline on when the phased removal in India will commence, in May Diageo had stated that the removal of these mono cartons will allow the company to assess the response from the consumer, which if successful will be expanded to other brands as well in 2023.

What will the customer response be to this announcement in India remains to be seen, especially since standing out in a shelf space in a country like India is important, due to its stringent marketing policies. It will also be interesting to see if this move will prompt other manufacturers to follow a similar path.

Currently there isn’t any update yet if there will be any changes made to the packaging (we will update the article periodically), considering mono cartons play an important role in branding and packaging of the product. Also whether the removal of mono cartons is expected to affect the product pricing, also remains to be seen. Since manufacturers spend a considerable cost towards packaging their products, the cost is often passed onto the consumer.

Diageo believes that the phased removal will engage consumers to participate, contribute and promote a progressive move to a sustainable future and will result in saving 10,000 tonnes of paper and reducing 7,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

ABD launches ‘ICONiQ White Whisky’ in Metaverse

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Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD), the domestic alcobev company, has launched of its new whisky “ICONiQ White” on the metaverse, before the offering becomes available in the market.

The brand has been launched first in ABD MetaBar – the organisation’s presence in the metaverse. The brand will subsequently be launched in the physical world in markets nationally.

ABD India forayed into the metaverse with ABD MetaBar, an immersive virtual reality space providing consumers and enthusiasts with a differentiated experience of product discovery. Optimised for both mobile and desktop usage, the MetaBar taps into the growing interest in the Metaverse especially the youth and their willingness to experiment with novel digital activations.

Shekhar Ramamurthy, Executive Deputy Chairman, ABD, said, “A core belief at ABD is to ‘Think Differently’. The launch of ICONiQ White in ABD MetaBar, ahead of its physical launch, gives consumers an opportunity to immerse with the brand before they experience it in stores. We believe this is the shape of things to come and ABD would like to lead that change.”

Bikram Basu, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, ABD, said, “ICONiQ White is a contemporary whisky for blend, packaging, and positioning. It will appeal to the young adult and plays in an affordable premium segment which has the largest pool of consumers today. We are here with something very special and here to win.”

Sohini Pani, Founder and Managing Director – River, said, “Crafting the communication mix for ‘ICONiQ White’ was a delightful experience. It all started with the name. ‘ICONiQ’ is bold and trendy, while ‘White’ is a surprising twist in the world of whisky. The visual space and the idea pitch the brand as a playful companion for fun-loving younger audiences. The icing on the cake was the opportunity for us to build ground-up the ABD MetaBar a few months ago and work towards the launch of Iconiq White on the platform.”

Beam Suntory unveils renewable energy-powered Jim Beam Expansion

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Beam Suntory will invest more than $400 million to expand production at its Booker Noe distillery in Boston, KY, which produces Jim Beam. This expansion will increase capacity by 50%, while reducing the distillery’s greenhouse gas emissions by the same percentage, through the use of anaerobic digestors that will produce renewable natural gas to power the facility.

Beam Suntory has entered into an agreement with 3 Rivers Energy Partners to build a facility across the street to convert spent stillage into biogas which will be treated to renewable natural gas standards and piped directly back to the Booker Noe facility. The digestors will also produce a high-quality, low-cost fertilizer, which will be made available to local farmers, thereby supporting sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.

Upon project completion, which is expected in 2024, the Booker Noe distillery will be 65% powered by renewable natural gas, and 35% by fossil-based natural gas.

“We are committed to making a difference by investing in cleaner technologies and systems, and the expansion and significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from this project does just that with our biggest brand,” said Beam Suntory President and CEO Albert Baladi. “This expansion will help ensure we meet future demand for our iconic bourbon in a sustainable way that supports the environment and the local community that has helped build and support Jim Beam.”

In addition to capacity expansion, the investment includes land, warehouses, and 51 new local jobs. Further, this project allows the distillery to invest in high-efficiency gas boilers to make maximum use of renewable natural gas, use scrubbing technology to remove carbon dioxide from fermentation tanks, and following a purification process, facilitate the beneficial reuse of more than 100,000 metric tons of high-purity carbon dioxide annually.

“As consumers around the world continue to discover bourbon, we want Jim Beam and our commitment to sustainability to be part of that discovery,” said Carlo Coppola, Managing Director of the James B. Beam Distilling Co. “I’m so proud to be honouring our legacy as the First Family of Bourbon by leveraging this renewable energy to support our brand’s trajectory for the next 225 years.”

Beam Suntory invests more than $500 million every year to make bourbon in Kentucky. The company recently completed a $60 million transformation of the James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s homeplace in Clermont, KY, including a new and elevated visitor experience, inclusive of the full Beam family of brands like Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and Booker’s Bourbons, the Fred B. Noe Distillery, and the Kitchen Table restaurant.

“I want to once again thank the leadership at Beam Suntory for this commitment to grow the Booker Noe Distillery in Nelson County,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “The dozens of jobs this project is creating will benefit so many families in Central Kentucky, and the company’s continued growth reflects the strength of our state’s signature bourbon industry. Congratulations to everyone involved with this significant investment. I could not be more excited to see what’s next for Jim Beam Brands in Kentucky.”

Beam Suntory’s investment was first announced by the state of Kentucky through a series of economic incentive grants, made in July, including the $400 million investment to increase capacity, build warehouses, and create new jobs.

“Our goal is to help Jim Beam create a sustainable future for their company and the planet,” said John Rivers, CEO of 3 Rivers Energy Partners. “With this process, we will create new renewable energy, and help sustain the agriculture needed to create their products. It is truly a full circle sustainability approach.”

3 Rivers Energy Partners specialises in the design, build, and operations of renewable natural gas projects. The company works to provide renewable energy solutions for organisations by utilising existing bio-waste streams as feedstock for renewable energy sources.

Beam Suntory has made ambitious commitments to protect the planet, consumers and communities through Proof Positive, the company’s long-term, enterprise-wide sustainability strategy. The company also issued its inaugural sustainability report recently.

As an energy developer, 3 Rivers Energy Partners (3RE) specialises in the design, build, and operations of renewable natural gas projects.

Campari Group Launches X-Rated in India

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The Campari Group recently launched its popular fusion liqueur ‘X-Rated’ in the Indian market. Known for its unique bottle shape, bold pink liquid, sweet and delicious flavour; it is one of the fastest growing flavoured spirits in Asia. Famous among young, trend-seeking females as one of the finest celebratory drink, X-Rated is made with ultra-premium vodka sourced from Champagne and Ardennes regions of France.

It is an exotic blend of ultra-premium French vodka, blood oranges from Sicily in Italy and fused with tropical mango and passion fruit juice sourced from Brazil for a unique taste experience. The tropical fruit flavour with edgy citrus notes gives a long, smooth and semi- sweet finish.

On the occasion of the launch, Daniel Schwalb, Managing Director South East Asia and India for the Campari Group, says, “We are excited to expand our India portfolio with the launch of our globally successful fusion liqueur brand, X-Rated. A perfect blend of ultra-premium French vodka and tropical fruit, X -Rated is expected to become the preferred liqueur choice, especially for the discerning women consumers in this country.”

Arnab Ghosh, Marketing Director, Campari India also shares his excitement for the launch, “We are ecstatic to debut X-Rated in the Indian market. With this launch, we are looking forward to establishing a strong foot hold in a segment of the market which finds a strong resonance with the millennial consumer.”

This unique, bright-pink liqueur is well positioned to lead the growing cocktail appreciation trend in the country. It is best enjoyed over ice, on the rocks, or as a flavourful, colourful addition to champagne or a delicious cocktail.

X-Rated is a premium liqueur made with high quality ultra-premium vodka and tropical fruit juices. The liquid is made of 100% ultra-premium French vodka from Champagne and Ardennes. The mouth coating flavour is based on blood orange from Sicily in Italy and tropical mango and passion fruits juice from Brazil. The fusion liqueur is made with 100% pure organic fruit juices which is fused with ultra-premium French vodka in a secret process and is available in 750 ML and is 17% ABV.

Brown Forman to purchase Gin Mare brands

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Brown‑Forman Corporation recently announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase the Gin Mare brands from Vantguard and MG Destilerías. Upon completion of the transaction, Brown‑Forman will add Gin Mare and Gin Mare Capri to its growing portfolio. Gin Mare ultra-premium gin, is a Spanish gin with a Mediterranean-inspired recipe of botanicals, including Arbequina olives, thyme, rosemary, and basil. Gin Mare Capri, introduced last year, is made with Italian bergamot and lemons, along with Gin Mare’s four principal botanicals.

“Gin Mare and Gin Mare Capri are unique gin brands with impressive sales growth and strong distribution in important European markets. They are excellent complements to Brown‑Forman’s super-premium portfolio,” said Lawson Whiting, President and CEO, Brown‑Forman Corporation. “We believe this exciting acquisition enhances our capacity to deliver meaningful global growth for the long term.”

Gin Mare was founded in 2010 by the Giró Family of MG Destilerías and Alfonso Morodo and Antonio Pardo of Vantguard. Today, it is sold in more than 70 countries and is the largest ultra-premium gin brand in the world according to IWSR.

“Brown‑Forman is the perfect partner to bring Gin Mare to more consumers and bartenders around the world while keeping the brand’s commitment to producing a unique, high quality, Mediterranean gin,” said Manu Giró, CEO, and Marc Giró, Master Distiller, MG Destilerías.

“Our motto at Vantguard is to create brands that are alive with soul and aim to put a sparkle in our customers’ eyes. It’s been a thrill to watch consumers embrace our brand, and we are excited about the future for Gin Mare with Brown‑Forman’s resources and capabilities behind it,” added Antonio Pardo and Alfonso Morodo, Vantguard Co-CEOs.

Gin Mare will continue to be produced at MG Destilerías in Vilanova i la Geltrú, a ﬁshing village between the Costa Brava and the Costa Dorada. The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close within 60 business days.

Homegrown gin brand DOJA won silver in the prestigious Gin Masters Awards under the super premium category

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The Gin Masters is an annual judging of gin that is conducted by the Global Spirits Masters Competition. The annual series, conducted in partnership with The Spirits Business, consists of a series of blind-tasting evaluations that cover the beverage industry’s main spirit categories.

In this annual awards, DOJA has won silver and is among the top 46 gins selected amongst 1000s. The Super premium category lists brands that are priced between £21 to £35. This is DOJA’s first award and has come in less than one year of their launch.

Started by Jai Anand, DOJA is an amalgamation of botanicals from the rich lands of India and Japan’s Wakayama prefecture. He worked along with a distillery in Japan who brought to life a recipe that gives the taste of two cultures in a sip. Japan is known for immaculate craftsmanship, perfectionism, and attention to detail that reflects not only in its food and culture, but is also translated into the unique flavours of its alcohol. What makes DOJA unique is the use of Yuzu, sansho peppers, hinoki that is combined with coriander, pepper, and cardamom from India. These botanicals lend a citrus note.

DOJA is a sip and drink format beverage and is recommended to be had on the rocks or water. DOJA has begun its distribution in Goa and Mumbai. It is priced at `2050 in Goa and `3700 in Mumbai.

Pernod Ricard and JCDecaux sign an unprecedented Data Technical Alliance

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Pernod Ricard and JCDecaux, recently launched an innovative digital partnership in data management through the roll-out of a solution called Data Portal. This solution enables a company to centralise, in a single point, all the data from its different entities around the world, facilitating their use and sharing. The Data Portal is aligned with the transformation objectives of both Groups, who have placed data at the heart of their business and growth strategy.

The tool has been developed since 2015 by the Pernod Ricard IT Data Center of Excellence team, which is already composed of 20 people and constantly growing. The Data Portal, a particularly easy-to-use and intuitive solution, is a true accelerator for digital transformation. Almost 7,000 Pernod Ricard employees find everyday information about sales or key figures for the development of their commercial strategies on it. Following initial discussions which started in 2020, the two Groups have decided to opt for an alliance between non-competitive partners, in order to enhance the Data Portal with their respective experience, co-developing technical ecosystems and benefitting from the cost synergies generated by combining their skills. This technology, which does not involve the exchange of data between the two companies, is conceded for free by Pernod Ricard, without any conditions or limitation of use. Each company then manages its data in line with legal data management requirements.

In a process of continual improvement, the collaborative and agile alliance between Pernod Ricard and JCDecaux will help accelerate the development of new data-related features and technologies and could then be opened up to other non-competitive companies, within the same legal framework and co-construction model. The project monitoring will be managed by Neoxia, a trusted third party, who will continue to ensure the platform’s developments and integration in line with the roadmap co-defined by Pernod Ricard and JCDecaux.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman & CEO at Pernod Ricard, notes that, “The Data Portal is a wonderful asset for our Group. This solution, developed by our Data Center of Excellence, is a key tool for our growth mindset untitled the “Conviviality Platform” in which data is a major issue. The Data Portal facilitates our teams’ work in order to provide each of our markets with the right product, at the right time, at the right price, to the right consumer. We’re delighted to share this innovation with JCDecaux and to benefit from each other’s experience.”

Jean-Charles Decaux, Chairman of the Executive Board and co-CEO of JCDecaux, adds, “As a company that believes in the power of collaboration to grow business, we are delighted to enter this technological alliance with Pernod Ricard that is focussed on data management. Underlining the strength of our joint approach to digital innovation, JCDecaux will play an active role in the development of the Data Portal, enhancing it with new features. Designed via an open innovation approach, this solution will help us achieve our data strategy and fulfil our objective of developing shared data management platforms within JCDecaux. This will in turn allow business units to capitalise upon this innovation for the benefit of our customers and partners, media agencies, advertisers and local authorities.”