Fortune Brands
Matthew J. Shattock has been appointed as the Chief Executive of Beam Global Spirits & Wine to run its spirits unit as the company seeks to boost international growth of such brands as Jim Beam bourbon and Sauza tequila. Shattock succeeds TOM FLOCCO who resigned last autumn after nearly five... Read More
Diageo North America
Diageo North America has appointed Mark Hubler as President over the US control states. In this position Hubler will oversee the GMs for the West, Central, Northeast, and Southeast control states. He will also serve as liaison to the NABCA on behalf of Diageo and as a member of the... Read More
Beam Global and Cruzan Rum
Beam Global and Cruzan Rum have hired Andrea Bearbower as the Cruzan Brand Education Manager. In this position she will work directly with consumers trade partners and Beam Global’s sales teams teaching Rumology – the science of what rum is and what differentiates Cruzan in the rum category. Bearbower will... Read More
MARVIN “POPCORN†SUTTON
REST in PEACE MARVIN YOU OL’ MOONSHINER MARVIN “POPCORN” SUTTON IS NO MORE. The legendary long-bearded Tennessee moonshiner who was convicted multiple times of illegally making liquor and possessing a gun as a convicted felon passed away in March. Sutton, who was 62, built a cult following after writing a... Read More
MAESTRO of MODERATION
PETER DUFF: MAESTRO of MODERATION Peter Duff died on February 27.He was 😯 years old and had advanced cancer. Mr. Duff an Englishman successful in other businessesand collector and patron of the artsfound his love of wine transforming into a passiona business finally a cause –that of moderation, the true... Read More
PROFESSORS HONORED
THE KNOB CREEK WHISKEY PROFESSORS were honored with whisky magazine’s 2OO9 World Icons of Whisky Award for “Ambassadors of the Year” at a ceremony in London England on February 28. Whiskey ProfessorsSTEVE COLE, BERNIE LUBBERS and DAVID MAYS were recognized for their passion... Read More
SUGAR-GATE
IT’S ONE THING to add an extra pinch of sugar when baking. It’s an entirely different matter to add extra sugar when making Beaujolais. Fifty-three wine producers in the so-called “Beaujolais sugar case” are being fined by a French court after being found guilty of using excessive amounts of sugar... Read More
ROSÉ RAGE
THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES for France’s wine industry. Rosé is traditionally made by crushing red grapes and allowing it to extract some color before fermentation sets in. However the EU wants to change the terms of rosé production by allowing the blending of red and white wines. The method is... Read More
CELEBRITY WINEMAKERS
FOR CELEBRITIES with large amounts of disposable income owning a winery has become quite the trendy business venture. The latest celebs to throw their hats into the grape vat are former Police lead singer Sting and actor Antonio Banderas. Sting actually purchased a 16th century Italian villa in Tuscany in... Read More
FRENCH WINEMAKERS VS. the CANCER BOOKLET
FRENCH WINEMAKERS are upset with the French National Cancer Institute (inca) and with good reason. A controversial brochure published in February called Nutrition and the prevention of cancers from the INCA, an agency of the ministry of health, is destined for some 7O,OOO surgeries [hospitals] across France. It claims that... Read More