WINE FOR THE KIDNEYS
SOME GOOD wine news! An occasional glass of wine might help keep your kidneys healthy, new research suggests. Even better, for those who already have kidney disease, which puts one at higher risk for cardiovascular problems, moderate wine drinking might help the heart, the researchers added. “Those [with healthy kidneys]... Read More
NORTH AMERICAN BREWERIES
KRIS SIRCHIO has been named Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Sirchio will lead all facets of NAB, including its brewery operations, alehouses and sales and marketing efforts. Previously, he has led profit and growth across companies and brands including Brown-Forman, Syngenta and Procter & Gamble. Most recently Sirchio served... Read More
BACARDI LIMITED
President and Chief Officer ED SHIRLEY is retiring from the company after a 36-year career. An interim CEO will be announced and serve until a successor is appointed. During his tenure with Bacardí Limited, Shirley helped reignite the company’s global marketing with new campaigns for Bacardí rum, Dewar’s Blended Scotch... Read More
BEAM INC.
Three top executives with Beam Inc., which is being acquired by Suntory Holdings Ltd., have announced their resignations. Chief Financial Officer ROBERT PROBST and corporate controller LEO MIERZWICKI are pursuing other professional opportunities. For both, their decisions were linked to the changes of their roles as a result of the... Read More
MEAD’S GOT SOME MAJOR MOJO
MEAD, the alcoholic beverage made from honey that dates back to 7OOO BCE, is making a major comeback. A recent industry survey reveals that mead sales increased 13O% from 2O12 to 2O13, exceeding growth rates for beer, wine, distilled spirits, and hard cider. The numbers were released from the annual... Read More
THE BIRTH OF THE IRISH WHISKEY ASSOCIATION
FEW THINGS are hotter in the sprits world right now than Irish whiskey. After experiencing several years of major growth for the category, the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) came into being on April 9 with 15 charter members: Alltech Burren Irish Whiskey (Castle Brands), TJ Carolan (Gruppo Campari), Cooley Distillery... Read More
SCOTCH WHISKY STILL SOARING
SCOTCH WHISKY exports remained strong in 2O13 and Single Malt continued to increase in popularity, according to published figures by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). In value terms, last year Scotch Whisky exports were steady at £4.3 billion ($US 7.27 billion). In volume terms, exports increased 3% to the equivalent... Read More
PALCOHOL,THE LATEST CONTROVERSY
FOR SOMETHING that was initially rejected by the government, Palcohol is making a lot of buzz . . . in a bad way. Palcohol is freeze-dried alcohol in powder form, packaged in small packets that promise an easy way to take a stiff drink on the go. The company’s labels... Read More
WHITE PINOT NOIR TREND ALERT
WHAT DO you get when you pick cool-climate Pinot Noir grapes early, gently press them and limit skin contact? White Pinot Noir. In other words: Blanc de blancs Champagne sans bubbles. White Pinot Noir is a rare, earthy and complex dry white wine has been slowly growing in popularity with... Read More
ROSÉ RO$Y IN FRANCE
APPARENTLY, even the French are rethinking pink. Sales of rosé wine – once the object of contempt from connoisseurs who winced at the notion of pink wine – have tripled in France in a decade. Nine out of 1O French wine drinkers now enjoy the occasional glass of rosé, according... Read More