WHYTE & MACKAY – BRIAN DONAGHEY
BRIAN DONAGHEY is the company’s new CEO. He replaces JOHN BEARD who left the distiller last month. Prior to joining Whye & Mackay, Donaghey was Managing Director of Diageo Scotland.
TREASURY WINE ESTATES – JIM CASEY
JIM CASEY is the new vice president of Treasury’s US East division. Casey has over 15 years of experience in the wine and spirits industry and joins from Diageo where he served for the past five years leading sales and customer marketing, including managing customer marketing for the Charmer Sunbelt... Read More
A.SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY
A.SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERYBRIAN PREWITT has been named Master Distiller for the Virginia-based distiller. He has nearly 15 years of brewing and distilling experience. He completed the Master Brewers Program at the University of California. From there, he joined Great Divide Brewing. Prewitt began distilling when he joined E&J Distilleries eventually... Read More
SCOTCH WHISKY ASSOCIATION
SCOTCH WHISKY ASSOCIATIONDAVID FROST has been appointed Chief Executive. He will take over for GAVIN HEWITT who will step down at the end of this year. Frost is currently Director for Europe, Trade and International Affairs at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) for the UK.
CASTLE BRANDS
CASTLE BRANDS COLIN WELLS has been named Corporate Director of Mixology. His bartending career started as a teenager when he served drinks for his mother’s catering company eventually assuming the role of Staff Manager. Colin has worked as a bartender at a variety of establishments, including the US Open Club... Read More
BAR 5-DAY PROGRAM
BAR 5-DAY PROGRAM – Boston bartender JOY RICHARD of Citizen Public House/Franklin Restaurant Group, was named as one of three recipients of this year’s BAR 5-Day Scholarship, courtesy of Pama Pomegranate Liqueur. BAR, which stands for Beverage Alcohol Resource, is considered a pre-eminent and rigorous spirits and mixology education program. ... Read More
Obituary: LINCOLN HENDERSON 75
LINCOLN HENDERSON 75 – Bourbon legend Lincoln Henderson passed away on September 1O. One of the original pioneers of the premium bourbon and whiskey categories in the US and an inaugural member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, Henderson spent his life perfecting his craft and creating fine spirits. ... Read More
EDITOR’S PICK – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GUEST
Famed Boston restaurateur Steve Difillippo was only 24 when he opened his first Davio’s restaurant. Since then, he’s wowed Julia Child with his pomodoro, overlooked some triple-X rated shenanigans at Table 7, taken on American Express, gotten himself into time and newsweek (for taking on American Express), cooked a rabbit... Read More
A BARGAIN FOR A RARE SCOTCH
IF YOU THINK $17,OOO is a bargain for a bottle of Macallan 6O Years Old Single Malt then you’re in luck. You may have to travel to Arizona for it but a Costco there is selling a bottle of the normally $2O,OOO Scotch for a mere 17K (or $85O a... Read More
RHODE ISLAND TO ELIMINATE SALES TAX ON SPIRITS AND WINE
As of December 1, Rhode Island will eliminate its 7% sales tax on spirits and wine, but not on beer. The reason is to better compete with lower taxes in neighboring Massachusetts. The General Assembly passed the law earlier this year. At the same time, the state has increased the... Read More