Vinexpo Daily - Review Edition

SPECIAL FEATURE: SPIRITS
Spirits brands from across all the
growing categories were out in
force at last week’s Vinexpo, giving
buyers the chance to taste, see and
enjoy the next big thing coming to
a back bar soon.
WHISKY AND WHISKEY
Leading the charge were the number
of new whisky and whiskey brands
at the show, reflecting the growth in
a category that Vinexpo and IWSR
research predicts will keep growing
with Scotch whisky set to reach 93.8
million 9-ltr cases by 2020, up on 87.7
million cases now.
Scotch and US whiskies combined are
expected to be the best-performing
Distillery that produces “The Irishman”
range of single malts, said: “The interest
is just so big. Asia and Africa are among
the leaders but the Middle East and Latin
America also want to drink whiskey. We
are in 45 international markets and Irish
whiskey is one of the fastest growing in
the world.”
The Walsh Distillery’s own expansion
plans reflects the expected growth with
plans to move from an 800,000-bottle
capacity distillery to one that can
produce 8.5m bottles a year.
Ireland’s The Shed Distillery was also at
the show and hosted a masterclass on
“The Irish Spirits Renaissance”.
Spirits Raise
was able to show this new Terrapure
ageing at the show.
RUM
Premiumisation is very much the driving
force of the rum category with more
premium brands on the market.
But it is also about being able to tell
a story, like with Dzama Rhum of
Madagascar which has a vintage going
back 33 years. Dan Bastien, marketing
director, said the rum’s unique flavour
comes from using wild grown sugar
canes rather than farmed crops common
in most major brands.
“This is the ylang-ylang of our rum – the
particular factor that gives our canes
Sophie Lawrence, brand manager,
said it had enjoyed a busy week.
“Our brands go all over the world. At
Vinexpo, it’s like the world is coming to
us!” she said.
VODKA
One of the biggest launches at the show
was Taiga Shtof, a super-premium vodka
made in Siberia with 100% Alpha Spirit
(the highest grade of alcohol) and the
purest water sourced from three different
locations in the icy Taiga region of the
country. The distillery dates back to
earlier than the Russian revolution.
Roman Gazine, joint founder said:
“We chose Siberia to give Taiga Shtof
appellation authority – the first vodka
brand to do this. Shtof is the original unit
of measurement, 1.23ml, that has been
used in Russia since the 12th century.
Each of our bottles gives 10 measures,
or shots, of 1.23ml. Using the craft
approach, we are raising the level of
production of Russian vodka to a new
level.”
the Bar at Vinexpo
international spirits categories between
2016–2020, with consumption of
bourbon set to rise from 39.5 million
cases (in 2015) to 46.5 million cases
in 2020.
But it is Irish whiskey which really is
booming in some markets. Connor
Booth, brand ambassador for the Walsh
BOURBON
One of the stand outs in the bourbon
section was Earl Hewlette of Terressentia
and owner of O Z Tyler Bourbon from
Kentucky. He has patented an ageing
process that reduces the time the spirit
spends in barrel to as little as six months.
The cost saving of doing so is huge. He
grown here a different personality, of
taste and flavour,” he said.
Sovereign Brands from the UK were also
at this show with its range of premium,
craft produced lines including Bumbu,
Belaire and Cloud Chaser which are
now sold in over 100 countries.
SAKE AND SOCHU
There was a large delegation of 23
sake brewers and five sochu distillers at
this year’s show thanks to the efforts of
the Japanese Sake and Sochu Producers
Association. It was a big opportunity for
them to showcase the best of what is
happening with sake and sochu that
is gaining more listing particularly with
sommeliers looking for something new •
20 VINEXPO DAILY / REVIEW EDITION / FRIDAY 30 TH JUNE