Jim Beam Double Oak

___________________

Brand owner Beam Suntory

RRP £27.99, €35, US$40

Markets Europe and Russia, then US later in the year

Contact c.harris@lime-pr.co.uk

Jim Beam Double Oak (43% abv) is matured in new charred American white oak barrels before being transferred into a second freshly charred oak barrel for further ageing. The twice-barrelled production process allows the product to have greater contact with the wood.

The result is described as: “A whiskey intense in flavour yet smooth in taste, which can be enjoyed on the rocks or in a Double Oak Fashioned. Drinkers will discover aromas of vanilla and hints of toasted wood that lead into deep char and oak flavours with rich caramel and toffee notes. The finish is notably balanced with a distinct spiced oakiness lingering on the palate.”

Maxxium UK’s marketing controller for imported whiskey, Janice McIntosh, said: “More than ever before, consumers are searching for brands with genuine provenance and craftsmanship, so we are excited to build on an exceptional portfolio with Jim Beam Double Oak and provide our customers with something new and innovative to maximise sales.”

Ardbeg Dark Cove

________________

Brand owner LVMH/The Glenmorangie Company

RRP £95.99, US$138, €120

Markets Global: Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialists and department stores

Contact emily.harris@mayfox.co.uk

Made with whisky matured in sherry casks married with hallmark ex-bourbon casks, Ardbeg’s latest expression is Dark Cove (46.5% abv).

It was launched on ‘Ardbeg Day’ (May 28) as part of the annual festivities of the Islay single malt.

Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino 2011

________________________________________

Brand owner Tenute Silvio Nardi

RRP €45 (Germany, Austria), CHF35 (Switerzland), £36.99, US$68.99

Markets Travel retail/duty free, Europe & US

Contact UK: Champagnes & Châteaux +44 207 326 965, champagneandchateaux.co.uk. Germany: heinz-hein.de. Switzerland: martel.ch. US: kobrandwineandspirits.com

Tenute Silvio Nardi, with 50ha of vineyard dedicated to Brunello, is one of the largest producers in the Montalcino zone. The estate boasts 36 individual vineyard parcels, which yield three versions of Brunello – Silvio Nardi, Manachiara, and Poggio Doria. Emilia Nardi, daughter of Silvio Nardi who directs estate production, said: “Our Brunello 2011 is smooth and succulent, with a deep, full body and firm structure, yet it displays a lovely, immediate drinkability.”

The Little Red Berry Company Lemon & Thyme flavoured gin

____________________________________________

Brand owner The Little Red Berry Company

RRP £29.95

Markets UK

Contact thelittleredberry.co.uk and notonthehighstreet.com/thelittleredberryco

UK artisan spirit business The Little Red Berry Company has added a new flavoured gin to its range of fruit liqueurs and whisky.

The company says it has built on the success of its 2015 sell-out Elderflower & Cucumber flavoured gin with the addition of a Lemon & Thyme flavour.

The gin is said to be made from a combination of London dry gin with organic lemon cordial from East Yorkshire’s Side Oven Bakery and an infusion of thyme from North Yorkshire business Herbs Unlimited.

Rachel Jamieson, founder of the four-year-old business, said: “We wanted to create something a bit different to complement our current range of liqueurs. The new flavoured gins have less sugar and a fresh taste that makes them work very well in a G&T. Working with thyme was a new challenge as it posed different methods for production, but it lends a beautifully herby flavour synonymous with a quintessentially British summer garden.”

Meantime Rye-PA

________________

Brand owner Asahi

RRP £23.99 (12x33cl)

Markets UK only, available to order online

Contact meantimebrewing.com

Meantime says its Pilot Series showcases unique beers, with a new style released every two weeks.

The first three beers in the series are Rye-PA, 6% abv rye, with a distinctly malty flavour; Sunset, a 9% abv Imperial Red Ale, and CTRL-ALT, an Altbier inspired by an ancient German style of brewing.

Viña Falernia Number One Estate

_____________________________

Brand owner Viña Falernia/Perfect Cellar

RRP £10.45-£18.45, €13.50-€24, US$15.25-$27

Markets Global

Contact Chris Unger, head of trade at Perfect Cellar, chris.unger@perfectcellar.com

The Number One Estate collection contains the ‘big six’ of Chilean wines; Carménère/Shiraz blend, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Cabernet/ Shiraz/ Carménère blend.

Villa Massa Limoncello

_____________________

Brand owner Diego Zamora Group

RRP €12.50, US$14

Markets Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, US and global travel retail

Contact villamassa.com

Diego Zamora Group, the premium wines and spirits producer from Sorrento, Italy, is introducing new packaging for Villa Massa limoncello.

Launched to coincide with the brand’s 25th anniversary celebrations, Villa Massa’s redesign is said to communicate its authenticity and premium position. The new packaging is available this month worldwide in 70cl bottles, with the rest of the portfolio rolling out in July.

Key design changes are said to modernise the bottle and reflect the quality of this Italian liqueur, educating consumers and encouraging trial. A refreshed, taller bottle has Villa Massa etched into its frosted glass and a larger cap displays the words ‘Ricetta Familiare’, paying homage to the family recipe that dates back to the 1890s.

On the front label the brand story is told through an illustration of the Massa family villa.

Rémy Martin Carte Blanche à Baptiste Loiseau

_______________________________________

Brand owner Rémy Cointreau

RRP US$400

Markets GTR: DFS, Singapore Changi Airport only

Contact Rémy Cointreau GTR, +852 37109395, claren.wong@remyasia.com; DFS Group enquiries +852 2732-5407, colleen.leahy@dfsgroup.com

Rémy Cointreau Global Travel Retail has unveiled Carte Blanche à Baptiste Loiseau, a collection of limited-edition fine champagne cognac, available exclusively at DFS, Singapore Changi Airport.

Baptiste Loiseau is the cellarmaster of the House of Rémy Martin and has been granted ‘carte blanche’ to reveal his selection from these eaux-de-vie. These eaux-de-vie were bottled at the percentage proof occurring naturally in their cask. Rémy only uses grapes from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions.

Maison de la Villette Pinot Noir

____________________________

Brand owner Badet Clement

RRP £7.49, €9.70, US$10

Markets US, The Netherlands, eastern Europe

Contact mike.bentley@jigsawdrinks.co.uk, +44 (0)781 800 4332

From the vineyards in the foothills of the Pyrenees and the Cevennes Mountains, this Pinot Noir is said to have refreshing and subtle aromas of ripe raspberries and cranberries with hints of plum and a touch of toast. The palate is referred to as showing a balance of ripe fruit and freshness with an appealing spicy smokiness.

Monkey Shoulder Konga Shaker

____________________________

Brand owner William Grant & Sons

RRP Priceless/Free

Markets Global

Contact Monkey Shoulder (William Grant) rep

William Grant’s Monkey Shoulder team has resurrected the Konga Shaker, a stainless steel cylindrical cocktail shaker with red plastic handles, which was popular in the 1930s. A limited quantity has been produced soley for the bartending community.

The Konga is double the size of a traditional shaker (1.5 litre capacity), and has rotating handles allowing cocktails to be made with a rolling rather than a shaking motion.

According to the Monkey Shoulder team, the Konga Shaker is able to produce up to four cocktails at a time.

The strainer design has been updated so that when held vertical it creates an airlock which stops the ingredients from straining out of the shaker.