Philadelphia-based Bluecoat American Dry Gin has relocated its production facilities to a newly-renovated 15,000-square-foot distillery to ramp up production and create gin that better appeals to American taste preferences.
Gruppo Campari is to acquire most of the assets of Bulldog London Dry Gin, in an all-cash transaction that will result in distribution to shareholders of around $70m.
Christmas sales of gin have confirmed the spirit’s renaissance in the UK, with gin now the biggest growth driver in the spirits category, according to IRI.
Beam Suntory is taking a controlling interest in London gin distillery Sipsmith, allowing the companies to ‘pursue ambitious export plans’ for Sipsmith’s super-premium London Dry Gin.
2016 has been a ‘record breaking year for UK gin’ with the spirit continuing to grow in popularity in the country. Meanwhile, the popularity of Downton Abbey and James Bond has helped boost exports to the US.
With a huge range of flavors and serving options in the spirits category, consumers are ‘ripping up the rulebook in their quest for self-expression’, according to UK supermarket Waitrose.
Some of the more weird and wonderful innovations in gin include ant gin, meat gin, and lobster gin. Back in the mainstream, innovation has helped the category reach new consumers and revive the category - but what’s next?
Bombay Sapphire’s master distiller is already planning to expand the brand’s newly commissioned Laverstoke Mill distillery, at a cost of millions, by installing two new stills.
Fever-Tree CEO Charles Rolls insists Schweppes is no longer the ‘great old British company it was’ and insists the brand is scared by his firm’s giant steps in premium spirits mixers.
NEW UK DISTILLERY WILL HAVE 'SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER' 3.5M CASE CAPACITY
Bombay Sapphire’s new master distiller Nik Fordham tells BeverageDaily.com it is an ‘exciting time’ for the Bacardi-owned spirit in terms of brand extensions, while the broader gin category is enjoying a renaissance.
