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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/598044
www.cheersonline.com 22 • November/December 2015 out to champion a new wine category with American consumers," helped do just that, with its prosecco. The brand did a lot of work promoting the category, which meant educating consumers and bar/restaurant operators on what prosecco is and how the Northern Italian wine differs from Champagne, cava and the like. Mionetto played a huge role in increasing prosecco sales dramatically during the past decade: The sparkler overtook Champagne for the fi rst time last year. MARK WEST PINOT NOIR (2003) Derek Benham observed a dearth of mid-range pinot noir about 15 years ago. So the owner/CEO of Purple Wine Co. created Mark West pinot noir in 2002, which retails for $10 to $12 a bottle. It soon became the best-selling pinot noir brand in the U.S. Benham, who had done something similar when he created Blackstone Merlot in 1990 (sold to Constellation Wines in 2001), had exquisite timing with the pinot noir. The wine movie Sideways would come out in 2004 and have consumers everywhere suddenly clamoring for the varietal. Mark West was an affordable and accessible pinot noir option to meet the demand. Purple Wine Co. sold Mark West to Constellation Brands in 2012 for $160 million. The brand had become one of the fastest-growing major pinot noirs in the market, and it helped put the varietal on the mainstream America map. TY KU (2004) Sake isn't just for sushi anymore, but 15 years ago the fermented rice beverage was still largely reserved for Asian cuisine. What was offered in restaurants wasn't always the highest quality and it was often served overly warmed. TY KU cofounders Kirk Spahn and Trenton Ulicny changed that. They originally created the brand as a unique product launch assignment while at the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs. They spent four years traveling to Asia to research sake products, history and culture before launching the company in 2004. TY KU combines natural ingredients, age-old Japanese techniques, award-winning fl avor profi les and innovative packaging. The sake includes Silver, Black and White expressions, as well as a coconut-infused nigori and a cucumber-infused junmai. In addition to its sake line, which is brewed in Nara, Japan—the birthplace of sake—the brand's portfolio includes TY KU Citrus Liqueur and TY KU Soju. TY KU, which works with celebrity chef Ming Tsai on sake pairings, has expanded the notion of sake in cocktails and beyond Asian concepts. AMERICAN HONEY (2006) Flavored whiskies are having a moment, but it was Wild Turkey Master Distiller Jimmy Russell—the longest-tenured, active master distiller in the world, at 61 years and counting— who pioneered the category nearly 40 years ago. He created a honey-infused bourbon whiskey called Wild Turkey Liqueur in 1976 as a sweet and smooth expression to help bourbon reach a wider audience. Thirty years later, just as fl avored vodkas were hitting their stride, the company rebranded the liqueur as Wild Turkey American Honey. The product then took off and paved the way for numerous honey-fl avored whiskey 1997 Brewery Ommegang Casa Noble tequila Chopin vodka Grey Goose vodka Founders beer SweetWater Brewing Co. Tito's vodka 1998 Blue Point Brewing Co. Espolon tequila Junípero gin Svedka vodka Three Olives vodka Verité wine 1999 Arbor Mist Bulleit bourbon Hendrick's gin Martin Miller'sgin Mike's Hard Lemonade Newport Storm Brewery Pearl vodka Van Gogh gin 2000 21st Amendment Brewery Mionetto prosecco Van Gogh vodka 2001 Charles Smith wines Hangar One vodka Hpnotiq liqueur Riondo prosecco Templeton Rye whiskey Twisted Tea Yellow Tail wines 2002 Black Box wines Green Flash Brewing Co. Rex Goliath wines Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey 2003 Ciroc vodka Lagunitas Brewing Co. Mark West pinot noir Pinnacle vodka Sailor Jerry spiced rum 2004 Barsol pisco Bota Box wines Belle Ambiance Gnarly Head wine TYKU sake Sailor Jerry spiced rum Trumer Pils Top 20 Product Launches