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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/598044
www.cheersonline.com 23 November/December 2015 • liqueurs—both domestic and imported. Wild Turkey, which is owned by Campari America, tapped into the sweet/spicy fl avor trend last fall with the launch of American Honey Sting, a combination of Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey and honey with the kick of fi rery ghost peppers. The brand's honey whiskies can be enjoyed on the rocks, as a chilled shooter or in numerous cocktails. PAMA POMEGRANATE LIQUEUR (2006) Pama pomegranate liqueur had more than a few things going for it when it launched nearly a decade ago. For one thing, the pomegranate had recently been hailed as a superfood, and juice from ancient exotic fruit was all the rage. Craft mixology was just beginning to take off, and Pama woke up the then-sleepy cordials category. Made from the juice of California pomegranates, premium vodka and a touch of imported tequila, the sweet/tart fl avor profi le was unique for a cordial. And packaged in a tall, elegant bottle, Pama stood out on the backbars and store shelves. It also doesn't hurt that the spirit's rich, crimson color made it a festive option served straight up or as a key ingredient for signature and seasonal drinks. Pama easily mixes with other spirits, so it can be used for specialty recipes or to make a pomegranate version of classics like the Margarita. FIREBALL CINNAMON WHISKY 2006 Fireball Cinnamon Whisky has caught fi re in recent years, particularly with younger, legal- age drinkers. But the spirit has been around for three decades: The brand started out in Canada as Dr. McGillicuddy's Fireball Cinnamon Whisky under Seagram's line of fl avored schnapps. Seagram sold the rights to the Dr. McGillicuddy brand, which includes fl avors such as Methlomint, Apple Pie and Root Beer, to Sazerac in 1989. But it wasn't until the new parent company shed the association with Dr. McGillicuddy's in 2007 that the rebranded Fireball Cinnamon Whisky took off. Why did consumers suddenly go crazy for the product? For one, the sweet/spicy profi le appeals to Millennials and the nostalgia for the fi reball candies of their childhoods. A savvy social media campaign also helped make the brand the go-to shot and inspired a number of sweet/spicy fl avored whiskies. And while it's clearly a shooter brand, Fireball frequently crops up in innovative cocktails as well. DOMAINE DE CANTON (2007) Timing is everything in bringing a new product to market, and French ginger liqueur Domaine de Canton's was perfect in 2007. Craft mixology had lifted off; it also helped that the ginger fl avor profi le had picked up steam, thanks in part to increased interest in Asian cuisine. Billed as "the world's fi rst premium ginger liqueur," Domaine de Canton is made from fresh baby ginger fortifi ed by fi ne eau de vie and Cognac. The elegant, bamboo-shaped bottle conveys its Asian heritage, while the rich ginger spiciness and smoothness lends French sophistication to the liqueur. Maurice Cooper et Cie, the company that create the product, also did a good job developing and promoting signature drink recipes that use Domaine de Canton. The brand, which has an average retail price of $34.99, was sold to Heaven Hill Distilleries in July 2014. The ginger liqueur has become a favorite with consumers, mixologists and chefs alike. 2005 Bluecoat gin Effen vodka Hudson whiskey Iceberg Vodka Josh Cellars Leblon cachaça Little Penguin wines Reyka vodka 2006 10 Barrel Brewing Co. Aperol Aviation gin Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Cabo Wabo tequila Dale's Pale Ale Gekkeikan nigori sake Little Black Dress wines Lost Abbey Brewing Co. Michael Collins Irish whiskey Ninkasi Brewing Co. Pama pomegranate liqueur Peak Organic Brewing Wild Turkey American Honey Square One organic vodka Shock Top Belgian White wheat ale Victory Brewing Co. 2007 Bulldog gin Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur Dry Fly Distilling Estrella Damm Exclusiv vodka HobNob wines Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy Lucid absinthe Midnight Moon Carolina Moonshine New Amsterdam gin Rothman and Winter Crème De Violette Russian Standard vodka Sobieski vodka St. Germain elderfl ower liqueur Veev Spirit Zubrowka Bison Grass vodka 2008 Agave Loco tequila Atlantico rum Bols Genever Bud Light Lime Crispin Cider Cupcake Vineyards Devotion vodka Double Cross vodka Firefl y Sweet Tea vodka Lunazul tequila Maestro Dobel tequila Middle Sister wines Prairie Organic vodka Riazul tequila SeaGlass wines Top 20 Product Launches three decades: The brand started out in Canada