StateWays ■ www.stateways.com ■ January/February 2016
4
Editor
Jeremy Nedelka
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Niksic, Marnie Old, Robert
Plotkin, Jack Robertiello and
Thomas Henry Strenk
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Debbie Rittenberg
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Marina Velez
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Amy Collins
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Circulation and Audience
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E D I T O R ' S N O T E
Around the World in 80 Bottles
L
ately, the focus in our industry has been on handcrafted, American-made products.
But the same consumers who jumped on the whiskey and craft beer bandwagons
are branching out. Their penchant for exploration is leading to an infl ux of new
imported products, showcasing varied ingredients, production methods and cultural infl u-
ences. Those products feed into the same desire for authenticity and backstory that drove the
whiskey and craft beer booms.
This issue is packed with the latest imported wine and spirits information, from
a breakdown of Spanish grapes (page 32) to a tour of Crown Royal's
Gimli Distillery, located outside Winnipeg (page 7). As the
fl avored vodka craze winds down, what will be next for
the largest spirits category? One possibility is a rise
in small batch imports from eastern European
countries (page 26).
We've also spotlighted seven exotic spirits, all
deeply rooted in the cultures that created them
(page 29). Mezcal, Cachaca, Poitin, Shochu, Soju,
Baijiu and Pisco may not be household names, but
they fi t into the crafted, authentic narrative, making
them poised for growth in today's market.
Perhaps most important is our overview of the global
whisky market. American distillers are leading the brown spirits resurgence, but their
counterparts around the world in Scotland (page 14), Canada (page 18), Ireland (page 21)
and Japan (page 24) are creating innovative new fl avors and expressions too.
Because water, climate and agricultural ingredients are so important to the brewing,
winemaking and distilling process, every product is an extension of its country or region
of origin. Walking through a beverage alcohol retail outlet is a lot like visiting Disney's
EPCOT theme park. Consumers can truly taste their way around the world without ever
leaving their hometown.
Jeremy Nedelka, Editor
This issue is packed with the latest imported wine and spirits information, from
a breakdown of Spanish grapes (page 32) to a tour of Crown Royal's
Gimli Distillery, located outside Winnipeg (page 7). As the
fl avored vodka craze winds down, what will be next for
the largest spirits category? One possibility is a rise
in small batch imports from eastern European
Baijiu and Pisco may not be household names, but
they fi t into the crafted, authentic narrative, making
them poised for growth in today's market.
Perhaps most important is our overview of the global
whisky market. American distillers are leading the brown spirits resurgence, but their
