Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/64274
The Three Olives portfolio of vodkas grew to sales of 1.43 million cases, and Three Olives Dude, introduced last year, was one of the brand's strongest performers. are not out there screaming that we are organ- ic, we're screaming that we make great spirits first and foremost," Ehrmann contends. Made with 100% organic American rye and pristine water from the Teton Mountains, Square One's portfolio consists of the original, Cucumber, Eden (a botanical infusion) and Basil. "The ulti- mate message is that by starting with organic ingredients, and an organic-cer- tified process, you are inherently in a better space to produce a quality spirit." The only EU and U.S. certified- organic distillery in Sweden, Kanon Organic Vodka is being distributed in key U.S. markets. At the 16th-century Gripsholm Distillery, Kanon is made from 100% organic wheat sourced directly from local farmers and fermented with naturally occurring yeast. The distillery is powered solely by wind and water- generated energy. The Kanon bottle is made from recycled glass. In a similar vein, is Fair Quinoa Vodka, the world's first Fair Trade Certified vodka, accord- ing to the Paris-based company. The vodka is made from organically farmed quinoa grain from a co-operative of 1,200 independent farmers in the Andean Altiplano of Bolivia, which is shipped to the Cognac region of France, where it is fermented and dis- tilled. The brand's tagline is "Think Human, Drink Fair." Ultimat Vodka Screwdriver Following in footsteps of the restaurant industry's farm to table movement, micro-distilleries have been springing up across the country like mushrooms after rain. Call it the "ground to glass" trend, these locavore spirits have an appeal for consumers. "Anything local tends to sell well," concurs Pearson at Crown Liquors. The store stocks Indiana Vodka made right in Indianapolis, 18 Vodka distilled in Indiana, as well as Death's Door from nearby Wisconsin. "Quite a few of our customers are getting into craft spirits," says the retailer. Finlandia added a Redberry flavor to its above- premium portfolio of vodkas last year. "People love to support local producers, that's what's driving the micro-distillers," says Gibb at Belvedere. "A few of them are doing very well, gaining traction." "We stock a lot of the micro-distilleries," says Ostrand at Stateline liquors, "and they sell well." In what seems inevitable in this era of skinny cocktails, the world's first low-calorie version debuted recently. Voli light vodkas average 25%- 40% fewer calories than leading brands, accord- ing to the company; each serving is no more than 81 calories. Made from French wheat and spring water in Cognac, France, Voli is distilled five times and filtered four times, and enhanced with electrolytes. Besides Voli Lyte, the line includes Lemon, Espresso Vanilla, Raspberry Cocoa and Orange Vanilla. It has a suggested retail price of $19.99. Boasting that it is the world's only vodka certified Kosher for Passover, No. 209 Vodka is produced at Pier 50 in San Francisco at the only distillery in the world Leading Brands of Vodka (Thousands of 9-Liter Cases) Brand Supplier '10/'11 2010 2011 % Chg Smirnoff . . . . . . . . . . . . .Diageo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,600 . . . . . . . . 9,660 . . . . . . . .0.6% Absolut . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pernod Ricard USA . . . . .4,630 . . . . . . . . 4,575 . . . . . . . .-1.2% Svedka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Constellation Spirits . . . .3,268 . . . . . . . . 3,690 . . . . . . . .12.9% Grey Goose . . . . . . . . . . .Bacardi USA . . . . . . . . . . .3,400 . . . . . . . . 3,420 . . . . . . . .0.6% Skyy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Compari America USA . . .2,700. . . . . . . . . 2,740 . . . . . . . . .1.5% Pinnacle Vodka . . . . . . . .White Rock Distilleries . . .1,400 . . . . . . . . 2,700 . . . . . . .92.9% McCormick Vodka . . . . .McCormick Distilling . . . . .2,081 . . . . . . . . 2,023 . . . . . . . .-2.8% Ketel One Vodka . . . . . .Diageo/Nolet Spirits . . . .1,905 . . . . . . . . 2,005 . . . . . . . .5.2% Barton Vodka . . . . . . . . .Sazerac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,855 . . . . . . . . . 1,930 . . . . . . . .4.0% Skol Vodka . . . . . . . . . . .Sazerac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,710. . . . . . . . . 1,845 . . . . . . . . .7.9% Total Leading Brands Others Total Vodka Source: The Beverage Information Group Beverage Dynamics • www.beveragedynamics.com • May/June 2012 • 27 32,549 34,588 29,551 31,262 62,100 65,850 6.3% 5.8% 6.0%