Inventory for March 4th, 2018

Cheers friends! This week the rumour mill is churning: apparently Pernod Ricard has similar views to Diageo on the changing of the Scotch rules. What else? Ladies are now allowed to drink Scotch, Scotland agrees to a minimum price for alcohol, and long lost bitters are experiencing a revival. Prost!
Glassware is a tricky and delicate thing, but when done right it can enhance your drinking experience. Done wrong, well you’re still drinking booze so you’ll be fine. Aged & Ore, the makers behind the DUO Glass, launched a Kickstarter in hopes of getting their glassware into production. The hand blown, double walled borosilicate glass perfectly accommodates a large 2-inch ice ball, makes for no condensation, and boasts subtle 1 oz. indicators which provide visual reference for accurate pouring. The double wall also maintains and insulates temperature better than a standard cocktail glass. Follow this link if you want to get one of your own.

Pernod Views on Changes to Scotch Rules “Similar” to Diageo’s

According to The Spirits Business, “Pernod Ricard has said it holds a ‘similar’ view to Diageo regarding the possibility of altering the rules that govern Scotch whisky.” First, Diageo assembled a secret task force to consider changes to Scotch regulations. And now Pernod Ricards seems to be getting in on the act, too. Pernod Ricard’s Glen Brasington says “We are similar to Diageo. We are constantly challenging the SWA because we want to innovate the industry. I think it’s our job to innovate; our job to push the category and certainly we have had success.” Not only that, but “SWA chief Karen Betts said she sees ‘more flexibility’ in how the regulations could be viewed than the SWA had previously ‘taken advantage of.’”

Ryan Reynolds Is The New Face Of Aviation Gin

Not only a face though, he’s also a new equity partner in the gin’s business. Despite initial talk of Reynolds at the gin’s new owner, according to Neat Pour, Aviation Gin is still primarily owned by Davos Brands. Ryan Reynolds’s stake is described as “significant,” but there are no details on how much of the company he owns, or what he paid for it. He’s got his own email, [email protected], which will reply to your message with the following: “I’m away from my desk at the moment but will respond the moment they give me a desk.” Reynolds’ has described his job like this: “My responsibilities here at the company are vast. I’ll spend my days being photographed intermittently clinching my jaw muscles while pointing at things and nodding,” he wrote. “I’ll drink Aviation Gin. I’ll sit in board meetings, imagining my very own Red Wedding.” Another celebrity on the booze train.

Ladies Can Drink Scotch Now

Have ya heard? It’s 2018 and females are finally getting an invite to the ol’ boys club. Jezebel reports that Johnnie Walker has introduced a limited-edition of its Scotch dubbed – wait for it – Jane Walker (because why would women want to drink a Scotch with a male name? That’s silly.) The label features a “twist” on the classic striding man logo, surprise – it’s now a striding lady! Stephanie Jacoby, of Diageo says “Scotch as a category is seen as particularly intimidating by women. It’s a really exciting opportunity to invite women into the brand.” Let’s be honest, the reason women aren’t drinking your Scotch Johnny Walker, is not because they’re intimidated by the male logo. A striding female does not a good Scotch make.

Scotland Agrees to 50p Minimum Alcohol Unit Pricing

The Drinks Business reports that “The Scottish parliament agreed yesterday that the minimum price on a unit of alcohol from 1 May this year is to be 50 pence, with supporters calling for further increases and the drinks industry warning of a new ‘black market.’” In effect this will raise the cheapest price for a four-pack of beer from £1 to £1.78, a three litre bottle of cider from £3.59 to £11.22, a 70cl bottle of vodka from £9.97 to £13.11, Scotch from £11 to £14 and a bottle of wine from £3.09 to £4.98. Shona Ribson, Scotland’s secretary of health, says “With alcohol on sale today in some places at just 16p per unit, we have to tackle the scourge of cheap, high-strength drink that causes so much damage to so many families. This move will save thousands of lives.” Fair, considering the UK is the origin of binge drinking.
Not everybody agrees this is a good idea though – Scotland first proposed this in 2001 but the move was challenged by the Scotch Whisky Association. They’ve fought a lengthy battle since. The Wine and Spirits Trade Association says, “There is a real concern that the implementation of a minimum unit price provides a significant incentive to trade alcohol illicitly. Minimum unit pricing will create a price differential between the production cost of a product and its retail price well in excess of the retailer margin.” They continue, “This therefore creates an incentive to sell products that will be available at wholesale in Scotland, or from other parts of the UK where the regulations do not apply, outside of legitimate retailing channels to profit while still undercutting legitimate retailers.”

Another Attempt to Revive Boker’s Bitters

Vintage is cool and that applies to bitters as well. German company The Bitter Truth is selling a recreation of legendary 19th century bartender Jerry Thomas’ favorite ingredient: Boker’s (or Bogart’s) Bitters. Didn’t Adam Elmegirab already revive Boker’s Bitters in 2009, you ask? Yes, but, “While reportedly based on the same recipe, the two versions of the bitters taste remarkably different, which perhaps isn’t surprising when dealing with liquid that’s more than a century old…The Bitter Truth claims that its interpretation is simply the more accurate one, achieved in part by using an unnamed ‘very expensive herb,’ as its press release maintains – ‘an ingredient that others use sparingly due to cost but also to the detriment of the final product.’” That’s how you throw bitters-related shade.