Liquid & Numbers

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$7.5 billion

Worth of European products

Since last year, wines and certain types of French spirits and other European products as Scotch Whisky, have been charged a surtax of 25% by the United States, which amounts to $7.5 billion of European products in retaliation for subsidies received by Airbus. The sector, specifically spirits and wine exporters reprsented in France by the FEVS, threatened by such measures, demanded the French president Emmanuel Macron a compensation fund of €300 million.

41.3 million liters of whisky in Mexico

+4.8% of whisky import sales between January and November 2019

Despite some big numbers registered between January and November 2019 and a 4.8% increase compared to 2018, whisky imports in Mexico is suffering since sales have started diluting towards the end of the last year, due to a decrease in consumption. Brands as Johnnie Walker (Diageo) have seen their marketing weakened, due to the "difficult trade conditions in Mexico (...) Johnnie Walker was the brand most affected by the slowdown," said Kathryn Mikkels, Chief Financial Officer of Diageo.

Cognac exempted from US taxes

Cognac was removed from the list of alcohols affected by U.S. taxes.

Revised every 6 months, this list is published by the US administration when it reviews its tax regime on imported products. In recent months, this tax has caused controversy in the spirits world. Cognac should not be affected such taxes.  “We are relieved for 6 months,” says the head of a large cognac house, with relief. The United States is the first international market for cognac and the spirit will be able to preserve its rates.

The gin industry on distilling education

"New and often comparatively inexperienced distillers"

The Gin Guild produced last year a safety poster for distillers, to highlight the dangers of handling ethanol solutions. The guide was created due to the increased numbers of "New and often comparatively inexperienced distillers. Anne Brock, Bombay Sapphire master distiller advises that "new distillers should talk to an experienced distiller and have budget for safety."

Jameson reaches the 8-million-case sales mark

The world's biggest-selling Irish whiskey brand

Jameson, the Irish Distillers-owned brand, reached an all-time high when they shifted 4.6 million nine-liter cases in the first six months of 2019. On December 2019, the brand saw their biggest sales month in history, with 940,000 sold. "In December 2019, Jameson recorded the single largest sales month ever, selling 940,00 cases. In the US, we sold two million cases of Jameson during a six-month period -another first." Said Connor McQuaid, chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers.

In Brief 

• Pernod Ricard expects a strong hit from the coronavirus epidemic in China. The Group revised its current operating income down to between 2 and 4% instead of the initial 5 to 7%. Meanwhile, Pernod Ricard has signed an agreement with delivery company Glovo, for delivery of wine and spirits on demand. In fact, 72% of spirits are consumed outside of business and rather at home.

• Dutch brewer Heineken reported a 13.2% increase in net profit for 2019 to €2.1 billion today, driven in particular by a "solid performance" in the second half of the year.

• Monday, the famous Charro Vicente Fernández launched his own tequila brand prepared by the Santa Virginia Distiller. The tequila exists in two styles: cristaline old and extra old. The brand is yet to be marketed.

• Louis Vuitton teamed up with Evian water to create a limited edition of glass water bottles within the launch of a $54,000 sustainable design contest.

• According to Aviation Gin, the brand is responsible for at least 37% of the gin category’s growth in the US.

• The Sanofi laboratory announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health to develop a vaccine against the Covid-19 virus, which caused the health crisis in China.

New Products

• A new kind of beer is being produced in France by Hubert Corman. Corman-Collins create four types of beer aged in ex rum or wine oak barrels. Each barrel contains between 150 and 300 bottles at a price of 60 euros.

Events

• The event all on beer Planète Bière, comes back for a sixth edition in Paris, France on from April 5 to 6. This year's goal is to expand the international target.

• Cuba launches a new event for those who love good drinks. From June 11 to 13, 2020, La Mayor de las Antillas will hold the 3rd International Rum Festival, at the Plaza America fairgrounds in Varadero, Matanzas.