Top 10

Top 10 spirit launches in January

04 February 2013 By Melita Kiely

The new year kicked off with an exciting selection of premium and super-premium products, from celebrity-endorsed Tequila to a much anticipated return of a spiced gin favourite.

All of our January top 10 spirit launches are of the premium-super premium variety

Every one of our top 10 new spirits announced for release in January is of the premium kind, mirroring a trend for producers to move upscale in a bid to attract the attention of the increasingly discerning consumer.

A well-established Bourbon brand delivers a new aged expression; Glenfarclas unveils a premium 18-year-old for travel retail only; and a French liqueurs brand eyes the potential for herbal and floral flavours in the bartending scene.

Have we missed something? Don’t agree with our list? Then please leave a comment below.

Casamigos Tequila

George Clooney became the latest celebrity to enter into the Tequila market after launching his own brand, Casamigos Tequila, with business partner and friend Rande Gerber. This ultra-premium Tequila is made from the finest, hand-selected, 100% Blue Weber agaves, which are grown in the red clay soils of the Jalisco Highlands, Mexico. Casamigos Reposado offers a smooth and clean taste with hints of caramel, while Casamigos Blanco is crisp and clear with subtle hints of vanilla and a smooth finish. Casamigos Blanco retails for about US$42.99 for a 750ml and Casamigos Reposado retails for about US $49.99 for a 750ml.

Glenmorangie Ealanta

It is Ealanta’s use of virgin oak wood that sets the 19-year-old Glenmorangie apart from the previous whiskies in the Private Edition series. Described as having a toffee and butterscotch aroma, with sugar almonds and vanilla on the palate, Ealanta is the fourth edition to Glenmorangie’s Private Edition whisky series. Glenmorangie Ealanta is bottled at 46% abv and available globally with an RRP of £74.99.

Tanqueray Malacca

Back by popular demand, Diageo is relaunching its spiced gin, Tanqueray Malacca, as a bartender exclusive. Tanqueray master distiller Tom Nichol has recreated the spiced gin, which contains a blend of botanicals and spices from all around the world, in homage to a recipe for a spiced liqueur recorded by Charles Tanqueray in 1839. Official launch events are planned in New York, San Francisco and London at secret locations throughout February. Just 100,000 bottles of Tanqueray Malacca will be available to the on-trade only.

La Maison Fontaine

French absinthe producer La Maison Fontaine has expanded its range with the launch of two new products, La Maison Fontaine Chocolat and La Maison Fontaine Verte. Based on the brand’s Crème de Cacao recipe from the 1920s, La Maison Fontaine Chocolat is described as having ‘a sweet richness combined with apparent notes of absinthe and chocolate’. The chocolate absinthe liqueur contrasts with the more traditional verte absinthe made with natural herbal colouration from the Pontarlier-grown grande absinthe plant.

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Darwin edition

The third release of Glenfiddich Age of Discovery, is a red wine cask finish in homage to the expeditions of Charles Darwin. This 19-year-old single malt whisky has a sweet, berry taste with spicy vanilla notes and a smooth finish. The Darwin edition is to be rolled out into global travel retail with an RRP of £75.

Epic Vodka

Sazerac offers seven new flavours of vodka under the Epic Vodka brand which are all made using alcohol imported from France. Accompanying the classic vodka are six additional flavours – Peach, Whipped Cream, Kiwi Strawberry, Cherry, Cake and Coconut. The Epic Vodka range is being rolled out across 30 US states this month with further states and flavours to be added throughout the year. The flavours will be available in 1.75 litres, one-litre, 750ml and 50ml sizes, at an RRP of US$12.99 for a 750ml bottle.

Read more about Epic Vodka here.

The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 7

The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 7 will be a marriage of aged single malt matured in nine American oak casks and two European sherry butts. The Balvenie malt master David Stewart hand-picked the whiskies himself before they were married together in Tun 1401 for several months and then bottled at 49.2% abv. Batch 7 is described as having a floral nose with notes of honey and orange peel, and a taste of cinnamon, honey, vanilla and gentle oak with citrus notes on the finish. The latest release will be available exclusively to travel retail and priced at £175.

Read more about The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 7 here.

Bulleit 10

Still presented in Bulleit Bourbon’s iconic bottle, Buillet 10 is a new aged expression of the classic Bourbon. Bulleit 10 is encased in a premium gift box which also outlines the family-owned company’s story. Aged in charred American white oak barrels for two to five years longer than Bulleit’s core product, the whisky is bottled at 45.6% abv. The latest whisky is described as having floral notes with ‘rich oaky aromas and hints of vanilla and dried fruit’.

Read more about Bulleit 10 here.

Marie Brizard Essences

Catering for a bartender demand to create more floral cocktails, Marie Brizard has added Dill, Tarragon and Ginger flavoured editions to its range of floral Essence Liqueurs. All three offer intense flavours with the Dill liqueur being described as warm and herbal, slightly spicy with aniseed notes; the Tarragon has an aniseed, herbal and woody character and the Ginger has subtle citrus notes with a hint of crystallised ginger. Marie Brizard’s new flavours are available in global markets including the UK, Germany, Brazil and Japan for € 6.50 (£5.45) a bottle.

Glenfarclas 18 Year Old

Family-owned Glenfarclas launched a new expression of their single malt whisky, Glenfarclas 18 Years Old, at the Cinderella Whisky Fair. Presented in a striking red and copper foil tube, this whisky is heavily sherried and bottled at its natural colour. With flavours of creamy fudge, almonds and dried fruits, the 18 Years Old has a long lasting, smooth finish. Glenfarclas 18 Years Old is exclusive to travel retail and only available in one-litre bottles at an RRP of £75.

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