Bar, nightclub and restaurant operators, managers, bartenders and other staff members have a lot to keep tabs on. From every day operations tasks to new product releases to spirit, beer, wine, cocktail and food trends, keeping on top of bar and nightlife news each week can be a project in and of itself.
That’s where we come in. To make things that much easier for you we’ve put together a detailed rundown of what happened this week that you should know. You need to know what international products are finally being distributed throughout America, what innovations are being made in glassware and bar and kitchen products, what and when music streaming services are featuring a new album, and so much more. In life, knowledge is power. In this business, knowledge is dollars.
The one and only.
Warsteiner has announced a brand refresh that stays true to the brewer’s rich heritage while simultaneously engaging their growing global audience. You may have noticed something different about Warsteiner bottles recently; specifically, that the brand’s name and beer types seem to pop more on labels and packaging. That’s due to the use of a more striking, eye-catching typeface and the reworking of the Warsteiner logo.
“Imports, and more importantly German imports, are outpacing craft beer sales in the U.S.,” says Laura Sprengard, Warsteiner USA brand manager. “Consumers are looking for a high-quality and authentic beer that delivers a consistent taste every time.”
It’s not easy to find the balance between heritage, refreshing your brand and authenticity. In today’s marketplace, one misstep can lead to accusations of disingenuous intentions. Warsteiner, however, has definitely hit the mark with their new labels and packaging. Prost!
When Champagne and California cool collide.
Attribution/Copyrights: Champagne Pommery
Champagne Pommery is bringing their legacy, mastery of sparkling wine production, and knowledge of California’s climate to the Golden State. Louis Pommery is the first California sparkling wine produced by Champagne Pommery, made from 96% Chardonnay and 4% Pinot Noir grapes. Cellar master Thierry Gasco has been charged with developing a new range of Louis Pommery sparkling wines from regions around the world, and California is the first. Madame Louise Pommery is credited as the inventor of Brut Champagne in 1874, and now Gasco brings that heritage to California (and America at large). We can’t wait to get our hands on a bottle!
Celebrate this news with the following Louis Pommery recipe:
Louis Meets Poppy
- Louis Pommery
- Grand Poppy Amaro
Pour Louis Pommery into wine glass over ice. Add a kiss of Grand Poppy Amaro.
Do you prefer your tequila neat, on the rocks, or inside luxury candy?
Luxury tequila and luxe candies have joined forces for a tequila-infused indulgence. Sugarfina, known for their cocktail-inspired candies, and Casamigos Tequila, an ultra-premium, small-batch tequila renowned around the globe, are proud to introduce the Sugarfina x Casamigos candy collection. The two California companies have created three new candies featuring three Casamigos expressions:
- Shake Your Margarita: Blanco-infused margarita gummy with hints of lime and sweet agave
- Paloma Por Favor: Reposado-infused sour grapefruit gummy rolled in superfine sweet and tart sugar crystals
- Give It a Shot: Añejo-infused rich, dark chocolate cordial
These new candies are packaged in Sugarfina’s signature Candy Cubes™, sold individually and as part of the You Had Me at Tequila Candy Bento Box®. The bento box features all three candies in a specially-designed Sugarfina x Casamigos gift box. There’s also the Candy + Tequila Bento Box®, which pairs the three candies with mini-bottles of Casamigos Blanco, Reposado and Añejo tequilas. Not content to end this truly decadent collaboration there, Sugarfina is also releasing the You Had Me at Tequila chocolate bar, made of the finest spiced 64% dark chocolate topped with smoked sea salt. Sugarfina recommends enjoying the chocolate bar with Casamigos Añejo Tequila.
This genius idea is how you create thousands of brand evangelists.
Award-winning, ultra-premium mezcal brand Kimo Sabe is kicking off a 100,000-person, 10-city national consumer taste-test challenge in Las Vegas this month. Kimo Sabe, the fastest growing mezcal brand, is pitting itself against their best-selling, ultra-premium competitors. In each participating city – Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Miami, and Minneapolis – 10,000 consumers will take part in a blind taste test, tasting the best-selling tequila, a Oaxacan-style mezcal, and Kimo Sabe. The participants will then give each product a rating of ‘good,’ ‘better,’ or ‘best.’
“We’re kicking off our challenge in Las Vegas, the party capital of the world, where visitors are looking to have fun, celebrate with their favorite spirit and are open to new experiences,” stated Jim Walsh, co-founder and CEO of Kimo Sabe. “Our goal for the 10-city challenge is to create 100,000 Kimo Sabe brand ambassadors, because once sampled, agave spirit fans will make Kimo Sabe their new top shelf choice.”
We’d like to see more brands fearlessly go up against their competitors in very public showdowns. Operators, managers and bartenders should expect to hear many more requests for Kimo Sabe mezcal – get ready!
Not that we need an excuse to enjoy a glass of bubbly, but…
…Freixenet Cava has declared tomorrow, June 3, National Bubbly Day, encouraging you and your guests to pop open bottles of bubbly and celebrate life. Cava has proven itself as an increasingly popular sparkler, and Freixenet – along with their iconic black bottles – is arguably the most well-known cava brand in America. National Bubbly Day is Freixenet’s first-ever signature holiday, and we’re thrilled to announce that this will be an annual celebration. The cava brand has even created an official National Bubbly Day cocktail to enjoy this Saturday, and every June 3 in the future:
Bring on the Bubbly
- 1.5 oz. Tequila
- 1 oz. Blue curaçao
- 1 oz. Pineapple juice
- 0.5 oz. Lime juice
- 0.25 oz. Simple syrup infused with Pop Rocks
- Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava to top
Rim a glass with Tropical Punch Pop Rocks. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the first 5 ingredients, shake, and strain into the glass. Top with Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava.
Tweet it: @FreixenetUSA Proclaims June 3rd as “National Bubbly Day!” #FXCava #NationalBubblyDay
Share the above tweet and let your guests know that your bar, nightclub or restaurant will be the place to pop bottles on Saturday!
We’re not saying this is a political statement...
…but if it were, this collaboration between Rogue Ales and Pendleton Woolen Mills honoring our national parks would be a clever one. And we’re not saying that this is in response to the perception that the current administration doesn’t consider our national parks a priority, or the belief that the budget proposed by the current president threatens America’s national parks. We’re not saying any of these things, because we don’t speak for Rogue or Pendleton. We’re just saying that Rogue’s four limited-edition Pendleton Pale Ale cans – each one dedicated to either Crater Lake, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite or Mt. Rainier – is a fantastic tribute. To find 6-packs of 12-oz. Pendleton Pale Ale National Park cans, use Rogue’s Beer Finder.
The Most Instagrammable Rooftop Bar Showdown comes to Southeast Asia.
Travel Agent Central’s search for The World’s Most Instagrammable Rooftop Bar is just a couple of weeks away from their global battle royale. This week, 11 strong rooftop bars in Southeast Asia are vying for your vote. Click here to take a look at this week’s rooftop bar contestants and cast your vote.