Category — Industry

Having long been popular in the UK with bartenders looking for fresh, natural and convenient ways to rustle of a cocktail, Funkin are set to be massive in the states after the UK company signed a deal with Beam Global Spirits (Jim Beam, Courvoisier etc) to help increase their presence in the cocktail market.

And we just thought they were a small UK company with shiny packaging that looked nice in Selfridges foodhall. Silly us.

Conservationists warned yesterday about the decline of the British art of painted pub signs, a result of corporate pub chains and the homogenous pub branding. This is compounded by closure of 57 pubs per month. Quite rightly there is some outrage at the potential loss of this artform.  

How do we stop the decline? Well it’s unlikely that the corporatisation trend will slow down, so how about the Pitcher and Pianos of the world commissioning artwork for pub signs and giving each of their bars some individuality rather than some bland ‘fits all’ logo. They could approach contemporary British artists and revive the tradition.       

One of our favourite brewers BrewDog of PUNK IPA fame is being investigated by The Portman Group after a complaint about four of its products (Punk IPA, Rip Tide, Hop Rocker and Speedball.) 

Who’s complaining exactly and on what grounds? Tho shalt not use humour, irony and good branding? Apparently Brewdogs labels were deemed to be “associated with antisocial behaviour. ” Has Mary Whitehouse risen from the grave? 

A spokesperson for the Portman Group told Just Drinks “We received some complaints about BrewDog and they are being processed through the normal route which is our independent complaints panel who will hear the complaints made against BrewDod. The panel will make the final decision.”

Thank goodness for Melissa Cole of the Girls Guide to Beer blog who has criticised the Portman Groups recent draconian stance on beer names and launched a petition in defence of BrewDog. Have a read of her posts for some much needed sanity and sign the petition.

The Luxury Institute in the US surveyed 1,771 rich Americans -an average income of $351,000 and average net worth of $4.3 million (crikey) - to name the top wine and spirit brands based on “quality, uniqueness and exclusivity.” Dom Perignon came out on top for Champagne brand and Grey Goose for vodka. Click here for the rest.

Mother has won the ad launch campaign for InBevs new Stella 4% variant. Lowe has been the Stella creative ad agency for over 25 years so this is a major blow. However Mother has only won the launch campaign and it’s yet to be decided who will work on the sub brand in the future. The ad campaign is due to break in November and we are looking forward to the campaign and the beer.

AG Barr the company who owns Scottish carbonate Irn Bru has bought Rubicon, the exotic juice company (and corner shop favourite) for £59.8m (US$116.9m). The purchase is seen as symptomatic of the consumer move away from carbonated soft drinks to more health orientated beverages.

One of the current LTD edition Absolut bottles is Masquerade, a rather camp one which has the bottle clothed in red sequins which unzips.

News today that InBev are to begin selling Stella Artois in pint sized cans (568ml) in the UK this month. Surprised this has taken so long really and we expect others to be following suit pretty sharpish.

Industry experts have warned that if taxes and inflation continue to rise as they have been recently then a pint of beer in the Uk will cost in excess of £5 by the time of the London Olympics in 2012. Hmmm. This almost seems conservative when last weekend I paid £3.80 for a pint of Becks Vier, in a pretty average east end London pub.

Mojo is a new alternative alcoholic energy drink which features Guarana - the natural energy supplement from Brazil. The Guarana seed contains a naturally occurring form of caffeine two and a half times stronger than the one found in regular coffee beans. Mojo is available in three varieties - MOJO Liquid – Tropical Fruit, MOJO Rhythm – Dragon Fruit, and MOJO VIBE – Star Fruit.

http://www.drinkmojo.com/

Tags: Energy Drink, Mixed Drinks, RTDS, Spirits, Super Fruits