Category — Spirits

Malibu Island Recipes Limited Edition is a new expression from Pernod Ricard which will be launched across 19 countries, including the UK, Australia, Korea and the Netherlands in April. The new bottle, designed by the Brand Union features a colorful display of images and showcases four cocktail recipes.Each recipe is rendered as part of an illustration on the bottle and features Malibu and a single mixer.

Ok this is something special. Elitist? Yes. Covetable? Totally.  There are only 23 bottles of these in the UK. This is ultra premium rum done properly. Of course the £1000 price point is ludicrous but that’s pretty much the point. Enough fawning here are the facts… hand-crafted using traditional rum-making methods by Cuba’s leading Maestro Ronero Don Jose Navarro, just 1000 bottles are available globally and is made from a blend of the finest and oldest rum reserves only available at the Havana Club cellars in Cuba. The bottle? A hand-blown crystal decanter taking inspiration from Havana’s architecture and decorative arts the etched ‘Giraldilla’ on the crystal stopper represents the symbol of the Cuban capital Havana. Each bottle of Maximo Extra Añejo comes in a lined wooden case, with a certification of origin and a note of authenticity to indicate its identity out of the 100 bottles.

If you have a spare £1000 a full bottle is available at Harvey Nichols & Harrods but for those just wanting  a snifter Maximo is being served at Milk & Honey and Artesian Bar in the Langham Hotel.

We are guessing one isn’t being biked over for a Friday afternoon treat.

Having been awarded a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirit Awards in 2008 Havana Club Cuban Barrel Proof is now launched in the UK. The blend is finished in specially selected younger oak casks in order to ‘reawaken’ its oak aroma and bouquet and give it some welly.

Really this is a sipping rum but you could try it in an Old Fashioned or an El Presidente. Cuban Barrel Proof is 45% ABV and available in 70cl bottles at an average RSP of £35.99. Currently stocked at Bungalow 8, Quo Vardis and Montgomery Place in London. Created by master rum blender Don Jose Navarro in Cuba, they say:

“He combines the ancient traditional method of rum making with absolute precision to ensure each blend is the best in the world.  The delicate handling ensures a unique texture which skillfully combines the contrast of a light and smooth flavour of a delicate classic sipping rum with the intensity and complexity of a carefully aged rum.”

We say: Bike one over now please.

Noilly Prat, the French maker of one of the world’s best-selling brands of Vermouth, is changing its recipe by introducing its current European blend to the U.S. market and discontinuing the old American blend that’s been sold for years. The bottle design has also had a sleek new update with the new blend scheduled to go on sale during January 2009.

The latest limited edition designer collaboration is between Chivas Regal and British fashion designer Alexander McQueen. McQueen’s design features royal blue leather detailing and comes topped with a hand-enamelled cap in the colours of the Union Jack flag. Individually numbered in a limited edition run of 2,000 bottles. 300 pounds, or roughly $490.00

Camus Cognac has unveiled the first in a series of new limited editions, Camus Cuvee 3.128. The new line is a blend of three unique eaux de vie from leading vineyards belonging to one family. There are just 3,068 bottles available in the batch. Once it is sold, another new limited edition will come to market, mixing a range of other, different blends.

The Cuvee 3.128 comes in a crafted Baccarat crystal decanter designed by renowned French artist Serge Mansau, and is accessorised with a necklace of pearls, carrying a strong Camus brand identity. The packaging display case comes in what is described as a “haute couture” style, with the decanter appearing in a semi-raised position for better visibility. The price point is US$2,500.

[Via The Moodie Report]

Attention all Beamers:

Celebrating seven generations of the Jim Beam family, Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc. has launched a new limited edition version of Jim Beam Bourbon called The Distillers Series. The recipe is described as a dark amber liquid that’s aged seven years to 90 proof and will be available in the US in January 2009.

The iconic rum brand Sailor Jerry have announced they are to launch exhibitions of Norman Collin’s artwork in spaces across the UK. Norman Collins is the tattooist behind the seminal tattoo branding of Sailor Jerry and is revered by vintage tattoo fans across the world. (As such, this was a bit of a no brainer really.) 

The art shows will take place this month in music venues, including King Tut’s in Glasgow, Cargo in London’s Shoreditch district and Trio in Leeds. There will of course be sampling and promotions at the events.

Beam Global are launching a new, ultra premium and thoroughly modern American Rye called (ri)1 - Rye One. Beam are hoping to appeal to the cocktail market, and American Rye is one of the fasted growing spirits in the States. We really like the minimalist branding and reckon this could be a hit.  

Luxury sneaker brand, Jhung Yuro has created a one-of-a-kind pair of limited edition sneakers for luxury cognac brand Hennessy called The Hennessy Celebration Hi-Top. The Hennessy Celebration Hi-Top is made from soft full grain leather with a cow suede tongue. Color blocked with cognac brown and cream.

The Hennessy Celebration Hi-Top will retail for $300 and will be available exclusively at JhunYuro.com beginning Monday, December 1st 2008. The Hennessy Celebration Hi-Top is a limited edition shoe with only 500 pairs being made available in the US.

[via www.highsnobiety.com]

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Russian Standard have launched a new vodka with the added ingredient Ginseng. Russian Standard Gold has just gone on sale in Russia and will likely hit Western markets next year sometime. Popular in energy drinks, the use of ginseng in vodka is pretty rare (Mohawk springs to mind) and might just be a hit for the ambitious Russians.

As part of their seasonal offerings Hiram Walker are releasing a gingerbread flavored liqueur in the US. We love the idea of this - it’s so Starbucks latte! It’s so beyond Christmas!

French designer Inga Sempe has been commissioned to design a new bottle and package for the ultra luxury cognac Richard Hennessy. The cognac is a unique blend of more than 100 exceptional eaux-de-vie. The oldest of these are extremely rare and date back to the early 19th century. Each carafe is numbered and made in pure, hand-blown crystal by the most skilled glassblowers at Baccarat. Unsurprisingly, the cognac has a rather scary price tag of £2500per bottle! More images after the jump…

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Cointreau Noir blends the classic orange Cointreau spirit with Rémy Martin cognac to create Cointreau’s first new brand extension. The drink is currently being previewed across the states in a series of tastings with bar tenders. Packaged in a shiny copper bottle… expect to see this on the shelves later this month in the USA.

Our heads are a little sore. We went to the Bacardi party last night at the SeOne club in London. Actually, to get it right - it was a Fiesta. Actually a Cuban style La Fiesta thrown by B-Live Bacardi. Lots of Mojitos, lots of faux Latino vibe, lots of Bacardi branding. Inside was supposed to resemble a typical Cuban street, which after five of the free Mojitos and a squint I guess it kinda did. There was a big lounge bed, fountain, plants and bat projections. DJ Yoda span, beatboxer Beardyman did his thing and there were Latino acts who I have no idea who there were but were ace. And excitements Groove Armada were the surprise act. More pics after the jump. Now where’s that Berocca and Milk Thistle?

Nb. Note the rather random (and running out of budget) red clothes hanging over the balcony in the last pic. That’s real authentic Cuba you know.

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Cachaça Kaballa is packaged in a highly unusual porcelain bottle made to look like sticks of sugar cane! Available in Brasil for $65. http://www.cachacakaballa.com.br/

Sylvester Stallone has signed an estimated $1 million, one year deal with Synergy, the Russian vodka producer to advertise Russian Ice vodka ( Russky Lyod). From September the Italian American actor, whose great- grandmother was from the Ukraine, will appear in television and newspaper advertisements under the slogan, “There is a bit of Russian in all of us.”

Read the full press release after the jump [Read more →]

Continuing our roll call of Absinthes which are evolving the category is Lucid from Viridian Spirits, a 66% ABV drink which comes in a modern gothic bottle with rather scary green eyes. They say:

“Lucid represents a breakthrough product for the U.S. market, as it is the first true, Grande Wormwood-based Absinthe of its type since before prohibition. Unlike imitators in the U.S. and many of the so-called “Absinthe” products that litter the international markets, lucid is crafted directly from select whole herbs, including Grande Wormwood, and never from cheaper assemblages, macerations, extracts or oils. “

We love these vintage style horror movie poster ads for Ponche Soto Licor - a blend of brandy, sherry and oranges. The ads strap line reads “Ponche Soto, extraordinary combination”. More images here…

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There is ultra premium then there is the Remy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl. Priced at £20,000 a magnum bottle, the 100 year old cognac is bottled in a hand blown black crystal decanter. Available at Selfridges.

Wow.