Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation co published its annual report 2021 on alcoholic drinks, wines, beers, spirits and some highlights are as below:
The total value of the world’s top 50 most valuable beer brands has declined by 16%, from US$94.9 billion in 2020 to US$80.2 billion in 2021. Most brands in the Brand Finance Beers 50 2021 ranking have been negotiating the effects of social distancing measures brought about by the widespread global lockdowns over the last year, which severely diminished demand for beers and wider alcoholic drinks. Corona has retained the title of the world’s most valuable beer brand, despite recording a 28% drop in brand value to US$5.8 billion. As the bestselling imported drink in the United States, with an additional presence in over 120 countries, the Mexican brand has also recently become one of the fastest growing grocery products in the United Kingdom. Don Julio is strongest spirits brand Don Julio (down 3% to US$933 million) is the world’s strongest spirits brand with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 88.8 out of 100 and a corresponding AAA brand strength rating. Chinese spirits topped in overall valuations and Jack Daniel's was the top international spirit. Here is the complete list of Spirit brands, known brands on top include Hennessy, Smirnoff, Bacardi, Johnnie Walker etc. Moët et Chandon fizzes in first place
The total value of the world’s top 10 most valuable champagne and wine brands has declined by 10%, decreasing from US$7.4 billion in 2020 to US$6.7 billion in 2021. This is a natural consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, where restrictions on socialising and the shutdown of the hospitality sector limited opportunities for wine and champagne brands. Despite recording an 11% drop in brand value to US$1.2 billion, Moët et Chandon has retained the title of the world’s most valuable champagne and wine brand for the 2nd consecutive year. While the brand continues to negotiate the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moët et Chandon remains one of the most renowned and prestigious luxury items in the world, aided by its numerous celebrity partnerships and association with high calibre events such as the Golden Globes and Royal Ascot. Dom Pérignon is the only brand in the Brand Finance Champagne & Wine 10 2021 ranking to record a growth in brand value this year, following a 2% increase to US$820 million. Owned by the champagne house of Moët et Chandon, the prestigious vintage champagne has remained in the public eye over the last year, most recently through a campaign with Lady Gaga and Nicola Formichetti, where proceeds from sales of the limited-edition Dom Pérignon Rosé 2005 will be donated to charity. Chilean wine brand, Concha y Toro, is a new entrant to the list entering the ranking in 10th position with a brand value of US$293 million. With distribution in 135 countries, Concha y Toro is the largest wine producer and exporter in Latin America. Over the last year, the brand has benefited from a sizeable uptick in sales, particularly in the United Kingdom and Nordic countries. With plans to focus on its premium brands portfolio and further expand its Casillero del Diablo range, Concha y Toro is showing no signs of slowing down in the coming year. (Excerpt from a release)
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The Asia's 50 best bars in a virtual ceremony announced the 50 best bars of Asia 2021 and Sidecar was the only Indian bar to be in the top 50. It not did come in the top 50 again but went up the ranking from 40 to number 16. The rest of the list is as follows
Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky has been recognised as the ‘Best in Show’ at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), with judges awarding the Scotch single malt whisky from Campbeltown, one of Scotland’s smallest Scotch Whisky regions, as the overall winner of the competition and therefore The Best Whisky in The World in 2021
Iain McAlister, Master Distiller, Glen Scotia Distillery said: “To receive such outstanding recognition and be awarded as ‘Best in Show’ at this prestigious competition is an honour, and a tremendous boost to the entire team here at Glen Scotia distillery. The Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old (70cl, 48.8% ABV) is a really outstanding whisky and has collected a number of prestigious awards over the years, but this has to be the absolute proudest moment for the distillery to date.” Campbeltown, although Scotland’s smallest whisky producing region today, was in its heyday during the Victorian era known as “The Whisky Capital of the World” and home to more than 30 distilleries. Although now only three remain and Glen Scotia makes their drams in a classic maritime Campbeltown style. (Excerpt from a release) Glen Scotia is a brand from the house of Loch Lomond and represented in the Indian sub-continent by Fermentras India, a company helmed by liquor veteran Rukn Luthra. An elated Rukn said "Glen Scotia unfortunately is currently not available in India; we are in the process of picking an importer for this exquisite brand and for a couple of other Scotch Whisky brands available from the Loch Lomond portfolio." Mumbai, India Are you looking for a cheap hotel management course in Mumbai or anywhere in India? Then it time you stop looking for cheap courses! Cheap often comes at the expense of quality and hence you lose on valuable 3 years and money also. So it is better to look for hotel management alternatives than to do a hotel management degree for the sake of it. What should you look for in a hotel management college? - Faculty & Curriculum. Speak to someone experienced and take opinions for the same. - Alumni connect. You can speak to alumni from that institution to get a first hand perspective. - Infrastructure. Does the college have proper labs for practical learning? Some college may be located in large campuses with mediocre facilities, so don't be fooled by the façade. - Location. Better to be close to metro cities for better industry connect unless if these colleges in non-metros are exceptional. Do not consider a college because it is close to you. Try to aim for the best as this will be your foundation, the learnings, the friends that you will make for life and the proud alumni status that you will treasure. What if you cannot afford hotel management fees ? No problem, you can still achieve the same like a hotel management by starting off with a vocational course in kitchen, bakery, bartending etc. Bartending course versus a hotel management degree? Pros: - Broadly one will start at a similar salary like a hotel management graduate - One can start working post HSC or 12th or graduation in any other stream after taking a bartending course - A Bartending course gives one exactly those skills that most hotel management students lack - One can start working and earning early at a young age. - A lot of bartenders with a bartending course background follow the same career as hotel management graduates. Cons: - One will have to complete a bachelor's degree for future growth or getting into certain hotel chains. One can do a degree by distance learning whilst working. - A non hospitality graduate lacks knowledge about food and other departments of the hotel and hence will need more effort to put whilst working. The Happy High Bartending Academy, Mumbai offers a 4 week full time program for 12th pass candidates or graduates with good level of conversational English. The courses are designed by industry professionals for the industry. You can find more about the bartending institute in Ghatkopar, Mumbai here Asia's 50 Best Bars unveiled it list of top bars ranking 51-100 a week ahead of its finale. This list included bars from 12 countries and 22 cities and the only amongst them from India was Hoots' an erstwhile speakeasy located within the Perch wine and coffee bar in New Delhi.
The virtual ceremony for the top 50 is slated for 6th May and all eyes certainly would be on Sidecar from New Delhi which emerged victorious at number 40 in 2020 and put India on the cocktail map. Here are the others from the 51-100 list with Japan leading with 14 bars followed by Singapore and Thailand with 6 each. Hapusa, the world’s First Himalayan Dry Gin, is now in Bengaluru. Launched in 2018, Hapusa is a product of Nao Spirits and Beverages, a spirits company that propelled the Indian gin market into the global gin universe by producing the country’s first craft Gin brands.
Hapusa, distilled with foraged Himalayan Juniper and locally sourced botanicals comes to the garden city after being wildly successful in Goa and Maharashtra. The premium gin has been a great success globally, especially in countries such as the UK, Singapore, Norway, Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary among others. Hapusa is Sanskrit for juniper. The untamed flavour and aroma of the juniper triumphs in the gin and is further complemented by other indigenous botanicals such as the gondhoraj lime, fresh turmeric, raw mango, ginger, cardamom, almond and coriander seeds. Found near the snow line in the Himalayas, the elusive Juniper Berries provide a beautiful structure to the gin while the turmeric and the delectable raw mango make Hapusa, a unique contemporary gin. It is a sipping Gin that can be enjoyed all by itself straight from the freezer at “mountain temperature” or as part of classics spirit forward cocktails like the Martini or the Negroni. The homegrown spirits company has been spearheading the resurgence of the premium Gin category in India under the aegis of three young individuals - Anand Virmani, Aparajita Ninan and Abhinav Rajput. In the words of Anand Virmani, CEO and Distiller at Nao Spirits & Beverages, “We have long been waiting to introduce Hapusa to the proud Gin-drinking community of Bangalore. It is a city with one of the most vibrant bar scenes in the country and we are looking forward to seeing Hapusa bottles find their place in that landscape.” Nao Spirits aims to create craft spirits from India for India, and the rest of the world. It is the first Indian Company to be a part of the Gin Guild - the official global body of Gin makers. (Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India Grover Zampa Vineyards, India’s most awarded wine producers and pioneers of winemaking, launches the Late Harvest Chenin Blanc to its Art Collection range. Grover Zampa’s Art Collection range reflects the philosophy of winemaking as art and showcases paintings from celebrated Indian artists. There are 7 varietals within this range allowing people to explore distinct styles within one vibrant brand. All crafted, like a piece of art, in the brand’s signature style with imagination, inspiration and dedication. Speaking on the launch, Mr. Vivek Chandramohan, Chief Executive Officer says, “Our brand is contemporary, and we believe in offering distinct choices in our wine range that reflect the winemaker’s signature style and true varietal characteristics along with the Indian terroir. It reflects our philosophy of winemaking as an art and the symbiotic relationship between art and wine. This dessert wine will surely be the delectable end to your meal.” The Art Collection Late Harvest Chenin Blanc is a pale straw yellow wine with sticky tears/legs. The intense fruity and floral aromas of apricots, lychees, dates, and white blossoms adds a nice balanced acidity and is velvety smooth on the palate with a lingering sweet aftertaste. Serve this dessert wine chilled at 5 - 7°C at the end of your scrumptious meal. It can be enjoyed by itself, or can be paired with fruit & nut platters, crème brûlée, cheesecakes, vanilla custards, apple pies & lemon meringue Price Rs 505 - 535 ( 375ml) Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Bengaluru (Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India The Happy High Bartending Academy in Ghatkopar is happy to announce 0% interest EMI's for its bartending courses. The Happy High bar school offers Full time courses and part-time courses for current hotel management students and the EMI option will be applicable for both the courses. " Bartending course is worth the investment as it paves the way to a global career. We see that as lot of bartending aspirants in Mumbai cannot afford the fees in one shot and hence we have come up with a solution for them. We absorb the interest and hence the students get an instalment option without paying heavy interests on loans. " Said Ajit Balgi, the founder of the academy. The instalments can be as low as Rs 4916 a month and are subject to credit history checks and approvals. Read more about the courses of the bartending institute in the links below
Full time: https://www.thehappyhigh.com/bartending-academy-mumbai.html Part time: https://www.thehappyhigh.com/bartending-course.html Mumbai, India
The Happy High is happy to announce virtual whisky workshops this festive season starting Rs 3000 + GST per head for a minimum group of 30 people. The workshops will include gyaan sessions on the category replete with degustation of different malts. These workshops can be facilitated in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Pune, Bengaluru only. These workshops work well well for employee and client engagement or as a refreshing plug in between long virtual off-site and team meetings. Friday evenings can also be made more memorable with this experience. Kindly write to contact@thehappyhigh.com for more details Mumbai, India
The Happy High Bartending institute in Ghatkopar, Mumbai has now announced a part time course in bartending for current hotel management students. The course will be conducted in the evening two times a week over a period of 2 months. " Most hospitality curricula in the country isn't focussed on bartending and hence the need for a bartending course for hotel management students. Our course focusses on elements that will help students to stand confidently behind a bar. Our pedagogy includes go-to-market assignments and hence fosters holistic learning" said the academy's founder Ajit Balgi The admission for the current batch is still open, candidate from 2nd and 3rd year of hospitality schools with good conversational English are welcome to apply. You can find more about the course here.We have had students from from ITM IHM Nerul Bharati Vidyapeeth and Anjuman I Islam hotel management colleges. Mumbai, India The Happy High, one of the leading wine & spirit education co now has a category called shopping where we have hand picked recommendations from Amazon for your home bar namely; glassware, bar accessories, wine accessories, cocktail and wine books and also added some interesting syrups and mixers. An average consumer in India is surely in for a confusing ride when s/he browses an online store showing hundreds of pages for a certain product,at The Happy High they are attempting to bring in convenience with a shortlist basis their experience and a little bit of research. They have mostly listed value for money or budget recommendations which work beautifully but in certain categories like glassware, they have showcased luxury wine decanters, high end whisky decanters, crystal wine glasses etc too. The list is concise and to the point. " We have created this barware, glassware and wine accessory section to make home bar shopping easy for our consumers who want to pick bartender certified or recommended equipment and tools. The whole idea is to empower consumers and make them a cocktail party or a wine evening ready host." says Ajit Balgi, Chief at The Happy High. They plan to keep editing the list on an ongoing basis by taking customer feedback, suggestions and requests. Home Bar Shopping now looks easy! You can see them in the links below: Glassware for the home bar - Luxury Crystal lead free wine glasses - Cocktail glasses - Value for money, premium wine glasses - Wine and whisky Decanters - Whisky, cognac,liqueur glasses Bar accessories for the home bar -Cocktail shaker, Boston, Japanese - Bar Spoons, Jiggers, Muddler -Cocktail Strainer - Pourer 30 ml -Steel reusable straws Wine accessories for the home bar - Vacuum wine pumps - Wine openers - Electric wine openers - Coravin for wine preservation - Wine pourers & aerators Syrups and Mixers for the home bar - Cocktail Syrups, flavoured, maple etc - Tonic Waters, Ginger Beer - Nolo Beers, wheat and lager - No alcohol wines Cocktail and wine books for consumers Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, announced that a staggering £240,000 was raised at auction for local causes that support the Speyside community. Having attracted over 13,000 bidders from 55 countries, the limited-edition bottles of Glenfiddich 2007 (Cask No. 25427) Spirit of Speyside Distillery Edition 2020 was a not to be missed opportunity for whisky lovers. Glenfiddich released only 450 bottles of this exceptional whisky, to celebrate the Spirit of Speyside festival, cancelled this year in light of Covid-19. The Glenfiddich Spirit of Speyside Distillery Edition 2020, which has spent 13 years maturing in the darkness of Glenfiddich’s Warehouse 26, was originally handpicked by Master Distiller Brian Kinsman to honour the annual Spirit of Speyside Festival The auction drew international interest, sparking competitive bidding online from the moment the auction went live to the all-important last hour rush, resulting in 13,000 bids overall. “We are thrilled with the success of this auction. The money raised will help so many people in the Speyside community, a community that is as important to us today as it was to William Grant over 130 years ago when the distillery first opened". Comments Claudia Falcone, Glenfiddich Global Brand Director. On average each lot sold for approximately £480. The most sought after bottle numbers include 1 of 450 and 2 of 450 which in turn sold for £6,800 and £3,200 respectively. The final amount raised of £240,000 will go directly to support local Speyside causes most affected by the Covid-19 crisis; and will be split between NHS Grampian, Moray Food Plus and Keirans Legacy. Mumbai, India
Diageo India today announced ‘Raising the Bar’, a 75-crore programme committed to support bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol to welcome customers back and recover following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Raising the Bar” will be a two year programme to support the revival and recovery of qualifying bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol across New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other cities. Diageo designed the “Raising the Bar” programme following a global survey of bar owners to identify key priorities to support reopening. Their top priorities included hygiene measures, digital support and practical equipment and training to transform how their outlets will work when they reopen. The programme will provide targeted non-cash support including physical equipment needed for outlets to re-open like ‘hygiene kits’ with high-quality permanent sanitizer dispensers, medical grade hand sanitiser and a range of personal protection equipment (such as masks and gloves); help to bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol to establish partnerships with online reservations and cashless systems; mobile bars and outdoor equipment. Following resumption of business operations and the sale of alcohol in bars, pubs and restaurants, outlets will be able to register their interest for the “Raising the Bar” programme via www.diageobaracademy.com. Bar owners will receive regular updates on best practice training and resources and be able to participate in global surveys to share insights, as they build back their businesses. “The Indian Hospitality and F&B industry has witnessed unprecedented loss of revenues. This has impacted many start-ups and MSMEs as well as the livelihood of millions of people. Pubs, Bars and Restaurants are an integral part of our communities, bringing people together to socialise and celebrate - something we have all missed during the lockdown. Diageo has always had strong linkages with the Hospitality and F&B industry, jointly curating unique experiences for consumers. The revival of this sector is vital to the economy and to the success of our business. ‘’Raising the Bar’’ is our commitment to qualifying Pubs, Bars & Restaurants that serve alcohol. This support extends to providing enhanced safety measures when they resume operations so that their business and employment can revive, enabling our consumers to feel confident once again to socialise and lead normal lives.’’ Said Anand Kripalu, MD & CEO Diageo India (Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India COVID19 and the lock down has changed the way people are consuming bytes to watch their favourite series or lap up online courses on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, Upgrad etc. The Happy High Bartending Academy, Mumbai has risen to the occasion to provide online sessions for Indian bartenders and beverage professionals as much as it is curating sessions for home bartenders or the drink enthusiast. For Indian Bartenders and hotel management students is the "8 Spirited Days" a series of 8 online sessions covering different spirits everyday including history, drinking rituals etc. Much of the knowledge shared is not part of curriculum in hotel institutes. Participants for the sessions came from hospitality organizations like the Leela, Oberoi, ITC, Royal Caribbean, Roseate etc. and also from Duty Frees of Muscat and Hyderabad. Hotel Management students from IHM Mumbai, IHM Aurangabad, Rizvi Mumbai, ITM Mumbai, Don Bosco Mumbai etc. have given it a thumbs up too. It is priced at Rs 2499 + GST and it includes a certificate for the participants. Mumbai, India
In this lockdown, the power of the internet is being harnessed more than ever. With restaurants and bars bearing the brunt of it, the employees who are equally facing the heat have a blessing in disguise, it is the luxury of time they never had. And this luxury is being utilized greatly if you believe what you see on social media. Whilst Zoom classes , FB videos are doing rounds, Instagram seems to be garnering a lot of viwership given the demographics associated with it and our Indian bartenders, sommeliers and thought leaders are going live all guns blazing. Devi Singh, a bartender and an ertswhile Diageo World Class winner is pulling all strings to get top bartenders, bar owners from around the world in his afternoon slots and so is Nitin Tewari owner at Together at 12th and the ex ambassador of Bacardi. He brings in discussions on lives for young bartenders to take inspiration from. Indian Sommelier Association, INSA a quasi body is going strong with educational Insta posts very frequently, but they are stronger on Zoom sessions they organize every single day, they are overbooked each time. Bacardi Ambassadors Harish Acharekar, Avinash Kapoli and Hemant Mundkur are seen mixing almost everyday on FB and so are their counterparts at Diageo,Afzal Kaba and Akash Tomar. On the wine front Sonal Holland, Gargi Kothari of Magic Cellars, Somm Atul Tiwari come with educational videos or chats with wine makers. So go on there, explore the internet, get inspired and/or motivate others with your work by goin live. The wine and spirit diaspora on the internet is infinite and we must have missed on mentioning so many names who may be doing good work. Please feel to mention about their work in comments . P.S: If you aren't following us already; we are on Insta/Twitter/FB - @thehappyhigh. We also have an Insta live series starting 20th April, 2020 at 6pm and will go on for 8 days. The 8 Spirited Days will cover 8 Spirits including a bit of history, production and the category. It is open to all, drink enthusiasts or professionals. Get in touch if you want to sign up as per the details below. Reveilo a family owned wine brand based in Niphad, Nashik has now gone the vegan way starting 2019 vintage which is out in the market. The brand which debuted with its 2006 vintage and was then the most expensive Indian wine brand has maintained its mantra of not being the most expensive but having quality over quantity and growing organically. Reveilo which earlier had a Italian winemaker were path breaking in growing Italian grape varities like Grillo and Nero D'Avola which found a liking with the consumers. Their entire list can be found here . Speaking on the move of going with a completely vegan portfolio of wines, Yatin Patil, Director of Reveilo said " Reveilo has always followed a consumer centric approach; so keeping the end consumer and the environment in mind we pursued the Vegan approach, as wine ultimately is a plant based derivative. One of the most effective things an individual can do to lower their carbon footprint is to avoid all animal products thereby preventing the exploitation of animals. Today’s consumer is increasingly health conscious, research has linked vegan diets with health benefits. Though we were producing Vegan wines since 2017 our wines were labelled “Vegan” only in 2019 since the new FSSAI labelling norms came in force. " Mumbai, India A career in bartending may not be be the first career choice for many but it can certainly open a range of opportunities for 12th pass candidates. In this article we look at why bartending can be a career in India and what is the eligibility to be bartender in India. Who is the bartending career after 12th in India for? - For students who don't want to study further - For students who do not have the financial ability to do hotel management - For students looking to start earning early and do their graduation through correspondence - For students of HSC Science, HSC Commerce and also HSC Arts - For BCom, Bsc, BA graduates looking for a job oriented course in Mumbai - For hotel management students wanting to learn a specialized skill to be a F&B leader What is the eligibility to be a Bartender in India in good bars? - Good command of conversational English to get placed in good bars - A bartending courses to cover core basics of the profession including customers service Scope for Indian Bartenders in India and abroad? - Start with a salary of 12000-20000 Rs in India and grow gradually - With 2-5 years of experience start earning RS 80000 upwards in locations like Dubai, Maldives etc or travel the world on cruise liners - One can become a liquor brand ambassador after around 5 years of experience and earn 50-80000 Rs in India - Bartenders can choose to be entrepreneurs and start their Bar Consultancy The Happy High sees potential in job focused bartending courses and hence launched their own bartending institute in Mumbai in early 2020 The Happy High Bartending academy in Mumbai. It is Mumbai's most premium bartending course and has achieved 100% placements so far with our alumni working in top 100 bars of the country. Get in touch to join our bar school on contact@thehappyhigh.com or 9930771739. If you are someone who is thrilled by all things whisky, the fact that The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards is coming to India is something that is sure to leave you all excited. Yes, a precursor to The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards scheduled to be held in April 2020 in Speyside, this event will be held on 15th February, 2020 at the Park Juhu in Mumbai.
An initiative of The Dram Club, Mumbai,this interesting event packs a punch with several activities for whisky connoisseurs, whisky aficionados and just anyone who loves and drinks whisky. The eclectic mix of activities planned during the event on 15th February include: Opening Lunch: 4 course Glenlivet Paired lunch with Sarita Pereira Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm No. of Guests: 40 Price of the Ticket: Rs. 5,000/- per head. Blind Tasting & Voting for Speyside Whisky Awards: No of Guests : 60 The Blind Tasting Sessions will be where the votes for the Speyside Festival will be recorded in batch of 20 people. The schedule of the tasting sessions is as follows: 1. 3:00pm to 3:45pm 2. 4:00pm to 4:45pm 3. 5:00pm to 5:45pm Glenfiddich Masterclass with Angad Singh Gandhi- Brand Ambassador India, Glenfiddich 2:15PM to 3:15PM No. of Guests: 25 Ticket Price: Rs. 2,500/- Glenfiddich India Brand Ambassador, Angad Singjh Gandhi will be hosting a Speyside Special Masterclass for the guests. Glenfiddich is one of the most known whisky distilleries from Speyside. Angad will take teh guests through the history and philosophy of whisky making with a selection of some of the finest malts from this Speyside Distillery. Amrut Masterclass 3:30PM to 4:30PM No. of Guests: 25 Ticket Price: Rs. 2,000/- Amrut brand team will be hosting its first ever Masterclass with their range in Mumbai as a part of the Speyside Whisky Festival. They will bring some of the exclusive range of expressions for the event. GlenGrant Whisky with Dessert Pairing 4:45PM to 5:45PM No. of Guests: 25 Ticket Price: Rs. 2,250/- GlenGrant Brand Manager- Suchana Sharma will be conducting a Masterclass of Glengrant 10 & 18 for the guests and the experience will be curated as a Whisky & Dessert for the guests. The dessert will be curated keeping in mind the taste profile of the whiskies and will suit and complement the flavors. Paul John Masterclass with Michael D’Souza (Master Distiller at Paul John Distilleries) 6:00PM to 7:00PM No. of Guests: 25 Ticket Price: Rs. 2,000/- Paul John is the Indian single Malt which has been making news across the world and winning some of the most Prestigious awards at various international whisky awards. Their Master Distiller Mr. Michael D’Souza will be curating an exclusive tasting for 25 guests of which 5 will be invitees and rest who have bought the tickets. The line-up will have some of the newer expressions which are recently launched. About Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards A unique award show that honours some of Speyside’s finest single malt whiskies, this award is truly one of its kind in the sense that, it is the only one that is judged by actual whisky consumers from all over the world. The eight finalists this year are spread into four categories and the two whiskies in each category will be judged by consumers spread all across including countries like Canada, India as well destinations in the UK and Europe. The winners are expected to be unveiled at the opening of the 2020 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival in April 2020. The Finalists for the Festival Awards 2020 are: • 12 Years Old and Under: Aberlour 10 Year Old and Cardhu 12 Year Old • 13 to 20 Years Old: Benromach 15YO and Glenallachie 15YO • 21 Years Old and Over: Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23YO and Glenfarclas 25YO • Non Age Statement: Tamnavulin Sherry Cask Edition and Cardhu Amber Rock (Excerpt from a press release) Mumbai, India
The Happy High is proud to announce another service, Cognac tastings for the Indian market. They Cognac masterclasses will cover nuggets from the history of Cognac, the making of Cognac and of course will end with tasting of different Cognacs and the nuances. The Cognac tastings will be conducted by Ajit Balgi a BNIC Cognac educator who is one of the 90 in the world certified by the Cognac association to speak on Cognac. 'Cognac for now is very popular in the southern states of India but has potential across the country because of the fruit and sweeter notes the world's best known brandy has to exude." said Ajit Balgi, a BNIC Cognac educator. The workshops will work best in luxury events and HNI engagement activities by luxury real estate cos, entrepreneurial associations like Young President's association (YPO) , Entrepreneurial Organizations (EO), wealth management cos and more. Mumbai, India Zenato a family owned winery founded in 1960 by Sergio Zenato is back in India with VBev . They are known to make the finest wines from Lugana and Valpolicella Classico, two key territories in the Veneto region. The wines were launched in the presence of Mr Marco Milani, Zenato's brand ambassador who was on a visit to India. Founder Sergio Zenato is a pioneer from the Lugana region and the foundation of the winery is from exceptional quality wines that he produced from the Trebbiano di Lugana. Their Lugana vineyards are known to have the oldest vines in the region. He was the first to age Trebbiano in oak which at the time was unheard of. He was also one of the first producers to revive the Ripasso method in the nineties. Zenato is among the most awarded Italian producers for Amarone and Ripasso today. Sumedh Singh Mandla, Chief Executive Officer, VBev on the occasion said: “We at VBev are committed to bringing the finest wines from around the world to the Indian sub-continent. Zenato stands testament to the best that fine Italian wines can offer, their Amarone and Ripasso are some of the best from the region. Zenato wines we believe will find the perfect pairing with fine dine Italian and Indian cuisine, two of the top cuisines preferred by the Indian consumer. The Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG is a complex yet elegant wine with a velvety structure, it has received 90+ ratings from all top critics year after year to make it one of the most appreciated Amarones today. Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC, a wine greatly connected to Amarone offers great value for the fine wines from Valpolicella. To complete the portfolio, we also have a Soave Classico and Bardolino from Zenato’s portfolio that represent two additional historical regions in Italy. They offer light, refreshing wines that can be enjoyed as an aperitif, antipasti or with kebabs.” Marco Milani, Brand Ambassador – Zenato said: “Arriving in India after traveling across Asia Pacific was a big surprise, it suddenly felt like home. India and Italy have a lot of cultural commonalities, I hope that our countries can continue to grow closer in the future. I believe wine can contribute to strengthening this connection and we are confident that VBev our partners in India will be successful at achieving this. We have the same vision of sharing and developing knowledge about the region and Italian wines and committed to the long-term position of Zenato in the Indian market. I am optimistic that the Zenato Amarone and Ripasso will do very well; its full body, complex aromas, intense flavours and strong character will find great acceptance with the Indian consumer.” Pricing: Zenato Soave – Rs 2,290 Zenato Bardolino – Rs 2,290 Zenato Ripassa – Rs 4,990 Zenato Amarone – Rs 10,900 Mumbai,India The Copitas team of Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru showcased a first ever preview of their cocktails in Mumbai during the festive season. Ahead of the momentous opening of this chic destination bar in Bengaluru, this very special takeover was a preview of this stylish new addition to Garden City’s nightlife. From their base at AER, one of Mumbai’s most celebrated bars, located in Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, the core team of 5 from Copitas showcased their prized cocktails as a never seen before, must-try experience. Copitas is the soon-to-be-unveiled, atmospheric bar at Level 21 at the newest luxury hotel in Bengaluru. Slated to become an address for those who wish to be seen unwinding in style, this high energy address will serve cocktails with a Bengaluru flair. “We’re delighted to have team Copitas join us at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai and are stoked that they showcased their signature cocktails at AER for the first time ever, ahead of the bar’s opening in the Garden City. Through the week-long showcase of our craftsmen behind the bar, from both our hotels in India, our guests enjoyed handcrafted cocktails that are rooted in innovation and traditionalism; all the while, playing up local ingredients and influences from Mumbai and Bengaluru”, said Ashwin Mathur, Hotel Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai. The Copitas takeover of AER was the stage for a playful combat of the two Bacardi Legacy Champions - Abhishek Shevade from South and Harish Subramanian from West, both cherished Four Seasons craftsmen. Their cocktails are as below respectively UTSAVAA : 'Utsavaa' is a tribute to the festive spirit. And, to the committed bartending fraternity. During festive celebrations, when there is joyous laughter on the floor and the clink of glasses, there’s never a moment to wind down the spirited bar teams shaking it up, tirelessly….all along, with their winning smiles and steadfast vitality. A tantalising medley of Pineapple Cordial, Homemade Vanilla syrup, Bacardi Carta Oro and Prosecco, got our bartending wizard Abhishek Shevade the winning title at the Bacardi Legacy Championship from South India. TURTUK : ‘Turtuk’ is the last Indian outpost before Pakistan. A land marked by the jaw dropping beauty of a complex terrain - bountiful apricot trees, free-flowing rivers, stoic mountains, deserts and plains. A land as beautiful as its people - resilient in their beauty and strength, having lived to overcome the ravages of partition. This cocktail is a tribute to the unflinching spirit of mankind. A melange of fragrant Apricot Brandy reminiscent of the apricots of Turtuk, Antica Formula, Bacardi Oro, Angostura Bitters and a flourish of rice wine vinegar. Harish Subramanian, winner of Bacardi Legacy Championship from the Western region doffs his hat to the beauty and strength of the people in Turtuk. ( Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single-malt whisky continues to push boundaries of experimentation with the never seen before single-malt curation- ‘Glenfiddich Experiments’. The ground-breaking initiative is a result of collaboration between Glenfiddich and Malabar Secrets, a niche state-of-the-art natural spice flora extracts brand. Glenfiddich has reinvented the norm and redefined the single malt serve in India with Glenfiddich Experiments. The event was hosted at Mumbai’s first members’ only workspace and social club, The A. Romil Ratra, CEO at The A and a leading hospitality veteran co-hosted the evening with Angad Singh Gandhi, India Brand Ambassador, Glenfiddich. Building on the experimentative spirit of Glenfiddich, the culinary team at The A curated an exclusive menu by integrating select local herbs and spices, taking inspiration from the essence of 3 elixirs, i.e. Sweet Obsession, Dufftown Confluence and Bittersweet Symphony and finished the experience with a global appeal. The ‘Glenfiddich Experiments’ experience re-defines the rules of traditional single malt serve by exploring and handpicking exotic ingredients that are specialties of India’s diverse landscape and bringing them to magically fuse with Glenfiddich’s best. Carefully curated by the Glenfiddich India Brand Ambassador, Angad Singh Gandhi, the highlight of these serves are the specially designed elixirs that uplift the sublime Glenfiddich 12-year old to even greater heights. Comprising of three exceptional elixirs- Bitter Sweet Symphony, Dufftown Confluence, Sweet Obsession that have been formulated by bringing together fine ingredients such as the fragrant Mysore jasmine, spicy Malabar clove, Kerala black pepper, cinnamon from the Western Ghats, bitter orange from Nagpur, the Kashmir peach, spiced coriander from Karnataka and other unique handpicked spices to create the perfect background for aromatic elevation. “Glenfiddich as a brand believes in breaking whisky rules and challenging traditions, we believe in the philosophy of what can’t be done, must be done at the Glenfiddich distillery. Our collaboration with Malabar Spice to launch ‘Glenfiddich Experiments’ is in sync with our history of seeking the extraordinary and continue to bring out revolutionary offerings.” said Payal Nijhawan, Head of Marketing, William Grant & Sons India.The Glenfiddich Experiments menu is a celebration of thoroughly researched recipes with ground-breaking experience and innovative additions that promise to be a revolution for single-malt lovers. (Excerpt from a release) Caruntum is now the latest region in Austrian wine. The region has reached agreement on the three levels Gebietswein (regional wine), Ortswein (‘villages’ wine) and Riedenwein (single-vineyard wine), and continues to emphasise the traditional and highly prized varieties: white wine vinified from Chardonnay, Weissburgunder or Grüner Veltliner, red wine from Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch.
The family of Austrian winegrowing regions with DAC status continues to grow: after thorough consideration and regional consensus, the winegrowing region Carnuntum submitted a draft DAC regulation, which has now been signed by the Federal Minister for Sustainability & Tourism Maria Patek. This makes Carnuntum the fourteenth Austrian winegrowing region with specific protections in place for regionally typical wines. Willi Klinger, managing director of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) summarises: ‘With the DAC regulation that has now been enacted, Carnuntum is also embarking on the successful path of origin-based marketing. The winegrowers have succeeded in working out a profile that will unmistakably express and convey the characteristics of their region in both red and white wine, and will ensure even greater distinctiveness’. Three levels, regionally typical grape varieties Like the Steiermark, Kamptal, Kremstal and Traisental, the region Carnuntum – located in the eastern part of Austria between Vienna and the Slovak border, encompassing an area of 906 hectares under vines – will henceforth implement a three-level DAC regulation: Gebietswein (regional wine), Ortswein (‘villages’ wine) and Riedenwein (single-vineyard wine). The varietal palette focuses on the region’s marquee players: for white wines Chardonnay, Weissburgunder and Grüner Veltliner, and the reds Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. Monovarietal Carnuntum DAC wines must be vinified exclusively from these varieties, while blends must contain at least two thirds of one of them. This means that cuvées can also contain up to a third of other approved Qualitätswein (quality wine) varieties – for example, in a red wine, Sankt Laurent, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Flavour profile Carnuntum has been showing very well now for quite some time, with distinctive red wines and robustly structured whites. The new DAC regulation stipulates that all wines must conform to the flavour profile ‘dry’, and that red wines must also have an alcohol content of at least 12%. In addition, Ortswein and Riedenwein must be given adequate time to develop their distinctive and expressive character: the application for obtaining a Federal Inspection Number may not be submitted before 15 March for white wine and not before 1 November in the year following the harvest for red wine. Rubin Carnuntum will remain The established brand Rubin Carnuntum will remain in place parallel to the DAC regulation, and will continue to provide a guarantee of special and regionally typical wines vinified from the variety Zweigelt. Was does DAC signify? Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC) is a legal indication of origin for regionally typical Austrian Qualitätswein. So if a wine label features the name of a winegrowing region in combination with ‘DAC’, one is guaranteed a wine of quality that is typical of the region. A DAC wine may only be produced from the grape varieties specified for that DAC region and must comply with all requirements of the regulation established by the region. There are currently 14 DAC winegrowing regions in Austria. Wines that do not meet the DAC requirements will bear the name of the respective federal state as an indication of provenance, as part of the variety of available wines at this level of origin. (Excerpt from a release) Gaius Octavius Caesar Augustus of Rome, visited Ancient Olympia to take part in the Olympics. The first night of his visit was hosted in the villa of the Roman province in Elis. Wanting to make a good impression on the Emperor, the Provincial Governor wanted to offer him the best wine native to Sacred Olympic Land. It was a red wine with ruby color, full of delicate and mysterious flavors. The vine that gave this wine was grown only in the blessed Land of Ancient Olympia. The Emperor Augustus duly honored the Wine and it was known to all that good wine could easily lure him into excesses... So he got drunk on the dark red wine and slept that night. The next day, of course, he woke up with the sun high in the sky having missed the opportunity to take part in the Olympics. The Greeks of course offered him an olive wreath and a golden crater. The legend says that Augustus stayed for three days walking around with him and tried all the wines and goods of the area, but on the day he left he ordered the Roman governor of Ilida to send him two large containers of that red wine to Rome each year. That shiny, ruby wine… For as long as the Emperor lived, the Provincial Governor faithfully followed the command. But those times was strange, and one-night Gaius Octavius Caesar Augustus of Rome, was poisoned by his own wife. Some say that on the night he was poisoned, he was drunk on this wonderful red wine from Olympia Land. The local wine-makers, in the name of the Emperor who honored them by his choice, they name the ancient vine and red ruby wine 'Augoustiatis', by the name of the great Emperor. Today, 2,000 years later, here in Ancient Olympia, at Ktima Brintziki (Estate) still cultivates the same vine with the same care and produce the same wine that was worthy of Emperors. The well over four millennia of Olympic Winery history that we follow faithfully and diligently, they hope to bring to you the same thrill it once caused to Emperor August ( excerpt from a release by Brintziki estates) Mumbai, India Sofitel Mumbai BKC, Accor’s French luxury brand launched the 2019 edition of Sofitel Wine Days scheduled from September 21st to October 31st, 2019. Sofitel Wine Days is the hotel group’s annual global celebration of France’s unique winemaking heritage and culture. Carrying forward this legacy, the initiative brings all 120 Sofitel Hotels & Resorts worldwide together to celebrate the essence of French wine at each destination. On the occasion of Sofitel Wine Days, the luxury hotel will be hosting exquisite events, engaging sessions, and meetings with local wine experts in the city. Events hosted by master sommeliers will provide guests an opportunity to embark on an odyssey full of surprises, providing a platform to discover exotic flavours and varieties of wine. To mark the inauguration ceremony, the 5-star hotel invited wine connoisseurs to discover ‘une belle sélection’ of wines in celebration of the grape harvest season in France. Providing an ideal opportunity for guests to discover Sofitel's French Art De Vivre, the business hotel will be offering wines from Alsace, Bordeaux, Corsica, and Rhône paired with classic dishes from each of these regions by Executive Chef Neeraj Rawoot and his team of talented chefs. Through the ongoing global celebration, the luxury hotel looks forward to delighting amateurs and aficionados alike, as they discover the secrets of wine. |
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The Happy High is a Mumbai based beverage consulting co founded in 2014 with a vision to raise the bars of the wine and dine scene in the country. Read more.
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