Friday, October 27, 2017

GRAND MARNIER IS GOING BACK TO ITS COGNAC ROOTS

Grand Marnier, Cognac, Liqueur, 1880, Quintessence 
Grand Marnier, Cognac, Liqueur, 1880, Quintessence

Grand Marnier is said to go back to its luxury roots and emphasize its connection with cognac. As you may know, Grand Marnier is made with cognac, and it is originally a cognac brand which became much more famous for its liqueur.

I could even venture to say that they kind of gave up on cognac a while back.


Grand Marnier was still part of the Marnier-Lapostolle family until last year in 2016 when Campari acquired it for $760 million.

Campari intends to take advantage of the current cognac boom and join in with the cognac association to Grand Marnier, and probably getting back into the cognac category.
The USA is Grand Marnier’s biggest market after France with 77% of its international sales.

Here is an excerpt from Shanken Daily News:
..."To capture some of the buzz around the Cognac category, Grand Marnier’s message will highlight that the core Cordon Rouge expression is 51% Cognac and 49% distilled bitter orange. “On-premise will continue to be a particular focus as we work to increase trial and reintroduce Grand Marnier to a new generation, many of whom don’t realize that Grand Marnier is more than half Cognac,” Batchelor explains.

While core label Cordon Rouge ($39.99) makes up the majority of the brand’s depletions, Grand Marnier’s portfolio has broadened over the years to include high-end marques that offer higher Cognac content. The brand’s Centenaire ($199.99), Cuvée 1880 ($349.99) and Quintessence ($899.99) extensions all use older eaux-de-vie and tweak the Cognac ratio, going all the way up to 91% Cognac for the Cuvée 1880. Although Cognac’s popularity has reached such a height that some brands—notably Hennessy—are seeing shortages, Grand Marnier master blender Patrick Raguenaud isn’t worried about stocks running dry, citing century-long relationships with grape growers throughout the region. “We have a collection of 450 winegrowers who supply Grand Marnier,” adds Batchelor. “Those strong and genuine relationships are at the core of Grand Marnier’s commercial activities."..."

Source: ShankenDailyNews

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

HUGE GROWTH OF COGNAC SALES IN THE US

Cognac Sales Image Logo Icon 
Cognac Sales Image Logo Icon

Cognac market sales could surpass the 6 million case volume in the USA.
Cognac continues to thrive in the USA with category leader Hennessy leading the way. Or dominating would be a more proper statement.

Depletion was 17% up in 2016 compare to 2015, with over 1 billion USD sales which is 5 times more than 2011 in the US.

Hennessy makes 1.6 billion USD sales of cognac/year/world and it is looking at beaking the 2 billion USD sales soon which would be the new high.

Remy Martin plays well as a 2nd with +9% sales and a volume of  823,000 cases sold in 2016.  Remy Martin is in contrast to Hennessy in particular focusing on non-VS qualities such as VSOP and 1738 Accord Royal, noting sales from Jan-Sept to be +15% with $431m worldwide, and interest for higher end cognac in the USA.

Courvoisier (owned by Beam Suntor) is the third-largest Cognac in the U.S., and advanced by 6.2% to 470,000 cases in 2016.

Martell (owned by Pernod-Ricard) ranked fourth, and crossed 100,000 cases last year on 6% growth after starting a come back in the USA in 2016. They had left to focus on China but ...
Cognac d’Ussé (a Bacardi brand) launched in 2012, made in 2016 +48% with 86,000 cases sold. It is produced by Cognac Otard not sure why Bacardi is not interested in Otard!

Source: ShankenNews

Sunday, October 8, 2017

RESULTS OF THE 2017 COGNAC HARVEST

Cognac Vineyard & Grappes 
Cognac Vineyard & Grappes

Cognac harvest and production is estimated better than expected in the Cognac Appellation this year 2017 with 90hl/ha reported the Sud Ouest newspaper.

With a % alcohol of 10% the extracted % is higher than expected making this a much better harvest than previously forecasted.

Source: SUDOUEST

SHERRY CASK FINISHED COGNAC BY COURVOISIER

Cognac Courvoisier ex-Sherry Casks
Cognac Courvoisier ex-Sherry Casks

Beam Suntory has launched Courvoisier Sherry Cask Finish, a rich and complex cognac which has been matured in ex-sherry casks developing additional layers of flavour. Having first matured in French Limousin oak casks for years to develop its taste, the cognac undergoes a second maturation in ex-sherry casks.

This new product is being released in duty free stores, 40% ABV, 70cl, €50.

This new product is hoping to appeal to both traditional cognac drinkers as well as malt whisky drinkers and those looking for something different.

Courvoisier Sherry Cask Finish is the first bottling in Courvoisier’s Masters Cask Collection and it is pushing the boundaries of the category.

Courvoisier is the 2nd large cognac house to get into this kind of cognac finished category, with Martell being the first with the Swift model finished in ex-Bourbon casks.

This is the 2nd Cognac finished in ex-Sherry casks. I was actually the first to release sherry casks finished ex-Sherry casks in 2014, and I actually won best cognac category with my ex-Sherry casks finished cognac in the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Long lived these casks finished!!! Great to have Courvoisier join-in with me.

Source:  TheDrinksReport

Saturday, October 7, 2017

H.O.M.E. BY COGNAC MARTELL

Cocktails at Home by Martell 
Home by Martell

Martell introduces the world of H.O.M.E. at a private mansion party in Hollywood Hills with Grammy-nominated songstress Jhené Aiko served as the ambassador for the Los Angeles-based event, which other guests such as Quavo and Jamie Foxx.

Martell is working on the theme that everyone can enjoy nice coctails at home.

Sources: Home by MartellEbony