Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
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2017 Category Trends www.beveragedynamics.com Digital Edition Exclusive• Beverage Dynamics 4 WHAT BEVERAGE ALCOHOL TREND IS MOST IMPACTING YOUR BUSINESS? #1: CRAFT BEER WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST INDUSTRY TREND GOING INTO 2018? Seersucker Gin trademarked the phrase "southern style gin." By this phrase, the Tex- as-based distillery behind the brand means a gin that is lighter on juniper, with more empha- sis on citrus, honey and mint. St. George of California has a Terroir Gin made from Douglas fir, California bay laurel, coastal sage and other botanicals, for flavors the company describes as "forest-driven and earthy." "Gin now takes provenance to literal level," says Andrew Mansinne, Vice President of Brands, MGP Ingredients. "These new gins are saying, 'This is where I'm from and these are my ingredients'." Vodka has also embraced the regionalization movement. Like Till Vodka, a new brand from MGP Ingredients. The spirit places place great emphasis on its Kansas origination, and that it uses wheat culled from the Sunflower State. "When we talked with consumers about Till Vodka, what really resonates with them is the idea of authenticity," Mansinne says. "When- ever we told them that we buy local Kansas wheat for our vodka, their response was, 'Tell me more'." Mansinne believes this and the bottle's up- scale packaging will allow Til to standout in the challenging and crowded craft vodka market. "With our provenance in the heartland we have a strong story to tell," he says. "It's compelling." Belvedere Vodka has been comparing farm fields in Poland that produce its rye to the Champagne vineyards of France. The idea being that optimal production locations and methods produce optimal vodka — and that's what modern consumers and mixolo- gists care about. THE 2017 INDUSTRY SURVEY RESULTS Beverage Dynamics asked e-newsletter readers about current trends and hot categories. Here's a sample of the results: #2: BOURBON #3: VODKA (CRAFT AND FLAVORED) #4 (TIE): BIG BOX COMPETITION #4 (TIE): PREMIUMIZATION #4 (TIE): GIN #1 .................................... BOURBON #2 (TIE) ................... CRAF T BEER .......................................... INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION #4 ................................... PREMIUM SPIRITS