Kentucky 6
Limited Edition Cocktail Kit Launched
Maker’s Mark® and Swift Bars Launch Limited-Edition Cocktail Kit
London, March 2020: Maker’s Mark®, the premium handcrafted American whisky, has collaborated with Swift Bars to launch a limited-edition home cocktail kit.
Created by Maker’s Mark® UK Brand Diplomat, Nicole Sykes, and the team of female bartenders at Swift, the cocktail kit includes two 220ml cocktails: The Green Brand (12.2%) and The Ambassadors Reception (23.8%). The cocktail kit also features the iconic hand dipped Maker’s Mark® wax seal, a nod to the handcraftsmanship first employed by founder Bill Samuels Senior and his wife, Margie Samuels.
A twist on a Southern style ice tea cocktail, The Green Branch combines Maker’s Mark®, Moscato, pineapple, ginger and lemongrass tea to create the perfect spring serve. With notes of peach, orange blossom and ginger the refreshing cocktail is best enjoyed in a tall, chilled glass over lots of ice and lemon.
Made using Maker’s Mark®, Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur, Cream Sherry and Chocolate Bitters, The Ambassadors Reception is a rich creamy serve, best enjoyed in a short glass over ice alongside your favourite sweet treats.
As Bourbon continues to be one of the fastest growing and most dynamic drinks categories in UK, the cocktail kit demonstrates the exponential demand for American whisky across the UK. With more shoppers buying bourbon in the off-trade, this has resulted in growth of 27% in value and 21% in volume over the last 52 weeks. Maker’s Mark® even outperforms these category numbers as it sees value sales increase by 47% to just shy of £5m.
Inspired by Margie’s invaluable contributions to Maker’s Mark® and, in turn, the entire bourbon industry, the one-off cocktail kit is available for delivery across the UK and can be purchased online via Speak Easy at Home for £20. 15% of all sales will be donated to The Girls Network, a charity dedicated to inspiring and empowering girls from disadvantaged communities by connecting them with professional female role models.
Nicole Sykes, Maker’s Mark® UK Brand Diplomat commented: “The craft credentials of Maker’s Mark® have been at the very heart of the brand’s success since it was co-founded in 1958 by Bill Samuels Sr. and his wife Margie Samuels. We say that Margie Samuels is the reason most folks buy their first bottle of Maker’s Mark® and Bill Samuels is the reason they buy their second. The shape of the bottle, hand cut label, signature hand dipped red wax topper and even the name itself are all thanks to the pioneering spirit of Margie. We are therefore very excited to collaborate with Swift Bar’s co-founder Mia and their team of female bartenders from two of the most prestigious bars in London, to continue on this journey with the launch a limited-edition home cocktail kit throughout March and to raise some money for a great charity.”
For more information on the collaboration please visit: https://www.speakeasyathome.co.uk/swift
Home Grown – Maker’s Mark Grow Your Own Garnish Kits
Maker’s Mark has launched its new Grow Your Own Garnish bottle, including mint seeds so you can get growing at home.
The iconic bourbon is now available to purchase for a limited time with a paper envelope tied round the neck of the bottle containing mint seeds, so you can grow your own mint garnish and create the classic Maker’s Mark signature serve – the Mint Julep. Printed on the envelope itself is the Mint Julep recipe, which brings together all of the key ingredients to create a refreshing cocktail at home.
The Maker’s Mark ‘Growing for Good’ mission statement highlights the importance of sustainability within the production of the whisky itself. The distillery is the only one in Kentucky that owns and controls the water source for its whisky, which reflects its commitment to improving plant diversity and providing wildlife habitat. Launching the new Grow Your Own Garnish Kits builds on Maker’s Mark’s passion for conservation and looking after the environment.
Bottles are available to purchase now in-store at Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons for the price of £32.
The Highly Anticipated Maker’s 46 Luxury Launch
Maxxium UK Is Extending Its Bourbon Portfolio With The Launch Of Maker’s 46
The much anticipated Maker’s Mark variant is targeted at premium on trade and luxury retail outlets and will be available from September following a preview in Harrods from 24th August.
Maker’s 46 is created by removing fully matured Maker’s Mark bourbon from its barrel, affixing ten seared French oak staves to the inside of the original barrel, then putting the Maker’s Mark back in and aging it several more months. This second maturation is carried out in the coolest part of the warehouse, resulting in a complex and delicious flavour profile of caramel, vanilla and spice. This rich liquid is bigger and bolder but with the drinkability that is synonymous with Maker’s Mark. The number 46 refers to the 46th recipe Bill Samuel’s Sr created before finally identifying the sought after unique stave profile used to deliver its distinctive taste.
Created to be sipped neat or over ice, Maker’s 46 has been carefully crafted using the traditional Maker’s Mark ingredients, including red winter wheat for its gentle, smooth taste.
The elongated 700ml bottle is premium and elegant, with the Maker’s 46 logo etched on the glass. The iconic Maker’s Mark hand-dipped red wax finishes the look.
The launch is being supported by an interactive bartender event at Dandelyan on 24th August and consumer activity in Harrods from 26th August, including tutored tastings and a caricaturist who will create bespoke gifts.
Maxxium UK’s Marketing Controller for Imported Whiskey, Janice McIntosh, says: “Maker’s 46 is uniquely crafted to deliver an exceptional flavour that is bigger and bolder while maintaining the smoothness of Maker’s Mark. Bartenders and bourbon aficionados will be keen to welcome this premium expression as it meets the growing appetite for quality bourbons and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce it to the UK”
Maker’s 46 is bottled at 47% ABV, 2% higher than Maker’s Mark and has an RRP of £39.99(700ml).
Changes Announced at Jim Beam Bourbon
Jim Beam Bourbon Announces First-ever Global Packaging Redesign
29 February 2016: Jim Beam®, the world’s No.1 bourbon, has undergone a transformation with all-new global packaging, marking the first time significant changes have been made to the brand in decades. As of mid-2016, the Jim Beam portfolio will have a unified, premium look in more than 100 markets around the world. Maxxium UK is rolling out the new packs from March, beginning with Jim Beam Bourbon followed by Jim Beam flavours, including Jim Beam Apple, Jim Beam Honey, Jim Beam Maple and Red Stag by Jim Beam, Jim Beam Rye and Jim Beam Devil’s Cut.
This global packaging upgrade comes two years after the launch of Make History®, the first global marketing campaign for the iconic American brand, which traces its history to 1795. The updated bottle and exterior styling will better represent the premium bourbon inside, which is not changing and still follows the same Jim Beam family recipe used during the past two centuries. This redesign will contemporise the Jim Beam brand while celebrating its rich heritage at a time when American Whiskey is performing at +9.6% MAT volume in the UK.
The new Jim Beam bottle has a bolder structure with a clean label design featuring premium finishes, refreshed distiller portraits and a refined “rosette” logo, harmonising the flavoured product range. Jim Beam Devil’s Cut and Jim Beam Rye feature a bolder, more rectangular bottle structure with premium label enhancements, including extra fine detailing, crafted borders, real gold foil finishes, refined embossing and matte paper stock. It also includes a matte finished shrink sleeve along the closure.
Maxxium UK’s Marketing Controller for Imported Whiskey, Janice McIntosh, says: “We are continuing to Make History in 2016 with the launch of Jim Beam’s new, unified, premium packaging that reflects the quality and heritage that goes into every bottle.
“In the UK, Jim Beam is performing strongly with volume sales of the portfolio +10.2% MAT. The new packaging design comes at the perfect time for the brand as more consumers continue to discover Jim Beam, helping to grow the bourbon category. The new packs support our customers as they take advantage of the bourbon boom and meet shopper demand for premium, quality brands with heritage.”
Seventh Generation Master Distiller and Jim Beam’s Great-Grandson, Fred Noe: “This represents another historic milestone in my family’s history. I’ve always been proud to see the faces of every Beam Master Distiller displayed on Jim Beam bottles across the world and these bottles feel even better in my hands when pouring this fine bourbon.”
The new packaging for the Jim Beam portfolio will be available on shelves from April in the UK. This includes Jim Beam Bourbon, Jim Beam Apple, Jim Beam Honey, Jim Beam Maple, Red Stag by Jim Beam, Jim Beam Rye and Jim Beam Devil’s Cut.
As an ongoing evolution of Jim Beam’s successful Make History campaign, the premium packaging launch is being supported with in-store point of sale showcasing the upgraded bottles and advertising featuring global brand partner, Mila Kunis.
Additional packaging imagery and information is featured on the Jim Beam Twitter page @JimBeamUK.
For more information, please contact: Jennifer Cirillo or Simone Harvey
From the world’s No. 1 Bourbon Jim Beam Apple Makes a Splash on TV
Jim Beam Apple, the latest flavour innovation from the world’s No. 1 bourbon, will make its television debut this summer. The Jim Beam Apple advertisement, which airs nationwide until the end of July, features Jim Beam’s global partner Mila Kunis and introduces the new product and its refreshing, signature cocktail – the “Jim Beam Apple Splash.”
View the ad here: https://youtu.be/V1WqubIIDks
This is the largest burst of TV advertising Maxxium UK has executed this year, reaching over 52% of the UK population. The programme schedule includes TV shows such as Big Bang Theory, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Breaking Bad and Iron Man, targeting 25-35 year old males.
With a refreshing take on family tradition, Jim Beam distillers have brought together the taste of crisp, green apples and Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The result is a perfect balance of apple and bourbon, rich with American heritage. The signature serve, “Jim Beam Apple Splash,” mixes Jim Beam Apple and tonic over ice with a wedge of lemon for a delicious, refreshing drink all year round.
The introduction of new flavours to the Jim Beam family has fuelled the growth of the brand in the UK, increasing at 53.5% volume MAT1.
Jim Beam continues to Make History by being the first to introduce flavoured whiskies in the UK, including Red Stag by Jim Beam, Jim Beam Honey, Jim Beam Maple and now Jim Beam Apple.
Jim Beam Apple is available across the on- and off-trade including Morrisons, Asda and national on-trade wholesalers including LWC, Wallace’s Express, HT White, Venus, Molson Coors and Carlsberg.
Maxxium UK’s Marketing Controller for Imported Whiskey, Janice McIntosh says: “We are excited to see the world’s No. 1 bourbon, Jim Beam, back on TV with a focus on Jim Beam Apple and to share this new product with consumers at a time when bourbon is in high demand.
“Flavours remain an important segment of the category and we are proud to support the launch of Jim Beam Apple and communicate a refreshing signature serve that is a new and exciting way to enjoy Jim Beam. ‘Jim Beam Apple Splash’ is a refreshing serve perfect for the summer months encouraging our customers to capitalise on the growth of US whiskey and flavoured bourbon.”
Jim Beam Apple is available in 700ml bottles and has a RRP of £19.70
