Retail News CRM

Tag: Wiskey

  • Whiskymofo: The New Exclusive Platform For Rare Whiskies, Backed By Vinomofo’s Rigorous Selection Process

    Whiskymofo: The New Exclusive Platform For Rare Whiskies, Backed By Vinomofo’s Rigorous Selection Process

    Vinomofo, an established online wine retailer, has expanded its offering with the launch of a dedicated platform, Whiskymofo, which offers its members an array of carefully selected whiskies at competitive prices.

    Over the past twelve months, Whiskymofo has been hosting successful events as part of the Vinomofo brand, garnering a membership of more than 32,000 through its unique “Whiskymofo & Friends” sales events.

    Exclusive Access to Premium Whiskies

    Whiskymofo aims to provide its members with exclusive access to an assortment of whiskies. Daily releases of limited-edition, rare, and high-value whiskies will be made available exclusively to members. In addition, monthly sales events will be organized, featuring a wide variety of whiskies and other top-quality spirits as part of the “Whiskymofo & Friends” sales series. The platform plans to further enhance its offering by establishing exclusive partnerships with distilleries and global brands.

    The company seeks to establish itself not only as a sales platform for renowned whisky brands worldwide but also as a community hub for whisky enthusiasts.

    Rigorous Selection Process

    In a similar fashion to Vinomofo, Whiskymofo’s buying team employs a stringent selection process, choosing only 5 per cent of the products it samples. This rigorous process ensures that members have access to only the best whiskies on the market.

    While access to the platform is free, the deals it offers are exclusive to members. This strategy allows Whiskymofo to secure rare and sought-after whiskies for the Australian market at prices that are affordable to its members.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Whiskymofo’s business model?
    Whiskymofo operates as a members-only online platform offering exclusive access to a range of carefully selected, rare, and high-value whiskies at competitive prices.

    What does membership to Whiskymofo offer?
    Membership to Whiskymofo offers access to daily releases of limited-edition, rare, and high-value whiskies, monthly sales events, and exclusive partnerships with distilleries and global brands.

    How does Whiskymofo ensure the quality of its products?
    Whiskymofo ensures the quality of its products through a rigorous selection process. The buying team samples a wide variety of products, selecting only 5 per cent of these to offer to their members. This ensures that only the best whiskies are available on the platform.

  • DFS Group Whiskey Festival at Hong Kong airport

    DFS Group Whiskey Festival at Hong Kong airport

    More than 100 whiskies are available for sampling in-store, including Suntory Chita Single Grain; Johnnie Walker Blender’s Batch 2: Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish; Royal Salute Polo Collection 2017; Bowmore’s new travel retail exclusive age statement range of 10 Year Old, 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old expressions; and Woodford Reserve Personal Selection.

    “As interest in whiskey continues to grow, we’re thrilled to provide travellers with a chance to celebrate all things whiskey with the launch of our first-ever global Whiskey Festival,” said Brooke Supernaw, DFS Group’s senior vice president, wines, spirits, tobacco, food and gifts.

    “From collectors to those trying whiskey for the first time, the Whiskey Festival is designed for discovery, offering a way to explore this multifaceted spirit.”

    The DFS Whiskey Festival is taking place in the during the DFS, Hong Kong International Airport from the 1st to 30th of June.

    Earlier this year DFS Group hosted its sixth Masters of Wines and Spirits event, which saw more than 60 rare Cognacs, wines and whiskies from over 50 houses showcased at a gala event in Singapore.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Irish Single Malt becomes the world’s most expensive whisky

    Irish Single Malt becomes the world’s most expensive whisky

    The Craft Irish Whisky Co has sold a bottle of The Emerald Isle whisky to American collector Mike Daley for $2.8 million, marking a record for the world’s most expensive whisky.

    “The rebirth of Irish whiskey is relatively new, so I feel like I’m getting in on the ground floor. Luxury scotch, to me, is already a crowded type of market,” said Mike Daley, one of the US’ most prolific collectors of the spirit.

    “But we’re only just starting to see luxury Irish make a name for itself. I guarantee you that in the years to come, it will get to where scotch is today.”

    A bottle of The Macallan 1926 sold for $2.7 million at auction last November, momentarily becoming the world’s most expensive bottle, a title now held by The Emerald Isle, indicating a shift in the tastes of luxury collectors, many of whom believe the Scotch market has grown overcrowded.

    The Craft Irish Whisky Co, founded in 2018 by Irish entrepreneur Jay Bradley, was the most highly recognised new firm of the year in 2021, accumulating a total of 12 accolades across both Taste and Design for four of its ultra-rare whisky releases.

    Last year, the company won 44 medals in total, including Gold and Silver at the IWSC Taste medals, Gold, Silver and Bronze at the World Whisky Awards, and a Master Medal for The Donn at The Drinks Business Autumn Bling Tasting.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Silkie Irish Whiskey launches in Australia

    Silkie Irish Whiskey launches in Australia

    Irish whiskey maker Sliabh Liag Distillers has launched in Australia through an exclusive partnership with Dan Murphy’s.

    Two varieties of the Silkie Irish Whiskey will be available: The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey – which offers a butterscotch sweetness with green apples and a hint of amber and smoke – and The Legendary Dark Silkie Irish Whiskey which features a rich chocolate character complemented by a salted-caramel sweetness and baked apples “wrapped in a smokey profile”.

    James Doherty, Sliabh Liag Distillers’ founder, said the new Silkie varieties are lighter than the Irish whiskeys most Australians are used to.

    “My aim in creating this collection was to evoke a smoky hue that harks back to a pre-prohibition time when Donegal’s characteristic style was famed for warming, earthy flavours.”

    According to Rosie Keane, Irish Consul general to Sydney, Australia is one of the fastest growing markets for Irish whiskey globally, with sales doubling between 2016 to 2020.

    The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey retails for $74.99 and The Legendary Dark Silkie Irish Whiskey for $79.99. Both have 46 per cent ABV.

    Lees ook:

  • Johnnie Walker toasts 200 with global experience centre in Edinburgh

    Johnnie Walker toasts 200 with global experience centre in Edinburgh

    “The story of the world’s best-selling whisky has been brought to life with flair and imagination and we have built a team which includes some of the most talented individuals in their fields,” said Barbara Smith, MD of Johnnie Walker Princes Street.

    The building serves more than 800 flavor combinations in innovative dispensation systems. Visitors can select their favorite whisky and have bottles filled directly from casks and engraved. The experiential space also houses two rooftop bars and a terrace overlooking the Edinburgh skyline.

    According to the company, it took four and a half years in the making to bring Johnnie Walker Princes Street into life. The project is part of Diageo’s US$256 million investment, the largest single investment program of its kind ever seen in Scotch whisky tourism.

    “Johnnie Walker Princes Street is a landmark investment in Scotch whisky and into Scotland and it sets a new standard for immersive visitor attractions,” said Ivan Menezes, CEO at Diageo.

    “It celebrates Scotland’s remarkable heritage, our incredible skilled whisky-makers, and looks to the future by engaging new generations of consumers from around the world in the magic of Scotch whisky.”

    The Diageo investment includes the transformation of distillery visitor experiences around Scotland, including Glenkinchie, Clynelish, Cardhu and Caol Ila – the Lowland, Highland, Speyside and Islay homes of Johnnie Walker, linked to Johnnie Walker Princes Street.

  • Inside Singapore’s ‘invite-only’ Johnnie Walker Home

    Inside Singapore’s ‘invite-only’ Johnnie Walker Home

    It‘s a whisky enthusiast‘s dream. Johnnie Walker House is an invitation-only suite located at Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore. We took a tour of the space, which hosts guests to learn, taste and purchase a variety of high-end offerings.

    The space, which opened last year, is one of 26 private suites in the world and the only one in Southeast Asia. In total, the room boasts more than $700,000 worth of whisky by retail price. One way to gain entrance is by referral.

    We build up our own network of people who might be interested and we invite them to come in,” Sam Fischer, Diageo‘s Asia president told us during a tour of the space. “We build up to people of high net worth and people of influence.”

    Lees ook:

  • Bacardi to showcase highly limited Craigellachie 31 Year Old

    Bacardi to showcase highly limited Craigellachie 31 Year Old

    Stephanie MacLeod, Malts Master and Master Blender for John Dewar & Sons, describes Craigellachie 31 Year Old as “beautifully balanced, smooth and rich”

    Bacardi is making highly limited stocks of its popular Craigellachie 31 Year Old single malt whisky available on allocation in travel retail.

    Visitors to Bacardi Global Travel Retail’s stand (D10) at next week’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition in Singapore will be able to discuss opportunities.

    Bacardi Regional Director Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa Vinay Golikeri stated the spirits company would also be announcing an upcoming older age statement of Craigellachie at the show, as well as a new limited-edition in the region.

    Bacardi said global supplies of Craigellachie 31 Year Old surged after it was awarded the World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2017, meaning global supplies are now limited.

    “Craigellachie was first launched in select customers in global travel retail in 2015 and accelerated rapidly to gain a tremendous following amongst connoisseurs in a short space of time, winning two prestigious global whisky awards within two years,” said Golikeri. “We’re delighted to have secured highly limited stock for our high net worth and discerning travellers, especially given the popularity we have seen for Craigellachie in the region to date.

    “Emerging market consumers, at the second stage of luxury, are highly motivated by the discovery of new-to-market single malts like this. Craigellachie has particular appeal to more experienced Chinese and Indian travellers, many of whom are whisky collectors and connoisseurs.

    “These shoppers are motivated by products that help them express their individuality and, in whisky, this means they seek aged stock, rarity, limited-editions, exclusivity and award-winning status. Craigellachie ticks all these boxes.”

    Lees ook:

  • Whisky Magazine picks DFS’ Changi T3 duplex

    Whisky Magazine picks DFS’ Changi T3 duplex

    DFS Group’s Singapore Changi Airport duplex duty free liquor and tobacco store in Terminal 3 was recently voted Travel Retailer of the Year in the 2016 ‘Icons of Whisky Awards by Whisky Magazine.

    As reported many times, the store was opened last May as part of an airport terminal-wide upgrade of the wines and spirits category, where the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore raised the bar by encouraging contract bidders to push the envelope in terms of shop standards and quality.

    DFS’ May 7 2015 response was the long-anticipated opening of its $64m new terminal wide programme of stores over 85,350sq ft, including its 11,400sq ft dual-floor duplex Changi Airport T3 liquor and tobacco store – the largest single space for liquor and tobacco in any DFS store around the world.

    DFS Group’s flagship wines and spirits store at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 is also the LVMH-owned company’s single biggest contract investment in wines and spirit to date. Prior to the opening, Michael Schriver [the then COO of DFS] described the project as ‘DFS most ambitious airport store ever’. At the same time, Ms. Lim Peck Hoon, EVP, Commercial at the Changi Airport Group described the L&T business as the single biggest commercial concession accounting for around 20% of total sales.

    According to DFS, Whisky Magazine receives nominations for its huge number of awards, which are subsequently shortlisted by its editorial panel and then finalized after a voting process online.

    DFS IS THRILLED…

    “We are absolutely thrilled that our DFS, Singapore Changi Airport store has been awarded Travel Retailer of the Year by Whisky Magazine and look forward to continuing to deliver innovative experiences and exceptional products for our customers in 2016,” said Brooke Supernaw, DFS Group’s Senior Vice President Wines, Spirits and Tobacco.

    “At each of our locations, our aim is to provide our customers with a surprising and delightful shopping experience where they can engage with the brands and products they love. We are particularly proud of DFS, Singapore Changi Airport which over the past year has expanded to become Asia Pacific’s largest assortment of single malts.

    DFS-Changi-L&T-tall-shot

    Click on picture above to enlarge:

    “From the duplex’s design to the interactive tastings held on site, our customers have loved this new approach to travel retail and we’re delighted the industry has fallen in love as well.”

    DFS adds that this is the first year the Icons of Whisky Awards have included a Travel Retail category, which was awarded at both the regional and global level.

    SEVERAL RIVALS COMPETED

    The retailer says it beat competitors from Ireland, England, Germany, the UAE and the Netherlands to receive Whisky Magazine’s Travel Retailer of the Year in the Rest of the World regional category award last in January.

    Following this it adds it is now pleased to have gone  head-to-head with rival entries from America and Scotland to secure the global title at the awards ceremony held in London last week.

    Lees ook:

  • Brown Forman rolls out Jack Daniels and Sinatra promotions

    Brown Forman rolls out Jack Daniels and Sinatra promotions

    Brown-Forman Travel Retail has rolled out a series of promotions worldwide touting the relationship between Frank Sinatra and Jack Daniel’s and commemorating what would have been the singer’s 100th birthday.

    Activities include high-profile Sinatra and Jack Daniels promotions in 26 airports worldwide along with social media support including Facebook and Twitter feeds (#ToastSinatra).

    Brown-Forman Travel Retail began its Sinatra/Jack Daniel’s partnership with the launch of Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select at the TFWA show in Cannes in 2012.  Since then, the Kentucky-based spirits producer has executed promotions and displays in airports and other channels around the globe.  On December 12, a day before what would have been Sinatra’s 100th birthday, Delta Air Lines served tastings of Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Century on first class flights between New York John F Kennedy and Los Angeles International airport. Throughout December, the signature cocktail on all Delta Flights will be “Frank’s Way” featuring Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, ice and a splash of water.

    Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Century was developed in collaboration with the Sinatra family to celebrate the day Frank would have turned 100 years old.   The high-end product is drawn from a rare selection of only 100 barrels hand-picked by Brown-Forman’s Master Distiller.  This rare 100 proof whiskey gains its rich oak character and smooth delicate finish from specially crafted, grooved “Sinatra barrels”.

    Along with the whiskey, is a never before released concert from Sinatra at the Sands in 1966 and a commemorative book wrapped up in a luxury gift-pack.  Only a limited number of bottles of Sinatra Century are available in travel- retail. While prices vary from market-to-market, the suggested retail price is $450.

    Finally, there is the Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Family Reserve. Only 15 bottles of this high-end product were created with a portion going to the family.  The product comes with a special signed letter from Frank Sinatra’s children and each bottle is individually numbered and comes with a commemorative plaque.

    At $1,500 per bottle, this is the most exclusive Jack Daniel’s whiskey ever sold and is only available for sale in travel retail at Hong Kong, Sydney, Munich, Atlanta, Heathrow, Singapore Changi, Los Angeels International and Amsterdam Schiphol.

    Lees ook:

  • Johnnie Walker unveils Singapore Airlines exclusive

    Johnnie Walker unveils Singapore Airlines exclusive

    Diageo’s Johnnie Walker House has launched Johnnie Walker Blue Label The Casks Edition, a Scotch whisky and bottle design available exclusively through Singapore Airlines. The ‘richer and more intense’ Johnnie Walker Blue Label The Casks Edition is a higher strength whisky than the main line liquid, and is bottled at 55.8% ABV.

    Johnnie Walker House, the ‘international network of luxury whisky embassies’, paired the whisky with a new bottle design based on the airline’s cabin crew uniform.

    The ‘Singapore Girl’ wears a sarong kebaya, designed by French couturier Pierre Balmain in 1968. The same shade of blue is used on the Johnnie Walker Blue Label The Casks Edition bottle design, which also features the airline’s signature batik print etched in silver.

    “It brings us great pleasure to work with Singapore Airlines, a company that shares our appreciation for the contemporary but at the same time, a great respect for heritage and progress,” said Lawrence Law, global general manager for Johnnie Walker House.

    “This partnership with Singapore Airlines provides an opportunity for consumers to buy a product that they cannot find anywhere else – an example of our continuing commitment to bringing our most successful innovations to consumers within the world of travel.”

    Mr Foo Chai Woo, Singapore Airlines divisional vice president sales and marketing added: “We are proud to be able to exclusively offer our customers the opportunity to purchase this special release in-flight via Singapore Airlines KrisShop. Having our Singapore Girl’s signature sarong kebaya batik motif reproduced on the bottle of the world’s leading luxury Blended Scotch Whisky is an honour and we are thrilled to have been selected as the first Johnnie Walker House airline partner.”

    Concessionnaire DFASS’s John Garner, president Asia and Middle East, said: “We are delighted to bring this exclusive Johnnie Walker Blue Label offering to KrisShop, for Singapore Airlines passengers. This has been a fantastic collaboration with all three parties actively involved from early ideation to getting it in-flight.

    “We believe that through this strong partnership, we will be able to provide more innovative offerings to Singapore Airlines and their passengers alike.”

    Johnnie Walker Blue Label The Casks Edition is available to purchase through Singapore Airline’s inflight retail store, KrisShop, from 1 December. Customers can pre-order via www.krisshop.com/JW.

    The whisky carries an RRSP of S$378 (US$270) for the 75cl bottle.

    Diageo’s partnership with Singapore airlines follows the publication of Generation Research data which shows that the global inflight retail market declined 6.7% in the first half of 2015.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Johnnie Walker House opens in Singapore

    Johnnie Walker House opens in Singapore

    Diageo partners DFS group to launch first Johnnie Walker House in southeast Asia at Singapore Changi airport.

    Diageo Global Travel together with DFS Group have launched the Johnnie Walker House retail showcase within DFS Group’s new wines and spirits flagship store in the central atrium of the departures concourse at Singapore Changi Airport, Terminal 3.

    The establishment of Johnnie Walker House Singapore marks the seventh addition to the expanding international network of whisky embassies.  This follows the success of existing flagships in Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Chengdu, as well as travel retail theatres in the airports of Taipei and Mumbai.

    The milestone also celebrates the first Johnnie Walker House in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

    “With global airport sales growing by more than 12% every year since 2009, and the strategic location of Singapore Changi Airport as a travel hub, Johnnie Walker House Singapore is set to be a game-changer for the luxury spirits segment,” says Doug Bagley, MD, Diageo Global Travel and Middle East. “We combine our revolutionary hospitality concept with our successful travel retail model – providing an enticing experience to modern luxury consumers during the ‘golden hour’ before they board.”

    The design of Johnnie Walker House Singapore is inspired by the combination of two elements.  The first draws from the rich, progressive travel heritage of epic ocean voyages that took Johnnie Walker from the four corners of Scotland to the four corners of the world, making it the world’s first global brand.  The second is the evergreen custom in luxury retail of using trunk shows to provide tailored, exclusive experiences to valued clients.

    “Our long partnership with Diageo has been instrumental in creating the ultimate destination for the best in wines, spirits and tobacco at Changi Airport. It is our shared vision to bring personalized and unique shopping experiences to the traveler. The Johnnie Walker House Singapore at DFS’s new wines & spirits flagship store represents these aspirations and we are delighted to unveil it today,” says Brooke Supernaw, senior VP global merchandising – spirits, wine, and tobacco.

    When travellers step into Johnnie Walker House Singapore, they are transported into a retail theatre of a larger-than-life luxury steamer trunk.  Designed and built by award-winning Singapore-based design agency Asylum, the highly tactile environment of leather, copper, marble, bronze, wood and steel finishing, brings to life the history, provenance and pioneering spirit of Johnnie Walker with:

    • a multi-sensory retail setting, complete with a signature scent ambience emitting the six flavour characteristics of Johnnie Walker Blue Label instantly transporting travellers to the Scottish Highlands;
    • exclusive “theatrical mentoring” sessions, which are immersions in the Johnnie Walker brand and product universe, through a combination of education and entertainment, and storytelling and trial, led by brand ambassadors;
    • a tasting bar where clients can enjoy the pinnacle of whiskies from the Johnnie Walker Super Deluxe portfolio;
    • a ‘whisky constellation wall’ dedicated to the Johnie Walker heritage of the art of blending, and provides a comprehensive index for single malt Scotch whiskies; and
    • privileges extended to members of the Johnnie Walker House with the World of Privileges loyalty programme.

    To commemorate the inauguration of the Johnnie Walker House Singapore, a limited edition of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label will be exclusively available at Singapore Changi Airport. The ivory-coloured ceramic bottle puduced by Wade features the landscape of Scotland and the skyline of Singapore in the brand’s hallmark Willow design.  The collectible was illustrated by Dawn Ng and pictorially depicts the historic journey of Johnnie Walker from Scotland to Singapore – from the time John Walker & Sons was established in 1820, in Kilmarnock, to 1885, when the Johnnie Walker whiskies had made their way to Singapore as one of the world’s first modern luxury icons.

    Pictured above: the limited edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottle with the brand’s hallmark Willow design exclusively available at Singapore Changi Airport. Below is the interior of the Johnnie Walker House at Chaigi Airport

    Johnnie Walker Blue Label boutique opens in Taipei

    A multi-sensory Johnnie Walker Blue Label boutique has opened in the Terminal 2 Departures Concourse of Taoyuan Airport, Taipei.

    On first entering, travellers will experience the scents of honey and citrus fruits and brand ambassadors guide them through the flavours on a tasting journey of the whisky.

    The story of the casks is told on a wall of oak barrels. These explain how the brand has the largest reserves of Scotch whisky in the world but only 1 in 10,000 of these casks drawn from the four corners of Scotland contain whiskies of sufficient character to produce the signature taste.

    The craftsmanship is reflected on the second wall. It tells the story of the lineage of master blenders and how today’s master blender selects and blends.

    A video animation at the centre of the installation describes how the whisky is produced in limited quantities and how it evokes the authentic, powerful character and flavour of a traditional 19th century blend – 1867 Old Highland Whisky.

    Visitors can also take away a special memento of their travels – any bottle purchased in the adjacent travel retail unit can be engraved with a personal message, free of charge.

    Fairbrother explains: “Our aim is to provide shoppers with an extraordinary retail experience – this beautiful, multi-sensory retail activation follows the success of similar pop-ups in the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Johannesburg International Airport in South Africa last year.

    “This luxury boutique and the recent launch of our pioneering Johnnie Walker House in Taoyuan Airport is testament to our focus and commitment to innovation in travel retail in this region.”

    The store officially opened for business in March and it will welcome global travellers in the Terminal 2 Departures until the end of June 2015.

    Lees ook: