May, 2011 | Booze Business: A Blog Dedicated to the Business of Spirits and Wine

Bartender, a shot of Botox please

May 16, 2011 No Comments

Just when you think you’ve heard of everything, every gimmick, and every ploy to sell a drink – along comes a new one.

There is a bar and club in NYC where the bartender and a “beauty vendor” have teamed up to create cocktails whose mixer ingredients are supposed to smooth skin, plump it up or otherwise enhance the appearance.

Among the cocktails is a Watermelon Kiss which mixes tequila with watermelon, “to even out skin tone,” according to a newspaper article on the club. Another drink uses kumquats and special vitamins and minerals to reduce oiliness.

You get the picture.

Call me old school but alcohol with or without a mixer can be a social lubricant, a calming influence, a road to mood change and, of course, relaxing. If I’ve had a drink or two, you probably can convince me that some products enhance the romantic moment. But, a cocktail for skin improvement? No way.

I think this is how it works – you have 3 or 4 cocktails, go to the restroom and look in the mirror. You’ll love what you see.

In any event, hats off to the owners for a novel way to sell booze. Shows that the PT Barnum adage is still alive and well.

Industry Events

May 11, 2011 2 Comments

Just thought I would take a moment to alert readers – consumers as well as those in the industry – about upcoming events of interest related to the booze industry.

First and foremost, from May 13 to 17 is the Manhattan Cocktail Classic all over NYC. It starts with a Gala at the New York Public Library and there are events all over town. Anyone who has been to previous events recommends it highly. Here’s the link www.manhattancocktailclassic.com – got to warn you, most events are sold out.

In June (28 and 29), the Javits center in NYC has the Bar and Wine Show for the on premise trade. www.newyorkbarshow.com

Finally, and not directly related to spirits and wine – there is a charity event called The Lone Star Chili Cookoff on May 21. What does this have to do with the booze business? Not much except when I think of the business I often think about Texas. You know, 6^th St. in Austin, Crown Royal and great times with the Southern region. Here’s the link. www.lonestarchilicookoff.org/about.php?club=NYAMC

Who says this blog doesn’t provide a public service?

Blast, Snoop Dogg and Attorneys General

May 9, 2011 No Comments

The same group of Attorneys General that went after products like Four Loko, Sparks, Tilt and and others have set their sights on Blast by Colt 45 which is a fruity malt liquor made by Pabst Brewing Co.

What gives this effort a bit of a twist is that Blast contains 12% alcohol by volume in a 23.5-ounce can. Second, rapper Snoop Dogg is promoting the brand. So, the combination of extra octane, the fruity flavors and packaging plus the spokesperson has led the AGs to request that Pabst pull the product.

I remember Snoop when he was known as Snoop Doggy Dogg, his longer and more elegant name. We had just introduced Seagram’s Gin & Juice (basically an RTD/premix) and by coincidence Mr. Snoop had a best selling hit called “Gin & Juice” – a top 10 hit and on the charts for months. We did not pay for the “placement” and he was singing about the generic concept of mixing gin and juice, but, never mind, Seagram’s G&J flew off the shelves.

Mr. Snoop can move product either by happenstance or intent.

I don’t think that his involvement precipitated the AG action on its own. But in conjunction with the size and alcohol, bright colored cans and flavors well… Ah, the flavors – Raspberry Watermelon, Strawberry Lemonade, to name just two.

I understand the products are doing well but Pabst, with a long history and heritage of outstanding quality beers, needs to think about responsibility in its products. Brands like Blast — which is being referred to as “binge in a can” – only serves to engender the ire of regulators, the Attorneys General, the taxation folks and the self appointed anti-alcohol watchdogs.

For a company who markets such iconic brands like Stroh, Schlitz, Lone Star, Olympia, Pabst, to name a few, well, let’s just say that Blast doesn’t live up to the beer brewing legacy and class.

With or without the Snoop-ster.