Campari America has rebranded its Appleton Special Jamaica and Appleton White rums, relaunching them under the group’s J. Wray Jamaica Rums brand as J. Wray Jamaica Rum Gold and Silver, respectively. While both 40%-abv rums will retain their original recipes and pricing ($17 a 750-ml.), Gold and Silver have been repackaged, with the new iterations currently rolling out across select U.S. markets

Australian craft gin brand Four Pillars has launched in the U.S., making its debut in New York and California. Four Pillars’ flagship entries—including Rare Dry (41.8% abv) and Navy Strength (58.8% abv) gins—are currently available in limited quantities on- and off-premise in both markets, retailing at $38-$48 a 750-ml. Established in 2013 in the Yarra Valley, Four Pillars specializes in handcrafted gins made with botanicals indigenous to Australia, including Lemon Myrtle and Tasmanian Pepperberry leaf, among others. The brand is imported in the U.S. by The Craft Spirits Cooperative.

Hennessy is introducing the newest edition in its VS artist bottle series, featuring a partnership with Brooklyn tattoo artist Scott Campbell. The release is the sixth in the ongoing limited series between the brand and international artists such as Ryan McGinness, Shepard Fairey, Os Gemêos, Futura and KAWS. The Campbell-designed graphic label features a silver and black motif with imagery like a pair of wings and Hennessy VS’s three stars. The latest Hennessy VS artist bottle retails at $35 a 750-ml., with a limited number of deluxe sets in commemorative wooden boxes retailing at $150.

Shaw-Ross International is debuting Pusser’s Gunpowder Proof, an aged overproof rum. The 54.5%-abv expression is rolling out July 31 in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas and California, as well as mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets, with others to follow. Pusser’s Gunpowder Proof, a blend of rums from Guyana and Trinidad, is said to be the last rum issued by Britain’s Royal Navy to its enlistees in 1970. The new entry will retail at $33-$35 a bottle.

Los Angeles-based Worldwide Beverage Imports has partnered with rock band AC/DC to launch the new Thunderstruck Tequila brand. Made with 100% Blue Weber agave, Thunderstruck includes Silver ($30), Reposado ($35) and Añejo ($40) Tequilas and will be available beginning this month in Las Vegas through Good Spirits Distributing, New Mexico through Southwest Wine and Spirits, and Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota through Southern Glazer’s. More key markets are expected to come online in the coming months.

A. Hardy USA is launching single malt Scotch brand Inchmurrin in the U.S. Produced by Loch Lomond Distilleries, Inchmurrin will debut with its “Island Collection” of whiskies, comprised of Inchmurrin 12-year-old ($85), 18-year-old ($160) and Madeira Wood Finish ($95). The 46%-abv trio is currently rolling out nationwide. In addition to Inchmurrin, A. Hardy handles Loch Lomond Distilleries’ namesake Scotch brand, as well as its Littlemill, Glen Scotia and High Commissioner labels.

Westland Distillery, marketed by Anchor Distilling, has unveiled the inaugural whiskey in its new limited-edition Native Oak Series. Rolling out nationwide this month, Westland’s Garryana American single malt whiskey is matured in Quercus garryana wood, a rare species of white oak found in the Pacific Northwest. The 56.2%-abv entry is limited to 2,500 bottles, retailing at $125 each. Westland, which specializes in American single malts, expects to release more whiskies to its Native Oak series next year.

Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits is set to roll out a trio of new barrel-proof whiskies under its Redemption brand. Redemption’s new limited Aged Barrel Proof Collection includes an eight-year-old Straight Rye Whiskey at 122.2 proof, a nine-year-old High Rye Bourbon at 109.2 proof, and a nine-year-old Bourbon at 110.6 proof. All three Indiana-distilled whiskies will hit top U.S. markets, retailing at $100 a bottle.

All information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

Filed under: Spirits & Liqueurs