Stoli Group to release super premium Kentucky Owl bourbon into GTR in 2019

Stoli Group has announced that it will release its super premium US bourbon brand, Kentucky Owl (‘The Wise Man’s Bourbon’), into the global travel retail market this year.

Listings with selected duty free operators are soon to be announced and bottles of the bourbon will be on show at several upcoming travel retail shows. These include the Viking Line Whisky Fair in February, The Summit of Americas (Orlando) in March and the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in May.

Stoli Group’s parent company, SPI Group, bought Kentucky Owl in January 2017 from its owner, Dixon Dedman, and he has been retained by SPI Group as Master Blender of the brand.

Kentucky Owl was founded in 1879 by Dixon’s great great grandfather, C.M. Dedman. Unfortunately, Prohibition in the US led to the bourbon’s mysterious disappearance more than 100 years ago (see back story at the end of this release). Dixon began working on the brand’s second iteration in 2008 and released his first batch in September 2014. 

Every batch of Kentucky Owl is one-of-a-kind with a blend of high-quality, different aged bourbons, that Dixon made his own. His process involves re-charring, re-barrelling, tasting and experimenting with the various bourbons until he has discovered the next Kentucky Owl release.

Stoli Group is the exclusive distributor, marketer and seller of the bourbons and now rye whiskies, of which Dixon has produced two.

Stoli released the first batch of Kentucky Owl produced under SPI Group’s ownership – 11 year old Rye Whiskey – in September 2017. It had an 55.3% ABV and sold into 27 markets with an SRP of US$130. A number of other batches followed during 2018.

The first release of Kentucky Owl attracted a top rating of 95 points by Whiskey Advocate, the respected US whiskey industry magazine. The publication’s journalist Fred Minnick, who is also San Francisco World Spirits Competition judge, said: “Just beautiful, long rounded notes of caramel, cinnamon roll, butterscotch, brisket burnt ends, nutmeg… if it sounds complex, it’s because it is and the finish just doesn't quit, giving you a lingering taste of every note.”

Commenting on the Kentucky Owl’s entry into GTR, Stoli Group Global DF/TR Director Jean-Philippe Aucher said: “Kentucky Owl is without doubt one of our most exciting releases into global travel retail. It is produced in relatively small batches, using Dixon Dedman’s ground-breaking methods, and therefore we will be carefully selecting operators who understand and prioritise craft bourbons and ryes.”

He added: “Kentucky Owl will have a highly visible presence at upcoming travel retail industry shows, and we look forward to entering discussions with duty free operators who fit this bill.”

The American Bourbon & Whiskey category currently represents US$3 billion in annual sales and had a +6% CAGR from 2010-2016. The strongest growth within the category is in super premium small batch bourbon – the sub-category which includes Kentucky Owl – and has +20% CAGR over the same period.

The Kentucky Owl back story

Dixon Dedman is the great great grandson of C.M. Dedman, who founded the Kentucky Owl Distillery in 1979.

The distillery flourished over 37 years, until Prohibition put an end to the business. In 1916, as Prohibition loomed, 250,000 gallons of Kentucky Owl Bourbon was confiscated by the US Government and shipped up the river by barge to the state capital in Frankfort for “safekeeping” in a warehouse.

One dark night, so the story goes, that warehouse full of Kentucky Owl mysteriously burned to the ground. The mysterious part is that the warehouse burned down in just a few hours when a warehouse full of whiskey should have burned for days.

It is rumoured that Kentucky Owl did not burn at all, but was spirited away by Al Capone or other interests to fuel demand for good bourbon in late night speakeasies.

The value of the bourbon lost today would today be valued at around US$40 million.

About Stoli Group^®

Part of SPI Group – one of the world's leading premium spirits businesses – Stoli Group was established in 2013 as the division responsible for the management, distribution and marketing of SPI's global spirit portfolio.

Molton Brown unveils bespoke gift boxes for Chinese New Year

British luxury brand, Molton Brown, has unveiled a new packaging initiative aimed at attracting the Chinese customers in the lead up to this new year’s celebrations.

Chinese passengers buying Molton Brown products in World Duty Free airport stores will have the possibility to have their purchases beautifully wrapped in a bespoke gift box celebrating Chinese New Year with a Chinese message in the colour of pink reflecting the Year of the Pig in 2019. The artwork on the boxes depicts major London landmarks in line with the British heritage and home of Molton Brown, and provides Chinese travelers with a nice souvenir of their stay in the British capital. Created to provide them with the ultimate luxurious statement, the gift package is topped off with a double-sided red/pink ribbon, with red and pink respectively alluding to Chinese New Year and the Year of the Pig.

To complete such unique gifting experience, customers will receive a red envelope in keeping with the Chinese tradition that consists in offering ‘lucky money’ to children and young adults.

The special Chinese New Year gift boxes will be available in airport stores from 21st January to 5^th February, which is the date of Chinese New Year in 2019.

Rosie Cook, Senior Manager, Global Travel Retail Molton Brown said: “This year we wanted to do something unique in travel retail to celebrate Chinese New Year and be relevant to a Chinese audience, with whom our products are very popular.

“The packaging our designers have come up with features iconic London landmarks, reflecting the Chinese’s well-known love for the city.

“The eye-catching look of these gift boxes, combined with the luxury nature of our products, will make Molton Brown the ideal purchase for the Chinese passenger at this special time of the year.”

About Molton Brown

Expertly blended in London, Molton Brown’s collection of signature fragrances for her and him, bath and shower gels and home and hand care luxuries have claimed iconic status with vibrant colours and bold scents. Carefully sourcing ingredients from around the world, each creation is intricately composed by some of the world’s best perfumers for a truly indulgent and memorable experience.

www.moltonbrown.co.uk

Travel Retail Consortium reveals identity of new Chair and reflects on a successful 2018

The Travel Retail Consortium (TRC) is pleased to announce the identity of its new Chair. Jonathan Corbett has stepped up from the position of Vice Chair, and succeeds Swiss Eyewear Group’s Rebecca Harwood Lincoln, who has completed her two-year term. He commenced his new duties on January 1 2019.

Jonathan Corbett

Jeannie Archer

Sophie Blundy

Jonathan is the Sales and Operations Manager of CG Hibbert, a leading supplier of duty free wines, spirits, beer, tobacco and other tax free products to the travel retail Industry in the UK and Europe. Within the Travel Retail Consortium CG Hibbert represent Guinness.

He was originally the Founder/Director of The Wandering Monkey Co., which sold a range of activities and gifts to airports, airlines, ferries and cruise ships, including its own range of branded products. 

Jonathan will be supported by two new Vice Chairs. They are Jeannie Archer, Sales Manager of Morgan & Oates, the cashmere and fine wool accessories specialist; and Sophie Blundy, Regional Executive - Southern & Eastern Europe & Travel Retail for the world-renowned Twinings tea company.

Commenting on Jonathan’s appointment, outgoing Chair Rebecca Harwood Lincoln said: “I’ve really enjoyed chairing the TRC and I think we have achieved a great deal over the last two years in areas such as membership expansion, advancing our members’ interests and raising funds for charities. The travel retail industry as a whole is very exciting right now, and I believe Jonathan is the ideal person to take the TRC, and its members, forward.”

The new chairmanship team are looking to build on a successful 2018, during which two new companies joined the membership in the form of Swiss brand Skross, known for its high quality travel adapter range, and RHA, the Scotland-headquartered technology company which specialises in personal audio equipment.

A major highlight of 2018 was TRC’s annual customer event, staged at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, situated on the River Thames at Caversham near Reading. TRC members and guests from UK and European-based airlines, airports, ferries, concessionaires and distributors enjoyed an afternoon and evening of business and social networking, culminating in a river cruise.

Representatives from, Condor Ferries, DFASS, DFDS, Dufry, Harding Retail, Jet2.com, P&O Ferries, Scandlines, Tourvest and WH Smith were in attendance.

At the event, funds were raised for the Children’s Hyperinsulinism Charity, a UK-based organisation to support families who have children with Congenital Hyperinsulinism by holding conferences, raising awareness and raising funds for research. The TRC has continued to raise funds for the charity since then, and the proceeds will be presented to the charity at the TRC’s January meeting.

Other highlights of the year include taking two tables at the DFNI charity ball in April and the successful hosting of members at the dinner of the TFWA World Exhibition and Conference in Cannes during October.

The Travel Retail Consortium is a UK-based suppliers’ networking group, with a 40-year track record and whose sole focus is serving buyers and retailers in the travel retail industry. Membership within TRC is non-competitive with one company per product category.

In addition to Skross and RHA, the other members are Accolade Wines, Aurora, Coty, Guinness, Heineken, Imperial Tobacco, Invu, Kurate, Mars, Morgan & Oates, Remy Cointreau, Sekonda, Taittinger and Twinings.

About the Travel Retail Consortium

The Travel Retail Consortium was originally conceived in the late 1960s and formalised in 1971 to further the interests and development of the Travel Retail Industry within the UK through the member companies

The organisation's objectives are to improve standards of business within the travel retail industry, promote members’ products and services, discuss industry issues and provide social and business networking opportunities for key industry customers and members' representatives at annual events. The TRC is also active in raising funds for charity and the Chairman nominates a charity of their choice.