Limited edition releases in the spirits market have become a significant trend in the UK, with brands leveraging scarcity to drive demand and elevate their prestige. This strategy has been particularly prominent in the off-trade spirits market, where retail sales are conducted outside licensed premises such as bars and restaurants. This article delves into how brands create scarcity, the economics behind limited edition releases, and the impacts on sales and brand value.
About us
Hello, and welcome to Drinks Merchants, a new magazine-style platform aimed solely at the UK’s drinks trade. Whether you’re an independent merchant, importing or distributing drinks, or a drinks producer, we aim to be your go-to source of up-to-date information and advice on everything relating to the business. The UK drinks market has undergone what is probably one of the most turbulent periods in its history. With the Covid pandemic resulting in government-mandated widespread closures, many businesses have not survived. And those that have emerged from the wreckage are now struggling to keep their businesses afloat, hamstrung by staff shortages, soaring costs, and in some parts of the country, ongoing Covid restrictions. Brexit hasn’t helped the situation either, exacerbating the difficulties in recruiting staff, supply shortages and delays, and adding additional costs and endless red tape to business operations. Drinks Merchants aims to tackle all these issues and more; from how to harness social media to enhance your profile, to putting together a comprehensive drinks portfolio, dealing with the ever-changing laws and supply chain issues, and how to manage staff recruitment and other HR issues in these challenging times. We will be running profiles on some of the most interesting people in the industry including features on innovative, up-and-coming producers, importers, distributors, and independent merchants, which have survived the pandemic, expert’s advice on training staff, keeping a profitable drinks list and top tips from leading professionals. We’ll be talking to importers and distributors on how they are overcoming the challenges posed by Brexit and Covid, and how they have had to adapt their businesses. Drinks Merchants will also be highlighting recent emerging trends such as the increasing use of technology and things such as rising drinks trends.
- Website
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https://linktr.ee/drinksmerchants
External link for Drinks Merchants
- Industry
- Media Production
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- London
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2020
- Specialties
- alcohol
Locations
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Primary
London, GB
Updates
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The London Spirits Competition has once again brought to light the best whiskies, bourbons, vodkas, rums, and more from around the world. These award-winning spirits are not just beverages; they are expressions of artistry and dedication. Whether you’re looking to expand your collection, discover new favorites, or simply enjoy a top-tier drink, these spirits are a worthy addition to any bar. Explore the links provided to learn more about each of these exceptional spirits and make an informed choice for your next purchase. Drinks retailers should consider stocking the award-winning spirits from the 2024 London Spirits Competition for several compelling reasons:
The Best Spirits of 2024: A Guide to Award-Winning Whiskies, Bourbons, and More
Drinks Merchants on LinkedIn
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Drinks Merchants reposted this
The UK holds a special place for New Zealand wine. This historic partnership, coupled with the UK's status as a global wine hub, has created a lucrative market for New Zealand producers. New Zealand wines consistently fetch premium prices in the UK, averaging £11.10 per liter compared to the market average of £8.88. This translates to significant volume, with the UK importing a staggering 42 million liters in 2021. New Zealand's wine industry has flourished, boasting over 700 wineries producing a staggering 300 million liters annually. While Sauvignon Blanc remains their signature grape, wineries are increasingly exploring Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other varietals, offering a more diverse portfolio to UK consumers. Sustainability is a cornerstone of the industry, with many producers adopting organic and biodynamic practices. To stay ahead in the competitive UK market, New Zealand wineries prioritize premiumization. They craft a compelling narrative – a "storytelling" approach that highlights unique vineyard characteristics and their commitment to sustainable practices. This emotional connection resonates with UK consumers. Additionally, collaboration is key. Wineries forge strong partnerships with importers and retailers, ensuring their wines reach the right audience. Finally, success in prestigious wine competitions like the London Competitions bolsters brand reputation and consumer trust. This multi-pronged approach positions New Zealand wines for continued success in the UK market. Read more on our exclusive article here: https://lnkd.in/dXAKWZgE . . New Zealand Wine New Zealand Wine Navigator Sarah Szostak Juliana Foster Fabian Yukich David Strada Ranit Librach Shin Saito Clive Jones Hazel Thomson Bill Hird Tim Nowell-Ust icke Joyce Austin Maddison Wyllie-Papali'i 🍷Misha Wilkinson Giorgio Manganelli Chris Stroud Peter Lorimer Sid Patel Malvika Patel Drinks Merchants Beverage Trade Network Vincent Labat
New Zealand Wine Industry: Navigating Success in the UK Market
londonwinecompetition.com
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Drinks Merchants reposted this
Stock these Top 21–30 beers from the Top 100 list of 2024✨ 🍺 Alfa Krachtig Dort | 92 Points Tasting Notes: The beer has a dark amber shade with notes of caramel and vanilla on the nose with a touch of maltiness. It has a good mouthfeel and a smooth finish. 🍺 La Salve Lucía | 92 Points Tasting Notes: This brew impresses with its clear, bright appearance and excellent head retention. The aromas of malt and hops lead to a sweet taste and full-bodied warmth. 🍺 La Bittt À Tibi Blond Lager | 92 Points Tasting Notes: It is a light golden refreshing beer with a good head retention and sweet notes. With a good body and a very smooth finish. 🍺 Cotta 21 | 92 Points Tasting Notes: Bright golden hue, intertwining spicy esters with bready notes, crafting a crisp, clean brew with subtle bitterness. It is highly drinkable. 🍺 Castellana/Kastelirka | 92 Points Tasting Notes: Golden amber IPA with a good head and delicate bubbles. Aromas of clove, caramel, and citrus. The palate offers good bitterness, weight, and acidity. 🍺 Brouwerij't Smakt - Nano-Tripel | 92 Points Tasting Notes: An interplay of esters like bay leaves, cloves, and citrus on a doughy, bready backdrop. Ends with a dry, crisp finish and smooth, moreish bitterness. 🍺 I P A | 92 Points Tasting Notes: Copper-hued with minimal haze, it offers caramel, honey, orange, and pine aromas. Palate: is sweet bready, nutty notes with grassy hops. The finish is slightly cloying but balanced by bitterness. 🍺 Martha Brown Eyes | 92 Points Tasting Notes: This beer offers a complex blend of brown bread, cocoa, dark fruits, toffee, and caramel notes. Its rich malt and ester mix is luxurious and moreish. 🍺 Gulpener Pilsner | 91 Points Tasting Notes: Aggressive mousse forms a nice head. Wonderful aged malt-like nose, comforting, with sweet spices. Palate: refreshing, with toasted wheat, barley, malt, and caramel. Nice light bitter finish. 🍺 Gerardus Dubbel | 91 Points Tasting Notes: Indulgent dubbel boasts rich malty flavors of brown bread, caramel, toffee, honey, toast, and dried currants, akin to bread pudding. Offers a luxurious taste. . Cheers 🍻 . . Sid Patel Beverage Trade Network London Competitions Drinks Merchants Brasserie Belgh Brasse Inc ALFA Brewery Michelle Meens Andrea Moonen Ralf Rouschop La Salve Bilbao Eduardo Saiz Lekue Jacobo Pérez-Yarza José Antonio Barrio Conde Mastri Birrai Umbri Roberto Canzilla Martina Bartolucci Domenico Pipitone The Brew Society Nicolas Verschueren Roel Lachi Björn Desmadryl Dieter Dhondt Stephanie Vanhooren Gulpener Bierbrouwerij #London #uk #londoncompetitions #award #beers #brewery
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Drinks Merchants reposted this
Stock these Top 10–20 beers from the Top 100 list of 2024✨ 🍺Philippe Auguste | 93 Points Tasting Notes: Murky orange with balsamic, bitter, minty notes, and yellow stone fruits. Not contemporary, slightly cheesy from old hops, but enjoyable. 🍺Delirium Tremens | 93 Points Tasting Notes: The beer has a golden clear shade. Notes of spices and floral on the nose and bready on the palate with a smooth finish. 🍺Bullrock Stout | 93 Points Tasting Notes: Jet black with a dark tan head. Incredibly complex and balanced flavor profile: licorice, bittersweet chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, roasted malt, and dried dark fruits. 🍺Abk Edel Spezialbier | 93 Points Tasting Notes: Fresh and simple beer with stone fruit and citrus notes complementing the maltiness. The palate offers a pleasantly creamy mouthfeel and balanced acidity, keeping it refreshing. 🍺Topic Thunder - Nutty Chocolate Pastry Stout | 92 Points Tasting Notes: The porter exudes enticing aromas of melted chocolate, caramel, and mocha with a hint of coffee. The palate offers fresh red fruit flavors alongside chocolate, providing rich quality and enjoyable complexity. 🍺Gulpener Biologische Ijsbock | 92 Points Tasting Notes: A beer with caramel apple, nutty, and soy aroma. Fruity taste, balanced acidity, slight sourness, bitterness. Ends with chocolate-hazelnut notes. 🍺Gerardus Blond | 92 Points Tasting Notes: Dark gold brew with banana pie character, caramel, honey, bread, and clove notes. 🍺Encore | 92 Points Tasting Notes: Dark gold with a copper hue, scented with orange, grapefruit, pine, and resin, with a hint of minerality and bready graininess. Flavourful with balanced hop complexity, crisp, and approachable. 🍺Naddi | 92 Points Tasting Notes: An amber-hued dark lager with delicate bubbles and a light head. Palate features toasted malt, chocolate notes, and a hint of bitterness, well-made. 🍺Thunbier Lager | 92 Points Tasting Notes: A beer with aromas of toast, malty, and yeasty notes precede a fresh palate with crisp acidity and a good aftertaste. . Cheers 🍻 Sid Patel Beverage Trade Network London Competitions Drinks Merchants Seungwon David Park Huyghe Brewery Patrick van Leijsen Benedikt Debeuckelaere Géraud Laveissiere Alain De Laet catherine dubrulle Simon Van der Eecken Caroline Dewaele ROKiT Drinks Hannah Schreiner Darina Gruenhagen Thomas Good Bruce Renny Cold Town Beer Paul Kerr Graham Storey Brendan Town Fiona Williamson Siobhán Leith Euan Bain Gulpener Bierbrouwerij Lacons Amy Hancock Claire Surina Mick Carver Alyssa Newton Mark Davies Brauerei Thun AG Philipp Schmutz Rolf Suhner Kurt Althaus Raphael Lanz Daniela Schmutz Michael McGarty #London #uk #londoncompetitions #award #beers #brewery
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Drinks Merchants reposted this
Stock these Top 10–20 selections from the Top 100 Wine list of 2024✨ 🍷 Wakefield The Pioneer Shiraz | 94 Points Tasting Notes: Dark ruby appearance. Good intensity of aromas on the nose & palate. A mix of black fruits supported by sweet spices from the oak. The finish is long with different layers of complexity. 🍷Pauletts Clare Valley Shiraz | 93 Points Tasting Notes: Red fruits and black fruit aromas and flavors on the palate and nose with refreshing acidity, medium body, and medium finish. 🍷Barolo Docg Luigi Bosca | 93 Points Tasting Notes: The aroma of black fruit flavors along with leather, rose petals, and tar. Dark berries and plums, accompanied by earthy and savory flavors. 🍷Chateau Clos Bel Air | 93 Points Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, ripe black fruit, chocolate, bramble notes on nose and palate. Well-balanced elegant and refined, wine with the potential for further aging. 🍷Chateau Fonbadet | 93 Points Tasting Notes: Medium intense herbaceous nose. Ripe blackcurrant, sweet spices, sandal, earth. Powerful, concentrated, rich, fine-grained tannins, chocolatey and coffee finish. 🍷Marquis De Terme - Cuvée 1762 | 93 Points Tasting Notes: The wine presents a lovely touch of violet and rose petals, with hints of white truffle. The palate is smooth, concentrated, and balanced, showcasing the classic elegant style of Bordeaux. 🍷 Justin 2020 Isosceles | 93 Points Tasting Notes: This wine has a remarkable amount of fruit and a great combination of sweet spices and licorice notes. Feels rich, opulent, and great on the palate with flavors of black fruits. 🍷 Mount Pleasant Wines Op&Oh Shiraz | 93 Points Tasting Notes: It is aromatic and complex on the nose with ripe raspberry, cinnamon, and black pepper notes. Rich, ripe, and fleshy on the palate, with soft good tannins. 🍷 Classic Cuvee | 92 Points Tasting Notes: Attractive aromas of bread, toast and nuts. Acidity gives structure to the palate—flavors of nuts, toasty hint, citrus, and apple. 🍷 Mount Pleasant Winery Tawny Port Vol. Xxii | 92 Points Tasting Notes: Good intensity on the nose with a good concentration of dried fruits and walnut aromas. 🔗 For more details visit our website here: https://lnkd.in/dVk85_BV . . London Competitions Sid Patel Malvika Patel Beverage Trade Network London Drinks Guide Drinks Merchants Wakefield Wines Taylors Wines Paulett Wines Ali Paulett Bosca SpA Château Sénilhac Marquis de Terme JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery Mount Pleasant Wines Lympstone Manor Hotel, Restaurant and Vineyard Jarrad Steele Alison Paulett Dannavel Sarmiento Mara Ghibaudo Ilaria Bardessono Pia Bosca Silvana Grasso Sarah Loiseau Myriam Ruer Ludovic David Madison Carrere Chloé Michel Davide Basile Margot Touzeau Sylwia Oger Patrycja Ewa Szpiech Alex McEwen Bryony Heap Amandine Desquartiers #London #uk #londoncompetitions #award #wine #winemakers
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Hinton's of Bewdley excels at the 2023 London Spirits Competition, winning important awards for their Worcestershire Pear Gin, Regatta Gin, and 5evern Gin. Owner Nick Hinton discusses their experience and expecting additional accolades at the approaching 2024 LSC. Nick mentions, “We were already aware of the LSC before and had seen it on various products. We have entered several different competitions over the years, but this was the first time we have entered this one. It is very difficult to know which ones to enter as there are so many now.” London Competitions is making the LAST & FINAL CALL for submissions. Enter your spirits before the deadline of 22nd February 2024. ⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️ Read The Full Story Here: https://lnkd.in/dmW3ijNE #londonspiritscompetition #craftdistillery #awardwinninggin #hintonsofbewdley #spiritsindustry
Success For Hinton’s of Bewdley at the London Spirits Competition
londonspiritscompetition.com
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Join the worldwide stage of brilliance at the 2024 London Competitions. Earn recognition, connect with industry professionals, and boost your spirits, wine, or beer to success. The London Competitions in the past 6 years has established itself as one of the most important and relevant competitions in the alcohol industry. It attracts some of the best judges in the world and rewards products that most appeal to potential consumers in how they taste, their value for money, and what they look like. Moreover, the competition has proven to be a morale booster, particularly for teams working tirelessly behind the scenes at their establishments. Recognition at such a prestigious platform validates their efforts and dedication, fostering a sense of pride and motivation within this industry. Enter now: Spirits: https://lnkd.in/fRTyGrN Wine: https://lnkd.in/dPw6M2BX Beer: https://lnkd.in/dAZwTMj9 #londoncompetition #london #uk #wine #spirits #beer Sid Patel I Beverage Trade Network
London Competitions Submission Deadline Is 10 Days Away. Enter Today.
Drinks Merchants on LinkedIn
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Come along on an exclusive tour with Jamie Morrison, the brand ambassador behind the global reach of The Glenturret Distillery. Jamie's love of whisky took him from being a modest tour guide in 2015 to the highly sought-after position of Brand Ambassador. In this in-depth interview, Jamie offers insights into the whisky industry as well as his keys to success. Learn how Jamie cultivates solid relationships in the industry and promotes brand awareness through marketing collaborations and training courses. Discover more about his digital marketing tactics and the difficulties the spirits business is currently facing. 🥃 Check The Full Story Here 👇: https://lnkd.in/dJfN4jmv #spirits #brandambassador #spiritsindustry #distillery #beverageindustry Sid Patel Jamie Morrison The Glenturret London Competitions The On-Trade Ankita O. Malvika Patel Louisa Copping John Laurie Fiona Macdonald Ewan Harris Lucy Armstrong Ronan Barrett MCIM Ruaridh Jackson Alexander Thomson Greig Sharp (夏格) Claire Mercer Sally Thompson Lorraine Macdonald
Jamie Morrison's Evolution From Tour Guide To Brand Ambassador at Glenturret Distillery
drinksmerchants.com
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NEWS ALERT! 🚨 We are excited to share that Jeet verma has joined the London Competitions family as their Global Brand Ambassador for 2024. Jeet brings a remarkable amount of knowledge and innovation to the table. With a background in mixology and a love for creating wellness-focused beverages, Jeet is poised to take our event to new heights. Read the full cover story as we dive into conversation about Jeet's journey so far and the dynamic UAE market, uncovering the most recent trends and insights. 🥂 Read Here: https://lnkd.in/dPBtjnsf #spirits #spiritsindustry #mixologist #bartender #globalambassador #londoncompetitions Sid Patel | Ankita O. | Beverage Trade Network | The On-Trade | LSL CAPITAL | Jeet verma
Jeet Verma joins as a Global Brand Ambassador for UAE at London Competitions
drinksmerchants.com