CHRISTMAS RETAILING

Merry and bright

With consumers soon to be rushing to liquor stores for all their Christmas needs, we’ve collected some of our top gifting picks and suppliers’ key retail tips for the season.

Millon The Impressionist Sensory Pack

Millon Wines has launched The Impressionist Sensory Pack, a tasting experience that recreates the in-person winery experience wherever, and whenever, a consumer wants. The pack stimulates the five senses, taking drinkers to the Millon Wines vineyard in South Australia.

Included in the pack are four award-winning wines from Millon – Pinot Gris, Riesling, Tempranillo and Shiraz – and a virtual reality headset to transport consumers to the vineyard. There is also a bespoke food pairing tea towel to help guide wine and food matching, specialised wine varietal guides and tasting notes, and access to curated Spotify playlists for each wine. A truly unique sensory gift for the wine lovers.

Distributor: Millon Wines

Mumm Tasmania Brut Prestige

Champagne is a go-to option for many at Christmas, but this year, one iconic Champagne house is showcasing the power of local Australian sparkling too. As part of the Mumm Terroir series, Pernod Ricard has just launched Mumm Tasmania Brut Prestige, a collaboration between the group’s White and Sparkling Winemaker in Australia, Trina Smith, and G.H. Mumm’s Chef de Caves in France, Laurent Fresnet.

Mumm Tasmania is produced using the same traditional method of Maison Mumm, producing a refined wine of sophisticated style with complex aromas of warm spices and red berries balanced by delicate acidity with powerful length.

Distributor: Pernod Ricard

Prohibition Liquor Co Christmas Gin

The sixth annual release of Prohibition Liquor Co’s limited edition, all-Australian Christmas Gin is here!

This 2022 vintage is a deliciously decadent expression of the cult Yuletide spirit. Extra lashings of cherries and figs from the Adelaide Hills are elevated with organic vanilla and notes of bright Riverland citrus. All manners of Christmas spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves work in harmony for this true spirit of Christmas.

The spirit is a perfect gift for the festive season, featuring a luxurious, vibrant blue bottle, handmade in the Cognac region of France – finished with a silver print design and wax seal. As usual stock is limited, so order now!

Distributor: Cerbaco Distribution and Options Craft Liquor Merchants (SA)

Toji Sake

From Japan’s Asahi Mountains to the laneways of Melbourne, Toji’s mission is to deliver a contemporary aesthetic with a westernised identity, whilst staying true to its Japanese roots.

In 2017, husband and wife team Yuta and Shar Kobayashi travelled throughout Japan to study the essence of sake. It was here they found their toji (Japanese for brewmaster), from one of the most famed breweries in Niigata, a ten-time gold medal winner of the prestigious National New Sake Awards.

The purity of ingredients in Toji Sake, combined with experience and traditional technique creates a light, dry, crisp sake for any occasion, making it an interesting gift for consumers this season.

Distributor: Independent Beverage Partners

Proof & Company tasting collections

Proof & Company has stepped up its gifting options ahead of Christmas with a range of unique tasting packs across its portfolio of premium spirit brands. The curated selection features exploration packs by Drinks by the Dram with sets of 30ml gin and whiskey samples, as well as experience packs of different sizes from Plantation Rum and Diplomático.

Proof & Company said the gifting options this year aim to be truly thoughtful and memorable gifts that cater to the consumer demand for interesting and unique spirits products.

Distributor: Proof & Company

Lyre’s Sophisticated Serves

Lyre’s is taking the guesswork out of Christmas cocktails for consumers this season, thanks to its new range of bottled nonalcoholic cocktails.

The Sophisticated Serves range features premium 200ml ready to serve non-alcoholic versions of three of the world’s favourite classic cocktails – the Negroni, Old Fashioned and Margarita. Meticulously crafted with high quality ingredients and made using Lyre’s highly awarded non-alcoholic spirits, the range helps consumers experiment in the no alcohol space without committing to larger or multi-bottled recipes, a key barrier to trial in the past.

Lyre’s Sophisticated Serves are available as single bottles or in limited edition gift box sets, perfect for gifting this Christmas.

Distributor: Lyre’s

Wild Turkey Longbranch Gift Pack

Wild Turkey Longbranch is the product of a shared dream between Master Distillers, Jimmy and Eddie Russell, and Matthew McConaughey. The Kentucky straight bourbon is aged for eight years and harnesses the passion and friendship of both parties - the Russell family’s craftmanship, fused with McConaughey’s kinetic creative energy.

The liquid gold of Wild Turkey Longbranch comes about from the brand’s eighty year old distilling process from Kentucky, refined with sweet smoothness from Mesquite wood and oak charcoal from McConaughey’s home state of Texas. This deepens the flavour and complexity of this rare, small-batch bourbon, creating a truly exceptional and unique whiskey.

Perfect for gifting in its own right, Wild Turkey Longbranch increases its appeal this season with a special limited edition gift pack featuring two whiskey glasses.

Distributor: Campari Australia

Brown Brothers NV Prosecco

Bursting with lively notes of apple and citrus, Brown Brothers Non-Vintage Prosecco is made to drink now at its light and delicate best. The grapes for this wine were grown in the cool climate King Valley. A refreshing sip for any occasion.

This year, Brown Brothers has partnered with leading online beauty retailer, Adore Beauty to offer $20 to anyone purchasing specially marked Brown Brothers Prosecco this gifting season.

Distributor: Brown Family Wine Group

Moderation in mind this season

The burgeoning non-alcoholic sector is set to be important this season across multiple categories, and so should factor into Christmas retail strategies.

Bewsher says: “Consumers are increasingly expecting a comprehensive range of nonalcoholic options, they require products that can deliver a premium drinking experience across the entire gamut of their traditional alcoholic repertoire.

“Retailers will need to have a range of options across the board, premium craft beer, luxury sparkling, after-dinner liqueurs, and traditional cocktail spirits.”

Morris Whisky Sherry Barrel Single Malt Whisky

Just in time for Christmas, Morris Whisky has launched a new core range SKU toits collection of award-winning Australian single malt whiskies. The Morris Sherry BarrelSingle Malt Whisky is characterised by unique Rutherglen features that deliver a well structured whisky with subtle spice, toasted nut and clean oak characters.

Produced solely from Australian ingredients and matured in a combination of French and American oak ex-Australian red wine casks, this latest creation is finished in barrels that have held Morris of Rutherglen’s10-yr-Aged Amber Apera.

Distributor: Vanguard Luxury Brands

Wine not?

Wine is one section of the industry that is primed not only for gifting this year, but for general consumption in the season, as Brown illustrates.

To make the most of this, she said: “Ensure to have a range of wines in fridge for immediate consumption for non-planned occasions and spontaneous buying.”

Other important tips include creating opportunities for customers to sample wines in-store, as this builds confidence and encourages consumers to trade up; and also making sure staff arewell trained to help guide this decision-making.

Jansz Tasmania Premium Cuvée

This festive season, renowned Australian sparkling wine house, Jansz

Tasmania, has partnered with Tasmanian artist Daniel Gray-Barnett to create a bespoke piece of art for this year’s holiday gift boxes. The art is titled Our Breath, Our Song, and is inspired by the majesty and mythology of the Bass Strait and how the flow of time, people and nature shapes the land and vineyards around us all.

This is the third iteration of the Jansz Tasmania Seasonal Release, with limited edition, eye-catching boxes available now.

Distributor: Hill-Smith Family Estates

Batched Premium Cocktails

Batched Premium Cocktails offer an elevated bar experience – in your own home! This festive season, all you’ll need is a cocktail shaker and ice to simple shake and pour the pre-made Batched cocktails, creating the perfect cocktail, every time.

The New Zealand brand crossed into Australia a mere eight months ago and has already seen a dramatic lift in consumer expectations. Drinkers are loving the convenient and effortlessly cool range – they’re fun to make, look amazing and taste delicious.

Made from the finest organic ingredients, Batched is available in four delicious blends including the original Espresso Martini, Strawberry and Rhubarb Gin Sour, Whiskey Sour and Salted Grapefruit Margarita. It comes in 725ml bottles with eight serves per bottle.

Distributor: Global Endeavours Australia