Makers Mark

Jim Beam Parent Fortune Brands Set For Breakup

Filed under: Spirits

Fortune Brands (NYSE-FO), according to press reports in The Wall Street Journal and Associated Press is planning to spin off its golf and home security businesses to shareholders, while maintaining its portfolio of liquor brands, including Jim Beam Brands, Maker's Mark, Courvoisier Cognac, Laphroaig single-malt Scotch whisky and Harvey's Sherry, as a public company.

The company will spin off its golf products business, led by Titleist, as well as its security business led by the MasterLock brand. It's home products business, also to be spun off, includes Moen plumbing fixtures.

The spirits business is about a 2.5 billion operation in terms of annual revenues.

Fortune Brands board of directors has been pressured to maximize the value of the company by activist investor Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, who holds an 11% stake in the company.

Fortune Brands has long been viewed as a 20th-century style conglomerate ripe for break-up. It's disparate businesses have no real synergies and are worth more broken up than hey are run together, Ackman has argued.

Fortune Brands is trading around its 52-week high of $61 a share, up substantially from its 52-week low of $37.05. Ackman's intervention has been the chief driver of the stock.

Tags: Fortune Brands FO, Jim Beam, Laphroaig, Makers Mark, Moen, Titleist

Fortune Brands Breakup Would Put Premium Spirits Brands In Play

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Activist investor Bill Ackman has been given a four-week deadline to propose changes to the board of Fortune Brands, the company that is parent to Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Laphroaig and Courvosier, as well as Pinnacle and Scotty Cameron golf equipment, which could lead to the break-up of the conglomerate.

Since disclosing his holding last month, Mr Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, has kept quiet about his plans. However, his record suggests he wants Fortune's board to explore breaking up its stable of consumer brands starting with its spirits business, which includes Jim Beam whiskey and that distillery's small-batch Bourbon brands, and Courvoisier cognac.

Ackman holds an 11% stake in the company, which has always been viewed as an odd throw-back type conglomerate of disassociated businesses. Besides the spirits brands, and golf equipment, Fortune also operates home and home-security businesses and brands such as Moen, Masterlock, as well as kitchen cabinet brands.

In the past month, Ackman has held talks with Fortune's management about its corporate structure, shareholder value, etc. Ackman has four weeks to file a slate of his own candidates for the company's board to be voted on at the general meeting in April.

The most obvious buyers of FB's liquor businesses are drinks giants Diageo and Pernod Ricard of France. Gruppo Campari, which owns Wild Turkey and other brands, also could be interested in acquiring some of the brands. Bacardi would also be a factor in bidding. It is possible that Fortune Brands spirits brands would go to different companies, each looking for its own strategic additions.

Fortune's other brands include Cruzan Rum, Canadian Club, Effen Vodka, Ardmore single-malt, Harvey's Bristol Cream Sherry, Teacher's Scotch Whiskey and DeKuyper spirits.

Fortune Brands shares are trading around $60.00, up more than 10% since October 7, and up from its 52-week low of $37.05

Tags: alcohol, Bill Ackman, bourbon, Courvosier, Fortune Brands, Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Laphroaig, Makers Mark, Masterlock, Moen, Pinnacle, scotty cameron, spirits, whiskey, whisky

USA Wineries Increasing Use of Cork Closures

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Despite a move in recent years to replace cork closures for wine with alternatives such as synthetic cork or screw-caps, a study by AC Nielsen on behalf of the Cork Quality Council indicates that the premium domestic US wineries are increasing their use of cork closures, with brands using cork showing higher annual sales growth over those using alternatives.

According to the data released recently by the CQC, out of 100 top selling wine brands, the number of brands using cork closures rose to 72 during the past five months, registering an increase of 7.5%. These brands using cork as the closure also posted an average annual sales bump of 10.2 %, compared to annual growth of 3.7 % for alternative closures majority of which are screw-caps.

Cork comes from a certain variety of oak tree that is only found in the Mediterranean, especially Portugal.

Tags: AC Nielsen, cork, cork taint, corks, french wines, Makers Mark, premium wines

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Makers Mark New #46 Bourbon: First Taste

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

For Maker's Mark Bourbon drinkers, there hasn't been much variety. Except for the odd limited run brand extension that involved a bit more aging, the core Maker's Mark has been the whole show.

Contrast that allegiance to the original recipe with a few of its rivals such as Jim Beam, Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve. Wild Turkey, for example, has six expressions including 80-proof, 86.8-proof, 101, Rare Breed, 8-year old and 12-year old. Woodford has come out with limited run expressions with different barrel finishes like one in which the Bourbon was finished in Sonoma-Cutrer wine barrels for a few months.

Now, Maker's is getting into the act. In a few months, the Loretto, Ky. distiller will launch Maker's Mark "#46," a slightly higher proof Bourbon expression that has been finished in barrels containing toasted oak staves for several extra months of aging. The staves, in fact, are seared on the outside. The result: a Maker's Mark Bourbon with slightly less sweetness and vanilla, and a bit more earthy cinnamon. And while I have read other reviewers comment that they thought #46 was hotter on the tongue than standard Maker's Mark, I had the opposite reaction. #46, to me, is a bit quieter on the tongue and has a smoother finish than regular Maker's despite the higher alcohol content.

This is not a radical departure for Maker's. Indeed, I had to drink both Maker's Mark and Maker's #46 against each other for 15 minutes to formulate my review, and pull out the differences. That's not a huge surprise since #46 has regular maker's at its core. The Bourbon is crafted to the regular Maker's taste profile before it is barreled for the extra finish.

Tags: American Whisky Trail, AmericanWhiskyTrail, Bill Samuels, BillSamuels, Bourbon, Makers Mark, makers mark 46, MakersMark, Small-batchBouron

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Neiman Marcus Unveils 2009 Christmas Book

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Wings

Neiman Marcus just unveiled the 2009 edition of the renowned Christmas Book, offering customers the ultimate in cutting-edge, dream-fulfilling gifts. First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store's best customers and evolved into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts. Among the highlights of this year's catalog:

His & Hers Gift Package, $250,000: An ICON A5 sport aircraft with custom trailer and sport pilot license training for two. The ICON A5 is from a world-class team of engineers and designers who helped create the groundbreaking Virgin Global Flyer, and features an amphibious hull and landing gear to take off and land just as easily on water as on land.

Algonquin Round Table Experience, $200,000: Exclusive dinner party at NYC's legendary Algonquin Hotel (above) with guests including Christopher Buckley, Roz Chast, Nora Ephron, Malcolm Gladwell, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Adam Gopnik, John Lithgow, Anna Deavere Smith and George Stephanopoulos. Proceeds to benefit First Book, the 2009 Christmas Book Charity.

2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition, $105,000: Limited to only 50 examples, the bespoke version of Jag's new flagship features a supercharged 5-liter V8 that delivering 470 hp, a custom interior of butter-soft navy and ivory leather and Zebrano matte wood accents, and includes a five-piece set of matching Jaguar luggage in navy blue leather.

HALL Artisan Wine and Art Experience, $20,000: Learn organic, artisan winemaking firsthand, tour the estates in Napa and the art collection, and have the opportunity to create your own personal vintage in a private blending session with HALL's Winemaker with a custom vintage bottled for you. Includes accommodations at Auberge and a private dinner party with Ambassador Kathryn Hall.

Maker's Mark Master Distiller Experience, $7,500: All-access, VIP experience with Maker's Mark Master Distiller, Kevin Smith. Spend a day making whiskey, step by step and take home two bottles of the rarest Maker's Mark – golden bottles etched with your likeness and dipped in gold wax with 24-kt gold flecks. Includes luxury accommodations in Louisville and a gourmet dinner hosted by Bill Samuels, the 7th generation of Maker's Mark.

Get In The Christmas Spirit With AOL Radio's 10 Best Christmas Songs.

Tags: Algonquin Hotel, AlgonquinHotel, catalog, Christmas, gifts, ICON A5, IconA5, Jaguar, Makers Mark, MakersMark, Neiman Marcus, Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, NeimanMarcus, NeimanMarcusChristmasBook

Laphroaig Launches 18 Yr., Hosts Live Online Tasting

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Events

On Friday, Sept. 25, Islay single malt Scotch Laphroaig is hosting Distillery LIVE 2009, an interactive, online webcast tasting for whisky fans across the globe. The star of the show is their new limited edition 18-Year-Old (right).

The 18-year aging process results in a Scotch bright gold in color enhanced by soft, sweet and spicy Islay peat smoke with a hint of the sea. The full-bodied whisky tastes of a tang of smoke that fades into smooth floral scents, which blends seamlessly into an oaky nuttiness and a lasting smooth, sweet finish.

Hosted in the United States for the first time, Laphroaig Distillery Manager John Campbell is traveling to bourbon country to join Maker's Mark Master Distiller Kevin Smith for the live-broadcast event at the Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky.

Together Campbell and Smith, along with Malt Advocate magazine's John Hansell, will celebrate the relationship between Laphroaig and Maker's Mark, specifically the maturation process of Laphroaig in former Maker's Mark bourbon barrels, while educating consumers on traditional Laphroaig expressions.

The webcast is taking place at 8 p.m. EST on the 25th, and is accessible at www.distillerylive.us.com.

Tags: Islay, Laphroaig, Makers Mark, MakersMark, Scotch, single malt, SingleMalt, whisky

Celebrate Derby Day With Esquire and Maker's Mark

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Dining, Spirits, Events, Charity, Sports

On Kentucky Derby day - Saturday, May 2nd - Esquire magazine will celebrate the "Greatest Two Minutes in Sports" at NYC's Eleven Madison Park with Maker's Mark bourbon. Esquire Editor-in-Chief David Granger and Union Square Hospitality Group CEO Danny Meyer will co-host the event at the award-winning restaurant. The fete will feature live coverage of the race at Churchill Downs, chef Daniel Humm's take on Southern cuisine, Maker's Mark mint juleps, a cigar lounge by Nat Sherman, live music, and a silent auction benefiting New York Horse Rescue. Maker's Mark Master Distiller Kevin Smith will also be holding bourbon tastings in the upstairs lounge.

Four special Maker's Mark Bourbon bars will be stationed throughout the restaurant, serving Maker's mint juleps in traditional ice-frosted silver cups. Legendary tobacconist Nat Sherman will transform Eleven Madison Park's patio into a sleek cigar lounge, complete a Maker's Mark bourbon bar and live Kentucky Bluegrass music. A portion of the proceeds from a silent auction of luxury, epicurean and travel packages will benefit New York Horse Rescue, New York's not-for-profit charity whose goal is to place unwanted thoroughbred racehorses in new homes. The price per person is $250, plus tax. To purchase tickets visit www.elevenmadisonpark.ticketleap.com. You can also email derby@elevenmadisonpark.com for more info.

Tags: bourbon, Danny Meyer, DannyMeyer, equestrian, Esquire, horseracing, horses, Kentucky Derby, KentuckyDerby, Makers Mark, MakersMark, Nat Sherman, NatSherman, New York Horse Rescue, NewYorkHorseRescue

The Classicist: Maker's Mark & Bourbon Heritage Month

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, The Classicist

Maker's Mark, the top shelf Kentucky bourbon that traces its roots all the way back to 1780, just celebrated September's demarcation as National Bourbon Heritage Month during the 17th Annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival down South. The storied whisky maker isn't resting on its laurels however; they also just kicked off an admirable new campaign to encourage people to vote in the upcoming elections with a 16-city cross country bus tour and two new special limited edition bottlings featuring red, white and blue wax seals.

The story of Maker's, which is handmade in small quantities using water from a spring-fed lake and a mash consisting of corn, barley and winter wheat, goes back to 1870 when third generation Scottish-Irish immigrant Robert Samuels arrived in Kentucky. A farmer by trade, Samuels began making whisky for himself and a few friends. His grandson T.W. erected the family's first "commercial" distillery at Samuels Depot, the family farm, in 1840.

Fast-forward 100 years and the story takes an unexpected turn. T.W.'s great-great-grandson Bill Samuels Sr. was not overly fond of the "secret" family recipe - so he literally burnt it and sold off the distillery, which had become overly commercial. He then spent several years experimenting with different grains until he developed a entirely new bourbon recipe based on locally grown maize (corn), malted barley and soft, red, gentle winter wheat - as opposed to the traditional and harsher grain, rye.

Gallery: Maker's Mark Bourbon