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Beverage Media
October 2012
this achievement,” said Gerard Thou-
kis, senior director of marketing at the
company. “Accomplishing this feat has
strengthened our commitment to grow-
ing the New Amsterdam brand and we
are extremely excited about what the
future holds.”
In addition to achieving media and
industry recognition, New Amsterdam
Vodka has built consumer awareness by
highlighting the smooth nature resulting
from its “five-times” distillation process
in its marketing communications. The
brand has also tapped into the consum-
ers’ sense of nostalgia for classic mascu-
line values by creating pop-up “Shave
Lounge” experiences at major events
throughout the nation.
The successful launch of New Am-
sterdam Peach Flavored Vodka and New
Amsterdam Red Berry Flavored Vodka
in July 2012 contributed to the million-
case achievement.
Blue Ice ‘G’ is Good to Go
Blue Ice Vodka has expanded its port-
folio. Blue Ice “G,” made from a blend
of American grain, joins the brand’s
flagship Blue Ice Vodka, made from
American potatoes, and Blue Ice Or-
ganic Wheat Vodka, a USDA Certified
Organic spirit made from winter wheat.
Blue Ice G Vodka was developed to
extend the brand’s commitment to pre-
mium vodkas reflective of the purity of
America’s natural resources while also
appealing to the growing market of at-
home vodka consumers whose priorities
include quality spirits, home mixol-
ogy, creative packaging and out-
standing value.
Packaged in the signature Blue
Ice bottle with smooth icicles
forming down the center of the
back panel, Blue Ice G Vodka
features an edgier label than its
portfolio counterparts, distin-
guished by a bold, red signature
“
G” emphasizing its grain ori-
gin. The packaging concept es-
tablishes an eye-catching visual
distinction representative of the
vodka’s full-bodied taste, purpose and
audience, while still maintaining the
continuity of the Blue Ice range. Owned
by 21st Century Spirits, Blue Ice G Vod-
ka retails for $15 and is now available
for national distribution.
Heaven Hill Releases
6
th
Edition of ‘Parker’s
Heritage Collection’
Heaven Hill Distilleries, the coun-
try’s largest independent family-
owned and operated spirits pro-
ducer and marketer, announced
the September release of the sixth
edition of “Parker’s Heritage Col-
lection,” a limited annual series
of rare, aged American whiskeys
that pays tribute to 6th Gen-
eration Master Distiller Parker
Beam. The 2012 release will
feature select barrels of 11-year-old rye-
based bourbons, used for such brands as
Elijah Craig and Evan Williams, mingled
with select barrels of the wheated mash-
bill Heaven Hill uses for the Old Fitzger-
ald line, also aged for 11 years. Bottled
at cask strength, this bottling, much like
the acclaimed “Golden Anniversary”
bottling of 2009, showcases not only the
individual whiskeys, but also the skill of
the blender.
Like previous Parker’s Heritage Col-
lection releases, the “Master Distiller’s
Blend of Mashbills” will not be chill-
filtered as is the custom for many
bourbon brands, thereby helping
to maintain the natural esters and
compounds which provide a rich
texture and mouthfeel. The release
will comprise of three “dumps,”
with each having a slightly differ-
ent barrel proof. The first dump
will carry a proof of 131.6, or
65.8%
alcohol by volume.
This year’s release of Parker’s
Heritage Collection promises to be a
worthy successor to the previous five re-
leases, which stand as some of the most
critically lauded American whiskeys in
O
sley Brown
Frazier,
former vice
chairman of
Brown-Forman Corpora-
tion and well-known
philanthropist, died in
August at the age of 77.
Owsley Brown Frazier
served as an executive
at Brown-Forman for 45
years and as a member of
the board of directors for
more than 40 years. He
was elected vice chairman
in 1983 and continued to
serve in that role until his
retirement from manage-
ment in 2000.
Frazier’s legacy for the Brown-
Forman community is his leader-
ship and passion for corporate giv-
ing. For many years he spearheaded
the company’s community out-
reach efforts, improving
the local neighborhoods
around the company’s
Louisville campus, as
well as the region’s
arts community, social
services and education.
In his philanthropic en-
deavors; he raised more
than $500 million over a
40-
year period primarily
for educational institu-
tions in Kentucky.
“
Owsley Brown Frazier
was a vital member of the
Brown family’s fourth gen-
eration whose leadership
at the company helped
transform Brown-Forman into the
global enterprise it is today,” said
Brown-Forman CEO Paul Varga.
Frazier is survived by his daughters,
Laura Frazier and Catherine Joy, and
8
grandchildren.
In Memoriam
Owsley Brown
Frazier
(1935-2012)
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