News Briefs for April 29, 2025
•Whisky Advocate’s latest weekly roundup of new releases focuses on American whiskey, with Tequila barrel finishes taking the spotlight. Plus, the first release from former Laphroaig master distiller John Campbell since he joined Sespe Creek Distillery in California. Here are all the details.
•Proximo Spirits’ The Kraken is introducing its Gold Spiced Rum in a new 50-ml. format. The new size of the Caribbean rum retails at $1.49 and aims to capitalize on the growth in smaller-format spirits offerings. The Kraken Gold Spiced Rum is bottled at 70 proof. Ranked seventh in volume terms among all rum brands nationally last year, The Kraken has annual depletions of 340,000 cases, according to Impact Databank.
•New York-based importer and distributor T. Edwards Wines & Spirits is launching the Yola Mezcal brand nationally, expanding on the two companies’ previous partnership that began in key markets. Distilled from estate-grown, organic agave in Oaxaca, Mexico, Yola was co-founded by Yola Jimenez, Gina Correll Aglietti, and Lykke Li based on a 50-year-old recipe passed down by Jimenez’s grandfather.
•Broken Shed vodka has promoted chief commercial officer Paul Criscuolo to president, overseeing the North America market. He succeeds Steve Bellini, who will shift to become chief operating officer, a new role within the company, in which he’ll lead global expansion efforts. Broken Shed CEO John Fitzgerald said the changes will “ensure the brand is poised to take advantage of market opportunities in the premium imported vodka category.” The New Zealand import has been growing U.S. sales at 40% annually the past few years, according to the company.
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Tagged : Broken Shed, Proximo, T. Edwards Wine & Spirits, The Kraken, Whisky Advocate, Yola Mezcal
