News Briefs for May 2, 2025
•William Grant & Sons single malt Scotch whisky Glenfiddich has partnered with OpenTable to create a series of whisky-themed dining reservations at restaurants across the U.S. The program runs through June 30 and gives diners the chance to book a table and receive a dram of Glenfiddich neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. The brand and OpenTable have partnered with luxury restaurants like Houston’s Le Jardinier, Oro Miami, and Ralph Lauren Chicago, among many others. Last year, Glenfiddich was up 10.5% to 191,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
•Suntory Global Spirits has extended cocktail brand On the Rocks into canned cocktails with three new sparkling options. The trio—Sparkling Lime Margarita, Mango & Mint Mojito, and Cucumber & Lemongrass Mule—are at 10% abv and come in 355-ml. cans. Like all of On the Rocks’ cocktails, the new canned varieties are made with Suntory spirits brands, with the Margarita using Tres Generaciones Tequila, the Mojito using Cruzan rum, and the Mule using Effen vodka. The new On the Rocks cans are now available in 4-packs across the U.S. On the Rocks grew 7% to just under 800,000 cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.
•Heaven Hill-owned liqueur brand Hpnotiq has been named an Official Partner of UFC, and is set to be featured at a number of the combat sport’s events across the U.S. The multiyear partnership will see Hpnotiq featured within the octagon during all UFC Fight Night events and the league and brand will release a series of social media posts called “Iconiq Moments,” where UFC athletes discuss career highlights. The partnership kicks off on May 3, during UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo. According to Impact Databank, Hpnotiq was at 276,000 cases in the U.S. in 2024.
•Riboli Family Wines has added a new wine to Stella Rosa’s Spicy Series, Watermelon & Chili. The wine is a blend of 95% White Moscato and 5% Brachetto infused with watermelon and Calabrian chili flavors, according to the company. The new release is bottled at 5% abv and carries a suggested price of $12 a 750-ml. bottle. Watermelon & Chili joins Mango & Chili, Pineapple & Chili, and Lime & Chili in Stella Rosa’s Spicy Series. Stella Rosa is the second-largest imported wine by volume in the U.S. market after Yellow Tail, at just over 4 million cases last year, according to Impact Databank.
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