Beverage Group Content Director Jeremy Nedelka Tel : 763-383-4400 x2213 email : jnedelka @ epgmediallc . com

WINTER HAS COME , which brings seasonal changes in consumer habits .

Colder weather has beer drinkers reaching for heavier , darker , sweeter brews . It ’ s certainly # StoutSeason , and many breweries will also release holiday-themed specialties that taste of graham cracker or winter spice . Cocktail lovers will whip up drinks that are warm and filling , which is why sales of cream liqueurs spike around the holiday season . Now is also the time for bigger wines like boozy red blends . To see how the 2018 Napa and Sonoma vintages will eventually fit into this picture , read Jonathan H . Newman ’ s review of the new vintages on page 8 .

Alcohol products remain a common gift this time of year , so be sure to see our 2018 Holiday Merchandising Guide in the digital edition of this issue .

Not all drinking habits trend towards heavier beverages in winter months . The holidays are a time of celebration , with sales of bubbly wines shooting up . For more info on this , see our story by Laurie Daniel on page 16 .

At the same time , some customers will purchase certain products even if they might seem off-season . Consumers drink a little bit of everything today , experimenting across brands and categories . This means that seasonal purchasing patterns can go out the window when the customer is in the mood for that certain beverage . Rosé All Day is more than a marketing phrase : it reflects how modern consumers drink whatever they want , when they want .

If you love mezcal and tequila , why stop in winter ? To read how a retailer in Chicago , of all places , has become a national leader in mezcal and tequila , see Melissa Sherwin ’ s feature on page 12 about Moreno ’ s Liquors .

Brown spirits are now always in season . American brandy has benefited from this boom . To see how , check out Tom Strenk ’ s category piece online in our digital edition .

With this issue we close out another year . In review of 2018 you can read about the best wines our panel tasted this past year on page 31 , and check out what we judged were the top marketing campaigns in our annual Advertising and Promotions Awards on page 19 .

Thanks to all our readers for another year of sharing in our coverage of the alcohol industry . May everyone enjoy a healthy and prosperous 2019 !

Kyle Swartz Editor , Off-Premise

Editor , Off-Premise Kyle Swartz Tel : 763-383-4400 x2225 email : kswartz @ epgmediallc . com

Contributing Editors Laurie Daniel Jonathan H . Newman Melissa Sherwin Paul Soja Tom Strenk

Brand Development Manager Vincent Melita Tel : 763-383-4400 , x2251 email : vmelita @ epgmediallc . com

Sales Managers Bruce Kostic Tel : 763-383-4400 , x2215 email : bkostic @ epgmediallc . com

Mark Marcon Tel : 763-383-4456 email : mmarcon @ epgmediallc . com

Debbie Rittenberg Tel : 763-383-4455 email : drittenberg @ epgmediallc . com

Managing Art Director Dodi Vessels Art Director Nicole Siewert

Sr . Creative Services Project Manager Angela Scott Tel : 763-383-4441 email : ascott @ epgmediallc . com

Senior Product Manager , Data & Insights Marina Velez Tel : 763-383-4400 x2212 email : mvelez @ epgmediallc . com

LIST RENTAL Kris Grauer email : kgrauer @ npsmediagroup . com Tel : 203-822-7933

REPRINTS For more information on e-prints or reprints from Beverage Dynamics magazine , contact Wright ’ s Media , MBrewer @ wrightsmedia . com - Marcia Brewer , 877-652-5295 .

Sr VP / Audience Development Joanne Juda-Prainito VP Finance Michael Murphy Operations Manager Bernadette Wohlman CEO Marion Minor

Beverage Dynamics is published by EPG Media & Specialty Information Editorial and executive offi ces at 40 Richards Ave , 3rd Floor , Suite 300 Norwalk , CT 06854 Telephone : 763-383-4400 Fax : 763-383-4499

4 Beverage Dynamics • November / December 2018 www . beveragedynamics . com