Absolut Los Angeles

From the Dieline, via Not Cot:

"Starting today, everyone can have a taste of the LA lifestyle as the world's most iconic vodka introduces ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES, a limited-edition, city-inspired flavor honoring the City of Angels. Celebrating the city's trend-forward ideals, the bold, new flavor is made with an all-natural symphony of blueberry, acai berry, acerola cherry, and fruity notes of pomegranate. ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES will be available beginning in July at bars, restaurants, nightclubs and retailers nationwide.

"Through our 'In An ABSOLUT World' campaign, we challenge consumers to imagine their own ideal, and Los Angeles is one of the most idealistic places on earth," said Tim Murphy, Vice President of Marketing, The Absolut Spirits Company, Inc. "For this city-inspired flavor, we wanted to capture the opportunity that LA represents to so many - reaching for the stars and recognizing their dreams. ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES will evoke an inimitable new 'taste' that honors all the attributes that makes the City of Angels so exclusive and awe-inspiring - from the stunning packaging to the unique flavor profile, all wrapped inside the iconic ABSOLUT bottle."

Guinness Viral

Thanks to Nigel for this!

Delamain - Le Voyage

From Luxist:

"Delamain Le Voyage Cognac, the latest addition to the Delamain portfolio, recently picked up a new honor, being awarded "Best of the Best" 2008 Spirit by Anthony Dias Blue for Robb Report. Le Voyage is a blend of Grande Champagne cognacs from the Delamain cellars. It has aromas leather, tobacco, coffee and spice with the rich tastes of the grapes from the hillsides of the Grande Champagne region, aged for many years in the Delamain cellars. The cognac is housed in a Baccarat crystal decanter inside a dovetail leather traveling box. Le Voyage sells for $7,000."

Absolut LA

Image from Stephen Witherden under Creative Commons

From Luxist:

"Anyone who has walked along the Hollywood Walk of Fame lately knows that certain stars have definitely seen better days. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has taken a new approach to raising funds to restore the Walk. They have created the Friends of the Walk of Fame initiative to restore the Walk of Fame before its 50th anniversary in two years and they've hooked their first big sponsor, Absolut Vodka.

Sponsors won't get an official star but according to the press release "sizable donations from corporate supporters will be acknowledged with a Friend of the Walk of Fame honorary star" which is described as a "new terrazzo piece that will be placed in the sidewalk, on private property, adjacent to the Walk of Fame." The Chamber presented Absolut with the first honorary star which will be located near the entrance to the Kodak Theatre, part of Hollywood & Highland Center on Hollywood Boulevard.

Certainly corporate sponsors are a familiar sight on baseball fields and other public landmarks but the LA Times reports that the news of Absolut's pseudo star isn't sitting well with everyone. Some see it as an affront to the tradition of honoring Los Angeles luminaries with their own piece of sidewalk space.

Absolut is also launching a new flavor, Absolut LA, a mix of "blueberry, acai berry, acerola cherry, and fruity notes of pomegranate" which will be available this month."

This follows last year's exciting launch of Absolut New Orleans - the marketing of which was far better than its slightly weird taste!

I wonder what city will come next after LA... maybe they will do a competition where you can submit your ideas for what your favourite city tastes like. e.g. London: the smell of rain on hot tarmac, or Birmingham: the taste of vindaloo.

I am sure we will see plenty more activity around this. The PR has only just begun.

Carling's iBeer is the most downloaded free application on the iPhone

According to Faris, Carling's iPint / iBeer is the most downloaded free application for the new iPhone.


Very simple and a great talking point!

Snow Grouse Whisky

From the Moodie Report:

"The makers of The Famous Grouse have unveiled the first Scotch whisky specially created to be served chilled straight from the freezer. The Snow Grouse will be made exclusively available to international travel retailers for the first six months and distributed through Maxxium Global Travel Retail.

The new addition to The Famous Grouse portfolio is aimed at consumers seeking something new and different.

The Snow Grouse, which carries a recommended duty free retail price of €19.99, represents one of two innovative additions to the range in the past 12 months. The Black Grouse, with its dark, sweet and gently smoky characteristics, was launched in October 2007.

Made from grain spirit and matured in oak casks before being gently chill filtered, the light and vanilla-sweet Snow Grouse whisky has a smooth taste. With a "sweet gloopy mouth-feel, it has a cool taste sensation when served seriously chilled", Maxxium said.

In keeping with The Famous Grouse portfolio, the new whisky is aptly named after another Scottish game bird - the snow grouse or ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus). Living in the highest mountains of the Highlands of Scotland, the snow grouse has been described as “the toughest bird in Britain”. In the summer the snow grouse has a mottled brown plumage, while in winter it takes on an extra layer of white feathers for warmth – becoming completely white – to help it survive in the frozen, snow-covered conditions."

All seems a bit strange to me.

Sauza Agave Cooking Challenge: Blueberry Pie

We found an awesome book about cooking with agave nectar on Slashfood and have decided to cook a different recipe each month from it.

The book is called Baking with Agave Nectar and can be bought from Amazon.



Jenny bought the book so had the honour of cooking the first dish from the, now cherished, agave cooking book.

Rather than waffling on, I am just going to let the pictures do the talking...

















Jenny's blueberry pie made with agave nectar was stunningly good. The rest of us have got our work cut out to top Jenny's opening gambit. Another fresh and unexpected use of agave from the Beam team. We are so passionate about our brands we even have brand themed cooking competitions at work!

Who's next guys?