Well 2017 has come to an end and I am writing my traditional review of 2017 and my forecasts for 2018.
OK it only started last year, but a tradition has to start some time.
Last year I looked at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of 2016, and I concentrated on Donald Trump, and lets be honest not much has changed. There’s still a lot more Bad and Ugly from their Commander and Chief, so why don’t I stick to something I know and love. Alcohol!
First, the drink of the year has to be the Aperol Spritzer. Everywhere you looked there was this orange concoction being drunk by the beautiful people. Sadly I could never get into this group and had to settle for plain old Prosecco. Oh well maybe this year.
Another contender was the Espresso Martini. I even saw one company selling kegs of these into a few bars. But then again, why wouldn’t Vodka, Coffee and Sugar be popular!
Now to the trends, and 2018 will continue to see the push for locally produced, beers and spirits. In fact, the craft beer and spirits remind me of the boutique vineyards in the early 1990’s . A new cellar door seeming to open every day, and seeming to close just as fast. Looking back in hindsight most survived on what is called “Off – Farm Income”. In other words, a boutique winery is a great way to create a very large tax deduction. It will be interesting to see if the Craft Beer and Spirits follow this trend.
In the meantime the retail shelves will continue to groan under the weight of Single Malt Whisky’s and small Batch Artisanal Gins.
But if you look at the at the Top selling spirits internationally it shows a more, macro, geopolitical view of the world and the rise and rise of the Asian Century. (Eat you your heart Trump!!!!)
Below are the top 10 selling spirits and I am guessing none of them are familiar, unless you have a South Korean, Thai or Indian background.
For a long time we believed Australian was at the bottom of the world, but I think the Poms knew something when they sent their convicts down under. We are now at the centre of the world, or close to it anyway
No. 1 Jinro -Soju South Korea 65 Million cases
Jinro has been the top selling spirit for a number of years and sold more nine-litre cases than the second and third placed spirits combined.
If you don’t know, Soju is a rice based white spirt that is around 20% alc./vol. It us drunk neat and it is an excellent way to get drunk very quickly
No. 2 Officers Choice – Whiskey India 32.3 m. cases
No. 3 Ruang Kao – Rum Thailand 31.2 m. cases
No. 4 Emperador – Brandy Philippines 28 m cases
No. 5 Chum Churum – Soju South Korea 26.2 m. Cases
No. 6 Mc Dowells – Whisky India 25.6 m. Cases
No. 7 Smirnoff – Vodka International 25.5 m. cases
No. 8 Hong Tong Liquor – Thailand 20.7 m. Cases
No. 9 Good Day – Soju South Korea 19.1 m. cases
No. 10 Imperial Blue – Whisky India 18 m. Cases
And finally to wine.
Everything old is new again. Chardonnay will claw back sales from Sauvignon Blanc. Australian Chardonnays are now world class and you need to jump on board anything from the Margaret River , Adelaide Hills or Tasmania. One of my favourites is the very reasonably priced Clarence House Reserve Chardonnay Coal River Tasmania
Rose will continue to be rise over the next few months as the temperature rises. Real men and women will continue to drink Pink. Plus people will look for Premium Rose from places like Bandol and some of the finer estates in Provence – Screaming Eagle anyone!
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc will continue to conquer the world and Bullion will still not sell it. If you want to drink Sauvignon Blanc, head to the Loire Valley and Sancere or Pouilly Fume, or more locally, the wines of Orange in NSW. Or for that matter, virtually any other white wine. Please!!!!!
And so to my final thought for 2018; your new favourite wine could be found in your next glass, so keep on drinking!!
Now, I will drink to that .
Matt the Bullionaire