Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/807384
14 / the tasting panel / april 2017 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT APPOINTMENTS Hendrick's Gin is pleased to introduce two new ambas- sadors, Mattias Horseman and Erik Andersson, to the U.S. market. With all ends, middles and corners of the U.S. covered, the Hendrick's ambassador team is prepared to embark on an exciting new cocktail strategy in the new year while remaining true to the well-established, curious brand world. Mattias Horseman will oversee the Central region of the U.S., covering everywhere from Montana to Texas, to Minnesota and Ohio. Hailing originally from the U.K., Mattias began his career in the spirits industry as a bartender in England. After several years of running the beverage program for Chefs Club by Food & Wine Aspen in Colorado, skiing the slopes and organizing cocktail competitions in the Rocky Mountains, Horseman descended from the snowy peaks to join the Hendrick's team in October 2016. "We're excited to start on a new journey to cultivate the unusual with Hendrick's Gin this year," says Horseman. "We're aiming to engage a new group of gin drinkers who are curious to experience the peculiar Hendrick's flavor infused with rose and cucumber, which make for highly unique and sophisticated recipe potential, while continuing to surprise and delight our loyal Hendrick's drinkers with creative new cocktails and wonder-inducing event activations in the near future and beyond." Joining the eclectic Hendrick's team from Sweden, Erik Andersson will oversee the Eastern region of the U.S. For nearly half a decade, Andersson was the Hendrick's Gin Ambassador in Asia, looking after markets including China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong. His love affair with spirits began when he was a young bartender in his hometown Uppsala in 1998. Davos Brands, an importer and marketer of craft spirits and premium Japanese saké, announced the addition of Joen Choe as its new Vice President of Marketing. Choe will lead strategic marketing and branding initiatives across the Davos portfolio, which includes TYKU Sake, Aviation American Gin, Sombra Mezcal and Astral Tequila. Choe comes to Davos Brands after serving two years as President of fitness tech start up Tangram Factory. Prior to that, Choe acted as Vice President of Marketing & Operations at Cooper Spirits, where he grew St-Germain before its acquisition by Bacardi. A New Name Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc. (SFIC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mast- Jägermeister SE, announced it will operate under the name Mast-Jägermeister U.S. beginning last month. The name change marks a new era for Mast- Jägermeister SE in the United States after acquiring SFIC in August 2015. Launched in 1972, SFIC served as the exclusive importer of Jägermeister in the United States and helped establish the brand as the nation's number-one-sell- ing imported liqueur. Founder Sidney Frank is credited with fueling Jägermeister's growth through creative, experiential marketing that capitalized on the liqueur's newfound popularity in the 1980s. Among SFIC's notable contributions are the introduc- tion of the Jägerettes—the first promotional models in the spirits industry—and the Jägermeister Tap Machine, which not only brought the brand out of the freezer and onto the bar, but also made Jägermeister the first-ever tapped spirit. Call for Entries: 2017 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition has announced its 2017 judg- ing, August 23–24, 2017. Wine and spirits brands are invited to submit their products to this year's judging by The Tasting Panel's Editor-in-Chief, Anthony Dias Blue, and top industry judges for New York's most presti- gious wine and spirits competition, held at The LIBRARY at The New York Academy of Medicine in NYC. For more information or to enter online, go to www.nyworldwineandspiritscompetition.com.