Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3815
14 / the tasting panel / october 2009 Industry Spotlight Top 100 Cabernet Sauvignons of Napa Valley Appointments Bacardi USA has named Fannie Young as Vice President, Brand Managing Director for Dewar's blended Scotch whiskies, which also includes Aberfeldy single malt Scotch whiskies. Prior to joining Bacardi USA Inc., Young held various positions at Stirrings LLC, Moët-Hennessy USA and Diageo. Fannie Young. Bacardi USA's Giles Woodyer has been named Vice Presi- dent, Brand Managing Director of its House of Bombay, which includes Bombay Sapphire gin and Bombay Dry gin. Cognac Ferrand, the French-based artisanal spirits company, has promoted Guillaume Lamy to Vice President North America. In this newly-created po- sition, Lamy, who has been with the company for the last ten years, will be responsible for the sales and marketing of Pierre Ferrand cognac, Citadelle gin, Mathilde liqueurs, Plantation rums, Cerbois armagnac and Daron cal- vados. His role will also include managing the relationship between Cognac Ferrand and importer W. J. Deutsch & Sons on Landy cognac. "Guillaume has worked for Cognac Ferrand since 1999 and his contribu- tion and insight into the U.S. and Canadian spirits market are invaluable," says President and owner of Cognac Ferrand, Alexandre Gabriel. International Beverage (InterBev), a wholly owned subsid- iary of Thai Bev, announces that Pat Graney will assume leadership of the InterBev USA as General Manager, effec- tive this month. Graney will be taking the reins from John Lennon, who established the company in the USA three years ago and will be leaving to assume a new role within the industry. Anna Malmhake, who joined The Absolut Com- pany in 2007 as Global Brand Director, now as- sumes the role of Vice President, Global Market- ing for The Absolut Company. Since July 1 this year, The Absolut Company's portfolio includes Malibu coconut-fl avored rum and Kahlúa coffee liqueur, three of Pernod Ricard's 15 strategic brands. Malmhake will replace Matt Aeppli, who has been appointed Senior VP, Spirits Marketing, Pernod Ricard USA, in charge of marketing for all spirits brands in the Pernod Ricard USA portfolio. F or the fi rst time in history, all Napa Valley Cabernets will be judged blind; winning wines will be selected as the "Best of the Best" and catego- rized as "The Top 100 Cabs of Napa Valley." The event is scheduled for January 21–22, 2010. "This is the fi rst time in the history of Napa Valley that such an extensive tasting of Cabernet Sauvignons has been judged in one setting," says Nelson Tucker, owner of The Wine Guy and event organizer. For more info, contact nelsontucker@sbcglobal.net. Giles Woodyer. Pat Graney. Anna Malmhake. GlenDronach Returns to the U.S. P reiss Imports of San Diego, CA, has been appointed to bring GlenDronach back to the States. Founded in 1826 by the legendary James Allardice, GlenDronach was one of the very fi rst licensed distilleries in Scotland and is now owned by the independent BenRiach. Preiss Imports will handle U.S. distribution for the historic distillery, alongside its exist- ing distribution of BenRiach. Initially, the 12-, 15- and 18- year-old expressions will be available in the U.S. this fall, and a 33-year-old expression will be offered in early 2010. GlenDronach joins many other rare Scotch whiskies in the Preiss portfolio.