Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/597666
10 / the tasting panel / november 2015 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Need a trip to Scotland without the hassles of flying? Get a copy of Spirit of Place: Scotland's Great Whisky Distilleries by Charles MacLean (Chicago Review Press, $39.95), which takes readers on a tour of 50 of the country's best distilleries. The book's moody photographs, by Lara Platman and Allan MacDonald, capture the essence of the Scotch industry at work in the midst of Scotland's astounding scenery. A superb gift for a Scotch connoisseur. Who better to write a book about bitters than a guy named Mark Bitterman? Already noted for his James Beard Award–winning book on salt, Salted, Bitterman has written the bible of bitters in Bitterman's Field Guide to Bitters and Amari (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $25). The expert examines 500 bitters and 50 amari and includes instruction on making your own as well as recipes for cooking with bitters. Essential reading for the mixologist. —David Gadd Amabile, which means sweet when describing Italian wines, translates to "lovable." Siduri is the Babylonian goddess of wine. By the first century C.E., lever-and-screw presses were in use. Adding on to our series of interesting facts about wine, enjoy some more tidbits of knowledge from Dick Rosano's book Wine Trivia . . . In So Many Words. Did You Know? APPOINTMENTS Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. appointed Bridget Albert, a 20-year industry veteran and James Beard honoree, to the new role of National Director of Education, Beam Suntory. As the first National Director of Education, Albert will lead the overall coordination of Beam Suntory brand knowledge—including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Whisky, Pinnacle Vodka, Midori Liquer, Sauza Tequila, among other well-known brands—and compliance throughout the Southern Wine & Spirits of America enterprise. Treasury Wine Estates announced the appointment of Megghen Driscol to the position of Vice President, Public Relations & Corporate Communications for North America. Driscol will oversee all media relations, corporate communications and event marketing initiatives for TWE and its portfolio of brands including Beringer, Penfolds, Chateau St Jean, Stags' Leap Winery, Lindemans, Matua and 19 Crimes. Andrew Powell has been hired as Scheid Family Wines's West Coast Regional Sales Manager. Andrew brings more than 17 years of wine sales experience to the position. He most recently worked for The Wine Group where he served as Director of National Accounts since 2012 and as Division Manager, California/Nevada/Hawaii, since 2010. Riboli Family Wine Estates brought on Rick Weir as the company's new National Chain Key Account Manager. His main focus chain will be Kroger. Weir has more than 40 years of experience in the grocery business, working his way up to eventually becoming part of Alpha Beta's marketing team, where he remained throughout the Food 4 Less and Ralphs mergers. Check out our story on Mark Bitterman's salted expertise in the inaugural issue of our sister publication, The Clever Root! —Ed.