Happy Friday again people! Come have a drink with us!
This week FNBB serves up a shot and a beer in the old tradition, because this week's biggest drink-related story was surely the brouhaha over Maker's Mark bourbon, which got huge coverage.
That link is from CNN but I also saw it mentioned on Yahoo news and both local newspaper sites. I don't have a lot of brand loyalties, but one is to Maker's Mark, so I paid attention. For those who didn't see it or didn't read it,
After an outpouring of outrage, Maker's Mark announced Sunday that it won't be watering down its whiskey, after all. The bourbon producer last week said it would have to cut the alcohol volume of its signature red wax-sealed whiskey to 42%, from 45%, in order to meet rising global demand.
But Maker's Mark said it was reversing its decision, and starting Monday, it will resume production at 45%, just the way it has made it since the beginning...
The response to last week's announcement was immediate across social networks. ...Rob Samuels, chief operating officer of Maker's Mark, said the company heard from thousands of customers via phone calls, emails and social media.
Some called it the stupidest marketing trick since New Coke. Others wondered if it was a ploy to allow raising prices. I haven't seen reported how much 84-proof whisky they produced; will those bottles be collectors items now?
In other weird non-beer news, a California vintner has plans for aging wine underwater. I'll bet on one thing: the guys at Maker's Mark won't be trying that, or any other innovations, any time soon.
In next week's FNBB: Beer styles; old, new and evolving.
I think I'll have a Maker's and lemonade. What are you drinking?