Q. You’re producing some exciting new spirits at The Brand House Group. Tell us what inspired you to create these luxury spirits brands.
A. I saw an opportunity to leverage my knowledge and experience to create a portfolio of super premium artisanal spirits that truly meet the taste profiles of today’s consumer. I’ve seen consumers time and time again adapt to brands as opposed to brands adapting to them. We’re creating unique and elevated brands with flavor profiles that resonate with anyone who enjoys meticulously-crafted, well-balanced spirits. At The Brand House Group, we're putting the consumer first.
Q. You've been in the spirits industry for over three decades and worked with almost every major player in the space. How has your experience come into play in developing your brands?
A. Having started at the lowest level then working my way to the highest levels of the spirits industry for thirty plus years, I understand consumer trends and preferences; and even more importantly, I have a keen understanding of how to differentiate in a cluttered marketplace. For me, it’s about attention to detail, from production to presentation; commitment to quality, from ingredients to craftsmanship; and being unique, from flavor profile to brand positioning. This is why we’ve been so successful in growing our brands in such a short time.
Q. You recently debuted OMAGE - a super premium, US artisanal brandy. Tell us about it. What makes it super premium?
A. OMAGE is the culmination of my passion for fine Cognac and my journey to produce a brandy in the US using the Cognac method, but with California grapes. There is a nuanced level of craftsmanship across every element of the brand - from our grape selection and distillation methods to our aging process and bottle design. OMAGE is unlike any other US brandy, which is why we’ve had such a warm reception and positive reviews among consumers, distributors and media since launch.
Q. What has been the consumer response to OMAGE thus far?
A. The response to OMAGE has been phenomenal across the board. In a very short time, we’re available at major retailers and independent wine and spirits stores in most major markets across the US; consumer response has been incredible; and over the past year, we’ve received praise from scores of major media outlets. The best part is, we’re just getting started.
Q. It also looks like you have an interesting portfolio of Japanese spirits. What made you decide to create these spirits? Did you see a void in the market?
A. Over the past decade, the popularity of Japanese spirits has exploded in the US, and it doesn’t look like this trend is letting up any time soon. For years, I’ve had the opportunity to travel throughout Japan as the CCO of Beam Suntory US, witnessing and experiencing the Japanese values of exceptional quality, presentation and innovation when it comes to producing their spirits. These are the same qualities I’m bringing to the American marketplace with a portfolio of artisanal Japanese spirits, including: TEITESSA, a super-premium, single-grain whisky that uses a unique method of distillation based on 500 years of Japanese distillation history; AWAYUKI, a one-of-a-kind, strawberry-infused gin; and our soon-to-debut HAIKEN, a hand-crafted vodka with unique fruit-infused flavors.
Q. How did you source the ingredients for these spirits? Did you spend time in Japan?
A. Yes, I’ve spent extensive time in Japan with my partner on our ICONIC Spirits Japanese portfolio, Taichi Seki, who was actually a professional MMA fighter in Japan prior to joining Asahi here in the states, where he spent five years. With my knowledge of the spirits landscape and experience running marquee brands and Taichi’s knowledge of the Japanese marketplace and relationships throughout his home country, we’ve created a portfolio of incomparable ingredients and quality. Our AWAYUKI Strawberry Gin, for instance, is infused with some of the most precious white and pink strawberries in the world.
Q. I know you’ve recently begun this journey and you're still introducing a number of brands to the market, but what’s the next big thing on the horizon for The Brand House Group that our readers should be on the lookout for?
A. Even though we have spirits in the portfolio that are aged 30 or more years, our brands are all fairly new to the US market, so consumers should be on the lookout for all of them. We’ve been very selective and strategic in terms of releasing product, but we’re consistently in the process of expanding our offerings. Our next release will be a hand-crafted, fruit-infused, super-premium Japanese vodka called HAIKEN, which we know consumers will absolutely love.
Q. What is your go-to cocktail currently?
A. Right now, I’m loving what I call the American 75, made with my OMAGE California brandy and California sparkling wine, as opposed to the classic French 75 with Cognac and champagne. I also love an Old Fashioned with OMAGE VSOP as opposed to bourbon. Most people don’t realize it, but many classic cocktails were first created with brandy. OMAGE is going to re-ignite the trend.
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