New Bombay Gin Product Out in May 2011; Bacardi Also Bringing New Vodka and Cognac to U.S.

Few of my recent posts are clicked on as often as the one announcing that Bombay Sapphire is planning to release a new expression of its gin soon. That big, blue, category juggernaut is one popular elixir.

So far, no word on what the new product will be called. But the launch has been pushed back to May 2011. So be patient, gin blossoms.

There's other news from Bombay's parent company, Barcardi, however. Recently, the liquor corporation announced the launch of Bacardi Reserva Limitada in the U.S. It's described as a "premium rum originally created for the Bacardi family." It was first made available to the public in 2003 to celebrate the opening of the visitors center at our distillery in Puerto Rico. Until now, the only place you could get it was at the distillery and at a handful of fine spirit shops the Cayman Islands, Bahamas and Aruba.

Reserva Limitada is made of the various Barcardi rums rested in lightly-charred American white oak barrels for between 10 and 16 years. Costs about $100.

Also, in January 2011 Barcardi is bringing Eristoff Vodka. Unknown here, it is called the top-selling vodka in France, Portugal and Austria—three very-different countries. It originates from Georgia and was first created for Prince Eristoff in 1806. The last members of the Eristoff family were Prince Nicolai Alexandrovich Eristoff, who died in 1970, and his sister, Olga, who died in 1991. Neither had children, making Eristoff's Barcardi's baby solely.

Barcardi is also planning to introduce Otard Cognac in the U.S., possibly within the next 6-12 months. It's already here, but hard to find. Not a great time for Cognac right now, so this is a brave move on Bacardi's part.