JOHNSON BROTHERS | PHILLIPS | WINE MERCHANTS | ARTISAN BEER CO.

JANUARY 1 2016 | VOLUME 31 | EDITION 1

Editor's Letter 1On the Menu 1

JOHNSON BROTHERSUBI Division 2Johnson Wine & Spirits 2On Premise Division 3Vintage Division 3Gallo Division 3

PHILLIPSSpirits Division 4Premier Wine Division 4On Premise Division 4Prestige Wine & Spirits 5Regal Wine Division 5UBI Division 5

WINE MERCHANTSDouble Canyon 6

ARTISAN BEER CO.Surly Brewing Co. 7

FEATURED PRODUCTSCraft Spirits 7

A Letter From Our Editor

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On the MenuBe the hit of the party with this deliciousJalapeno Bloody Mary!

• 3 fluid ounces Svedka Grapefruit Jalapeno Vodka• 4 ½ fluid ounces V8 100% Vegetable Juice• 2 teaspoons of horseradish sauce• 3 dashes of sriracha• 2 dashes of Worestershire sauce• 4 celery stalks

With another holiday season in our rear view mirror, 2016 is now officially upon us. To kick off what looks to be another exciting year in our industry, we have plenty of terrific specials to start the year off right.

Crown Royal Rye took home the ultra-prestigious title of World Whiskey of the Year from renowned whiskey writer Jim Murray. After recording the highest score ever, the brand looks poised to take flight this winter. Be sure to stock up as consumers all over the state are looking to try the world’s best.

Launching this January, The Dubliner Irish Whiskey is an exciting new entry to one of the fastest growing categories in our business. Offering the authentic taste of Ireland, what sets The Dubliner apart is the barrel aging process done in Kentucky Bourbon Casks shipped directly to Ireland. The special taste profile will be sure to position The Dubliner to tremendous success.

Finally, Surly is happy to announce that Coffee Bender and Cynic pricing is going DOWN! More good news from Minnesota’s favorite craft beer brand that continues to give everyone a reason to Get Surly.

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JOHNSON WINE & SPIRITS DIVISION

SPIRITS DIVISION

KINKY Liqueur and Vodka:Kinky Vodka is on fire in MN. Consumers have embraced KINKY Vodka and have been excited by the availability of the 1.75 size. Consumers see KINKY Vodka as a great value and the product is flying off store shelves. The attractively priced 50mls are also providing a great vehicle for consumers to try this great 5 times distilled American made vodka.The 2016 KINKY Brand marketingcampaign is now up and running.Featuring print ads in Cosmo along with digital and social media channel ads on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest this is KINKYs’ largest media campaign to date. Ads will featureproducts from the KINKY Brandthroughout the year.

The Dubliner Irish Whiskey & Honeycomb LiqueurThe Irish whiskey category is exploding in the United States, in fact it has been the fastest growing category over the last 5 years growing 8% annually while total spirits were up 2%. In addition, many brands have come with flavored whiskey extensions. Most of these extensions have been with honey, fire, and apple flavors.The Dubliner Irish Whiskey is made from single malt and grain whiskies and is 40% ABV. It is fully matured in imported oak casks which previously held fine Kentucky bourbon. It has a warm golden color, a nose that is fresh, with grassy and apple notes and a clean malt that tastes smooth and mellow with honey sweetness and an underlying pepper spice.

Looking ahead, skipping over our anticipated Minnesota winter, 2016 brings excitement for golf enthusiasts around the world. Locally as our own Hazeltine National prepares to host the Ryder Cup, we at Johnson Brothers Wine and Spirits are launching a new brand called, The Calling. CBS Sports Commentator Jim Nantz, along with Peter Deutsch, CEO of Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits, created The Calling to showcase the finesse and elegance of Sonoma wines. The name, The Calling is in reference to Nantz’s calling of the Masters Tournament along with other PGA championships.Johnson Brothers Liquor Company offers 3 selected wines from The Calling that were just awarded fantastic scores in November from The Wine Enthusiast. Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir hail from the famed Dutton Ranch where each wine just received 90 and 91 pointsrespectively. The Calling Cabernet from Alexander Valley received 91 points as well. All the wines are made from sustainable agricultural practices and are made by superstar wine makers Dan Goldfield and Marco DiGiulio.

Renowned whisky writer Jim Murrayannounced Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye as the 2016 World Whisky of the Year, marking the first time a Canadian Whisky has received the honor. This recognition, awarded a record-tying 97.5 out of 100 points, comes at a time when both the Canadian and Rye whisky categories continue to gain popularity amongst whisky aficionados and consumers alike. The latest variant to be introduced by Crown Royal, Northern Harvest Rye (90 proof, 45% ABV) is the brand's first ever blended, 90% rye.

UBI DIVISION

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ON PREMISE DIVISION

VINTAGE DIVISION

GALLO DIVISIONWith wine this delicious in flavor, it’s easy to see why Vin Vault is wine worth locking up. Vin Vault was awarded the Overall Best Tasting Boxed Wine brand in a blind tasting by The Tasting Panel Magazine. Vin Vault is available in six varietals, each crafted in a distinct style: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Red Blend. Vin Vault offers a portfolio of premium wines in a package worthy of displaying on your counter. Each Vault holds the equivalent of four 750ml-sized bottles conveniently in one box. These premium wines will stay fresh for up to four weeks after opening. The Vin Vault Cabernet Sauvignon is perfect for these cold winter months. Vin Vault Cabernet Sauvignon begins with notes of toasted brown spice and black cherry. On the palate, this Cabernet mingles dark fruit flavor with vanilla spice to create rounded tannins, a nice structure and a long, pleasing dark mocha finish. Try pairing this wine with cheese and cured meats.

Celebrate Super Bowl L with SVEDKA, the #1 Vodka in MMXXXIII! Every Super Bowl party deserves a Super Bottle of SVEDKA, which is the #1 selling imported vodka in Minnesota! Established in 1998, SVEDKA reinvented the vodka category by being the first brand to let consumers have it all - a high quality, premium Swedish import with a stylish and fun brand image at an affordable price. With Super Bowl Sunday being a party holiday and many consumers going out to the bars or going to Super Bowl parties, SVEDKA is the perfect brand to promote to draw extra consumers and extra profits. SVEDKA is the 3rd largest selling vodka, 3rd fastest growing and 7th largest Spirit brand in the United States! SVEDKA has become a winning team by being progressive and innovative from its roots, SVEDKA continues to deliver energy and excitement to the vodka category by introducing truly unique flavors and striking new packaging. Breaking the mold and moving beyond ordinary, the vibrant bottles pop off the shelves and help to position SVEDKA as a ‘must-have’ for infinite possibilities and flavorful cocktails.

Tom Gore is a second-generation grape farmer from Sonoma who’s been farming grapessince he was seven years old. Nicknamed “Tommy Grapes,” he loves getting dirty and being apart of the cycle of growing things. By working with the terroir of the site and what he calls his“fine tuning knobs” such as thoughtful pruning. Tom creates a spice rack of flavors in thevineyard that show up as balance and complexity in the bottle.Wines include:-Tom Gore Chardonnay - has intense aromas of ripe apple and tropical fruit, with notes of toffee and toasty oak. -Tom Gore Cabernet Sauvignon - dark red in color with aromas of currant and plum and wonderful hints of mocha and coffee on the palate. -Tom Gore Red Blend – this red blend is inky black in color with a ruby-red edge. The aromas are complex with blackberry, leather, and oak toast.

Take a tour of Europe with a passport...The history of Orin Swift Cellars dates back to 1995 when on a lark, Da-vid Swift Phinney took a friend up on an offer and went to Florence, Italy to spend a semester “studying”. During that time, he was introduced to wine, how it was made, and got hooked. A few more years of university led to graduation and eventually a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 as a temporary harvest worker. Deciding that if he was going to work this hard, it would eventually have to be for himself, so in 1998 he founded Orin Swift Cellars; Orin is his father’s middle name and Swift is his mother’s maiden name. With two tons of zinfandel and not much else, he spent the next decade making wine for others as well as himself and grew the company into a multinational brand that now includes 300 acres of vineyards in the Southwest of France. Locations offer a wine to suite every wine drinkers palate. Ask your rep to take you on a tasting tour through Spain, France, Italy and Argentina. Newly available are also the blends from Oregon and Washington. As of now, Dave Phinney might be my “value winemaker of the year” – The Wine Advocate

ON PREMISE DIVISION

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PREMIER WINE DIVISION

SPIRITS DIVISIONTrader Vic’s Time to start thinking about winter vacations. . . sun, water, islands! Trader Vic’s Gold, White and Spiced Rum and don’t forget the cordials, are the perfect spirit to get you there. These are premium rums and cordials that are supported year round with rebates. Our cordials are all made with real sugar - NO high fructose corn syrup! They are all quality spirits at a moderate price. Rebates on rum start in January . . . $3.00 on 1 bottle or $10.00 on 2 bottles. Ask your Sales Rep for more details.

Phillips Premier Division January 2015Seven Daughters wines have been experiencing great growth in the market andconsumers are becoming more aware of this great brand. In fact, Seven Daughters has been awarded the Hot Impact brand award the past 3 years in 2012, 2013 and 2014. This means the brand has grown by at least 15% within the year with a minimum volume of 50,000 cases. Seven Daughters is known for making vibrant, flavorful wines for people who enjoy fresh, new experiences. Seven Daughters started with two winemakers blends – a red and a white – each crafted with a mix ofintriguing grape varietals for delicious, perfectly harmonized flavor. The line now includes Moscato, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. With great taste, great accolades and a great price point.

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REGAL WINE DIVISION

UBI DIVISION

PRESTIGE WINE & SPIRITSStarling Castle RieslingStarling Castle was inspired by the flocks of starling birds that hover around the vines of the grand wine vineyards hoping to catch some of the sweet and flavorful grapes during the autumn harvest. Starling Castle Riesling is a perfect accompaniment to any holiday get together. Soft and round with flavors of green apple and sweet peach. Finishes with a balanced acidity, and just the right amount of sweetness.Talk to your Phillips Sales Rep about great pricing for January.

Luc BelaireNew Year’s Eve might be here and gone, but anytime is a good time for good bubbly. Luc Belaire is the fastest-growing French Sparkling Wine and the fastest-growing premium rose in the world! They are the single largest producer of sparkling wine from Provence. The taste, the package and the image of this product has caused it to become the only non-Champagne sparkler in Wine Searcher’s 100 most-searched-for-wines. The Rose is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault, with hints of strawberry and a refreshing smooth finish. This is good stuff in the bottle, with a nice ring at the register! January and February are still good months to promote sparkling wines. Ask about programming on one of the hottest brands in any category in the marketplace - Luc Belaire.

Port Dundas Single Grain Scotch WhiskiesPort Dundas is one of Scotland's most respected and historic distilleries, established in 1810 and closed in 2010 after 200 glorious years. The expressions from this distillery offer those seeking enriching whisky experiences a unique chance to taste a piece of history with 2 refined variants - 12 year old (40% ABV) and 18 year old (43% ABV). The 12 year old boasts a light, sweet grain distillery character with a wonderful richness and depth. The 18 year old dabbles with sweet notes of toffee and butterscotch, but still maintains its signature distillery character. Don't miss the boat, get your Port Dundas while it's still available. When it's gone, it's gone!

A new year brings new products from theWine Merchant's Team!

Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, WAEstablished in 2007, Double Canyon Vineyard resides in the heart of the renowned Horse Heaven Hills region in Washington State. Double Canyon produces two limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon wines that express the unique terroir of this distinctive, windswept desert region. Double Canyon Vineyard has roughly 1,850 plants per acre--double the plantings of a standard Washington State vineyard-resulting in incredibly high quality fruit. With Wine Spectator scores of 94 points and 91 points, the critics agree with Wine Merchants when we say these wines are exceptional!

Wagner Family Releases New 25th Anniversary Conundrum!Wine Merchants is very excited to begin shipping the brand new 25th Anniversary edition of Conundrum White and Conundrum Red January 1st. The Anniversary blends’ new packages are not just sharp looking, the wine inside is better than ever! Explore. Be Bold. Find your unique wine.

Today, wine blends are the fastest growing category on the market, and Conundrum stands alone.These wines are about the staying power of creativity. Trends have come and gone, and through it all, Conundrum continues to offer unique value, sourced from premier wine regions throughout California. This year’s striking commemorative and updated packaging is a statement that speaks to the virtues of pushing boundaries, daring to do something new, and finding your unique wine.

Explore. Be Bold. Find your unique wine.

conundrumwines.com

Established in 2007, Double Canyon Vineyard resides in the heart of the renowned Horse

Heaven Hills region in Washington State. Double Canyon produces two limited-production

Cabernet Sauvignon wines that express the unique terroir of this distinctive, windswept

desert region.

HORSE HEAVEN HILLS

This remote corner of the world is the birthplace of many

prestigious, award-winning wines. With the goal of

creating an authentic estate-grown wine, we discovered

the perfect property, situated adjacent to the renowned

Champoux Vineyard.

©2 014 D OU BL E CA N YON | I N FO @ D OU BL ECA N YON .C OM | 8 0 0 . 711 . 0 0 4 4

DOUBLECANYON.COM

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CRAFT SPIRITSEstablished in 2008, Koval produces organic whiskey, liqueurs and specialty spirits in Chicago’s first distillery since the mid-1800s. Founders Robert and Sonat Bir-necker, chose to leave their academic careers to bring the distilling traditions of Robert’s Austrian family to America. In making the decision, they vowed to make organic spirits from scratch (avoiding the common industry practice of purchasing and bottling pre-made spirits) and to change the way people understand whiskey by creating a new, signature style-using only the “heart” cut of thedistillate – affording a brighter, cleaner take on whiskey. Embracing the grain-to-bottle mentality, each step of the spirit-making process is thoughtfully monitored: beginning with contracting local farmers to grow the grain, to on-site milling and mashing, to finally distilling, bottling and packaging. After numerous international awards and Robert at the helm of consulting for the burgeoning craft industry, Koval has grown to be one of America’s leading small batch, independent spirit manufacturers.

We currently offer: Bourbon, Rye, Oat, Four Grain and Millet Whiskeys; Ginger, Rose Hip and Chrysanthemum & Honey Liqueurs and Dry Gin.

Surly Brewing of Minneapolis, MNGood News! Beginning January 4th, Surly Coffee Bender and Cynic pricing is going DOWN on all packages! Coffee Bender will fall in line with Furious pricing and Cynic will be priced the same as Bender. Additionally, we would like to remind our customers thatSurly Hell 1/2bbl kegs are only $99!

JANUARY 1 2016 | VOLUME 31 | EDITION 1

ARTISAN BEER CO.

Johnson Brothers Liquor Company1999 Shepard RoadSt. Paul, MN 55116 - 3210

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JOHNSON BROTHERS

PHILLIPS

WINE MERCHANTS

>> COVEY RUN WINERY >> UNIBROUE BEER COMPANY

>> GALLO DIVISION WINES >> THANKSGIVING WINES

WINE MERCHANTS

Number 12 Cider Houseof Buffalo, MNNumber 12 Black Currant Dry2015 World Beer Championships Award: Gold MedalClear dark red oak color. Mild, toasty, vinous aromas of fresh dark baguette, cassis jam, pomegranate, and sundried with a glycerous, racy, effervescent, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a tingling, complex, medium-length red and black currants, citrus and apple peels, pressed lilacs, and apple cider vinegar finish. A wonderfully tart and dry berry cider that will pair brilliantly.7.4% ABV

Number 12 Sparkling Dry2015 World Beer Championships Award: Silver MedalBrilliant yellow color. Delicate, yeasty aromas of sour dough bagel, fermenting apples, hominy, and delicate spice with an oily, tart, bubbly, sweet-and-sour medium body and a smooth, engaging,medium-long reduced lemon and lime, grass, nut skin, and oak finish. A bracing, mouthwatering cider that will be great at the table.7.4% ABV Available Packages: 750ml Bottles Draught

1999 Shepard Road | Saint Paul, MN 55116www.ArtisanBeerCompany.com

Order Desk: [651] 637-3334

SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT

COMINGSOON!

Central Waters Brewingof Amherst, WI

Bourbon Barrel BarleywineCentral Waters Brewer’s Reserve Collection all began more than a decade ago with our Bourbon Barrel Stout helping define an entirely new category of beer. Today, our barrel-aging program is the largest in Wisconsin and widely considered among the best nationwide. A barley wine ale aged for a full year on used bourbon barrels. This beer has flavors of dark fruits and wood. 10% ABV

Available Packages: 6/4PK Bottles Draught

JANUARY'S DRAUGHT PICK

LIMITED TIME & LIMITED AVAILABILITY RELEASE

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SWEET 5 CASE DEAL

Surly Brewing of Minneapolis, MNBrett Mikkel’s India Pale AleA collaboration between Surly and the traveling Danish brewer Mikkel Bjergso, this beer takes the concept of an IPA, blends in a variety of new German aroma hop varietals, and ferments them with Brettanomyces, rather than a traditional English ale strain. Light-bodied and dry, the combination of Brett and hop varieties offers complex earthy notes with tropical and candid fruit aromas, while the Honey Malt provides an intense malt sweetness. It ain’t nothin’ but a good time! 7.5%ABV Available Packages: 750ml Bottles Draught

Belgium Imports3 Keg Deal @ $149.00 / Keg

Brasserie La Caracole of Belgium Saxo Blonde 20L (8% ABV) Nostradamus 20L (9.5% ABV) Troublette 20L (5% ABV)

Brouwerij Verhaeghe of Belgium Barbe Ruby 20L (7.7% ABV)

Brouwerij Van Viven of Belgium Imperial IPA 20L (8% ABV) Porter 20L (7% ABV)

Brasserie De L’Abbaye du Val-Dieu of Belgium Triple 20L (9% ABV) Grand Cru 20L (10.5% ABV)

Lake Monster Brewing of St. Paul, MN

Nitro Murmur Milk Stout ½ BBLAn oatmeal milk stout made with the addition of lactose to add a full body and mouthfeel. A dark, roasty ale with notes of chocolate and coffee. Served on Nitro! 6% ABV

Untethered Brown Sour 1/6 BBL Brewed with a standard ale yeast and a culture of lactic acid producing bacteria to make a tart brown ale. Clean lactic sourness balanced by abready malt character. 6% ABV