Continuing a trend established two years ago, LiDestri Spirits’ once again racked up an array of awards, touching every market, at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Convention & Exposition (WSWA) this April 2015. The annual event, now in its 72nd year, attracts wine and spirits distributors and importers from around the world who convene to find new products, develop new business, and hear about trends from leading experts.
Leading this year’s awards was LiDestri’s mü, a coffeehouse-inspired creamy ready-to-drink cocktail. Having already established itself in 2013 with the prestigious “Hot. New. Now. Media Award.” and a Double Gold the following year, its Creamy Coco Cappuccino flavor took home a ‘Best of Show’ award in the premixed wine cocktail category as well as a Double Gold. Additionally, mü flavors Creamy Vanilla Latte and Espresso Macchiato landed Gold and Silver medals respectively. LiDestri’s Recipe 21 Premium Grape Flavored Vodka also made a strong showing at this year’s WSWA, earning a Double Gold on the first night of the convention.
Continuing its winning streak, LiDestri’s Spicy Bloody Mary earned a Silver medal in the Wine Tasting Competition. The first ready-to-drink Bloody Mary product of its kind in the country, LiDestri’s Bloody Mary is a wine-based libation sold with alcohol in it, making it much more desirable and consumer-friendly than the traditional alcohol-free mixes currently available in the U.S. Finally, in the Spirits Tasting Competition, LiDestri’s Tuttobello, intensely flavorful aperitifs, saw Gold for its Amaretto and Silver for its Limoncello flavors.
While not new to WSWA, LiDestri’s PINK Limoncello did take a new approach to showcasing the premier liqueur to attendees throughout the convention. Utilizing a type of interruptive marketing, word spread through out the WSWA about the unique PINK branded performances fueled by Atlanta-based personality, Mande Lauderdale. Spreading the message of ‘When Life Gives You Lemons, Drink PINK!’, Lauderdale interacted and engaged with attendees throughout the event, driving visitors to the PINK Limoncello suite to take park in fake weddings, a mock cat funeral and more. While pop-up performances were the talk of the event, PINK also took home a Silver this year and was one of seven competitors in this year’s Call For Cocktails competition.
“With the constant influx of unique brands at WSWA we needed a way for PINK to standout that was reflective of our culture," says LiDestri Spirits Chief Marketing Officer Stefani LiDestri. “This new form of marketing not only achieved that, but hints towards what you can expect from LiDestri Spirits in the future."
Hand-crafting the finest spirits with a sense of family pride, LiDestri’s Bloody Mary can be found throughout New York and Florida and Recipe 21 is available in New York and New Jersey. LiDestri’s Pink Limoncello is available in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Missouri, Florida and Georgia, and mü is now available in New York, Georgia and Florida.
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