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thesportssoundoff · 5 years

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“Future Glory For Former Champions?” Two Guys Opine

Slight opening first: This was done in late November and @theanticool had his done first. With so many shows and news, I Wanted to wait to post it because so much has gone down and I didn’t want it getting buried. It was completed a few days before Anderson Silva vs Israel Adesanya was confirmed as not just being a fight but being a #1 contender fight. Just a heads up on that.

Two Dudes Opine!

As most of you know by listening to any sort of DojoTalkPodcast cameo I’ve done, @theanticool and I don’t agree on much of anything. That said, it’s an absolute joy to bounce ideas around, especially in the idea vacuum that is MMA, and have some good old fashioned debate on things. Conversation creates smarter people in my estimation and I obviously need all the help I can get!

I wanted to take this concept and sort of test how often we truly agree and disagree. As such, I figured he and I might want to dabble a bit to see just HOW often we agree or disagree. Once he agreed after many meetings and contractual negotiations, we agreed on a concept: I’m going to come up with a topic and present him with a list of names inside that topic. Independently we’ll each go through the names provided and see just how we match up at the end of this grabbag assignment. Our first project focused on prospects coming off a loss and I think it’s worth pointing out that Yair, Arjan Bhullar and Cynthia Calvillo were all featured in the discussion and all have gone on to win. This month we have:

In the UFC, it's very hard to regain titles after you lose them. In the modern era, only TJ Dillashaw has flat out won back a title he lost (Daniel Cormier was given it back due to Jon Jones' drug test failure while Jose Aldo won an interim title before getting elevated up to championship status). Fighters such as Aldo, Rashad Evans, Junior Dos Santos and countless others have all come up short in quests to either regain gold or find new gold in other weight classes. With that as the set up, which of the following fighters can either regain their title in their current weight class or find championship success either up or down a weight class:

Conor McGregor

Cody Garbrandt

Robbie Lawler

Holly Holm

Chris Weidman

Anderson Silva

I’m in the bold and @theanticool is in italics!

Conor McGregor- I mean if you want to manipulate it just right, Conor McGregor can absolutely find his way back to the title scene! Conor's a weird one for me---and I'm beginning to wonder if the Conor McGregor we saw at 145 lbs was more about right time, right place and perhaps even right matchmaking than anything else. Conor's wins at 145 lbs are amazing from Chad Mendes to Jose Aldo to Dustin Poirier to even a quality mid level gatekeeper type like Dennis Siver. Even Max Holloway was a case of maybe two guys facing off before they're ready to do so. Since going up in weight, Conor's 2-2. The Eddie Alvarez fight was an absolute demolition job and one of the best wins of his career given the opponent BUT I'm a bit less high up on Alvarez after seeing him struggle with Poirier twice. The Diaz fights revealed problems with Conor's pacing but also his ability to deal with the same stylistic challenges he gives others. Lengthy opponents who won't allow him to just walk them down, put them against the cage and tee off. That and to be honest? I'm really not that high up on Nate Diaz either. The Khabib performance was really good given the circumstances (long layoff from MMA, stylistic nightmare, hurt early in the fight) but THIS is what lurks at the top at 155 lbs. Khabib, Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson, a rejuvenated (yet still flawed) Dustin Poirier, Al Iaquinta plus other really great fighters who don't get their due because of the weight class depth. This is not to say that Conor McGregor loses to all of those guys or even that he's not a great fighter---he's just a great fighter as opposed to the meteoric supernova who ran through 145 lbs with such ease. Guys like Justin Gaethje are conditioned to wins wars of attrition, something Conor struggled with vs Nate. Guys like Kevin Lee and Al Iaquinta present enough of a well rounded overall game to where you could sort of see them finding ways to get Conor in enough bad spots to steal a decision. Tony Ferguson, Dustin Poirier and Khabib are elite and while Poirier's rise to the top hasn't changed the fighter he is, I think his chances in a rematch are waaaay better now that he's not completely sunken in. This doesn't even account for Ortega or Holloway coming up eventually as well.

But this isn't about Conor entirely; it's about his chances to get back in the title picture. Conor is basically a long frustrating Khabib suspension away from being in a title fight, even if it's just an interim at 155 lbs. If the UFC opens up 165 lbs, they are absolutely going to hand him a shot to fight for the belt because that's business. Shit, Conor is one win away from facing Colby Covington (Oh lord have mercy) or even opening up the doors for something with Tyron Woodley. Conor McGregor is a star and stars can get away with doing things like that. It also helps that he's a great enough fighter that the public can absolutely buy him potentially beating a guy like Tony Ferguson or Colby Covington or Woodley or whomever pops up at 165 lbs. What Conor does well at, he's one of the best at and that will always give him a shot. Again the people he's ACTUALLY beaten are among some of the best in the sports history----so who am I to say he can't get back into the title picture?

Conor McGregor

I can see Conor politicking himself back into title contention. Let’s be real, he’s never going to be far from a title shot. With Khabib Nurmagomedov’s future kind of up in the air with the pending investigation of the NSAC and his father stating that he doesn’t want his son fighting past 30, the lightweight title could be up for grabs soon. Not to mention Khabib and Tony Ferguson are injury prone individuals. If one or both of them get hurt, McGregor is right back in the title picture. And should Ferguson and Khabib fall out of the picture, I’d like McGregor’s chances against the likes of Dustin Poirier, Kevin Lee (maybe less so him but still), Justin Gaethje, Anthony Pettis, and Nate Diaz. Heck, if the UFC ever decides to make that 165lb division you know McGregor going for his 3rd belt would be too much for the UFC to pass up. If McGregor continues fighting, he will eventually get another shot because of his popularity. By that virtue alone, he’s got a better shot than most former champions of getting a UFC title.

Cody Garbrandt- I still like Cody but there be some issues here. For starters, backs, necks and knees don't get better. That's especially true for fighters who rely on their reflexes and quick twitch ability to enter into exchanges and for their defense. Garbrandt having back problems at the scant age of 27 is rather worrisome. That's more worrisome than the fact that he now has two losses to the champ TJ Dillashaw. Bantamweight is a bit like heavyweight and so like JDS vs Cain, Cody could realistically always just be a title change away from being back in the picture. I'm sure when I read Anticool's retort, he's not going to agree here but I DO think Cody can beat TJ. They've fought twice and he's hurt TJ and both fights. The difference is that Dillashaw is a way better finisher (If TJ knocks Cruz down the way Cody does then the fight's over) and Dillashaw instinct wise just seems better. He seems more capable of surviving bad exchanges, smarter with adjustments and more willing to not be prideful (Garbrant absolutely stands with Lineker and nobody can convince me otherwise). For Cody to get back to the top, he needs to beat somebody in the top 5 but outside of Jimmie Rivera, I don't see a lot of willing matchups. I'm on the fence here.

Cody Garbrandt

MMA is not like boxing. Getting knocked out back to back doesn’t spell immediate doom and gloom for your career. It’s still not a good look though. I really hated the immediate rematch between Garbrandt and Dillashaw because I saw it as potentially burning out a young prospect’s career in a chase for quick money. And I honestly don’t know how Garbrandt will turn out till we see him fight someone in the top 10 at bantamweight who isn’t TJ Dillashaw or Dominick Cruz. This division is currently brimming with young talented fighters who are improving dramatically between fights, while Garbrandt seemingly hasn’t. We need to see him build on his current boxing game. Maybe use more of his wrestling. Add some tools to his kickboxing arsenal that aren’t reliant on the fact that he has a lot of power in his hands. I will reserve judgement on him till we see him fight again. We just don’t know where he’s at after coming up short twice to someone he hates. That has to be mentally exhausting.

Robbie Lawler- Oh what Robbie Lawler has brought to us. Nobody should forget 2013 to 2015 when Lawler fought Johnny Hendricks twice, Jake Ellenberger, Rory MacDonald twice and Matt Brown off the top of my head. Since then? I think Robbie might be broken, dudes. Lawler is 2-2 but should really be 1-3 (fight me about it, guys) and all of those fights seemed less about the skill he had and more about the heart he still possesses. You don't have the fight of year in back to back to back years without losing a piece of you in the process and it's perhaps made all the more remarkable when you consider Robbie fought four times in 2014 and has seen the number decline from 4 to 1 in 2015 to 2 in 2016 to 2 in 2017 to nada in 2018. The matter was made worse by an ACL injury sustained in a fight vs RDA where he was pretty much wiped out even if he didn't ever seem to be in danger of being finished. I like Robbie a lot and I think a serious convo will be had about him as a hall of fame talent AND I remember when the UFC made him one of the first big signings BACK from Strikeforce when everybody had mailed it in on Lawler. A return to WW made him great again but now? I think the time has come and gone. Robbie's 36 years old coming off knee surgery in a division that's ripe to get younger real quick. Of course I can't ignore the shades of Koscheck vs Lawler with this Askren booking but Ben's a lot better than Josh was at that point in his career. I think the Lawler days are done.

Robbie Lawler

Hindsight is 20/20. It looks like Lawler’s fight with Condit was his last real hurrah. The Lawler that went toe-to-toe with Johny Hendricks twice and had one of the greatest fights of all time with Rory MacDonald is gone. And fair enough. That MacDonald fight honestly would have been the end of most other guys’ careers. If his fight with Rafael Dos Anjos is any indication, I do think Lawler has something left in the tank if his body can stay together for 15-25 minutes. He’s still got a lot of technical savvy and he’s still tough as hell, but I can see his upcoming fight with Ben Askren going south if the man can’t generate the volume we’ve seen from him in the past. I don’t foresee another title reign in Lawler’s future, as sad as that makes me. But he’s proved us wrong before.

Holly Holm- Chances are Holly Holm will absolutely fight for a title and pretty soon. Can she win it? Yeah, I actually kinda sorta think she can. Holm's title losses can be summed as getting taken out of her game by a very gutsy Meisha Tate, some sketchy borderline late work from Germaine De Randamie and getting outphysical'd by Cris Cyborg. Holly Holm is still a good yet flawed fighter who will probably be able to out athlete most of the fighters she faces AND if we're being 100% fair? She and Mike Winkeljohn feel like one of those pairings that just click. That on its own could be enough to get her not just back in the title picture but win her title especialyl if Nunes is broken vs Cyborg. I still think there’s SOME paper lion in Amanda Nunes’ game and I could see Holm giving her all she can handle.

Holly Holm

Of the 6 fighters considered for this article, Holly Holm is my pick for best chance to regain her former title. At least by doing it the “right” way. Of the 6, I think she’s in the best place mentally and physically. She has not shown she’s falling apart yet like Lawler and Weidman. She hasn’t shown she has slowed down yet like Silva. We haven’t seen her succumb to her own hubris yet like Garbrandt has twice. And women’s bantamweight isn’t the shark tank division that lightweight is. She can and most likely will get another shot at the women’s bantamweight title. Plus Holm presents a whole slew of challenges for Amanda Nunes that we have yet to see Nunes face. She’s a range kicker who can fight hard for 5 rounds, set a solid pace, and will have a good sized reach advantage on the outside. And unlike Shevchenko, Holm will throw volume. That of course means she’s going to leave herself more open to counters from arguably the hardest hitting woman in the sport but Nunes is fighting on a short timer. If Holm can survive the first round, you know she’s going to be the fresher of the two from rounds 2-5.

Chris Weidman- This is the one I'm most on the fence about. If Chris Weidman cuts less weight, goes up to 205 lbs and manages to stay relatively break free? I don't see why he couldn't do something really good at the top of the division. We're seeing worse fighters step in against top 10/top 15 LHWs and have zero issue being not just competitive but thrust into title contention. I know their respective styles are different but Weidman can absolutely pull an Anthony Smith; feast on being the more athletic guy with more tools in his arsenal vs bigger guys who may not even be all THAT bigger. I'm just beginning to wonder if Chris Weidman might be for a lack of a better term broken. Perhaps broken beyond repair. Weidman's kind of in that Gray Maynard stage for me now and I think that's worse than it sounds to some people. Gray Maynard after the Edgar fights was still competitive AND improving in some capacities---but his chin was cooked, his wrestling suddenly seemed either outdated or ill equipped to deal with the rising talent levels and even when he was doing good, you just felt a sense of inevitability. I never once felt like Jacare was in danger of losing vs Weidman but I spend every second of that fight believing we were just one something away from it falling apart for Chris Weidman. It's one of those weird feelings to see a fighter doing really well and just feel almost resigned to an inevitable bad thing happening. Chris Weidman fights in a much easier division at 185 lbs than Gray Maynard and could move up to an even EASIER division at 205 lbs. The problem is I just wonder how many times we can see Weidman with a bloodied up face saying "I'll be back from this" before we just have to accept that Chris Weidman hit the point of no return on his career? It's entirely possible that his win over Gastelum (another fight where he got hurt really badly) was a brief last gasp for his career as a whole. Weidman's ability to will himself through wars of attrition hasn't diminished but his body's ability to hold up in those fights has.

Chris Weidman is the ultimate boom or bust guy; the boom says that he could possibly be the champ at 205 lbs if Jon Jones vacates the premises while the bust is that Weidman takes unneeded additional damage against bigger guys who hit him really hard. I'd like to see Chris Weidman TRY at 205 lbs, maybe against a relatively easy touch. It's often times been said that the UFC doesn't just start giving guys easier opponents when they're earning bank so Weidman has a really good shot to walk into 205 lbs and be greeted by an OSP or a Shogun or someone who has name value and is probably good enough to test him. If it doesn't work then we can call it a day but if it does, I think Weidman has a sizable chance to find a way to the title.

Chris Weidman

Weidman will never be champion again at 185lbs. You can’t get stopped in 4 of your last 5 fights and expect my confidence in your chances at the belt. I am not sold on the idea though that Chris Weidman is a chinny fighter so there’s no way he could cut it at 205. Most of his stoppage losses have seemed to have come from exhaustion as much as they’ve come from eating a big shot. Weidman needs to control the pace to win fights. He can’t rely on his wrestling because it’s too draining on his stamina, except against Gastelum who basically did nothing to stop the grappling game of Weidman. It’s why we’ve seen him change from a come forward pressure fighter to an out fighter. I think his team thought it would be easier on Weidman to control his output and range if he didn’t constantly have to move forward. Problem is that being an out fighter requires a lot of movement, pivoting, and things that also require a lot of energy and precision. Weidman can’t afford to let the flow of fights get away from his because it drains his gas tank too quickly. It’s how Jacare eventually wore him down. That’s why we see him win the first round of fights where he ultimately gets stopped. When other fighters do not concede, Weidman fades. I think a move to 205 could help with a lot of these issues. No more weight cut, no more energy dump after 6-7 minutes of fighting. I am afraid though that all the injuries and the big cuts to make 185lbs are cutting short his career. The first 5 minutes of his fight with Jacare, however, was some of the best we’ve seen Weidman look technically. There could be hope for him yet at 205. I don’t know if he has what it takes to beat an Alexander Gustafsson or Jon Jones. When you consider those guys are just as likely to get either hurt (Gus) or suspended on some dumb (Jones) though, the division could be wide open for Weidman to come through and make a title run.

Anderson Silva- Silva will not will a title. Will he fight for one? He shouldn't but he will, right? Remember Anderson Silva could have an argument to having beat Michael Bisping and he owns a win over Derek Brunson who is a top 10 gatekeeper. Silva could even go as far back as to point out that there was SOME talk that if he beat Nick Diaz, he would've gotten a title fight. My best guess is that when Silva's back, he is just one fight away. After all who isn't in MMA these days?

Anderson Silva

No. In terms of fighters that are past it, I actually think Silva is on the upper end of guys who are still functioning. If Tito Ortiz would be a sizeable favorite over 95% of fighters on the regional scene, Anderson Silva is a favorite over most middleweights not in the top 20 and probably a lot of mid-tier 205ers. His super close fights with Derek Brunson and future champion Michael Bisping attest to his ability to stick around the upper end of the division. Problem for him is the high end of middleweight has become a shark tank of athletes with well rounded technical games. He would no longer be fighting the Chael Sonnens and Yushin Okamis of the world. And honestly I don’t need to see Yoel Romero flying knee Silva’s head through the fence. I’m good. I’m content with his upcoming fight with Israel Adesanya. Of all the fights he could have gotten against the top of the division, with the exception of maybe Kelvin Gastelum, Israel Adesanya is probably the most kind. I do expect Silva to picked apart here. I don’t expect to see Silva bum rush his way into something crazy like Derek Brunson did and I don’t expect Adesanya to push a crazy pace in search of the stoppage. Maybe we’ll get some fun spinning stuff but I think the fight ends up looking similar to the Adesanya-Tavares fight - Silva being unable to pull the trigger while Adesanya casually styles on him.

#MMa #UFC #Opining #sports #Anderson Silva #Chris Weidman #Garbrandt #Fights

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casebeautee · 3 years

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farlydatau · 9 months

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Jon Bones Jones Flexing Retro Color Stripes Grunge Distress T-Shirt Vintage Jon Jones Shirt MMA Graphic Tee Jon Jones Shirt Gift For UFC Fan

#israel adesanya #conor mcgregor #jon jones #Jon Bones Jones #Jon Jones Shirt #Jon Bones Jones Tee #muay thai #ufc #mixed martial arts #gift #gift ideas #gifts #tshirt #fighter

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fashionbassmind · 4 years

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10 Menswear Essentials for Your Next Virtual Festival!

From social media, main characters, and professional athletes, we have gathered the latest inspirations for what we know will be the essentials for keeping you guys hyped for those virtual festivals!

From this spring’s Netflix hit and TikTok star, we have John B and his signature bandana wrapped around as an ascot. (Soure: Cosmo).

In order to acheive this John B. aesthetic (not Topper!), simply pick up our favorite from Tilly’s! This afforable paisley print doubles as a neck gaiter that allows you to wear it from your next essential shopping trip to that virtual concert afterwards! (source: Tilly’s).

Love wearing hats? Wear them as well as making a statement. Following King James and his look in the bubble that shows fashion and awareness. (Source: @KingJames Instagram).

You too could own this dad cap. At an afforable price, it allows for you to show your support for Black Lives Matter while you are supporting your favorite muscial act. (Source: BKVNYC).

Fan of TikTok? Us too! Have a creator fund? lol neither do we! But it doesn’t take that to know that 7″ seam shorts are out, and 5″ shorts are in. From forefather, Harry Styles to Conor McGregor, these shorts allow for more movement as well as showing those #legdaygainz. (Source: NY Post).

In this olive tone, these shorts can go from your at home workout to a socially distanced concert. With multiple colors and only $20, these shorts are a great investment. (Source: GymShark)

From the runway of Craig Green, all-white everything is in. This sleek look could take you from day to night (Source: Vogue). Below, showing his take on it is OBJ.

From the sleek hat, white shirt, white utility jacket, white cargo pants, and pastel pink boots, your inner e-boy will be simping hard. (Source: @obj Instagram).

To get this serene look for your next event consider this next look. Made from breathable cotton and reinforced areas, this jumpsuit allows for you to wear it for a comfy night in virtually streaming, or to save it for the next Outside Lands. (Source: J. Crew)

The next trend is this versatile jacket. Making a tonal look complete, it is simple enough to wear to a late night festival and then the next morning for work. (source: WWD Ermenegildo Zegna).

Latest e-boy, lilhuddy, can be seen wearing his spin in this TikTok screen grab. With the popped collar shirt underneath, it allows for the 70′s vibe as well. (Source: @lilhuddy TikTok).

If you want to wear this look to your next festival, consider this piece. From fashion nova, the notch lapels and longer tail allow for this to be worn into the Snowglobe as well! (Source: Fashion Nova).

Lastly, look at this plain graphic tee from Gucci’s Fall 2020 runway show. With the simple oversized look, what we really are looking at is the writing across the chest.

To also make a statement, consider this Urban Outfitters Collab with Levi Robinson. While wearing this you can support the Black Lives Matter movement, a non-profit, and a black artist.

Hope this post helps all you guys out there who are looking for the next big trend. Stay tuned next week as we continue to share the latest trends with you!

xo monique!

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wineanddinosaur · 4 years

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Dozens of Distilleries Are Betting That Irish Whiskey Has a Future Bigger Than Jameson

No spirits category is dominated so completely by one brand as Irish whiskey is by Jameson. Yet that may soon change. Irish whiskey is one of the fastest-growing spirits categories in the U.S., according to drinks market analyst IWSR. Over the past five years, volume sales increased at a 13.4 percent compound annual growth rate. IWSR forecasts the category will continue to grow in the coming years.

To give the category a sense of context, the Irish whisky category is about half the size of Scotch in the U.S. Nearly 4.9 million 9-liter cases of Irish whiskey were sold stateside in 2019, generating $1.1 billion in revenues for distillers, according to data from the Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS). In comparison, 9.5 million 9-liter cases of Scotch whiskey were sold in the U.S. last year, driving revenues of up to $2.4 billion.

The major returns on this healthy sales growth continue to be enjoyed mainly by Jameson. In 2019, the Pernod Ricard-owned triple-distilled whiskey enjoyed an 80 percent market share of the Irish whiskey category in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.

But things are changing in Ireland. In the past 10 years, the number of distilleries operating in the country increased eight-fold. Far from trying to imitate the style that’s brought Jameson such success, those distilleries are embracing historical styles and leaning into uniquely Irish distilling techniques. Their bottles offer higher-end alternatives within the Irish whiskey category, at a time of increased premiumization within all spirits categories.

If ever there was a time for Irish whiskey to outgrow its one-brand reputation, it is now. So how can Irish whiskey producers achieve this?

The Irish Distillery Boom

In 2010, there were only four distilleries in Ireland producing and selling Irish whiskey. By December 2019, the number of operational distilleries had increased to 32, according to the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA).

This renaissance has been the defining story of Irish whiskey over the past decade. The ability of these distilleries, and the dozen or so others that are still in the planning or construction stages, to operate profitably will surely be the factor that proves whether Irish whiskey can continue to grow as a category.

But such rapid expansion also suggests that judging Irish whiskey’s potential based on current sales data is a somewhat flawed science. By law, all Irish whiskey must age for at least three years before release. Many newer producers may wish to release longer-aged, more premium offerings. Given that more than half of Ireland’s current distilleries began their operations in 2015 or later, we have yet to experience their real impact on the sector. And it’s in the premium-plus price segment where those that have already come to market have had the biggest impact.

“The new ranges on the market are more premium than the incumbent products, which is driving continued interest in the category, resulting in value growth outpacing the volume growth,” says Adam Rogers, IWSR research director, North America.

That value growth is outpacing volume increases seems to confirm that consumers are increasingly “trading up” with their purchasing decisions. It would also suggest that distilleries planning to introduce premium-plus bottles can further disrupt the market.

“Last year alone, there were over 30 new Irish whiskey brands launched in the U.S. market at a premium-and-above price point,” says Conor Neville, Tullamore D.E.W.’s U.S.-based brand ambassador. “With an influx of new quality offerings, we’re starting to see a growing shift in consumer assumptions of the category and how it can be enjoyed coupled with a willingness to trade up.”

The Diversity of Irish Whiskey

A few descriptors relating to production techniques and Irish whiskey’s perceived style are commonly used to describe the category. Irish whiskey is triple-distilled, blended, and approachable or smooth, it is often said. It makes sense that these are the often-associated terms, given that they describe Jameson to a tee. But historically, the category has offered much more than just approachable blends. Now, the nation’s pioneering new distillers and well-established brands alike are looking to the past to drive future innovations.

Four whiskey styles can be produced in Ireland: Blended, single grain, single malt, and single pot still. Of those four, single pot still is the only uniquely Irish offering, and it’s one that many modern distillers are embracing. By law, this pot-distilled style must contain a minimum of 30 percent each malted and unmalted barley. Up to 5 percent of other cereals such as oats and rye are also permitted in the mash bill.

Several other distinctions within all four styles make Irish whiskey ripe for innovation. Distillers can alter their single malts’ flavor profiles, for example, via different distillation methods (double-distilling versus triple-distilling), processes like cask finishing, and the types of wood used for maturation. (Unlike Scotch or bourbon, Irish whiskey does not have to age in oak vessels.)

“Distilleries and producers have been experimenting with [these styles and processes] to develop new and interesting offerings,” says Donal O’Gallachoir, co-founder of Glendalough Distillery. “This has been significant, breathing life into the category and offering U.S. whiskey drinkers real choice while on their Irish whiskey journey.”

Indeed, Glendalough is a fine example of one producer embracing Ireland’s diverse range of whiskey styles. Its Pot Still Irish Whiskey is finished for up to a year in virgin Irish oak casks, made from trees felled by the distillery. The distillery’s Double Barrel single grain whiskey spends most of its maturation period in used bourbon casks before it’s finished in Spanish oak oloroso barrels. Meanwhile, Glendalough’s 17-year-old single malt is aged 15 years in ex-bourbon barrels before a two-year finishing period in Mizunara oak sourced from Japan.

Tullamore D.E.W. is the second-best-selling Irish whiskey in the U.S., according to IWSR data. This brand has found significant success with its Caribbean-Rum- and Cider-Cask-finished blended whiskeys, as well as its range of age-statement single malts. Bushmills and The Tyrconnell are two examples of other established producers offering aged expressions in the single malt category.

Pernod-Ricard-owned Redbreast, a longtime standard-bearer for the single pot still category, added a Lustau-cask-finished expression to its permanent lineup in 2016. Redbreast also offers increasingly aged pot still whiskeys, including 15-, 21-, and 27-year-old expressions.

Younger brands that do not have access to their own aged stocks — or choose not to source aged whiskeys from other producers — are innovating in different ways. For example, Brown-Forman-owned Slane Irish Whiskey offers a blend of malt and grain whiskeys aged in three different types of barrels: Virgin oak, seasoned American whiskey, and oloroso sherry.

Kilbeggan serves innovation through the grains used in its mash bills. Its single pot still release includes 2.5 percent oats in the recipe, which has a much more noticeable impact than the figure suggests. The distillery also offers a Small Batch Rye that includes roughly 30 percent of the spicy grain in its mash bill.

“It’s innovating combined with a true history — taking note of what we’ve done in the past and carving out a new avenue for growth,” says Michael Egan, Kilbeggan’s U.S.-based brand ambassador. “Irish whiskey was once the Rolex of the global whiskey industry and today we’re making that comeback.”

(Other younger brands, such as Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey, have primarily stuck to the Jameson blueprint, though the success of Proper Twelve cannot be overstated as a factor in the continued expansion of the overall category.)

Irish Whiskey Association

Another notable development within the past 10 years has been the formation of the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA), which was established in 2014.

“It’s immensely important on a number of fronts,” says Alex Conyngham, co-founder of the Slane Distillery. ”Firstly, category protection — and by that I mean defining the standard of Irish whiskey, upholding that standard, and protecting it internationally.”

Another essential role of the organization is the promotion of the Irish whiskey abroad, Conyngham says. Part of that role as a marketer has seen the IWA drive to boost tourism in recent years. While that revenue stream is currently not an option, it’s a shrewd move if other categories are anything to go by.

Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, recently told me how important the Kentucky Distillery Trail had been to the “bourbon boom” of the last two decades. Distillery visits create a legion of “ambassadors” for brands, who are likely to share their experiences with friends and family and remain loyal to those brands when making future purchases, he said.

The scores of newly opened Irish distilleries have proven adept at catering to this. There are now 19 different distillery tourist experiences across the country. And those efforts are already bearing fruit. Last year, a record-breaking 1 million tourists visited Ireland’s distilleries. “North America remains the top market of origin for visitors to Irish whiskey distilleries, with tourists from the U.S. and Canada accounting for 34 percent of all visits in 2019,” according to the IWA.

This is an important distinction, as the U.S. remains by far the largest market for Irish whiskey. In 2019, America accounted for more than 40 percent of volume sales, according to IWSR data. Irish whiskey sales in the U.S. are nearly nine times greater than those in Russia, the category’s second-largest market.

The Influence of Spirits Conglomerates

Another promising sign for the future of Irish whiskey is the number of notable spirits conglomerates in the space. Pernod-Ricard is the most important in terms of its market share, being the owner of leading brands Jameson and Redbreast. Proximo Spirits, which is a part of Jose Cuervo, has Bushmills and The Sexton. Bacardi owns a minority stake in Teeling, which became Dublin’s first new distillery in 125 years when it opened in 2015. Beam Suntory counts Kilbeggan, Connemara, and Tyrconnell as part of its international portfolio, while William Grant & Sons owns Tullamore D.E.W. In 2017, two years after selling Bushmills to Jose Cuervo, Diageo announced its new premium blended Irish whiskey, Roe & Co.

Conyngham, whose Slane Irish Whiskey brand was acquired by Brown-Forman in 2015, says being a part of a larger spirits company has multiple benefits. His distillery is able to source its American whiskey and virgin oak casks directly from its parent company — the only leading American whiskey producer that owns sawmills and cooperage facilities.

Past this, Conyngham says it’s the expertise a larger brand offers that’s been most helpful. From a strategic standpoint, being part of Brown-Forman has eased access to the American market and its complex three-tier distribution system. The company has also shared expertise on things like how to grow Slane’s range over time, when to introduce new products, and how to keep them in line with the core brand.

Bartenders’ Role in the Rise of Irish Whiskey

One conversation that’s played out in the success of other whiskey categories has been the role of bartenders. While Irish whiskey isn’t associated with well-known classic cocktails, that hasn’t stopped bartenders from experimenting with it.

“There’s a huge chance to develop Irish whiskey through the cocktail program in the same way that bourbon started getting really popular through cocktails,” says Shane Mulvany, a (currently furloughed) bartender at New York’s Dead Rabbit. Mulvany says that Irish whiskey’s approachable profile, and the sheer number of different styles on offer, makes it a “malleable” cocktail ingredient, and one that is attractive to bartenders.

One such option they might turn to is The Sexton. A non-age-statement single malt, the whiskey is crafted with versatility in mind, says the brand’s master blender, Alex Thomas. The whiskey’s bold flavor profile, she says, allows it to be enjoyed neat or in a range of cocktails from the Old Fashioned to Whiskey Sours to proprietary bartender creations. “Whichever way you want to drink it, The Sexton allows you to — which isn’t normal for [traditional] single malts.”

The Future of Irish Whiskey

Everyone contacted for this article said the next five to 10 years will be among the most exciting in Irish whiskey history. All predict the category will not only broaden as more brands come to market, but also deepen as established brands introduce new expressions.

Some are betting on the future of cask finishing and oak-alternatives for maturation. Others highlight single pot still, the cornerstone of Irish whiskey, as the future of the category. The number of age-statement single malts will also increase in years to come, they say. And so, too, will conversations surrounding its viability as a better-value alternative to those produced in Scotland.

Indeed, as a category, Irish whiskey not only stands somewhat geographically between America and Scotch but also ideologically. Its approachable flavor profile, recent resurgence story, and myriad styles are comparable to bourbon. With Scotland, it shares a lengthy heritage and lineage unrivaled in the rest of the world.

Clearly defining all that Irish whiskey offers may be the biggest challenge for the Irish Whiskey Association in the coming years. Producers will be tasked with delivering on that message. If both succeed, the days of Irish whiskey’s reputation as a one-brand category should be consigned to history.

The article Dozens of Distilleries Are Betting That Irish Whiskey Has a Future Bigger Than Jameson appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/irish-whiskey-future-beyond-jameson/

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johnboothus · 4 years

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Dozens of Distilleries Are Betting That Irish Whiskey Has a Future Bigger Than Jameson

If ever there was a time for Irish whiskey to outgrow its one-brand reputation, it is now. So how can Irish whiskey producers achieve this?

The Irish Distillery Boom

The Diversity of Irish Whiskey

Irish Whiskey Association

Another notable development within the past 10 years has been the formation of the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA), which was established in 2014.

The Influence of Spirits Conglomerates

Bartenders’ Role in the Rise of Irish Whiskey

The Future of Irish Whiskey

The article Dozens of Distilleries Are Betting That Irish Whiskey Has a Future Bigger Than Jameson appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/irish-whiskey-future-beyond-jameson/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/dozens-of-distilleries-are-betting-that-irish-whiskey-has-a-future-bigger-than-jameson

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thetimepress · 4 years

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The humbling of Brooks Koepka

Golf was one of the last trash talk-free zones in American sports until Brooks Koepka swaggered his way to the first tee. He was never going to be Conor McGregor, but emboldened by his superhero arms and unbending belief in himself, Koepka sometimes said things that would make a pay-per-view promoter proud.

Like on Saturday night, when Koepka was asked how he felt about starting the final round…

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hilumichee · 4 years

Link

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deanvannguyen · 6 years

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All my 2017 writing

2017 was poisonous, corrosive and it consistently found new ways to chill my soul. I do, though, like some of the stuff I wrote in the last 12 months. Here's a list of everything published.

Smoke DZA & Pete Rock: Don’t Smoke Rock (Pitchfork)

Ain’t Nothin’ but a Paris Hit: PNL and the Art of French Hip-Hop (Passion of the Weiss)

The Power and the Peril: DOOM's albums ranked (Lactose and Lecithin)

Trump’s musical booking woes are unprecedented, even for a Republican (The Irish Times)

Diet Cig: “Tummy Ache” (Pitchfork)

Will the new festival from Glastonbury organisers be all that Bazaar? (The Irish Times)

Bay Area Boomin’: On Nef the Pharaoh’s Thrilling Career (Passion of the Weiss)

Sinkane: Life & Livin’ It (Pitchfork)

This Is A High: Blur’s Self-Titled LP Turns 20 (Headstuff)

Why Drake Matters (The Irish Times)

Searching For Sugar Man: How Nigeria’s Joe King Kologbo Lived The Highlife (Bandcamp Daily)

The bamboo ceiling: Hollywood’s problem with Asian actors (The Irish Times)

Burn the Soufflé: Hepburn and Holden’s Unjustly Forgotten Paris When It Sizzles (Headstuff)

How Much A Dollar Cost? On Prince's “Money Don't Matter 2 Night” (Forbes)

Mick Jenkins: “Pressed For Time (Crossed My Mind)” (Pitchfork)

The Meaning of Biggie: On Life After Death (Consequence of Sound)

Soul Control: Aretha Franklin’s ‘I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You’ Turns 50 (Vinyl Me, Please)

Lil Durk: Love Songs for the Streets (Pitchfork)

Real Estate: In Mind (Consequence of Sound)

Dippin’ Again: Juelz Santana’s Unlikely Comeback (Passion of the Weiss)

Raekwon’s 10 Favorite Hip-Hop Albums of All Time (Consequence of Sound)

Centre stage: The return of Craig David (Irish Examiner)

Rejjie Snow: “Flexin’” (Pitchfork)

Grooving Through 1980s Lagos and Livy Ekemezie’s “Friday Night” (Bandcamp Daily)

State of the Nation: On Kendrick Lamar's thrilling 'DAMN.' (Lactose & Lecithin)

Space Jam: the best soundtrack of them all? (The Irish Times)

The Undocumented review: “To me the Irish are not the criminals Trump talks about” (The Irish Times)

Loaded review: This IT crowd need to reboot their one liners (The Irish Times)

Is Rejjie Snow the rap game’s Conor McGregor? (The Irish Times)

‘Anne With an E’ is playful, quaint and undercut with darkness (The Irish Times)

Interview with Inua Ellams: “It was difficult settling in to Dublin, dealing with racism and ignorance” (The Irish Times)

Chris Cornell: the Greek god of grunge who blazed his own path (The Irish Times)

Ireland’s Interracial Couples: It’s a Daily Struggle (The Irish Times)

Top 50 Songs of 1997 (Consequence of Sound)

Album of the Day: Vincent Ahehehinnou, “Best Woman” (Bandcamp Daily)

Mafioso Monster: On Payroll Giovanni’s ‘Payface’ (Passion of the Weiss)

Why doesn’t the prospect of an ethnic taoiseach excite me? (The Irish Times)

The last of the great grungers (The Irish Times)

Arcade Fire at Malahide Castle: everything you need to know (The Irish Times)

Body & Soul: Six acts not to miss (The Irish Times)

Mach-Hommy and Knxwledge Team Up on ‘The Spook’ (Passion of the Weiss)

Puff Daddy’s ‘No Way Out’ Turns 20 (Passion of the Weiss)

Ooooooohh, on the S4U Tip: Britain’s Slickest New R&B Act (Passion of the Weiss)

Where the streets have no statues: why do the Irish hate U2? (The Guardian)

I have the Michael Jackson skin condition (The Irish Times)

Have you been listening to ‘fake music’ on Spotify? (The Irish Times)

Tyler the Catalyst (The Irish Times)

Lights, camera, contortion: the trailblazing work of Tim Saccenti (The Irish Times)

Neomadic review: 1990s east coast hip-hop with a Dublin flavour (The Irish Times)

England was theirs: the high point of The Smiths (The Irish Times)

The 12 best unsung cult films from the depths of Netflix (The Irish Times)

Mozzy – ‘1 Up Top Ahk’ review: Relentlessly tough and soulful journey (The Irish Times)

A Tribe Called Quest: one of hip hop's greatest ever journeys (The Irish Times)

Electric Picnic preview: A fortress of friends and curry cheese chips [partial] (The Irish Times)

A Guide to The Many Faces of Multi-Instrumentalist Charif Megarbane (Bandcamp Daily)

Electric Picnic – First impressions from a first timer (The Irish Times)

Electric Picnic – Rejjie Snow at EP2017: The homecoming of a new-age Dublin rap star (The Irish Times)

Electric Picnic – Orchestra’s take on 90s hits the hottest ticket in Stradbally (The Irish Times)

Electric Picnic – Bicep fails to show true EP muscle (The Irish Times)

Electric Picnic – Reviews from day two [partial: Katie Laffan, Jagwar Ma] (The Irish Times)

Electric Picnic – Review from day three [partial: Real Estate] (The Irish Times)

Electric Picnic – A Tribe Called Quest kick it at Electric Picnic (The Irish Times)

Electric Picnic – Father John Misty at Electric Picnic: ‘Where’d you get your hips?’ (The Irish Times)

Candice Gordon: Garden of Beasts – Gothic guitar-noir from Berlin-based Irish woman (The Irish Times)

Lee Ranaldo review: Proof that there’s life after Youth (The Irish Times)

The Best Post-Sonic Youth Songs (The Dowsers)

The 10 Best Curtis Mayfield Albums To Own On Vinyl (Vinyl Me, Please)

The cultural crimes and white privilege of Miley Cyrus (The Irish Times)

Kele Okereke review: The kitsch is all right – just about (The Irish Times)

King Krule - The OOZ album review: as classically cool as a round-neck tee (The Irish Times)

LeRoy Hutson: Anthology 1972-1984 – stepping out of Curtis Mayfield’s shoes (The Irish Times)

100 Round Goon: The Thrilling Rise of Q Da Fool (Passion of the Weiss)

Dublin’s Hip-Hop Scene: Can We Kick It? (Totally Dublin)

Looking for a job in Ireland? Don’t sound foreign (The Irish Times)

The new, hard-nosed Taylor Swift is a hard sell (The Irish Times)

Renaissance Man: The Story of Hermeto Pascoal’s Great Lost Album, “Viajando Com O Som” (Bandcamp Daily)

Best Two: NxWorries Re-Invent The Remix (Passion of the Weiss)

Slim chance: Why has Eminem’s music aged so badly? (The Irish Times)

Soul of a Woman: Sharon Jones’s final, funky masterwork, a year after her death (The Irish Times)

Talib Kweli: Radio Silence (Pitchfork)

On Danny Watts’ Deep-Thinking Debut “Black Boy Meets World” (Lactose and Lecithin)

Tom Rogerson with Brian Eno: Finding Shore – music for lovestruck androids (The Irish Times)

G Perico: 2 Tha Left – LA rapper makes it look Eazy-E (The Irish Times)

‘Bout It, ‘Bout It: Cam’ron gets with ‘The Program’ (Passion of the Weiss)

The Best Albums of 2017: #80 – 61 [partial: #72. Pierre Kwenders – MAKANDA at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time, #68. Cosmic Analog Ensemble – Les Sourdes Oreilles] (Bandcamp Daily)

Statik Selektah: 8 (Pitchfork)

G-Eazy: The Beautiful & Damned – a grandiose hip-hop chronicle (The Irish Times)

Eminem: Revival review - gruelling, relentless and sterile (The Irish Times)

Best Albums of 2017 (50-26) [partial: #30 Serengeti – Jueles – Butterflies] (Passion of the Weiss)

The Best Rap Songs of 2017 [partial: #20 C Struggs – “Go To Jesus”, #14. Nef The Pharaoh – “Bling Blaow (Passion of the Weiss)

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