Rob Weller, our Sales Manager and Jon Tregenna, our Media Manager went over to San Franciso in California last weekend to meet up with the crew from [ImPex Beverages, our new US importers. They attended their annual conference, went to a Penderyn whisky tasting at the famed [Whisky Shop in Sutter St, central San Francisco; and then attended the Whisky Live event at the two day [Highland Games in Pleasanton, which is the apparently the biggest of its kind in the world.
Rather wonderfully, Penderyn sold more whisky at a Scottish Highland Games than any other whisky. Quite remarkable in a field full of 10,000 kilt-wearing bagpipe-appreciating clansmen and women! They really appreciated our delicate fruity whiskies, especially after some of the heavier peated Scottish whiskies. One new customer said, ‘This is a great sunshine whisky – perfect for California.’ Val Zhogolo of ImpEx Bev tasted our products for the first time. You can see his reaction on video [here.
Rob and Jon enjoyed the company of Sam Filmus (ImPex Bev President) and his team (pictured above and below at the games, with our Rob 4th from the right) – they’re a great group of charming, hard-working, worldly-wise salespeople who cover the whole of the US. And if you’re in the US, you can find out who your local distributor is by contacting [ImpEx Bev, or you can order online from [The Whisky Shop.
Rob said, ‘It was a great trip. Sam and his team are so passionate about Penderyn’s whiskies. I am confident that Penderyn can now make great inroads into the US marketplace.’
The tasting in the Whisky Shop also went well, and 4 out of every 5 customers who tasted Penderyn bought a bottle. The food out there is fantastic too and the team visited [Boho, [The Beer Baron and [LVMar, and on the last day Sam took Jon and Rob on a sight-seeing tour of San Francisco bay, which culminated in oysters and Prosecco at [The Trident in the very smart bayside town of Sausilido before a dash back to the airport.
All in all, a great trip