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!