Booze Newz: An Absolut Ode to San Francisco

Absolut is paying its respects to San Francisco with a new flavored vodka, following in the wake of past citified special editions for New Orleans, Los Angeles, Boston and Brooklyn. Absolut SF’s somewhat esoteric mix of grape, dragon fruit and papaya is designed to capture the “unique cultures, ethnicities and culinary delights of San Francisco” and entice drinkers with a “bold flavor when mixing a perfect cocktail.”

The brand is tying the latest entrant in its Absolut Cities campaign with a Facebook page, “What’s Your Absolut SF?” that encourages city residents to share their stories, as well as inviting prominent San Francisans such as Digg founder Kevin Rose and DJ Miguel Migs to collaborate with the brand on various projects. Absolut is also donating $50,000 to Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco as part of the campaign.

For the Grill Master: Samuel Adams Steaks

Summer grilling and beer have a long-term relationship, but the Boston Beer Company is turning up the heat in a move to market signature cuts of beef especially designed to pair with its beer. The Samuel Adams Boston Lager Cut, cut from the cap to the top sirloin and running at a 45-degree angle to the rest of the muscle, was designed by Jake Dickson, owner of New York butcher shop Dickson’s Farmstand Meats, to pair with Samuel Adams Boston Lager. The steaks are available online through a partnership with Robinson’s Prime Reserve and come in packages with steak burgers and Samuel Adams pint glasses “suited to fit any grill master or weekend warrior’s needs.”

Brancott Estate Offers Chance to Tweet Your Way to New Zealand

Brancott Estate winery in New Zealand is giving fans a chance to craft compelling tasting notes for its wines – in 140 characters or less – and win two airline tickets to New Zealand as well as a tour and tasting at the winery. The brand’s “#WhatIf” campaign harnesses Twitter to get fans to share their thoughts about Brancott Estate’s wines in tweets that include “#WhatIf”. The contest runs through June 13.

Courvoisier Seeing Things in a Rosy Light

Courvoisier cognac is capitalizing on the resurgent popularity of rosé wine in an attempt to woo new customers who might not be traditional cognac drinkers. The new Courvoisier Rose combines cognac with French red wine grapes (“identical in color to rosé wine”), and has an alcohol content of only 18 percent compared to regular cognac’s 40 percent. Courvoisier says it “intends for consumers to drink the 36 proof Courvoisier Rose alone, as opposed to blending with juice or other mixers, as cognac drinkers sometimes do.” While cognac fans might be a bit leery of their traditionally warming spirit being transformed into a summer cooler, one reviewer called the new product “a truly luscious and elegant spirit.”