🥃 Recreating Diageo’s AI Brand Ambassador
Plus: Whisky Fungus Legal Battle, New Mega Distillery, and More
⛏️ This Week's Top Picks
1. 🤖 Diageo Unveils Team for Innovation
Diageo has created a 'Breakthrough Innovation' team to drive innovation beyond product development.
This subsidiary will focus on new platforms and business models, enhancing consumer engagement and advancing Diageo's ESG goals.
It aims to disrupt with technologies and experiences, like AI-driven initiatives.
2. ♻️ Rise of Eco-Friendly Packaging
In the spirits industry, sustainable packaging is gaining momentum.
Innovations include using recycled materials, lightweight and alternative packaging, digital labels, and sustainable closures.
Brands are adopting unique approaches to reduce carbon footprints, like refill systems and non-glass alternatives.
3. 🍄 Whisky Fungus Legal Battle
Diageo faces a lawsuit from a Scottish couple over a whisky fungus outbreak allegedly caused by the distillery, leading to a devaluation of their home.
Despite attempts to dismiss the case, the court has decided to proceed.
The fungus, baudoinia compniacensis, feeds on ethanol vapors and is difficult to remove.
4. 🥃 Breaking Tradition in Kentucky
The bourbon industry, traditionally dominated by Kentucky family dynasties, is now experiencing a surge in craft distilleries.
Independent makers, like Marianne Eaves, the first female master distiller in Kentucky, are emerging.
These new voices, often without family lineage in bourbon, are diversifying the industry and intensifying competition.
5. 🚛 New Mega Distillery
Middle West Spirits is opening a new 75,000-square-foot distillery in Columbus, Ohio.
Touted as the largest independent and one of the top ten distilleries in North America, it started production in September.
The facility will focus on whiskey, while their original site continues producing clear spirits like vodka and gin.
✨ Whiskey + AI Insight of the Week
Recreating Diageo’s AI Brand Ambassador
Last year Diageo embraced AI and launched Elli, a generative AI brand ambassador for their fast-growing non-alcohol brand Seedlip. Non-alcoholic category has a $11B market value.
We decided to recreate Elli in under 5 min using ChatGPT, we named her Rosey.
Here’s how we created Rosey:
Sorry for the quality in parts of the video (internet connection was a little spotty).
A few keynotes while I was building this.
I took public information about Elli (found here and here) and fed it to GPT.
I wasn’t too stoked with the profile image generated by GPT, so I used Midjourney.
Here’s how Elli and Rosey compare:
Elli didn't respond to some questions, possibly deliberately.
This is common in generative AI, where you can put up guardrails.
Personally, I think it makes it too restrictive, takes away from feeling like you’re having a natural conversation.
The more context, data, and information you feed Rosey (our generative AI) the better.
Every spirits brand now has access to this innovative technology, which is rapidly improving.
The key is finding how it best serves your business, enhances customer value, and boosts profits.
If you want to explore how to apply this to your spirit brand or spirit software product, feel free to email me danny@goodtipple.com for more information.
👀 Curated Collections
1. Rich Bourbon Legacy: Jim Beam Gold Label 8 Year
Jim Beam Gold Label 8 Year is a premium bourbon known for its smooth, aged quality.
Aged twice as long as the standard Jim Beam, this 8-year-old whiskey offers a deeper, more complex flavor.
It's a testament to the Beam family's 220-year history in bourbon craftsmanship, embodying tradition and quality.
A bottle could run you anywhere between $1,100 to $1,300.
2. Heavenhill's Exclusive 13-Year Bourbon
William Heavenhill 13-year is a rare, limited-edition bourbon, aged for 13 years in American white oak barrels.
Distinctive for its rich, complex flavor profile, it's a product of Heaven Hill Distillery in Kentucky.
Each bottle is hand-labeled, reflecting its unique batch and barrel number.
A bottle could run you anywhere between $750 to $900.
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