by admin | Jan 25, 2023 | IN THE NEWS
Charleston, SC (January 25, 2022) – Grain & Barrel Spirits, which develops and scales craft spirits that connect the best artisans to consumers worldwide, has appointed Will Woodington as its first National Whiskey Brand Ambassador. A long-time resident of Metro Detroit, he will be responsible for promoting the Grain & Barrel Spirits whiskey portfolio. Will’s primary focus will be expanding the national footprint for the historic Chicken Cock Whiskey brand, which was established in 1856 and rose to fame as the house whiskey at The Cotton Club, one of Prohibition’s most legendary speakeasies. He will also assist with marketing and sales related initiatives for Elvis and Virgil Kaine whiskeys.
Will brings considerable beverage alcohol experience to the new role, having most recently served as a Brand Ambassador for Bardstown Bourbon Company, where he oversaw on- and off-premise events and tastings. Over the past several years, he has built a respectable following as a whiskey enthusiast and social influencer via @bondedinbottles. He is also co-founder of and moderator for The Bourbon Alliance, a select group of whiskey enthusiasts who aim to shine a light on distilleries nationwide. Previously, Will worked as Channel Sales Manager at Roush Performance Products for nearly 10 years.
“Will brings substantial sales and marketing experience plus a passion for whiskey to this new role,” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits. “He will be an excellent steward for our whiskey portfolio helping to generate national awareness and buzz.”
To connect with Will, please email him at will.woodington@grainandbarrel.com
About Grain & Barrel Spirits
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Grain & Barrel Spirits develops and scales craft spirits that connect the best artisans to consumers worldwide. The company’s core brands include: Chicken Cock Whiskey, an historically significant whiskey brand established in Paris, Kentucky, in 1856; Dixie Vodka, the leading premium homegrown vodka produced in the Southeast; Virgil Kaine Lowcountry Whiskey; High Goal Luxury Gin, a small batch, ultra-premium gin produced in Charleston; Elvis Whiskeys, a duo of Elvis Presley-inspired whiskeys, and; Tequila Eterno Verano, a range of ultra-premium tequilas made for adventurous souls. Grain & Barrel has been named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America three years in a row. For more information, visit www.grainandbarrel.com.
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by admin | Jan 23, 2023 | IN THE NEWS
Slated to Open in 2024, the New 70,000 Square Foot Campus Will Include End-to-End Production, Visitor Center & Tasting Room, and Will be Michigan’s Largest Distillery
Traverse City, MI (January 24, 2023) – Traverse City Whiskey Co. (TCWC), an award-winning portfolio of premium whiskeys and bourbon made in Michigan, officially broke ground on the future site of its new whiskey production facility, in Traverse City. The company’s rapid growth has exceeded its current distilling capacity, which resulted in a portion of its annual production to be outsourced to out-of-state partners. The first-of-its-kind distilling campus in Michigan will enhance the company’s current production facilities and tasting room located at 201 E. 14th St. in downtown Traverse City, which has become a popular destination for tens of thousands of area residents and visitors since 2012.
Set on 35 acres of land in the countryside, the new facility will accommodate every step in the whiskey production process (mashing, fermentation, distillation), allowing the company to significantly increase production of its award-winning portfolio of premium whiskeys and bourbon, to as many as 24,000 barrels of whiskey each year. Part of the property will also be dedicated to growing grain to be used in the company’s various distillations. The facility will also help to meet increasing demand for TCWC’s portfolio of products, which includes its best-selling Premium Cocktail Cherries and Cocktail Crate craft mixers.
The 70,000 square foot campus, which will be built in partnership with Mathison Architects and Erhardt Construction, will feature a state-of-the-art traditional rack house, dedicated processing and packaging spaces, administrative offices, a visitor center & tasting room, and spectacular indoor and outdoor hospitality spaces. The new facility will also create approximately 100 new jobs for the surrounding community and afford TCWC the ability to support other Michigan distillers in need of capacity for their own growing brands.
“We’re thrilled to break ground on this incredible new facility which will allow us to expand operations and exclusively produce our award-winning whiskey right here in our hometown of Traverse City,” said Chris Fredrickson, Co-Founder and President, TCWC. Our new headquarters will be an all-encompassing campus that will provide a unique immersion in whiskey culture and industry and will add a new experience to the thriving Northern Michigan agritourism industry. It will provide numerous jobs and attract new and returning visitors to our beautiful region. We can’t wait to welcome our friends into our new home.”
Known as the “Whiskey of the North,” the 100% family-owned craft whiskey company produces straight bourbon and its signature cherry whiskey which have become top selling craft whiskeys statewide and across the U.S. The team draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800s, sourcing all their grains (corn, rye and malted barley) from the Midwest. The distilling team, led by Chris Fredrickson, Jared Rapp and Moti Goldring, makes an award-winning portfolio of quality products, inspired by patented distilling techniques invented by Fredrickson’s great grandfather that were approved by the US PTO during the prohibition era. In 2018, TCWC introduced its Premium Cocktail Cherries which have grown to be the leading premium cocktail cherry nationally, sold in all 50 states. In 2019, TCWC acquired Cocktail Crate premium craft mixers and opened its first tasting room in Metro Detroit: The Outpost, in Ferndale.
TCWC products are available via the brand website and at on- and off-premise establishments in more than 30 U.S. States.
For more information, please visit www.tcwhiskey.com and use the “whiskey finder” in the top right corner to find retailers that sell the brand. Please also follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @tcwhiskey
About Traverse City Whiskey Co.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. is an independent and locally owned distilled spirits company based in Traverse City, Michigan, that’s dedicated to producing approachable premium to super-premium whiskey and bourbon. Known as “The Whiskey of the North,” the upstart company draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800’s, sourcing all grains from the Midwest.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. is a member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
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by admin | Jan 9, 2023 | IN THE NEWS
89,000 Square Foot Facility Will Help to Meet Increased Demand for the Independent Blender’s Award-Winning Cask Strength Whiskey
Louisville, KY (January 9, 2023) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS) today announced the purchase of an historic rickhouse in Shively, Kentucky. The five-story, 89,000 sq. ft. rickhouse, which can house more than 17,500 barrels, will afford BCS much needed storage space, given the increased demand for the company’s award-winning line of whiskey and rum.
BCS purchased the rickhouse from Angel’s Envy, which had owned it since 2013, in December 2022 for $2.41 million. Originally built in 1940 as part of a Yellowstone Distillery campus following the repeal of Prohibition, it has been owned and operated by several companies since then, including Florida Distillers, Glenmore Distilling Company of Owensboro, and most recently, Angel’s Envy.
“Working with approximately 65 different producers presents logistical challenges for transporting and accessing all of these barrels,” said BCS Founder Joe Beatrice. “The new facility will help to solve these challenges and allow for increased storage space near our blending facility. We plan to begin moving barrels into the rickhouse later this month.”
Founded in 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky, BCS selects and blends products that explore different distillation methods, barrels and aging environments, and bottles them at cask strength. BCS’s extensive stocks of high-quality casks mean it can craft extraordinary blends that maximize the nuances of each ingredient. Creative finishes, a liberated approach to blending, and a deep-seated commitment to releasing each whiskey at cask strength guides every product release.
For more information, follow Barrell Craft Spirits® on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram or visit www.barrellbourbon.com.
Barrell Craft Spirits®
Louisville-based Barrell Craft Spirits® is the original, pre-eminent independent blender of unique, aged, cask strength whiskey and rum. Recognized for its blending expertise since 2013, they skillfully design, produce, and launch leading, unique products that surprise and delight whiskey aficionados and novices alike.
Barrell Craft Spirits®, Barrell®, Barrell Bourbon® and Barrell Rye® are registered trademarks owned by Barrell Craft Spirits LLC.
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by admin | Dec 14, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Louisville, KY (December 13, 2022) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the original independent blender of unique aged, cask-strength whiskey recognized for its expertise since 2013, has promoted Stefanie Bair to Director of Sales – US, effective January 1, 2023.
Stefanie joined Barrell Craft Spirits in 2019 as the Colorado Brand Development Manager and became Director of Sales (West) in January 2022. In her new role, she will assume responsibility for all major US markets, reporting to Chief Sales Officer William Schragis, who will continue to oversee Sales and Product Innovation Strategy. Previously, Stefanie worked as an On-Premise Specialist for William Grant & Sons in New York City and as a Brand Ambassador for Fernet/Fratelli Branca USA.
“We’re delighted to promote Stefanie, who contributes a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our team,” said Barrell Craft Spirits Founder Joe Beatrice. “She’s a true talent when it comes to brand building, event management and product training. She’s also an excellent communicator with a keen eye for detail, all of which is essential for driving our future growth efforts in the US.”
For more information, follow Barrell Craft Spirits® on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram or visit barrellbourbon.com.
Barrell Craft Spirits®
Louisville-based Barrell Craft Spirits® is the original, pre-eminent independent blender of unique, aged, cask strength whiskey and rum. Recognized for our blending expertise since 2013, we skillfully design, produce, and launch leading, unique products that surprise and delight whiskey aficionados and novices alike.
Barrell Craft Spirits®, Barrell®, Barrell Bourbon® and Barrell Rye® are registered trademarks owned by Barrell Craft Spirits LLC.
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by admin | Dec 5, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Tokaji and Single Malt Cask Staves Now Available in California and Online
Los Angeles, CA (December 5, 2022) – Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. has collaborated with Los Angeles Distillery (LAD) on Broken Barrel’s first distillery Collaboration Collection —a cask strength wheated bourbon whiskey finished with Tokaji and Single Malt staves— which will be released exclusively for purchase at retail in California and online.
Broken Barrel’s unapologetic whiskeys are known for exemplifying the impact a non-traditional barrel finishing practice has on a final whiskey – specifically by using broken barrel staves from multiple combinations of barrel types in tandem. This limited-edition release marks a new journey for Broken Barrel Founder & CEO Seth Benhaim, who approached Total Wine & More and Dr. Lewis Harsanyi of LAD earlier this year about a collaboration.
Benhaim hails LAD as one of California’s most impressive distilleries – a true state-of-the-art facility led by Dr. Harsanyi, who for the past 35 years has sold, imported and built brewing and distilling systems to some of the industry’s most acclaimed producers. In 2014, Harsanyi founded his own distillery, which today houses one of the most breathtaking and sophisticated distilling operations in the craft spirits industry.
For this special release the two companies selected three, five-plus year-old wheated bourbon barrels. Each has been aging in new charred Hungarian white oak, selected specifically by the Hungarian-born Dr. Harsanyi, whose origins and extensive knowledge of oak barrels insists on their quality and distinct profile. Using that heritage to his advantage, Dr. Harsanyi customized to his own specifications the densest, top quality new Hungarian white oak barrels.
“Hungarian barrel staves are far denser (30-34mm) than American staves (25-28mm). For this project, I developed custom 200L elongated barrels and then carved wood grooves into the staves of each to increase the wood surface area (+68%) and impart more flavor,” said Harsanyi.”
Benhaim has experience sourcing both liquid from multiple distilleries and barrels from around the world, and has mastered blending multiple broken barrel cask staves in tandem to create, develop, and refine the flavor, feel and finish of his limited-release whiskeys. For this expression, he suggested using Tokaji-aszu staves, (known as the “king of wines and wine of kings”) as well as Harsanyi’s favorite, ex-single malt barrel staves, to reveal a last and final sweet-leathery kick to the bold cask strength wheated bourbon. During the finishing process, the barrels were emptied into their own drums before adding broken barrel staves to finish the whiskey, in this case for just a few months.
“Our personal connection and the combination at every step of the process is something all whiskey enthusiasts will appreciate, enjoy and share,” said Benhaim. “This special collaboration was made exclusively for our best customers in our home state of California.”
Availability
The 2022 Distillery Collaboration is now available at Total Wine & More locations throughout California, and within both the Broken Barrel gift shop and L.A.D. gift shop. The expression features a mash bill of 51% corn and 49% wheat and an Oak Bill™ (Benhaim’s term to denote the combination of various barrel staves used), of 80% Tokaji Aszu staves and 20% Ex Single Malt staves. The liquid was bottled at 130-132 proof (65%+ ABV) and has a suggested retail price of $110.
To date, Benhaim has purchased whiskey barrels from over a dozen countries. In addition to Broken Barrel’s core portfolio (California Oak, Small Batch, Heresy Rye and Cask Strength), he will have released 25 unique whiskeys with varying Oak Bills by year’s end. Past limited-releases have incorporated various types of barrel staves including: Barbadian Rum, French Oak, Cognac, Armagnac, Islay, Maple, Mizunara and Amontillado. Individually, these types of oak barrels are not typically used on 95% of all bourbon or rye whiskey produced, and rarely if ever are three types of oak used at the same time to finish American whiskeys.About Broken Barrel Whiskey Co.
Founded in 2017, Broken Barrel Whiskey is a portfolio of premium whiskeys sourced from the historic Owensboro Distilling Co. in Kentucky. The core expressions feature exclusively Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey, which are further aged and finished using various types and combinations of barrel staves. For more information, please visit www.brokenbarrelwhiskey.com
About Los Angeles Distillery
With a vision to produce luxury brand spirits, Los Angeles Distillery carefully planned and directed an innovative spirit-making process – from the selection of the ideal tree for our casks, to the superb composition of ingredients for our spirits, to our modern distillation techniques for consistent results – so that we may bring you excellent spirits. LA Distillery produces gin, rum, vodka, and whiskey; its whiskey portfolio includes American Single Malt, Rye Whiskey, and a variety of bourbons. All are available for purchase at www.lawhiskeystore.com
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