Archives for January 2021

California’s Spirit Works Distillery Moves into 2021 with New Accolades & Promotions

January 30, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

SEBASTOPOL, California — The team at Northern California’s acclaimed Spirit Works Distillery is starting the year on a high note with the promotion of Krystal Goulart to the helm of its diverse distilling program and the announcement of their third national Good Food Award, this one for their latest bourbon release, a Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Even in the midst of universal challenges and pivots, 2020 was also an outstanding year for the grain-to-glass craft spirits pioneer, the pinnacle being honored as the “2020 Distillery of the Year” by the American Distilling Institute (ADI).

Krystal Goulart arrived at Spirit Works in 2018 to apprentice with the all-female distilling team after more than a decade of work in the wine industry. After earning a degree in Enology and Viticulture from California State University, Fresno, Krystal honed her skills abroad in Australia’s Margaret River Valley and Portugal’s Douro Valley before settling in Sonoma to work as an enologist and cellar master for such esteemed wineries as Chateau St. Jean and Cruse Wine Co. While working with wine, Krystal had observed with great interest the boom of the craft distilling industry around the U.S. and in her own Sonoma County backyard, an interest which led her to the Spirit Works team.

“We are absolutely thrilled to promote Krystal into such an integral role with our team in this new year,” said Ashby Marshall, Spirit Works proprietor and original distiller. “With a background in wine production and with several years under her belt with Spirit Works, Krystal has demonstrated the palate, demeanor, intellect, and logistical skills essential to her new role with this creative team. We are excited for everyone else to get to know her and see her stamp on our spirits moving forward.”

What Lies Ahead?

As the leading creative force behind the still, Krystal already has a number of projects underway, including an Amaro with a sloe berry twist and a new recipe for a second batch of Exploratory Gin.

“I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity,” said Krystal. “Working alongside an innovative female-led team has been inspiring and has allowed me to refine my skills over the past three years. I look forward to maintaining our signature award-winning style, while challenging myself and my team to push our creative energies towards every aspect of the distilling process.”

Spirit Works 2021 Updates & Highlights:
DTC in CA: With California direct sales restrictions lifted for distilleries in 2020 due to COVID-19, Spirit Works can ship directly to consumers in the state though orders placed online here.
Virtual Events: Spirit Works has expanded its virtual tasting programming and will again offer tours and tastings onsite once pandemic restrictions are lifted.
Spirits Club: The Distillery’s growing Spirits Club continues to offer unique, limited edition expressions and pricing, with onsite pick up and statewide delivery.
Supporting Local & Sustainable: A grain-to-glass, sustainably-driven operation, Spirit Works has partnered with neighboring grain farmer Mai Nguyen for local ingredients.

Distribution: Spirit Works is available in CA, CO, AZ, and OR, targeting additional states for distribution ahead.
For more information about Spirit Works Distillery, its extensive portfolio, production practices and team, visit their website.

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Cutwater Spirits Unveils “Cut Out” Campaign Ads During The Big Game Plus Social Media Series Starring Emily Hampshire

January 29, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

Cut Out with Cutwater Spirits (PRNewsfoto/Cutwater Spirits)

This week, Cutwater Spirits, the most awarded canned cocktail brand in the U.S., releases its “Cut Out With Cutwater” ad campaign with a TV commercial airing on game day, digital takeovers, and a social media series featuring actress Emily Hampshire, renowned for her role as Stevie Budd on Schitt’s Creek and “longtime Cut Out enthusiast.”

Approachable with a distinctly SoCal aesthetic, the campaign is all about cutting away from the daily routine and draws from the core values that have inspired Cutwater since the brand’s very beginning. As a former brewer familiar with the canned format, Cutwater Spirits’ Co-Founder and Master Distiller, Yuseff Cherney came up with the idea to take his award-winning spirits and create high-quality canned cocktails so they could be enjoyed anywhere. He and Co-Founder Earl Kight have since pioneered the category by breaking from convention and carving out their own path to bring this unique vision to life. The Cut Out campaign serves as a nod to Yuseff and Earl’s tenacity, adventurous spirit, and love for spending time outdoors. A manifesto reminding consumers to embrace the simple idea of taking a moment to unplug; and that with Cutwater, enjoying a great tasting cocktail is as easy as cracking open a can.

“Cutwater Spirits started as a passion project. We began canning cocktails so that people could enjoy a high-quality mixed drink with ease and convenience. From there, the idea took off,” says Cherney. “Since the beginning, we’ve focused on one thing – creating great tasting cocktails for any occasion – whether that’s fishing on the Pacific or relaxing in your own backyard.”

The new 30-second “Cut Out” spot is Cutwater’s first-ever ad to run during the biggest football game of the year, and is now airing on TV channels including ESPN and CBS Sports, as well as social media. On Sunday February 7th, the ad will air in key regional markets on the west coast including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Seattle. There will be an accompanying national rollout on YouTube the following day (2/8).

Cutwater is also partnering with actress and comedian Emily Hampshire of Schitt’s Creek, a self-proclaimed “longtime cut out enthusiast” in a lighthearted social media campaign which kicks off on Instagram and Twitter today. While the TV commercial comes to life with lively outdoor “Cut Out” occasions, Emily will highlight her own hilarious at-home interpretations of the theme.

“Many of us no longer have that physical divide between home life and work life, so it’s hard to feel entitled to cut out… let alone know how to do it!” shares Hampshire. “As a long-time cut out enthusiast, I’m here to educate and inspire. Cutting out is not self-care. It’s caring enough about yourself to not feel guilty about all the selfcare exercise and meditating you’re not doing. Cutting out is selfcare without all those hashtag goals. Listen, most of the time, I don’t even know what day it is. But I’m okay with that, because cutting out doesn’t judge you for mixing weekends with weekdays. Cutting out is living in the moment, like watching other people hike while cracking open a canned White Russian that tastes like dessert. You’re welcome.”

As part of the series, Emily will announce Cutwater’s Ultimate Backyard Sweepstakes with prizes to help winners “Cut Out” from the daily grind. The winning packages include a glamping Yurt (16′), premium fire pit, cabana chairs, Cutwater cooler filled with a supply of Cutwater Spirits’ award-winning canned cocktails and more. To enter, consumers can interact with the brand via Twitter and/or Instagram during the big game, following, liking and tagging @CutwaterSpirits, and using #CutOutWithCutwater and #sweepstakes*.

The Cut Out campaign will run as Cutwater Spirits continues to innovate in 2021, offering new forms and flavors for enjoying an excellent cocktail anywhere. New releases include the expansion of tequila-based ready-to-drink offerings with a new fruit-forward margarita lineup and a series of frozen tequila pops. Follow @CutwaterSpirits to stay up to date!

*ULTIMATE BACKYARD SWEEPSTAKES. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21+. Begins 8:00 am PST on 1/28/21 & ends at 7:30 p.m. PST on 2/7/21. See Official Rules at www.cutwaterspirits.com/ultimate-backyard-sweepstakes-official-rules for prizes & details. Msg & data rates may apply. Void where prohibited.

About Cutwater Spirits
Cutwater Spirits, the most awarded canned cocktail brand in the U.S., is a San Diego-based distillery known for its award-winning lineup of 20 canned cocktail classics made from its portfolio of bottled spirits that span nearly every spirits category including tequila, vodka, rum, gin, whiskey and liqueur. Co-Founder and Master Distiller Yuseff Cherney began distilling as a side project under Ballast Point Brewing. He started canning cocktails because he wanted to make drinks he could enjoy while doing the things he likes to do (mostly fishing and hiking). In 2017, Cutwater Spirits was established as a separate entity from the brewery and now operates from a 50,000 square foot distillery and production facility, which includes a world-class tasting room and restaurant. To date, Cutwater has earned over 1,000 awards across its portfolio of products and is distributed in 45 states. Learn more at www.cutwaterspirits.com.

About Anheuser-Busch
For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has been woven into the cultural fabric of the United States, carrying on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate 23 breweries, 14 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities, and have more than 18,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry- leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.Anehuser-Busch.com.

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Five Years In The Making, Berkshire Mountain Distillers Launches Craft Brewers Whiskey Project With First Release In February

January 29, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

SHEFFIELD, Massachusetts – In February 2021, the award-winning maker of a select line of premier craft spirits, Berkshire Mountain Distillers (BMD), will release a trio of whiskeys in partnership with three brewers in the Northeast as part of their Craft Brewers Whiskey Project (CBWP). The five-year collaboration includes the distilling of a dozen different popular beers from a limited group of the country’s top craft brewers across five states. Each addition to the American whiskey collection is the product of a single-sourced craft brew distilled into a unique Berkshire Mountain Distillers whiskey.

“We were thrilled to collaborate with all of our brewer-partners and are excited these whiskeys are finally ready to be enjoyed by beer and whiskey aficionados alike,” said Chris Weld, founder and proprietor of Berkshire Mountain Distillers. “This fun collaboration has been an exceptional project-in-the-making involving 12 brewers, 12 beers, 12 whiskeys and 80 barrels of spirits — we’re eager to release each one to the public.”

Produced by the region’s first legal distillery since prohibition, each whiskey will be blended to 86 proof using BMD’s proprietary historic spring water in Sheffield and packaged in custom bottles with brewer-designed labels.

Aged at the distillery since 2015, the whiskeys will be released in the order in which they were distilled. Being a limited collection, each whiskey will be sold in the BMD tasting room and then distributed to select stores and restaurants.

The first release will feature three whiskeys distilled from UFO White Ale from Mass. Bay Brewing Co., Spencer Brewery’s Trappist Ale and Big Elm Brewing’s 413 Farmhouse Ale located in BMD’s hometown of Sheffield.

Scheduled to be released later in 2021, whiskeys will highlight beer from Samuel Adams, Berkshire Brewing Company, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Brewery Ommegang, Captain Lawrence Brewing, Smuttynose Brewing, Long Trail Brewing Company, Two Roads Brewing and Chatham Brewing.

For a listing of release dates and events, visit craftbrewerswhiskeyproject.com and follow BMD on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The distillery, located at 356 South Main Street in Sheffield, is open every day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and to find out where products are available, visit the BMD website.

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World Record – Most varieties of whiskey commercially available – The Whiskey House – San Diego, California

January 14, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most varieties of whisky commercially available is 3,300 whiskeys, and was achieved by The Whiskey House, in celebration of its fourth anniversary in San Diego, California, USA, on 15 January 2019.

The record total includes whiskey varieties from 23 different countries, as well as 42 states in the USA, as well as the capitol Washington DC. The least expensive glass was priced at $7 and the most expensive at $1,100. The counting and verification process took more than 18 man -ours. All varieties included in the count were available to order off the menu for a minimum of 6 months at the time of verification.

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Brough Brothers Distillery, the First and Only African American-Owned Distillery in Kentucky Has Opened for Business

January 8, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Brough Brothers Distillery, the first and only Black-owned distillery in the state of Kentucky, opened its doors for business earlier this month in Louisville.

The distillery was founded by Victor, Bryson, and Christian Yarbrough, three brothers born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. They wanted to produce quality bourbon whiskey in an industry that has thus far remained largely inaccessible to minority entrepreneurs. They are committed to supporting other local businesses in an effort to revitalize the West End neighborhood in which Brough Brothers is based. Their distillery will provide job opportunities and economic growth for the community of Park Hill, a historically underserved area of Louisville’s West End.

“Brough Brothers has an opportunity to not only provide employment opportunities for our local community, but also design an experience for locals and tourists in the heart of one of Kentucky’s cultural hubs,” Brough Brothers CEO Victor Yarbrough said. “At a time in history when there is much attention on Louisville, we are excited to represent positive change and hope for and on behalf of our city.”

First approved by the distillery-governing body the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in August 2018, Brough Brothers Distillery was recognized by Kentucky’s Senate as the state’s first African American-owned distillery in August 2020. Approved by the Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in September, it will continue to make history as it distills and barrels its first barrel of bourbon this winter. Its bourbon shop will be open for business to bourbon enthusiasts by appointment only in spring 2021.

But customers don’t have to wait to enjoy Brough Brothers: its bourbon brand is available on store shelves now and online.

Brough Brothers Bourbon has received glowing customer reviews for being one of the smoothest bourbons on the market. With major and independent retailers selling it in Kentucky, national retailers (Kroger, Total Wine and More, Trader Joes, Walmart) and distributors (RNDC, JB, BBI, SWGS) alike have taken notice of its explosive popularity. Brough Brothers currently has major distribution partnerships in five states, including KY, FL, TN, IN, and CO. It will expand its distribution to another 20 states in early 2021.

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Jim Beam® Debuts National Campaign Encouraging Bored Beer Fans To Take A Break From Beer And Make The Switch To A Refreshing Jim Beam Highball

January 8, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

CHICAGO – Jim Beam® Bourbon is kicking off the year by finally offering drinkers a solution to their beer boredom: the refreshing and highly sessionable Jim Beam Highball. The Highball cocktail, which is made by mixing chilled Jim Beam Bourbon with ice and ice-cold, highly carbonated ginger ale, is the perfect alternative for those who are bored of beer but find themselves ordering another one on autopilot. The new marketing campaign, launching nationally this month, encourages those drinkers to add the Jim Beam Highball to their repertoire and order one when they’re looking for a light and refreshing option instead of their next beer.

The campaign first aired on Jan. 4 with a new TV spot, “Need a Break From Beer,” across multiple national news, entertainment and sports networks, and will run nationally throughout the year. The spot uses classic beer tropes found at any local bar to inspire drinkers to make their next round a Jim Beam Highball. Viewers will immediately recognize a traditionally dressed German couple encouraging an order of a Bavarian-style hefeweizen, an old, mysterious man pushing a dark, heavy brew, and a pair of hipsters, goat in tow, playfully offering a “super-filling IPA with aged goat’s milk.”

“With the launch of ‘Need a Break From Beer,’ we’re taking a widely enjoyed cocktail that’s been trending for years and finally shining the national spotlight on it,” said Jessica Spence, president of brands at Beam Suntory. “We know drinkers are getting bored with beer and are looking for new alternatives. The Jim Beam Highball is incredibly easy to mix and perfect for enjoyment while at home or in bars when the time is right.”

The new campaign spot will air throughout 2021 on more than 20 national TV networks, including sports destinations such as MLB Network and ESPN2, entertainment hubs AMC and Comedy Central, and major broadcast networks including ABC, FOX and NBC. Starcom USA oversees media on behalf of Jim Beam.

In addition to media partnerships, Jim Beam will deploy Highball programming throughout the year including retail marketing, baseball stadium activations, consumer sampling and value-add packaging. The brand will also host “Beam Gardens” — a playful alternative to traditional beer gardens — in several markets across the country for those in need of a break from beer. These pop-up experiences, appearing where local guidelines and public health conditions allow, will welcome legal-drinking-aged consumers to enjoy Jim Beam Highballs on tap with friends and family.

For more information on the Jim Beam Highball and upcoming Beam Garden events, follow Jim Beam on Twitter (@jimbeam) and Instagram (@jimbeamofficial) or find the Highball recipe at jimbeam.com/cocktails.

About Jim Beam
Jim Beam is the world’s best-selling bourbon, crafted by seven generations of family distillers since 1795. Elegant. Smooth. Refined. That’s what years of aging in new charred oak barrels does to our Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller, has stayed true to the family recipe that’s been passed down through generations. The Jim Beam portfolio of products includes Jim Beam Bourbon, Jim Beam Black, Jim Beam Double Oak, Jim Beam Devil’s Cut, Jim Beam Rye, Jim Beam Peach, Jim Beam Apple, Jim Beam Vanilla, Jim Beam Honey, Jim Beam Kentucky Fire and Red Stag by Jim Beam among other offerings.

About Beam Suntory
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands, Suntory whisky Kakubin and Courvoisier cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s and Legent bourbon; Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig and Bowmore Scotch whisky; Canadian Club whisky; Hornitos and Sauza tequila; EFFEN, Haku and Pinnacle vodka; Sipsmith and Roku gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

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