Archives for May 2021

WhistlePig Whiskey, #1 distiller in the ultra-premium and luxury rye whiskey category in North America, is pleased to announce that it has made a donation of $100,100.00 to Farm Aid, a non-profit organization that promotes and works to build a strong, resilient family farm system of agriculture that benefits farmers, eaters, communities and our soil and water. This past weekend, the first ever barrel of 100% grain-to-glass whiskey from the WhistlePig Farm, FarmStock Beyond Bonded, was auctioned off at Dana Mecum’s 34th Original Spring Classic in Indianapolis.

After whiskey fans across the country bid on Barrel No. 0001 of WhistlePig Beyond Bonded FarmStock Rye, the winning bid came in at $39,000.00. To round off the donation to Farm Aid, WhistlePig has generously kicked in an additional $61,100.00 to aptly match the proof the whiskey, 100.1.

The winner will not only receive the first ever two hundred 750ml hand bottled units of FarmStock Beyond Bonded, but also the empty Barrel No. 0001 and a grain-to-glass experience at the WhistlePig Farm & Distillery in Shoreham, Vermont.

FarmStock Beyond Bonded straight rye whiskey is crafted from 100% Remington Rye harvested on the WhistlePig Farm, distilled and proofed with local water, and aged in Vermont Estate Oak casks for 4 years, 8 months and 14 days. It is bottled at 100.1 proof, a hair beyond the 19th century Bottled in Bond requirement of 100 proof.

FarmStock Beyond Bonded Rye Whiskey will make its official debut later this Spring, hitting shelves and sold alongside the rest of WhistlePig’s award-winning portfolio of rye whiskies. Consumers will be able to find their own bottle of Beyond Bonded Rye at select premium liquor stores and online retailers.

With just 40 barrels making up the first ever Beyond Bonded Rye Whiskey collection, the offering is one of WhistlePig’s most exclusive to date. While bottles will be sold at premium retailers, bars and restaurants across the US, the inaugural barrel auction at Mecum will be the one and only opportunity to acquire a full barrel of WhistlePig FarmStock Beyond Bonded.

Further information on FarmStock Beyond Bonded Rye Whiskey will be released later this month. In the meantime, fans can find WhistlePig’s current FarmStock Rye expression, a Rye blend with 52% farm-to-glass whiskey released in 2019, by visiting shop.whistlepigwhiskey.com.

About WhistlePig Whiskey
Founded in 2007, WhistlePig has become the #1 distiller in the ultra-premium and luxury rye whiskey category in North America, featuring the bold and often untapped flavor of Rye. WhistlePig is leading a surge of innovation in the emerging field of North American whiskey. As the most decorated Rye whiskey – having received the coveted ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ title from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, WhistlePig is widely viewed as the world’s finest Rye. With the opening of its distillery on its 500-acre Vermont farm in the fall of 2015, WhistlePig has also become one of the leading farm-to-bottle Rye whiskeys in the world.

About Farm Aid
Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $60 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

About Mecum Auctions
Nobody sells more than Mecum. Nobody. The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car, vintage and antique motorcycle, and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for more than 30 years, now offering more than 30,000 lots per year and averaging more than one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum in 1988, Mecum Auctions remains a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wisconsin.

 

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Austin, Texas – Ranch Rider Spirits Co., Texas’ number one premium spirit-based seltzer, revealed its newest premium vodka seltzer just in time for summer – The Buck, a fresh Moscow Mule recipe made with real ingredients. Further establishing Ranch Rider as the ultimate premium spirit-based seltzer, The Buck’s recipe is composed of six-times distilled vodka, fresh pressed organic ginger, fresh squeezed lime and sparkling water – a unique profile that embodies everything people love about the traditional Moscow Mule, but without all of the sweet added sugar. The Buck has an alcohol content of 5.99% – making it a premium vodka seltzer with only 119 calories and 0.8 grams of sugar.

As a local-Texan favorite and soon to become the nation’s number one spirit-based seltzer, Ranch Rider’s innovative take on the modern-day Moscow Mule is a testament to the brand’s commitment to developing beverages and health-conscious recipes that are transparent, of the highest quality and taste unlike anything else on the market.

“We’ve continued Ranch Rider’s success by listening to our customers and developing recipes that fit the demands of our consumers: premium spirit-based seltzers made with real ingredients that aren’t loaded with sugar or artificial sweeteners,” says Quentin Cantu, co-founder of Ranch Rider Spirits, Co. “After multiple rounds of recipe tasting and product development – we decided to go straight to the source and give our customers the opportunity to give feedback on their idea of the perfect summer drink and be a part of the recipe advancement.”

The Buck is canned in Ranch Rider’s Dripping Springs Distillery and will feature new redesigned labels. The new beverage is debuting in its hometown of Austin, Texas and will be rolling out to other markets throughout the summer.

“At Ranch Rider, we believe mules are the best creatures on earth. They’re surefooted. They’re intelligent and they’re determined as heck. Well, we put the spirit of a mule in a can. Vodka, sparkling water, lime, and here’s the kicker, real ginger. Not sugary ginger beer. It’s a mule the way a mule would make a mule. And in this industry, that’s saying something,” mentioned co-founder, Brian Murphy.

The brand currently offers three additional premium spirit-based seltzers which are also made with real ingredients, are gluten-free and have 5.99% percent ABV:

Ranch Water: A Texas classic, the brand’s fan-favorite product features sparkling water, fresh-squeezed lime and premium reposado tequila from Jalisco, Mexico.

Tequila Paloma: A take on Mexico’s most popular cocktail, containing fresh grapefruit and lime, sparkling water and a splash of reposado tequila from Jalisco, Mexico.

The Chilton: A west Texas favorite, this recipe features six-times distilled vodka, sparkling water, fresh lemon and a dash of sea salt.

Ranch Rider Spirits’ 12-ounce canned premium spirit-based seltzers are available in bars, restaurants and retailers throughout the country. For a full retail list, visit www.ranchriderpirits.com/find. The cocktails are sold in packs of four for $12.99-$14.99.

About Ranch Rider Spirits Company
Founded in 2019 and born from a food truck in Austin, TX, Ranch Rider Spirits Co. is a premium spirit-based seltzer brand. Each seltzer is made with premium spirits, sparkling water, fresh-squeezed citrus and not a drop of added sugar. Ranch Rider Spirits offers four flavors – Ranch Water, Tequila Paloma, The Chilton and The Buck. To stay in the loop, visit ranchriderspirits.com and follow along on Instagram and Facebook at @ranchriderspirits.

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World Whisky Day was founded in 2012 by Blair Bowman while studying at the University of Aberdeen. This event occurs on the third Saturday in May.

Participants are encouraged to drink whisky on the day at events which may be officially registered on the World Whisky Day website. Others participate via social media using the #worldwhiskyday hashtag.

The organizers estimate that over 250,000 people participated in registered events. In 2015, World Whisky Day events were registered on all seven continents.

Articles about World Whiskey Day

World Whisky Day: 5 New Whisky Brands Now Available In The UK(May 14) – Although Scotland has more than 20 million casks of maturing whisky (almost four for every Scottish resident), of these five new whisky brands recently launched in the UK, only one is from Scotland. And as 15 May is the annual World Whisky Day, it is a great time to celebrate and have a “wee dram” of Daddy Rack, Filey Bay, Grace O’Malley, Jackson Jones and Stauning. Complete Story

Today on World Whisky Day, Raise a Toast and Celebrate Your Favorite Drink(May 15) – World Whisky Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. This year the day is observed across the globe on May 15. Celebrated by whisky lovers at large, the day was founded in 2012. To make the occasion special, various tasting events, social gatherings and programs are organized. Complete Story 

Celebrating World Whiskey Day with grain-to-glass bourbon(May 14) -World Whiskey Day takes place on the third Saturday of May. The special day brings people across the globe together to celebrate the popular spirit. 5 Live celebrated World Whiskey Day with Black Button Distilling’s Four Grain Straight Bourbon. Complete Story

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LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – In a move toward diversifying its portfolio and reaching spirits consumers, Goodwood Brewing Company announced a foray into the crafts spirits space with the launch of a Premium Bourbon aged in stout barrels in 2019. A year later, they are adding a Rye Whiskey to their lineup.

The 90 proof, small-batch rye is the fourth product to be launched under the Goodwood Spirits line. As with all Goodwood Brewing products, an emphasis was placed on quality and craftsmanship, with months of preparation and experimentation going into the spirit.

Goodwood Rye Whiskey is aged for two years, before being finished in Goodwood English Mild beer barrels, for a special flavor that can only develop from this process. Tasting notes of caramel and vanilla fade to a complex spice and smoky body.

Goodwood Rye will be released in early May in select retail stores and exclusive accounts throughout the Louisville area, and will enter the rest of Kentucky in the near future. Goodwood Spirits can also be purchased at the Goodwood Brewing Taproom in Louisville, KY.

Other spirits in development from Goodwood Brewing and Spirits include a Walnut Brown and an Imperial Stout.

ABOUT GOODWOOD BREWING
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Goodwood Brewing and Spirits is dedicated to making the highest quality beers, barrel finished spirits and made from scratch food. We believe what’s good for bourbon is good for beer. Goodwood’s Louisville brewery is one of Kentucky’s longest continuously operated breweries, having started operations in 1990.

Goodwood beers are available in Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Ohio and Kansas.

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland Whiskey’s Underground Bourbon Whiskey finished with Black Cherry Wood was awarded a rare double gold medal and their Underground Rye Whiskey finished with Black Cherry Wood a gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). A competition whose awards are considered one of the most reliable indications of spirits excellence in the world. Wheat Penny Bourbon® was awarded a Silver medal.

The competition ensures equal consideration by having highly controlled blind tastings. Judges do not receive any information on the producer or the price point. They determine which entries are worthy of a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal based on tasting alone. Only those entries that receive a Gold medal from all the judges on a panel earn a Double Gold award.

In 2009 Tom Lix, founder, and CEO, set out to make bourbon and whiskey differently with technology. In 2013, the first bottles of Cleveland Whiskey hit the shelfs and in 2015, the Cleveland Underground® series was born. “Accelerating the aging process was just the first step in applying technology to make whiskey differently.” Tom Lix said, “Bigger and better opportunities lie in being able to make whiskeys with woods other than oak and the Underground whiskeys finished with Black Cherry Wood and Wheat Penny Bourbon are great examples of that.”

Today, Cleveland Whiskey is in the process of moving into a larger facility in the heart of Cleveland. The new space, situated on the Cuyahoga river in the south flats, is ten times larger than the current space and will enable them to significantly increase production. Best of all, the expansion plans include a distillery brand experience that will be a “must-see” destination in the City of Cleveland.

“Our mission is simple; every day make good whiskey and do the right thing. Over the past year we have lived that by making and donating hand sanitizer to the frontline workers in our community including the Cleveland Clinic’s 51,000 healthcare workers, nursing homes, Cuyahoga County’s Police, Fire and EMS, and more. The awards help show we have delivered on the other part of our promise, we made good whiskey everyday too,” said Tom Lix, founder and CEO of the company.

About Cleveland Whiskey
Founded in 2009, Cleveland Whiskey is a maker of Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys. Named “Whiskey Distillery Innovator of the Year,” Cleveland Whiskey has won more than 100 medals and counting at competitions around the world. Unique finishes with woods that include black cherry, sugar maple, and apple, limited runs of coffee infusions plus local craft beer and honey barrel aged bourbons. We are always pushing the traditional limits of whiskey. Visit us at www.clevelandwhiskey.com. Follow us @clevelandwhiskey on Instagram and Facebook.

AUSTIN, Texas – Sisterdale Distilling Co., a new whiskey distillery located in the Texas Hill Country, selected Big Thirst Consulting as its partner to help launch its Straight Bourbon in Texas. Big Thirst Consulting will provide sales enablement, distributor relations, and marketing services to help the distillery establish its presence in bars, restaurants, and retail stores and increase awareness for its new brand.

Sisterdale Distilling Co. was founded by longtime friends, Chad Gailey and Peter Watson, with a mission to bring innovation, and a new business approach to the pursuit of creating the most delicious bourbon possible. As a start-up, the partners chose to devote their resources to acquiring premium sourced whiskey rather than in building an expensive new distillery. Along with a veteran Texas distiller, the company ages, precisely blends, and bottles bourbon in its production facilities located on a family ranch in Sisterdale, Texas.

“Starting a new distillery isn’t easy, and we knew we needed to partner with industry experts in order to successfully launch and get our bourbon into the market quickly,” said Chad Gaily, co-founder, Sisterdale Distilling Co. “We chose the Big Thirst Consulting team to take advantage of their deep connections with distributors and retailers, as well as their extensive know-how in navigating the complex world of beverage alcohol. Their seamless approach to helping us with operations has been extremely beneficial. Within weeks of contacting them, we had a massive jump in sales through our distributor, got placements in several new stores, developed new messaging, and have a solid marketing plan to propel our business growth.”

Big Thirst Consulting will help Sisterdale Distilling Co. with route-to-market consulting to increase sales by working with the distillery’s sales team and its distributor partners. The firm will expand Sisterdale Distilling’s presence on and off premise statewide with a focus on independent stores, chain retailers, and fine dining establishments. Big Thirst Marketing will increase brand awareness and purchase intent with public relations, digital marketing, director to consumer communications, and e-commerce.

“We started our business explicitly to help distilleries bring their vision to life,” said Mark Shilling, partner, Big Thirst Consulting. “We’re thrilled to help Sisterdale Distilling Co. get started on the right path and to provide the distribution management, sales guidance, and marketing services they need to get their whiskey on more store shelves and bar backs around the country. We’re looking forward to helping them meet their business goals this year and beyond.”

About Sisterdale Distilling Co.
Sisterdale Distilling Co. is dedicated to making one thing: the most delicious, refined bourbon. We painstakingly handcraft every drop of our bourbon and you will taste the difference. Founded by Chad Gailey and Peter Watson Sisterdale Distilling Co. in 2020 on a 1,200-acre family cattle ranch just off Sister Creek in Sisterdale, Texas to make the highest quality, small-batch bourbon. Currently Sisterdale Distilling produces a Straight Bourbon from five different bourbons meticulously selected from a distillery. Stay connected with Sisterdale Distilling Co. on Instagram and Facebook.

About Big Thirst Consulting
Founded in 2020 Big Thirst Consulting provides complete, integrated business services for distilleries to pave the way to profitable growth. The consultancy, created by spirits industry veterans, Matt McGinnis, and Mark Shilling along with advisory board member, Joseph Castillo, helps distilleries with services including regulatory compliance, distribution, pricing, sales, and marketing to help them grow to the next level, faster, with better margins. Big Thirst Consulting has extensive experience helping start-up and growth phase craft and major brand distilleries streamline operations, increase sales, and manage distributor relations for market growth. The consultancy accesses the power of Big Thirst Marketing, a full-service agency, that fosters relationships between your brand and loyal customers.

 

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