cocktails

2019 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition

August 30, 2024 By Dow Scoggins

The 2019 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition received 399 Spirits entries from 147 producers. For the past several years we have made Mixers its own competition being that we receive so many entries in this non-alcoholic product category. There were a total of 3 Best of Show Awards given this year, 1 Best of Show was awarded to Hornitos Black Barrel Tequila with 96 points, 1 Best of Show in the Mixers Competition was awarded to Nimble Nectar Tart Cherry Lime Mixer with 97 points and 1 Best of Show in Packaging Design which was awarded to Empress 1908 Gin. We awarded 47 Best of Category Awards, 9 Best of Division Awards, 236 Gold Medal Awards, 111 Silver Medal Awards, 10 Bronze Medal Awards and 34 Packaging Design awards. This year’s competition received spirits from 24 different countries, Mexico, Poland, Australia, Germany, France, Canada, Belarus, Brazil, Japan, UK, Ireland, England, Caribbean Islands, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Panama, Venezuela, USA, Myanmar, Netherlands, Scotland, Philippines, Italy and London. We had 19 prestigious judges from all over the United States from on and off-premise as well as Young’s Market, Wine Warehouse, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Mutual Trading.

2019 Award Winning Spirits
Best of Awards

Best of Category Awards

Spirits Packaging Design Awards

Gold Medal by Points Award Winning Spirits

Silver Medal Award Winning Spirits

Bronze Medal Award Winning Spirits

More about the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition
The prestigious Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, part of the renowned Los Angeles International Competitions held at Fairplex in Pomona, California, continues its legacy of excellence by recognizing the world’s finest spirits through rigorous blind tastings by an expert panel of judges, including master distillers, mixologists, and industry professionals. In its 2025 edition, the competition evaluated outstanding entries in categories spanning bourbon, whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, and more—awarding 72 Gold Medals, along with Best of Division and Best of Class honors that spotlight innovation and superior craftsmanship. A trusted hallmark for consumers and retailers seeking top-tier liquors, medal-winning bottles are celebrated and showcased at the LA County Fair, guiding enthusiasts toward exceptional pours worth savoring. For complete results and entry details, visit fairplex.com/competitions/spirits-competition/.

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Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers Launch Ska Street Brewstillery

November 5, 2022 By Dow Scoggins

BOULDER, Colorado – The Legion of Ska continues to grow with Ska Street, Boulder’s first “brewstillery” concept. This joint venture by Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers opened in the former FATE Brewing space in spring of 2020.

Peach Street Distillers was hatched in 2005 when Ska Brewing’s two co-founders Bill Graham and Dave Thibodeau found the allure of Palisade’s locally grown fruit too much to pass by. Since Peach Street’s opening, the two companies have worked side by side— with a shared sales team, and collaborations such as Modus Whiskey, and the Boomerang Barrel Program.

Backing up even further, Ska Brewing was born on Colorado’s Front Range out of the minds of Graham and Thibodeau, with the influence of Boulder’s burgeoning beer community. This area is where they grew up and learned to homebrew, where Graham attended the University of Colorado, and where many of Ska and Peach Street’s staff got their start in the brewing industry.

After 15 years of partnerships, Ska and Peach Street will finally set up shop under the same roof in spring of 2020. “A number of serendipitous factors have come together to make Boulder the answer to what we’ve been trying to do for a decade,” says Thibodeau. “when the opportunity presented itself, we jumped at this chance to call Boulder home.”

Steve Breezley, Ska’s Chief Operating Officer who formerly worked at Avery Brewing, says, “So many of us at Ska feel attached to the Boulder community— it’s active like our home in Durango, and it’s an epicenter for craft beer.”

Ska Street will integrate Ska and Peach Street’s businesses, with onsite brewing of Ska beers in a 10 barrel brewhouse and distillation of Peach Street spirits in a 450 liter still. The Brewstillery will offer 30 Ska beers on tap and a mixology program that replicates the Palisade distillery experience. Ska Street’s food menu will bring together components of each business, with music-inspired, Caribbean-influenced eats to mirror the food served at Ska’s World Headquarters in Durango, and the thoughtfully sourced farm-to-table approach that guests have come to love at Peach Street.

Ska’s experimental brewery, the Mod Project, has afforded the brewery and many of its retailers the opportunity to do some unique projects together in Durango, and at Ska Street in Boulder they plan to build upon this platform with their spirits, as well as well as their beers.

“We’re excited to get back to the Front Range, and to get more involved in Boulder,” Thibodeau says. “Beyond the new location, this is a great opportunity to pursue collaborations with accounts in the area that have been selling our beer for years.”

About Ska Brewing
In the rugged mountain town of Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing burst onto the scene in 1995 when founders Dave Thibodeau and Bill Graham channeled their passion for ska music, punk rock vibes, and homebrewing into a rebellious craft beer adventure. Starting with second-hand dairy equipment and a DIY spirit, they quickly built a cult following, pioneering canned craft beer in the early 2000s and moving to their iconic World Headquarters in 2008. Celebrating 30 years in 2025 under new local ownership that preserves its independent ethos, Ska continues to blend upbeat rhythms, comic-inspired art, and award-winning brews that keep the party—and the flavor—hopping strong.

Ska Brewing’s lineup is a high-energy jam of bold, crushable beers packed with personality. Flagship Modus Hoperandi IPA delivers a piney, citrus-hop punch that’s earned rave reviews, while the crisp Mexican Logger—a fan-favorite since 1999—offers light, refreshing vibes perfect for sunny days. Honey-kissed True Blonde Ale shines with multiple awards, including recent Good Food Awards honors, and newcomers like tangy Lime Logger with Salt and tropical Guava Stomper Juicy IPA bring fruity twists to the mix. From hazy IPAs to seasonal stouts, Ska’s canned creations are eco-friendly, adventure-ready, and always ready to ska-daddle into your cooler.
Address: 225 Girard St, Durango, CO 81301
Website: www.skabrewing.com

About Peach Street Distillers
In the sun-drenched orchards of Palisade, Colorado—home to the world’s juiciest peaches—Peach Street Distillers fired up its stills in 2005, becoming one of the state’s pioneering craft distilleries and proudly unleashing the first legal Colorado bourbon since Prohibition. Founded by Rory Donovan alongside Ska Brewing’s Bill Graham and Dave Thibodeau, this grain-to-glass powerhouse sources Olathe corn and legendary local fruits to handcraft every drop onsite with mad-scientist flair and small-batch love. Celebrating a milestone 20 years in 2025 under new local ownership by Palisade natives Desa Loughman, Cody Butters Lewis, Jesse Loughman, and Michael Lewis, Peach Street pours pure high-desert magic into award-winning spirits that capture the bold, fruity soul of the Rocky Mountains.

From smooth Colorado Straight Bourbon with caramel-oak warmth to lush Peach Brandy bursting with over 20 pounds of fresh Palisade fruit per bottle, Peach Street’s lineup is a medal-hauling adventure in every sip. Crisp Pear and bright Apricot Brandies deliver elegant orchard elegance, while ultra-smooth Goat Vodka shines in cocktails or neat; juniper-kissed Jackelope Gin brings botanical bite, and herbal Amaro adds bittersweet depth. Innovators at heart, they craft unique gems like Bier Schnapps from local beers and a Colorado twist on agave spirits—all distilled with pure mountain water for flavors that are authentically wild, wonderfully crushable, and ready to elevate any toast with Palisade pride.
Address: 144 South Kluge Avenue, Palisade, CO
Website: www.peachstreetdistillers.com

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Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Introduces Ready to Serve Cocktails: Bulleit Crafted Cocktails in Two Classic Recipes

March 8, 2022 By Dow Scoggins

NEW YORK – Bulleit Frontier Whiskey is proud to introduce a new premium line of whiskey-based ready-to-serve cocktails to its award-winning portfolio with Bulleit Crafted Cocktails. Bulleit Crafted Cocktails offer up timeless, perfectly crafted drinks, ready to pour straight from the bottle with the Bulleit Manhattan and Bulleit Old Fashioned.

With the help of some of the most celebrated and creative bartenders, Bulleit Crafted Cocktails were perfected through many rounds of refinement. The final product is an expression of collaboration that delivers a bar-quality cocktail experience, allowing everyone from cocktail enthusiasts and whiskey lovers to casual sippers to enjoy perfectly curated cocktails anywhere, no matter the occasion.

“It can take time to master a Manhattan or Old Fashioned,” said Adam Geissler, Bulleit Brand Ambassador. “Luckily bartenders are masters of their craft and have been skillfully making these cocktails with our whiskeys for years, so it was only right we had them help us create these products to help put bartender quality cocktails in the hands of people (21+) to enjoy without the time or fuss of cocktail preparation.”

With the rise of at-home entertainment over the past few years, from impromptu dinner parties to small watch parties or those “just because” moments, Bulleit Crafted Cocktails allow both casual and experienced hosts to enjoy the company of friends while serving a premium cocktail experience.

“As a brand rooted in bartender culture, we collaborated with a number of leading bartenders to perfect and refine two timeless whiskey cocktails, the Old Fashioned and Manhattan,” said Sophie Kelly, Senior Vice President of Whiskies, Diageo. “With Bulleit Crafted Cocktails, consumers can pour and serve bar quality, crafted cocktails wherever they are. Whilst nothing can replace the full experience of enjoying a drink made by your local bartender, Bulleit Crafted Cocktails are as close as you can get.”

A fresh take on a timeless classic, the Bulleit Old Fashioned Cocktail is a sweet blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, with the classic flavors of aromatic orange bitters and simple syrup, enhancing the hints of spice from the high-rye bourbon. The Bulleit Rye Manhattan was inspired by the simple belief that a spicier rye makes for a better Manhattan. The Straight Rye Whiskey packs a punch with subtle deep flavor, that’s balanced out by sweet vermouth and bitters which add a brilliant layer of complexity.

With these new offerings, Bulleit continues to deliver on its innovative spirit, providing whiskey fans and cocktail connoisseurs convenience without sacrificing quality. Taking inspiration from the brand’s iconic orange and green packaging, Bulleit Crafted Cocktails are encased in vibrant, design-forward bottles, complementing the bold and exciting flavors within.

While the liquid is already a bar quality serve thanks to our bartender collaborators, the crafting doesn’t have to stop with the pour. Bulleit encourages consumers (21+) to embrace their inner bartender by customizing their garnish choices. Whether you’re the lemon twist type or an exactly three cherries type, the possibilities are endless. Served neat, chilled or over ice – enjoy however you’d like.

To help launch Bulleit Crafted Cocktails, the brand is putting the ready to serve cocktails in the hands of those on the frontier by working with bartenders on a content series exploring unique ways to garnish, and by celebrating with cultural pioneers starting with those breaking the boundaries of film and television at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles.

Bulleit Crafted Cocktails are a permanent addition to the Bulleit portfolio and are available now nationwide. The Bulleit Manhattan and Bulleit Old Fashioned ready-to-serve cocktails are available in 375mL and 750mL bottles, contain 37.5% ABV and have a suggested retail price of $29.99 (750mL). To learn more about Bulleit Crafted Cocktails, visit https://www.bulleit.com/bulleitCraftedCocktails/.

No matter where or how you decide to enjoy Bulleit Crafted Cocktails, Bulleit reminds consumers 21+ to please remember to pour and serve responsibly.

ABOUT BULLEIT FRONTIER WHISKEY
Bulleit, founded in 1987, is one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America. The brand attributes that growth to bartenders and cultural partners who have adopted it as their own. The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey portfolio is distilled and aged in the Bulleit family tradition, using a distinctive high rye recipe, which gives them a bold, spicy, yet distinctively smooth taste. The award-winning Kentucky whiskey most recently won a Double Gold medal for Bulleit 10 Year Old and Gold Medals for Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit Rye at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2017, Bulleit celebrated its 30th anniversary with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art distillery located in Shelbyville, KY. Constructed with a focus on sustainable practices including natural habitat protection, water conservation and local ingredient sourcing, BDC received the Highly Commended award for Sustainable Distillery of the Year at the 2020 Icons of Whisky Awards from Whisky Magazine. In 2019, a Visitor’s Centre at the Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville opened to share our modern, technological and sustainable approach to making great whiskey. In 2021, Diageo opened its first carbon neutral whiskey distillery in Lebanon, KY with Bulleit being the first and leading brand being produced at the site. supplementing existing production at the Bulleit Distilling Co. For more information, visit www.bulleit.com or follow @Bulleit on Instagram.

ABOUT DIAGEO NORTH AMERICA
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.

For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

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Hanalei Spirits Introduces New Variety Pack

September 7, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

This collection of Hanalei Spirits includes five unique handcrafted bottles including our premium Vodka, premium Rum and Dark Rum, Hanalei Spirits Sugarloaf Pineapple, and our delightful Lilikoicello. Taste the unique flavors of the Hawaiian Islands captured straight from our farm to bottle in these Kauai distilled spirits.

What’s inside:

(1) 50 ML Hanalei Spirits Vodka 40% ABV/80 Proof

(1) 50 ML Hanalei Spirits Rum 40% ABV/80 Proof

(1) 50 ML Dark Rum 40% ABV/80 Proof

(1) 50 ML Sugarloaf Pineapple Rum. 40% ABV/80 Proof

(1) 50 ML Lilikoicello 30% ABV/60 Proof

Our Hanalei Spirits Vodka is a smooth neutral spirit, made with sugar cane and the finest mineral-rich water in the world. Our Rum is a light bodied white rum made with sugar cane that allows the local delicate fruit juices to shine. Our pure tropical rain collects around Mount Waialeale at the center of our island. Being over 5 million years old and one of the wettest and most majestic places on earth, it offers the perfect base to our spirits. Our Dark Rum gets its deep rich color from its time spent in new charred white oak barrels where it picks up hints of vanilla and a subtle chocolate finish. The pineapple has long since been an iconic symbol of Hawai’i since the 1900s. The industry has changed on the island of Kaua’i from big industrial canneries to small certified organic farms specializing in White Sugarloaf Pineapple. The drive for higher quality, seasonally fresh local ingredients helps us to please your palate, crafting our Sugarloaf Pineapple Rum. Our Lilikoicello is crafted from Passion fruit or as we say here in Hawaii, liliko’i. It is widely considered one of the most delicious fruits in the world and has a tart, aromatic flavor. Each exotic liliko’i blossom is lovingly hand pollinated along the 15 ft sturdy wines. From the vine to the bottle, it is an owner’s favorite.

From our ‘ohana to yours, Enjoy!

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Vermont Producers WhistlePig Rye Whiskey And Runamok Maple Team Up To Launch Barrel-Aged Products For Retail Market

May 13, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

Fairfax, Vermont – Two award-winning Vermont producers, Runamok Maple and WhistlePig, have joined forces to launch a pair of handcrafted barrel-aged products this spring: WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup and WhistlePig Barrel-Aged Maple Bitters. Beginning May 15, the maple syrup will be available for general distribution, as well as for purchase at runamokmaple.com and whistlepigwhiskey.com, while the bitters will be used exclusively by WhistlePig for promotional purposes.

“The only thing more fitting than pairing maple with whiskey is pairing the Runamok Maple brand with the WhistlePig brand,” said Curt Alpeter, President and Partner at Runamok Maple. “We couldn’t be more thrilled about this partnership, and we think these two products are going to be a big hit among foodies and cocktail drinkers alike. We’re excited about the prospect of expanding our brand into restaurants and hospitality while helping WhistlePig enter the retail grocery market.”

Runamok Maple has been barrel-aging its pure, organic Vermont maple syrup for several years, but the new partnership with WhistlePig will see the maple producer age its syrup in the same Vermont oak barrels that the distillery uses for its classic Rye Whiskey. The WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup features beautiful notes of toffee and rye spice, making it a classic sweetener for cocktails as well as the perfect topper for desserts and breakfast favorites like pancakes, waffles, French toast, and crepes.

The WhistlePig Barrel-Aged Maple Bitters are made with a base of WhistlePig’s 15-year-aged Estate Oak Rye and Runamok Maple’s organic maple syrup. A unique blend of herbs and spices gets added to the base to create a beautiful version of bitters that will elevate a wide variety of cocktails with just a few drops.

“The use of maple syrup in cocktails continues to grow at a strong pace, and we’ve been working to find a nationally recognized brand partner that was equally obsessive about the quality of its products and could supply countrywide.” said Jeff Kozak, CEO of WhistlePig Rye Whiskey. “We found both of those attributes in Runamok Maple, and we’re thrilled with the first two products that have been released as part of this partnership.”

WhistlePig is the top distiller in the ultra-premium and luxury rye whiskey category in North America. The brand is known as one of the true innovators in the emerging field of North American whiskey.

Based in Fairfax, Vermont, and owned by husband and wife team Eric and Laura Sorkin, Runamok Maple is known for its growing collection of pure, infused, barrel-aged, and smoked maple syrups. Earlier this year, the brand expanded their product line to include a new collection of maple-based cocktail syrups and bitters. Runamok Maple’s products are available in select specialty food shops and markets across all 50 states, as well as online at runamokmaple.com and amazon.com.

About Runamok Maple
Runamok Maple, a Vermont-based company owned by husband and wife team Eric and Laura Sorkin, produces organic maple syrup from its sugarbush located on the slopes of Mount Mansfield. Since 2016, Runamok Maple has been showcasing the versatility of maple with its unique line of pure, barrel-aged, smoked, and infused maple syrups – and most recently its collection of maple cocktail syrups and cocktail bitters. With over 1,000 acres of land in northern Vermont, the team at Runamok Maple manages 100,000 taps and works with over a dozen local maple producers to bring their pure maple syrup to consumers near and far. Boasting over a dozen varieties, including flavors like Bourbon Barrel-Aged, Smoked with Pecan Wood, and Cinnamon + Vanilla Infused, Runamok Maple is available for purchase on runamokmaple.com as well as in select specialty food shops across the U.S. and Amazon.com.

About WhistlePig Rye 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.

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Set Your Out-Of-Office and “Cut Out” This Summer With Cutwater Spirits & Cameo

May 7, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

SAN DIEGO, California – Award-winning San Diego-based distillery Cutwater Spirits launches its “Cut Out With Cameo” campaign featuring everyone’s favorite group of office-mates: Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nuñez, Leslie David Baker and Melora Hardin. Through a partnership with direct-to-fan celebrity app Cameo, Cutwater is officially kicking off summer (aka “Tequila Season”) by encouraging everyone to set those out-of-offices and reunite with loved ones by “Cutting Out” with a Margarita in hand. To launch the campaign, Cutwater, Cameo and the former castmates released a video on Instagram.

This summer, 100 winners will receive a #CutOut message from one of the sitcom stars to invite friends and family to reconnect over a Cutwater Margarita when it’s safe to do so. One lucky grand prize winner will also win $5,000 toward a post-pandemic reunion trip. To enter, tell us who you’d like to invite to “Cut Out” this summer for a chance to win a personalized Cameo from one of the four sitcom stars. Entries are open starting today and will close on Memorial Day (May 31st). Participants are encouraged to share their reunions by tagging @CutwaterSpirits and #CutOutWithCutwater. The campaign is part of Cutwater’s “Tequila Season” initiative and features the brand’s popular margarita RTDs.

“Tequila Season” is a summer promotion which is all about enjoying yourself and taking a moment to “Cut Out” from the daily routine – preferably with friends and a great Cutwater tequila-based RTD in hand. Building on its best-selling canned classic margarita, Cutwater Spirits just introduced three new margarita options made with real tequila: Mango, Strawberry, and Peach. Another new release that’s perfect for hot summer days is Cutwater’s Frozen Margarita Pops, available in a mixed 12-pack with Lime, Strawberry, Mango and Pineapple flavors.

“Cut Out With Cameo” is an extension of the brand’s larger “Cut Out With Cutwater” campaign, which launched in February via a regional TV commercial and digital series starring actress Emily Hampshire. The campaign continued in April supported by a partnership with San Diego Padres player Wil Myers and a sweepstakes for MLB fans.

*CUT OUT WITH CUTWATER X CAMEO SWEEPSTAKES. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21+. Begins 12:00pm EST on 5/6/21 & ends at 11:59 EST on 5/31/21. See Official Rules at on.cameo.com/cutwater 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 over 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.

About Cameo
Cameo is the leading marketplace connecting fans directly with tens of thousands of pop culture personalities in the form of customized video messages, live video calls and direct messages. Founded in March 2017 by Steven Galanis, Devon Townsend, and Martin Blencowe, Cameo’s mission is to create the most personalized and authentic fan connections on earth.

In just over four years, Cameo has fulfilled more than 2 million magical moments ranging from birthday and good luck messages to prom invitations, marriage proposals and direct fan interactions. In 2020 alone, the company fulfilled more Cameos than throughout its 4-year history, with Cameos delivered on every continent in the world.

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Dogfish Head Distilling Launches Ready-to-Drink Canned Cocktails

February 24, 2021 By Dow Scoggins

Milton, Delaware – One of America’s earliest craft distilleries, Dogfish Head Distilling Co. announces the coast-to-coast* launch of its scratch-made, ready-to-drink Canned Cocktails. The distillery’s lineup of Canned Cocktails includes three off-centered recipes –Blueberry Shrub Vodka Soda, Strawberry & Honeyberry Vodka Lemonade and Cherry Bergamot Whiskey Sour. Each recipe was crafted using Dogfish Head Distilling Co.’s house-made spirits combined with all-natural, high-quality culinary ingredients to create a liquid masterpiece that tastes as if it was poured straight from a bartender’s shaker tin. Dogfish Head Distilling Co.’s scratch-made Canned Cocktails begin hitting shelves in 4pk/355ml slim cans this week.

“A lot of folks don’t realize it, but Dogfish Head has been distilling spirits for about two decades, and we actually released our first ready-to-drink bottled cocktail back in 2017,” said Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Founder & Brewer. “Just like our award-winning spirits, our Canned Cocktails were born from blissfully inefficient recipes, the overactive imaginations of our uber talented co-workers, and a distinct distilling process centered around innovation and boundless creativity. While our spirits have been available to those throughout the Mid-Atlantic for some time, our Canned Cocktails are the first opportunity for off-centered people nationwide to drink in and explore the goodness that isDogfish Head Distilling Co.”

Each of Dogfish Head Distilling Co.’s scratch-made Canned Cocktails was artfully crafted and thoughtfully blended for maximum goodness. These flavor-forward, culinary-inspired recipes, compounded by each drink’s unique back story, provide strong points of differentiation in the exploding Canned Cocktail category, which is trending up +46%**.

Blueberry Shrub Vodka Soda (7.0% ABV) – Inspired by the James Beard Award-nominated bar program at Dogfish Head’s geographically-enamored seafood restaurant, Chesapeake & Maine, in Rehoboth, Delaware, this scratch-made Canned Cocktail begins with Dogfish Head Distilling Co.’s vodka distilled with blueberries. It is then macerated with lightly sweetened balsamic and red wine vinegar to create a blueberry shrub vodka and is blended with soda water. The ensuing deep, burgundy-colored libation is juicy and subtly sweet from the blueberries, with a slightly sour and complex fruity character from the vinegar. *L.A. Spirits Awards “Best-In-Show” winner in the ready-to-drink category.*

Strawberry & Honeyberry Vodka Lemonade (7.0% ABV) – Inspired by Sam’s visits to his friend’s honeyberry farm in coastal Maine, this scratch-made Canned Cocktail features Dogfish Head Distilling Co. vodka distilled with honeyberries, macerated with strawberries and blended with a house-made lemonade. Light coral in color with a fresh-squeezed lemonade haze, it exudes the well-balanced tartness of fresh-squeezed lemon combined with a sweet berry taste.

Cherry Bergamot Whiskey Sour (7.0% ABV) – Developed to accentuate the nuances of Dogfish Head Distilling Co.’s malt whiskey, this ready-to-drink Canned Cocktail takes whiskey distilled with tart cherries and highly-fragrant, citrusy bergamot oranges, and blends it with a house-made sour mix. Light amber in color, it is chock full of oak and vanilla whiskey flavors balanced by notes of citrus and dark cherries with a hint of honey, lemon and bergamot.“Dogfish Head Distilling Co. has always been focused on building our recipes around enticing combinations of natural culinary ingredients in their rawest forms; never adding flavorings or bringing in bulk-spirits for re-distillation,” said James Montero, Dogfish Head’s Innovation Manager for Beyond Beer. “This commitment has allowed us to produce a wide array of award-winning vodkas, gins, rums, whiskeys and more, and has helped us build a loyal cadre of spirits drinkers. I’m proud to share that that same level of rigorous care was used when creating the recipes for our ready-to-drink Canned Cocktails.”

With quality and authenticity at the core of its DNA, Dogfish Head Distilling Co. spent hundreds of hours honing its Canned Cocktail recipes, using a number of stringent R&D processes to inform its quest for excellence. From conducting quality control analyses and tasting panels to garnering feedback from guests at Dogfish Head’s coastal Delaware restaurants and taproom, the development of these Canned Cocktails was recognized and rewarded in late 2020. “We knew we weren’t going to officially release these tasty cocktails until early 2021, but we just couldn’t contain our excitement any longer,” said Sam. “So, we submitted a preliminary sample of our Blueberry Shrub Vodka Soda to the L.A. Spirits Awards and it ended up winning “Best-In-Show” in the ready-to-drink category. What an awesome way to kick-off the New Year and celebrate the soon-to-be launch of our latest endeavor!”

For more about Dogfish Head Distilling Co. and its NEW lineup of scratch-made, ready-to-drinkCanned Cocktails, please visit www.dogfish.com/distillery.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery:
Dogfish Head has proudly focused on brewing beers with culinary ingredients outside the Reinheitsgebot since the day it opened as the smallest American craft brewery nearly 25 years ago.Dogfish Head has grown into a top-20 craft brewery and won numerous awards throughout the years, includingWine Enthusiast’s 2015 Brewery of the Year and the James Beard Foundation Award for 2017 Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional. A Delaware-based brand with Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, an off-centered brewpub and distillery, Chesapeake & Maine, a geographically-enamored seafood restaurant, Dogfish Inn, a beer-themed inn on the harbor, and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, a production brewery and distillery featuring theTasting Room & Kitchen and Dogfish Head Distilling Co., Dogfish Head is a supporter of the Independent Craft Brewing Seal, the definitive icon for American craft breweries to identify themselves to be independently-owned and carry the torch of transparency, brewing innovation and the freedom of choice originally forged by brewing community pioneers. Dogfish Head currently sells beer in all 50 states and Washington D.C. For more information, visit www.dogfish.com.

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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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Square One Organic Spirits Launches Organic Ready-to-Drink Cocktails

June 8, 2020 By Dow Scoggins

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia — The makers of Square One Organic Spirits – who pioneered the concept of organic vodka and botanical spirits more than 15 years ago – has continued that drive for innovation with the release of a collection of handcrafted certified organic ready-to-drink cocktails.

“Consumers – particularly Millennials and Gen Z – are increasingly conscious about what they are drinking, and they are attracted to the certified organic ingredients and lack of artificial flavorings that are core to the DNA of all Square One products,” said Allison Evanow, Founder and CEO, Square One Organic Spirits. “With the addition of these delicious sparkling ready-to-drink cocktails, Square One now has a variety of options for discerning cocktail sippers – whether they prefer the base spirit, organic cocktail mixer or the convenience of a can. No other ultra-premium vodka brand has this breadth of offering.”

Apart from being one of the originators of the organic spirits movement, Evanow is also one of the first women in the industry to found, fund, and manage her own spirit brand.

Like the line of spirits and cocktail mixers that precede them, Square One Organic Cocktails have been carefully crafted from the purest ingredients. Square One Organic Cocktails use all organic ingredients: vodka, real juice, botanical extracts, and no artificial preservatives, creating a much better cocktail experience than other canned cocktails that use a simple, and often artificial, flavoring.

“Our consumer wants a light but complex tasting cocktail, not a hard seltzer with one flavor, and certainly not a flimsy diet version of an original,” said Evanow. “Our unique cocktails feature beautiful packaging and clever names – a craft cocktail experience with less alcohol but more flavor. Convenience doesn’t have to be boring.”

Square One Sparkling Cocktails will initially be available in California and then expand across the country during the rest of the summer. The Square One Organic Cocktail RTD portfolio includes:

Pear of Roses: Organic vodka, pear, rose, lavender, rosemary, lemon

Basil Berry Fizz: Organic vodka, basil, strawberry, lemon

Mediterranean Pearl: Organic vodka, bergamot, orange, pomegranate, coriander, star anise, lime

Cucumber Therapy: Organic Vodka, cucumber, rose, ginger, lime

Square One Organic Cocktails are USDA Certified Organic and heat pasteurized. They are lightly carbonated, ABV of 7.5% and are available in a pack of 4-12-ounce cans with a suggested retail price of $19.99.

About Square One Organic Spirits
Square One Organic Spirits, a pioneer in organic spirits, is a female-owned and WBENC-certified boutique spirits company founded with the sole mission of creating innovative organic spirits and cocktail products with an eco-conscious mindset. Featuring a USDA certified-organic portfolio of spirits, cocktail mixers, and ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, Square One is the only ultra-premium vodka brand with this breadth of offering. Square One’s business philosophy includes seeking out eco-friendly choices in all parts of the business, including using soy inks, FSC certified and carbon neutral face labels, wind-power at the distillery, and designing bottles that are stylish enough to be reused.

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Jack Daniel’s Launches New Spirit-based Canned Cocktails

June 2, 2020 By Dow Scoggins

LYNCHBURG, Tennessee — Right in time for summer, the Jack Daniel Distillery has introduced the new Jack Daniel’s Cocktails series featuring Jack & Seltzer; Jack & Cola; and Jack, Honey & Lemonade, available in select markets beginning this month.

Each cocktail is made with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, perfectly mixed and ready to enjoy in convenient packaging. Jack & Cola and Jack, Honey & Lemonade are 7% ABV, and Jack and Seltzer is 5% ABV with 0 carbs and 97 calories.

“We are always listening to our friends, and these new canned cocktails will be a convenient and refreshing way for them to enjoy our Tennessee Whiskey with a selection of wonderful flavors,” said Lisa Hunter, Jack Daniel’s Flavors Brand Director Lisa Hunter . “Each drink is perfectly balanced to highlight the flavors of our charcoal-mellowed whiskey in a drinkable and convenient format. This is real Jack and it’s ready to go.”

Jack Daniel’s Canned Cocktails will be available this summer in select states including CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, NH, NV, MD, MN, NY, PA, TN, TX, and WI. Retail price for a 4-pack of 12 oz. cans is $12.99 and single cans for $3.99. Visit www.jackdaniels.com for more information.

About Jack Daniel’s
Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

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