Drive Launched for Vote in South Carolina on Sunday Sales

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

For more than 20 years, South Carolinians have been allowed to vote in local referendums on whether beer and wine can be sold in stores on Sunday.  But they haven’t been allowed to vote on distilled spirits.

That might change if a grassroots coalition is successful in winning support for House Bill 3013. “House Bill 3013 is a sensible solution that gives power to local voters,” explains South Carolina Minority Leader Todd Rutherford. “Our coalition isn’t asking for a broad, sweeping state-wide change – we are supporting this legislation so people in each county can decide if Sunday sales are right for them. That’s why I’m sponsoring this bill.”

An August 2021 poll by RG Strategies shows 73% of South Carolina voters agree beer, wine, and liquor should be regulated the same way, and even more (77%) agree they should be able to vote on this issue.

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Captain Morgan Offers a High-Tech Punch Bowl

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

With stadium-inspired lights and sound, Bluetooth speakers, subwoofers and LED graphic equalizers, the Captain Morgan Super Bowl Punch Bowl holds a whopping four gallons of liquid (serves 32).  It’s ideal, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum notes, to (responsibly) share  Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum cocktails with friends 21+ .

Merging interactive football-watching and cocktail-holding technology, the Super Bowl Punch Bowl is the only punch bowl to simultaneously dispense the fast, accurate game day information along with delicious libations. While not available for purchase, fans 21+ can visit http://www.captainmorgan.com/superbowlpunchbowl* now through Feb. 6 to enter for a chance to win one of just 20 Captain Morgan Super Bowl Punch Bowls produced.

“As the first-ever Official Spiced Rum Sponsor of the NFL, we knew we had to do something big – literally and figuratively – to celebrate the most exciting and highly-anticipated sporting event of the year,” said Sam Salameh, VP-Captain Morgan. “We’re taking the at-home Super Bowl experience to the next level. The Captain Morgan Super Bowl Punch Bowl does just that in a fun and over-the-top way, combining just the right amount of spice and applied science to boost any Super Bowl celebration.”

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1.5 Million Visited Kentucky Distilleries Last Year

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

More than 1.5 million people took the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour in 2021.  Not surprisingly, that’s a big increase from 2020 Covid-slashed 587,00.  It’s offer only 13% from the attendance record of 1.7 million set in 2019, the Kentucky Distillers Association said.

KDA President Eric Gregory hailed the news as testament to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s bucket list destination status and said 2021 would have been another record-setting year if not for reduced tour sizes, limited hours and closures due to COVID and staffing issues.

Plus, he noted several KBT® destinations were closed or at limited capacity because of major expansion projects. Most notably, James B. Beam Distilling Co. was closed for 10 months while constructing its new $60 million tourism experience in Clermont, which is now open.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® charted its best year ever in 2021 with more than 615,000 in total attendance, an increase of 170% from 2020 and 40% higher than its previous record in 2019.

The KBT Craft Tour® also added four new stops for an all-time high of 23 distilleries in the nation’s first-ever adventure to showcase the micro distilling movement: The Bard Distillery in Muhlenberg County; Castle & Key in Woodford County; Copper & Kings in Louisville and Log Still in Nelson County.

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Who & What —

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

North Coast Brewing Co. names Jennifer Owen CEO. She has been acting as Interim CEO/CFO since October 2021. She will retain the position of CFO as she continues to lead and care for the financial health of the company. Owen was recruited from the City of Fort Bragg 4 years ago where her CPA training and communication skills helped her become a highly successful grant writer and project manager. Her first role at NCBC was Controller, and she was promoted to CFO in 2019.

Diageo named Karen Blackett, OBE, as a non-executive director, effective June 1.  She is UK Country Manager for WPP plc and CEO of GroupM UK.

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New York Mulls Bill Allowing DtC Shipments from Out of State

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

A bill that seeks to legalize shipment of wine by out-of-state retailers to New York State residents was introduced in the state legislature.  the state is one of more than 30 that prohibit its consumers from receiving shipments from out-of-state retailers.

New York allows its residents to receive wine shipments from New York-based retailers, New York wineries, and out-of-state wineries but not from out of state retailers.  That could change if a bill introduced in the New York State Senate becomes law.

The bill requires out-of-state retailers to obtain a New York state wine shippers permit, limits the amount of wine an out-of-state retailer may ship to a New York resident during a single year, requires the remittance of sales tax and shipping reports to the state, and puts in place protections against minors obtaining wine via direct shipment.

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Lange Estate Acquires Elkhorn Ridge Vineyard

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Lange Estate Winery & Vineyards said it acquired Elkhorn Ridge Vineyards, a 65  acre property near Monmouth in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range. The Lange family will change the name to Lucky River Vineyards, a nod to the Luckiamute River which runs just south of the property.  Terms weren’t disclosed.

“We’ve been looking to expand our vineyard  portfolio to meet increasing demand and this property checked all the boxes—an established vineyard with a stellar  track record, having provided fruit for a number of our good friends and colleagues for a many years. The elevation and  aspect are ideal for the production of pinot noir, and the site’s predominately Willakenzie soil is a perfect compliment  to our 60 acres of Jory soil in the Dundee Hills,” said Jesse Lange, winemaker and partner.

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