Heineken, Waze Pilot Campaign to Curb Drunk Driving

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Heineken USA is the first alcohol company to begin a partnership with Waze in the United States.

Beginning Memorial Day weekend and extending through the summer, the promotion will be available to Waze users throughout the state of California with room to expand to other markets.

The campaign will champion moderation by targeting users going to social venues such as beaches, parks, sports stadiums, and restaurants with messages that remind consumers that there is always a choice and encouraging safe decision-making behind the wheel.

Waze users traveling to these sites will be offered a rideshare voucher that they can redeem at any point during the summer for a safe, responsible ride home.

“We like to say Heineken has been social networking since 1873, but we recognize bringing people together for a drink comes with responsibility. Encouraging responsible consumption is core to our ethos and central to everything we do,” said Josephine Bertrams, SVP and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Heineken USA. “Our new partnership with Waze in the U.S. is an exciting extension of this commitment. We’re working with Waze to encourage people to make safe and smart decisions as they spend well-deserved time with family and friends this summer.”

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), drunk driving is still the No. 1 cause of death on American roads, Heineken said, adding that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research indicates drunk driving fatalities have decreased 51% since 1982 and 21% over the past five years, there is still work to be done.

Heineken continues to encourage moderation with its ongoing pledge to commit 10% of its flagship brand, Heineken’s, media spend on responsible consumption campaigns each year.

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37% of Americans Admit to Barbecuing Drunk — And They’re 4 Times More Likely to Get Hurt

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

There are more than 10,000 grilling-related injuries each year, and a new survey from LendingTree research site ValuePenguin.com finds  71% of Americans plan to attend or host a summer barbecue. And 80% of Americans either own a grill or use a community grill. With this sort of prevalence, it’s natural that grilling injuries commonly occur. Other findings:

  • Gen Z, Men are more likely to suffer from Grilling related injuries. 13% of Americans who own or have access to a grill have reportedly experienced a grilling-related accident. Gen Zers (ages 18 to 24) are the most likely to have had a grilling-related accident, at 19%. Men are 55% more likely than women to have experienced a grilling-related accident
  • Grilling while drunk is fairly common, and those who do so are 4X more likely to get hurt. 37% of grillers say they have fired up the barbecue while drunk, and those who have are four times as likely to have been in a grilling-related accident. Millennial (age 25 to 40) and Gen X (age 41 to 55) Americans are most likely to grill while drunk.
  • Food safety hazards abound at barbecues. 22% of Americans believe they’ve contracted food poisoning at a barbecue. Nearly one in three millennials and 29% of Gen Zers recall getting sick from a barbecue — the most affected age groups.
  • Americans aren’t cooking their meat properly. Two in three grillers don’t use a meat thermometer to verify that their meat is safe to eat or serve. 6 in 10 grillers do not cut the meat open to verify if it’s cooked sufficiently.
  • Barbecuers also aren’t keeping their Grills clean — especially those who share it with others. 47% of Americans admit they don’t clean the grill after every use, which is recommended. That jumps to 59% among those who use a shared community grill, compared with 44% who have their own.
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Evan Williams Bourbon Redesigns Small Batch Package

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Evan Williams Bourbon, the second largest selling Bourbon in the world, announced a major redesign of Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch. Named after the year Evan Williams – the first licensed commercial distiller in Kentucky — first opened his distillery on the banks of the Ohio River, the Bourbon’s new, premium package celebrates Kentucky Bourbon’s first licensed endeavor.

Returning to the original 90 proof, as denoted on the new bottom face label, the small batch Bourbon is the second highest proof in the Evan Williams Bourbon family.

Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch will be relaunched in a new proprietary glass bottle with the Evan Williams signature blown in across the top. ‘1783’ is prominently displayed in gold foil accent across the top label, as well as ‘small batch’ to signify the Bourbon inside is a mingling of 300 barrels or less. The bottle is crowned by an upgraded capsule finish featuring the same Evan Williams signature repeated in the background.

Crafted with Heaven Hill Distillery’s traditional Bourbon mash bill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye, Evan Williams 1783 also retains an extra-aged quality as it is a marriage of barrels aged six to eight years, providing a smooth, rich, and bold flavor.

“Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch pays homage to some of the earliest years of licensed distilling in Kentucky, and an important year for Bourbon and the Commonwealth’s signature industry,” said Julie Cole, Evan Williams Senior Brand Manager. “With a return to the original 90 proof, the award-winning mash bill of Evan Williams 1783 is full-flavored and works both as a cocktail base and stand-alone sipper. We are excited to bring more focus to what is known as the ‘best kept secret’ in the Evan Williams Bourbon family.”

Evan Williams, who also served as an early Trustee of the City of Louisville, served as wharfmaster, and built the first county clerk’s office and city jail, set up his early distillery in 1783.

As the first licensed commercial distiller in Kentucky, Evan Williams laid the initial groundwork of entrepreneurial success for the Kentucky Bourbon industry. The award-winning Evan Williams Bourbon Experience invites hundreds of thousands of visitors to Downtown Louisville each year to walk through the same hand-crafted process Evan Williams began in 1783.

The Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch relaunch will feature a new commercial called “Our Kind of People,” premiering this fall on national broadcast TV and connected TV.

New point-of-sale will also feature the tagline, “When you do Bourbon right, people notice,” highlighting recent awards, including the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Consumers’ Choice SIP Award, winning Gold the first year and Double Gold the for two consecutive years.

The brand will also be prominently featured in digital, social media and in-game advertising for the brands Major League Baseball post-season partnership. The new Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch ships nationwide in May with an SRP of $19.99.

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Bluecoat to Intro a Gin for Seltzer

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Philadelphia Distilling introduces the brand’s first new product since 2018, Bluecoat Gin for Seltzer. The product is expected to land on shelves in July and will initially be available in PA, NJ, DE, MD, and Washington, D.C.

It’s being described as “the one-step answer for consumers looking to elevate from drinking to cocktailing.”

“Hard seltzer is a white-hot trend at the moment,” says Andrew Auwerda, founder/CEO, with hard seltzer sales up 600% in the past two years, “but we see room for improvement both on the consumption experience and the flavor profile. For a newer generation of drinker, hard seltzers are as ubiquitous as beer, and in some cases what they think of when they think of ‘cocktailing.’ But as more and more people entertain at home, there’s room in the marketplace for an elevated seltzer experience beyond just cracking open a can for your guests or pointing to the cooler. We think Bluecoat Gin for Seltzer is that answer.”

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HBCU Graduate Launches DuBlase in 32 States Across the U.S., Offers New Small Batch Whiskey for Summer 2021

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

DuBlase Whiskey founder and CEO, Darrin Eakins, worked extensively over the last two years with a master distiller to develop this proprietary whiskey formula. ” When people think of American Whiskey, they generally think of Tennessee, but I’m proud to say DuBlase was formulated and grown in my home state of Florida,” says Darrin Eakins, founder/ceo. “It’s a small batch whiskey that encompasses natural spices with a hint of vanilla, offering a robust and smooth hand-crafted whiskey.”  Retail: $29.99.

The inspiration behind DuBlase goes back to the comradery that Eakins experienced throughout his college days at Florida A&M University.  “Celebrating milestones with my lifelong brothers is something that I cherish from my HBCU college days at FAMU. A sip of a fine whiskey was usually involved in our celebratory moments, and that was my ultimate inspiration for DuBlase,” Eakins said.

DuBlase is available for purchase to adults of the legal drinking age online and in select retail stores in 32 states. “Customers in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, Missouri, Nevada, Nebraska, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin can purchase DuBlase on www.DuBlase.com,” Eakins said.

 

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Single Serve Le Grand Verre Launches in U.S.

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

The collection seeks to introduce the culture and experience of tasting premium French wines without the need to open an entire bottle.  “. It’s single-serve packaging, but with a twist: very good wine with a very rich and versatile French history to be discovered inside,” says Nicolas Deffrennes, Founder.

Funded by the Burgundy region the award-winning LGV bottles are proprietarily designed and packaged in a modern way to be enjoyed anywhere, anytime – without breaking the bank. Purchased in sets of 4 ranging from $20-$30, the 6.3 oz. design of each bottle is larger than your typical pour at 6 oz., as the name Le Grand Verre suggests. The wines are also made from recyclable materials and double-coated to preserve aromas.

“From the beginning we knew we needed to maintain the high standards set forth by the incredible winemakers who joined us in our mission. Developing an elevated and vastly unique single serve bottle to showcase their incredible wines was a challenging, exciting project,” explained Régis Fanget, Brand and Artistic Director of LGV. “The final product is a tall sleek bottle and an elegant departure from the canned wine masses we’ve seen over the past few years. Partnering on this endeavor with one of my oldest and dearest friends Nick has been a pleasure, to say the least. We’re thrilled to share our French wines with American palates.”

Baron Francois is the national distributor.  Blason Louis USA, Inc. is the national importer.

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