News Briefs for April 21, 2023

•Heaven’s Door Spirits, the whiskey brand founded by Bob Dylan in collaboration with Spirits Investment Partnership, announced plans to open a new distillery in Pleasureville, Kentucky. Located on 160 acres along Six Mile Creek, the distillery has been under development since 2017 and began producing small batches of Bourbon in 2018. The property features two stillhouses and a visitors center with tasting rooms and lounges, among other amenities. Heaven’s Door Distillery is expected to open to the public in September. Additionally, the company will open a location in downtown Louisville featuring a live music venue, a private event space, and a restaurant and bar.

•Smirnoff Ice is relaunching with a modern redesign and a new nationwide campaign. The relaunch will be backed by a campaign featuring comedian Trevor Noah in a series of seven TV spots centered on late 90s and early 2000s nostalgia. Also, through its partnership with Live Nation, Smirnoff Ice will be the official flavored malt beverage partner across 39 amphitheaters and seven music festivals this summer.

•Glengoyne Distillery is launching its 15 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the U.S. The expression is a blend of whiskies aged in Bourbon and sherry casks and joins the distiller’s core collection. Available this month in select retail locations, it’s at 43% abv and sells for $130 a 750-ml. Glengoyne Distillery is part of Ian Macleod Distillers.

•WES Brands, owner of Mark Wahlberg-backed Flecha Azul Tequila, has appointed Chris Seithel as senior vice president of sales. A 25-year industry veteran, Seithel was most recently vice president of sales at Mezcal El Silencio. Additionally, Flecha Azul has expanded into the Mexican market. The brand’s range includes Blanco ($45), Reposado ($55), Anejo ($65), Cristalino ($99), and Extra Anejo ($340) expressions.

•The O.H. Ingram whiskey brand is in expansion mode. Brown Water Spirits LLC has moved the floating barrel warehouses used to age O.H. Ingram River Aged whiskies to a new facility in Columbus, Kentucky. The move, according to the company, was prompted by growing demand for the brand. With the two floating warehouses at the new location, O.H. Ingram will be able to mature up to 6,000 barrels on the Mississippi River. Additionally, the company says the Columbus location has space for up to 15 floating warehouses. The O.H. Ingram brand is currently available in Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, with more markets to come as supply allows.

•Martinique rum maker Rhum J.M is launching its expression Terroir Volcanique in the U.S. It’s a blend of rums aged at least three years in new American oak barrels that were custom charred. In keeping with the name, Terroir Volcanique is an homage to the distillery’s tropical climate and volcanic sugarcane fields. It’s bottled at 43% abv and retails for $43 a 750-ml.

Tagged : Flecha Azul, Heaven's Door, Smirnoff Ice

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