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Charles Goodnight Bourbon: True Texas Whiskey Honoring Legendary Cattleman  Foley Family Wines Expands Spirits Portfolio by Reimagining American Whiskey Brand as a Barrel-Strength, Beef-Lover’s Texas Bourbon SANTA ROSA, CA (September 13, 2023) — Foley Family Wines today announced the reintroduction of Charles Goodnight Bourbon (SRP: $79.99), a whiskey crafted in memory of the Lone Star state legend who captured the unbridled spirit of the American West. Charles Goodnight Bourbon, distilled and aged in Texas, is upping the ante with higher proof and a bold, new bottle design. It is currently available at spirits retailers across the U.S. First appearing in 2017 as a 100-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Charles Goodnight reenters the market as a distinctive homage to its namesake and a bold Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey that holds special appeal for beef lovers. Honoring Charles’ legacy as a legendary Texas cattle driver and the inventor of the chuckwagon in the 1800s, the team created a high-rye whiskey with deep oak, rich dark fruit, and brown sugar flavors that pair perfectly with steak. “I take great pride in the fact that my great, great uncle was legendary cattleman and Texan, Charles Goodnight,” said Bill Foley – a relative of Charles Goodnight, the founder of Foley Family Wines and a Texas native. “Pulling barrels from my commissioned private stock has given me inspiration to craft a true Texas whiskey that pairs as perfectly with a well-prepared steak as a bold Napa Cab does.” Charles Goodnight Texas Bourbon is a six-year-old, non-chill filtered whiskey clocking in at a robust 115 proof to capture the most flavor possible. A barrel-strength, high-rye bourbon with a mash bill of 60% Texas-grown yellow #2 corn, 36% unmalted rye and 4% barley, Charles Goodnight Texas Bourbon is triple distilled in a copper-lined Vendome pot still with no…

Blue Run Spirits Releases Reflection II Bourbon Follow Up to Platinum Award-Winning Predecessor Reflection II Continues High Standard of Approachability Set by Reflection I with Focus on Intriguing Whiskey Middle Notes GEORGETOWN, KY (September 13, 2023) – Georgetown, Kentucky-based Blue Run Spirits today unveiled Reflection II Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the follow up to the highly regarded Reflection I, which received a Platinum Medal at the respected SIP Awards International Spirits Competition. Reflection II is now available at retailers nationwide and at http://www.bluerunspirits.com/shop beginning at 3 pm Eastern today. When launched in May 2022, Reflection I Bourbon quickly became a favorite in the whiskey community as one of Blue Run Spirits’ most approachable products. With Reflection II, Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon is looking to continue that tradition while emphasizing a different layer of flavor notes than its predecessor. While Reflection I focused on the darker base notes like oak and caramel, Reflection II zeroes in on the brighter middle notes, including florals and sweetness. “The Reflection Bourbon series is an intriguing blending project because we have an established baseline of approachability that will carry through to every release, but we will explore the different layers that make whiskey such an interesting spirit,” said Gammon. “For continuity, we included some Reflection I as the base, and then started painting with an entirely different brush. Reflection II will be as familiar as it is new to anyone who enjoyed the first product.” For Reflection II, the dominate mash bill features less rye than the original, but the proof is increased from 95 to 100. Reflection II also features older whiskey stocks than its predecessor, with Gammon seeking out barrels that clearly exhibited elevated mid-note flavors from Blue Run’s more than 5,000-barrel inventory. Tasting Notes A bright bouquet of warm spices and rich…

Heaven Hill Brands Major Milestone Still Installation Brings Heaven Hill One Step Closer to a ‘Bourbon Capital Homecoming’ Heaven Hill Brands marks major milestone in Heaven Hill Springs Distillery construction with installation of Vendome copper still Bardstown, Ky. (August 31, 2023) – Heaven Hill Brands, the nation’s largest family owned and led spirits producer, marked a major milestone today in the more than $200 million project to build a new distillery in the Bourbon Capital of the World. Construction partners and media joined the company as they completed installation of the distillery’s Vendome copper still. This critical piece of the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery marks a major step towards returning the company’s distilling processes to Bardstown for the first time since the 1996 fire that destroyed the original distillery. The major milestone in the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery project coincides with the start of Bourbon Heritage Month and upcoming Kentucky Bourbon Festival, celebrations that have become synonymous with the rich heritage and craftsmanship of Kentucky Straight Bourbon. “This project represents a significant investment in the future of bourbon production, solidifying Heaven Hill’s commitment to upholding the time-honored traditions that have made Kentucky Bourbon world-renowned,” said Allan Latts, co-president of Heaven Hill Brands. The distillery is being built at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike and is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. Initial production is slated for 150,000 barrels a year, and over time will have capacity to ramp up to producing 450,000 barrels annually. This will be in addition to the company’s distilling that occurs at the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, which will continue to operate at full capacity of 450,000 barrels annually. The new Vendome copper still was shipped by Vendome to Bardstown in two pieces on separate flatbeds. At nearly 60 feet tall and…

ASYLUM PCA 2023 Exclusive Shipping C.L.E. Cigar Company has begun to ship the ASYLUM PCA 2023 Exclusive (Miami, FL) August 31, 2023–C.L.E. Cigar Company has begun to ship the Asylum PCA 2023 Exclusive to retailers. Asylum is recognized for its bold and edgy cigars. Only three thousand cigars per vitola were created of this blend. In what is expected by any Asylum brand, this blend is full-bodied and full-flavored. This blend sports a Maduro wrapper containing binder and filler tobacco from C.L.E. Cigar Company’s new South American farm. Christian Eiroa said:” The Asylum brand was made for those looking for extra strength in their smoking experience. This Asylum delivers and more. The combination of strength and flavor will offer a unique and satisfying smoking experience for the Asylum smoker. This unique flavor is born out of the tobacco from our new farm. Tom Lazuka, co-founder of Asylum Cigars and National Sales Manager of C.L.E. Cigar Company, stated: “The Premium Cigar Association has been a great partner, and we wanted to show support and help bring some extra excitement coming into the 2023 PCA. We will continue to create PCA-exclusive blends for the near future.” The Asylum PCA 2023 Exclusive is offered in four Vitolas and comes in twenty-count boxes. The top of the box doubles as an ashtray. Vitola – MSRP 50X5 $17.00 11X18 $ 18.00 52X6 $18.00 60X6 $19.00 *MSRP excludes local and state taxes About Asylum Cigars Asylum serves as the alter ego of C.L.E Cigar Company. Edgy packaging and uniquely large sizes combined with deeply bold and flavorful blends allow Master Blender Christian Eiroa to experiment with out-of-the-box ideas that break tradition. ABOUT C.L.E CIGAR COMPANY C.L.E. Cigar Company, established by Christian Eiroa in 2012 is steeped in tradition, going back to the early 1960’s in Honduras.…

Black Label Trading Company is going International. August 24, 2023 — Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) is pleased to announce Tor Imports, Ltd. will begin distributing our products in the UK next week. “We are looking forward to expanding into the UK market with Tor Imports. They have demonstrated their dedication to representing Nicaraguan cigars and will be the perfect partners for our premium cigar brand. We’ve had the pleasure of hosting them at our factory in Nicaragua and sharing our passion for Nicaraguan tobacco. I look forward to meeting some of our existing consumers and meeting new ones next week when we launch the brand,” said James Brown, owner of BLTC and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra. Scott Vines, Managing Director of Tor Imports, has this to say, “We are excited to welcome Black Label Trading Company to the UK. Not only are their cigars great, but they are very different from anything else we’ve ever offered. We feel good that James Brown is coming over to the UK to help us launch them to the trade and to host consumer events across the country.” Black Label Trading Co. creates hand-crafted premium cigars of the utmost quality at their factory, Fabrica Oveja Negra, in Nicaragua. Email for further information: info@blacklabeltrading.com.

Blue Run Spirits Unveils Trifecta Company’s First Triple-Age Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon’s Masterful Blend Includes Complex “Wood Heat” Barrels GEORGETOWN, KY (August 23, 2023) – Georgetown, Kentucky-based Blue Run Spirits today announced Trifecta – the company’s first three-age Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Trifecta will be available at retailers nationwide in August and at http://www.bluerunspirits.com/shop starting at 3 pm Eastern on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. This is the first bourbon from Blue Run since the 12 Days of Bourbon holiday 2022 collection. Blue Run Trifecta Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a small-batch whiskey that demonstrates the delicate balancing act required when blending a high-quality base whiskey with the vivid flavors and aromas from older “wood heat” whiskeys. Trifecta starts with a base of finely crafted six-year-old whiskey, which makes up less than half of the composition of the total liquid. To add additional depth and character, Blue Run Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon blends that with two whiskeys aged in the upper reaches of their respective rickhouses, giving them what she calls “wood heat.” “’Wood heat’ barrels are those that experienced the highest temperatures the warehouse has to offer due to their position at the top, forcing out the water molecules and concentrating the alcohol within the barrel,” said Gammon. “These higher-proofed barrels, in turn, extract more of the components of the wood from the barrel that can contribute a particular wood intensity to the whiskey, which needs to be approached with a knowledgeable, restrained hand when blending.” Shaylyn chose these nine- and eight-year-old barrels from Blue Run’s more than 5,000-barrel inventory knowing that the six-year-old Kentucky whiskey would help balance the spiciness of the aged product. It is a precise art, making sure the “wood heat” barrels add the desired layers of complexity without overpowering the base whiskey.…

Makers Mark announces their new Cellar Aged Bourbon Makers Mark Cellar Aged is a new expression from the ones who have placed their mark on Wheated Bourbons that we have all come to know and love.  Cellar Aged, a blend of 11 and 12-year-old bourbons, follows their traditional warehouse aging before spending years in their LEED-certified, temperature-controlled limestone cellar for further aging. According to the website Makers states: Aging our whisky for over 10 years wasn’t something we ever did. Not because we didn’t believe in it but because we hadn’t found our way of doing it. Maker’s Mark® Cellar Aged defines an older whisky that’s distinctly Maker’s. With flavors described as big oak, dark vanilla, and fruit, combined with a velvety long finish, coming in at 115 proof. This new expression is bound to be sought by aficionados and collectors alike.

Micallef Cigars and All Saints Cigars combine sales team Micallef Cigars and All Saints Cigars have recently announced that they will be bringing their sales teams together. Micky Pegg, co-owner of All Saints Cigars, will be joining Micallef Cigars as its new president of sales and leading up the sales teams for both brands. “I am thrilled to roll up my sleeves and work hands-on with a dedicated sales force once again,” commented Pegg. “I am transparent that All Saints Cigars is my Plan A, and there is no Plan B. We’re implementing a strategy with Micallef that I firmly believe in. The decision strengthens Plan A and reiterates our commitment to excellence and growth.” Dan Thompson, president of Micallef Cigars, added: “Micky’s leadership and collective industry experience bring amplified energy to the sales process. He is like an orchestra conductor elevating each instrument, producing a harmonious whole. The sum is greater than its parts; for both All Saints Cigars and Micallef.” https://www.micallefcigars.com/ https://www.allsaintscigars.com/

Premium Cigars Deeming Rule Fully Vacated Judge Amit Mehita of the U.S. District Court has ruled in favor of the premium cigar industry’s favor. This ruling means that the deeming regulations introduced by the FDA in 2016 will not apply to any cigar that meets the court’s definition of “premium cigar.” “This is a great day for the premium cigar industry. Judge Mehta has handed down a scathing rebuke of the FDA and its rule. This underscores what we have been saying for years: premium cigars are different and should be treated as such.” Says Scott Pearce Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association “I would like to thank all of the manufacturers, retailers, and partner organizations such as Cigar Rights of America and Cigar Association of America, our litigation team led by Michael Edney, and our government affairs staff for shepherding this monumental decision,” says Scott Regina President of the Premium Cigar Association Read the news release from the Premium Cigar Association here

Elijah Craig Bourbon Releases Limited-Edition Toasted Barrel Finished in European Oak Barrels Commemorating the 2023 Ryder Cup (AUGUST 9, 2023) Today, Elijah Craig is proud to announce the release of its Limited-Edition Toasted Barrel finished in European Toasted Oak Barrels to commemorate the 2023 Ryder Cup. Earlier this year, Elijah Craig announced a multi-year partnership which makes the Bourbon brand the “Official Bourbon” and a Worldwide Supplier of the biennial competition. This limited edition starts with fully-matured Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon and finishes it in new European Oak barrels that have been toasted with a profile inspired by those used in the Lazio wine growing region. Lazio wines are grown in and around Rome, Italy, where the 2023 Ryder Cup is being held at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club September 29th through October 1st. The European oak, with its ability to integrate flavors subtly and softly, effortlessly balances the sweetness and spiciness of the Lazio-inspired toast profile and the elevated bright fruit character from the fully-matured Elijah Craig. This edition leads with a nose of caramel and crème brûlée and once tasted, the bright fruit notes burst onto the palate after initial notes of baking spices. The finish is moderately long and is dominated by spice. This release represents a marriage of the U.S. Team’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – America’s native spirit – with the famed wine growing region and host city of the European Team. Speaking about the release, Max Stefka, Group Product Director, Elijah Craig Bourbon, said: “We are thrilled to raise a glass to the 2023 Ryder Cup with this new limited-edition release of Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel. The unique marriage of toasted European Oak and our extra-aged Kentucky Bourbon offers a taste experience fit for one of the world’s greatest sporting events.” Guy…