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Lawmakers Define Which Spirits Qualify as ‘Tennessee Moonshine’

The Tennessee General Assembly set legal guidelines on Wednesday about what spirits can bear the name “Tennessee Moonshine.”

According to The Tennessean, a provision to a bill approved yesterday states: “An intoxicating liquor may not be advertised, described, labeled, named, sold, or referred to for marketing or sales purposes as “Tennessee Moonshine” unless the intoxicating liquor is distilled in Tennessee. Any manufacturer who violates this section shall be subject to suspension or revocation of its license for a period of not less than one (1) year.”

Distiller Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine greeted the measure with applause.

“This is a significant move toward preserving the historic value of Tennessee Moonshine,” Joe Baker, co-founder of Ole Smoky Moonshine, “and as the state’s first legal moonshine distillery, we know how important it is to maintain authenticity in this fast-growing category.”

Legal moonshine distilleries have been on the rise in Tennessee ever since the state relaxed its liquor laws in 2010, significantly increasing the number of counties where it is lawful to distill spirits.

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A Bud for Conservation: Budweiser Partners with National Park Foundation

Budweiser on Earth Day announced a partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official charity of America’s national parks, for the Find Your Park movement.

Budweiser-9-610x407The multi-million dollar partnership raises awareness about national parks and the centennial milestone of the National Park Service in 2016, according to a press release. In conjunction, Budweiser is rolling out limited-edition patriotic packaging featuring the silhouette of Lady Liberty.

Budweiser commissioned streetscape and mobile photographer 13th Witness to unveil this packaging with visual content that “captures Budweiser’s spirit for the summer,” according to a press release.

Budweiser will bring “monumental and surprising” moments to the national parks through a summer music program that celebrates the brand’s pledge to safeguard these breathtaking landscapes and places of cultural and historical importance. To kick off the partnership, Budweiser launched a day of service in various parks throughout New York City on April 21.

“Budweiser is an American brand with a steadfast commitment to our nation,” said Dan Wenk, interim president of the National Park Foundation. “With their generous, multi-faceted support of our Find Your Park movement, we will ensure that these special places are loved and protected well beyond the next 100 years.”

Budweiser’s new Statue of Liberty summer packaging highlights the partnership with NPF. The Lady Liberty packs will be available in 8-, 12-, 16- and 25-ounce cans and in a 16-ounce aluminum bottle.

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Raven’s Lace PeachBerry Whiskey

Heaven Hill Brands has announced Raven’s Lace PeachBerry Whiskey, which infuses peach and strawberry flavors with the smoothness of Bourbon whiskey at an approachable 60 proof, according to the company.

Raven’s Lace is intended to appeal to the growing segment of female consumers, for whom traditional whiskey is not necessarily their drink of choice, but are interested in the sweet taste of flavored whiskeys.

The limited market launch will include retail and on-premise point-of-sale, including a unique travel trunk floor display, according to the company. In addition, Raven’s Lace will have a considerable digital media program that engages consumers with the “Whiskey Your Way” campaign, focused on young females.

Raven’s Lace PeachBerry Whiskey will be available in 750-ml bottles for $14.99. The initial launch markets in June include Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee.

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An Old Beerfest Stays Fresh

The oldest beerfest in Connecticut hardly advertises. Beyond a bare-bones Facebook page, the semiannual event, hosted by the Knights of Columbus Lodge in Hamden, attracts attendance largely through reputation and word of mouth.

IMG_1294As in recent years, the line for tickets stretched out the door on April 17. And the tasting selection — 26 breweries, 93 total beers — was again an impressive mix of microbreweries up-and-coming or well-established, mostly from Connecticut, whose booths lined the sides of the banquet hall.

The Knights of Columbus have hosted beerfests each spring and October since 1998. A relative rookie, I’ve been coming for three years. The price of admission ($25) included a buffet from local restaurants, and a free raffle with beer swag.

The event’s organizer on the brewery side is Jeff Browning, an industry veteran who’s long been at the heart of the Connecticut craft beer scene. He has seen firsthand the evolution of craft beer from niche hobby to mainstream passion.

“At the beginning, this event was literally just a bunch of old guys getting together and saying, ‘Hey, you want to try this beer I’ve been working on?’” says Browning, head brewer at the brewery/restaurant/nightclub BAR in New Haven, CT. “Now people come here wanting to know, ‘Where are the single-hop beers? Where are the quadruple beers?’”IMG_1266

To support this growing consumer interest, Browning invites new breweries to sample at the Knights of Columbus beerfest. These brewers will show up with barely labeled growlers of their product. This is how I first tried Black Hog and Firefly Hollow years ago. Both have since become staples in Connecticut craft beer.

I began my tasting with Firefly. Co-owner Rich Loomis poured me the Dire Chinchilla, an imperial pale ale that tasted nicely of strawberry shortcake. Interestingly, Loomis is not sure why.

“The Palisade Hops in this do not normally present as strawberry,” Loomis says. “We wish we knew why they were, but we’re just going to keep brewing it.”

Next I tried the Afflatus Copper Ale: a smooth, crisp, malty, well-balanced brown ale. As I discussed this brew with my friend and fellow beer nut Garrett, Loomis figured us the appropriate drinkers on which to experiment. From out of a cooler behind his booth he produced an unmarked, corked bomber.

Like many breweries, Firefly is expanding into barrel aging. Loomis poured us an intentionally light, early batch of his new wheat beer, aged six months in whiskey barrels. It had a slight, enjoyable sour kick. I look forward to the stronger, final version.

IMG_1280Black Hog was a few booths over. Their taps included Granola Nut Brown — a crisp brown ale, perfectly balanced between malty and hoppy — and SWAG. An acronym for Summer Wheat Ale with Grapefruit, this brew was created with grapefruit and sage peel. The fruity beer was pleasantly aromatic, and not too sweet.

From there I sampled numerous other breweries, including OvershoresTroegsRelicOlde BurnsideDuvig and City Steam. Fruit flavors remained a common theme. Berkshire Brewing Company brought their Raspberry Strong Ale, which was wonderfully fruity, and surprisingly smooth for its 9% ABV.

My friends Robin and Sam, fans of Two Roads, informed me that the brewery’s latest batch of Road Jam raspberry wheat ale was less tart this year, and brought out the beer’s lemon grass. Nuanced observations like this suggest that there are more favorable years ahead for Connecticut craft beer and the Knights of Columbus beerfest.

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A New York Braai with Cape Classics

Cape Classics held its 2nd annual New York Braai — a traditional South African BBQ — in White Plains, NY, on April 13.

As part of its U.S. Wine Tour, the Braai featured Cape Classics’ South African portfolio, including the wines from De Morgenzon, Kanonkop, Indaba, Raats Family, Morgenster, Bartinney, Glenelly, Buitenverwatching and Excelsior.

Under the pavilion of Saxon Woods Park, over 100 distributors, trade and press members enjoyed barbecued favorites prepared by the winemakers themselves, according to a press release.

“This event is a tradition established by our team and M.S. Walker, our first U.S. distributor partner,” mentioned Robert Bradshaw, President of Cape Classics. “It’s not just an opportunity to display our award-winning range of wines. It’s a chance to bring the vibrant and expressive South African culture close to home, which allows us to indoctrinate those with whom we work so closely.”

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Bombay Saphire Parties with Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis

Bombay Saphire Gin hosted the after party last Friday for the Tribeca Film Festival’s showing of Meadowland — starring Olivia Wilde, Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, John Leguizamo, Elisabeth Moss and directed by Reed Morano.

The party took place at PH-D Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown Hotel in NYC.

The party was attended by Wilde and her fiancé Jason Sudeikis (who also has two films premiering during TFF: Sleeping with Other People and Tumbledown). Guests of the 150-person party mingled and drank specialty Bombay Sapphire cocktails (recipe below) while enjoying music spun by the DJ. In honor of Wilde’s new film, artisanal elixirs were studded with blue gems to emulate the star’s exotic Sapphire blue eyes, according to a press release.

Other guests included: Ribisi, Ty Simpkins, Harvey Weinstein, Reed Morano, Steve Guttenberg, Bobby Cannavale, Mark Feuerstein, James Dolanamong others.

Gin & Tonic Reimagined

1 ½ oz Bombay Sapphire East Ginimage002
3 oz Fevertree tonic
Lime wedge OR different garnish (lemongrass, juniper, coriander, cassia bark, etc)

Press lemongrass stem and lime wedge into base of glass. Fill with ice and build.

Glass: Old fashioned

Garnish: Lime wedge, lemongrass stem

 

2015 Tribeca Film Festival After-Party for "Meadowland"
James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein

 

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Roscato Rosé Dolce

U.S. wine importer Palm Bay International has announces the arrival of Roscato Rosé Dolce — the newest addition to Roscato’s line of sweet, fizzy wines from northern Italy.

The introduction of Rosé Dolce follows the success of Roscato Rosso Dolce and Roscato Bianco Dolce, according to a press release.

Made from a blend of Pinot Noir and two native Italian grape varieties, Croatina and Teroldego, Rosé Dolce offers bright aromas of cherry and strawberry with a hint of cotton candy, according to a press release. It has an alcohol content of 8% and sweet palate. Rosé Dolce is ideal as an aperitif or companion to a variety of cuisines, including richly flavored dishes and desserts.

Rosé Dolce is currently available nationwide with a suggested retail price of $11.99.

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Langley’s No. 8 London Style Gin

Terlato Wines has announced the debut of Langley’s No. 8, a super-premium, London style gin, available now in select markets in the United States.

Langley’s No. 8 blends contains notes of spicy juniper, coriander and citrus, according to a press release. It is made with a blend of eight botanicals, including juniper berries from Macedonia, coriander seeds from Bulgaria, sweet orange peel and sweet lemon peel from Spain, cassia bark from Indonesia, and ground nutmeg from Sri Lanka. The final two ingredients are a secret.

The suggested retail price is $42.

The Langley Distillery in Birmingham, England has been producing gins since 1920, according to a press release, but had never before allowed its name to appear on a spirit brand — until now. Made in small batches, with 100 percent English grain spirit, Langley’s No. 8 is distilled in a small, English-made, 53-year-old copper pot still named Constance, and nicknamed “Connie,” in honor of the Master Distiller’s late mother.

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Santera Tequila Blanco, Reposado and Añejo

Santera Tequila has announced the release of three tequilas: Reposado, Añejo and Blanco.

Santera Tequila is distilled and bottled by Destilladora del Valle de Tequila Casa Maestri in Tequila, Jalisco.

Master Distiller Sebastian Melendrez individually selects optimal development periods for each interpretation, according to a press release. The Reposado is aged up to 7 months in American oak barrels, while the Añejo is aged for up to 16 months in American oak, and then blended with a touch of extra anejo.

The Blanco is unaged.

The liquids are housed in a minimalist bottle made of white flint glass.

Santera Tequila is bottled at 40% ABV and is available at retailers, bars and restaurants throughout New York, with the Blanco at a suggested retail price of $37.99 per bottle, Reposado at $42.99 and Añejo at $50.99.

Connect with Santera on Facebook or via @SanteraTequila on Instagram.

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Maker’s Mark Offers ‘After Dark’ Distillery Tours

Maker’s Mark is offering a late-night take on distillery tourism.

The “Maker’s Mark After Dark” program offers private, behind-the-scenes, guided tours of the distillery during evening hours. It’s intended for bachelor, a Father’s Day present, or “simply an escape from everyday life that anyone can enjoy,” according to a press release.

Bourbon experts will explain and show the bourbon-making process from grain to bottle. Then guests will enjoy specialized bourbon tastings before dipping their very own bottle in Maker’s Mark signature red wax.

The tour culminates with Maker’s Mark-inspired cocktails and southern-style appetizers inside a barrel warehouse, underneath the hand-blown glass ceiling by artist Dale Chihuly.

The 2015 “Maker’s Mark After Dark” dates are as follows: May 21, June 12, July 16, August 7, September 3, October 9 and November 6.

Mint Julep Tours driver and guide will await guests at The Galt House Hotel Rivue Tower, 3rd Floor 140 N. 4th St. in Louisville, Kentucky 40202. The tours begin at 1:15 p.m. and return at 7:30 p.m., just in time for dinner. Reserve spot nows, exclusively through Mint Julep Tours.

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