Author: Heavenhill

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Heaven Hill Brands Announces Relaunch of Dubonnet Rouge Aperitif

From the vault of a storied brand that has withstood the test of time comes the launch of a rejuvenated Dubonnet Rouge Aperitif. Gracing the shelves July 2018, the historic Dubonnet is returning to a vintage package with an updated recipe.

“As a family-owned and operated company with a legacy of nurturing legitimate brands with authentic history, we are excited to return to tradition with Dubonnet,” said Lynn House, Heaven Hill Brands National Brand Educator. “The new Dubonnet formula offers a complex, well-balanced cocktail companion backed by the highest standards of quality for more than 170 years.”

Dubonnet is grounded in traditional flavor basics as the new formula incorporates a key ingredient used since 1846, Cinchona Bark, which was originally discovered as a cure to common illnesses in the 1600’s. Combined with a base of wine incorporating Muscat of Alexandria, herbs and spices including black currant and tea varietals, and 100 percent cane sugar, the taste will delight history buffs and cocktail proficianados alike.

Inspired by a 1940’s bottle, the updated packaging features the iconic cat of Sir Dubonnet’s beloved wife that now lives in infamy on various versions of the bottle throughout history. Sir Joseph Dubonnet, a Paris pharmacist and wine merchant, developed a fortified-wine aperitif that contained the Cinchona medicine as a more flavorful option. As most classic spirits originate, the fortified wine soon became a favored cocktail component.

Dubonnet Rouge will be available in the 750ml and 1L sizes bottled at 38 proof or 19% alcohol by volume at a suggested retail price of $17.99. The launch will be supported by Lynn House, along with an updated website launching at www.doyoudubonnet.com, trade advertising, Instagram, and join the 2019 Bartender of the Year program as a featured brand.

With more “depth than its predecessor,” according to The New York Times, the new formula is well-suited to sip or stir. As an aperitif, Dubonnet can be enjoyed on its own or in classic, contemporary or creative cocktails. The profile is medium-bodied with dark fruit tanins and a balanced sweetness, creating a versatile flavor that is at once complex and refreshingly light. Below are several recommended cocktails that highlight the new Dubonnet.

The Dandy
1.25 oz. Dubonnet
1.5 oz. Elijah Craig Bourbon
.25 oz. Orange Liqueur
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
2 Dashes Regans Orange Bitters

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled. Serve up in a Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with an orange swath.

The French Connection
2 oz. Dubonnet
1 oz. White Grapefruit Juice
3 oz. Tonic Water

Pour over ice in a wine glass or in a Collins glass. Gently stir. Garnish with grapefruit slices.

The Dubonnet
1.5 oz. Dubonnet
1.5 oz. London Dry Gin

Serve up in a Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with an orange swath.

About Heaven Hill Brands: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila and Carolan’s Irish Cream Liqueur.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

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CONTACT:

Lauren Cherry
Heaven Hill Brands
lcherry@heavenhill.com

Images available at https://connect.heavenhill.com/c/44mjcge2. 

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Champion Named in Heaven Hill Brands 2018 “Bartender of the Year”

BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com announced today the champion of the 2018 Bartender of the Year competition. After a nationwide search to find the top bartenders across America, Harrison Ginsberg of The Dead Rabbit in New York City is the 2018 Bartender of the Year and the recipient of $15,000.

“It feels really good. Winning definitely gives validation to what I do. Plus, the whole idea of connecting with people from around the country is the best part,” said Ginsberg. “In the case of my cocktail concept, I talked about seed saving and passing seeds from generation to generation. I weaved that into the Shapira family and passing whiskey traditions to each generation. The authenticity and just how genuine Heaven Hill acts is a clear message for us as new members of the family.”

The week began as the eight finalists descended upon The Lodge on Sea Island, Ga. for a family welcome dinner. Don Lee, designer and educator at Cocktail Kingdom, began the second day of with an educational workshop on the relationship between flavor components in a cocktail. Group activities then followed with dock fishing, crabbing, and skeet shooting on the island.

The final day was composed of a two part “beverage program” challenge. The first challenge was administered by Don Lee and specifically tested their technical understanding of what comprises well-balanced cocktails. Contestants had to demonstrate ability to create well-balanced cocktails, describe what was wrong and how to correct an unbalanced drink. The second challenge asked competitors to create an original cocktail utilizing ingredients available in a pre-determined pantry. In addition to explaining their inspiration and thought process, as well as how the cocktail represents the locale and the brands, each competitor presented the pour cost of the cocktail and an explanation of the functionality of the cocktail as a menu item. The final day was broken down into several sections, including selection of ingredients, concepting, ingredient preparation, recipe development, and presentation. Judging was based on the quality of the cocktails, the adherence to the guidelines, the technical performance, and the overall presentation.

More than 1,000 original cocktail recipes using Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky were submitted online nationwide beginning September 15, 2017. 49 semifinalists then competed in San Francisco, Austin, San Diego, Portland, Denver, Charleston, Chicago, and New York City from January 2018 through end of April 2018. The top contestant from each region moved on to vie for the title of Bartender of the Year and $15,000 at The Lodge on Sea Island, Ga.

“After a year of impressive innovation and commitment to excellence, we are excited to welcome these top industry professionals into the Heaven Hill family,” said Kate Latts, Vice President Marketing for Heaven Hill Brands. “Congratulations to Harrison Ginsberg whose passion and professionalism raised the bar for our 2019 contestants.”

National Brand Educator for Heaven Hill Brands Lynn House, Bar Manager of Clyde Common & Pépé Le Moko Jeffrey Morgenthaler, and Owner/Bartender of Pouring Ribbons Joaquín Simó, and 2018 Bartender of the Year Nathan O’Neill judged the final eight bartenders. Finalists were challenged on their full range of skills as hospitality professionals. Judges were looking for the ultimate bartender who displays the total breadth and aptitude all bartenders aspire to embody.

Grounded in the original Bartender of the Year Competition hosted by Domaine de Canton starting in 2009, Heaven Hill Brands resurrected the competition due to strong demand from bartenders worldwide. Nathan O’Neill from the Nomad Bar in New York City was named Bartender of the Year in 2017, and Abigail Gullo of Compere Lapin in New Orleans won the inaugural competition in 2016. Visit the official competition website at http://www.bartenderoftheyear.liquor.com for complete competition details.

The following bartenders competed in the 2018 Bartender of the Year Finals:

Name City Regional City
Adam Robinson Portland Portland
Arthur Boothe Sanford, Fla. Charleston
Austin Carson Denver Denver
Harrison Ginsberg New York New York
Jorge Vargas-Baquedano Los Gatos, Calif. San Francisco
Julien Calella Venice, Calif. San Diego
Madelyn Kay Chicago Austin
Mony Bunni Chicago Chicago

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: About Heaven Hill Brands: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila and Carolan’s Irish Cream Liqueur.

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CONTACT:

Lauren Cherry
Heaven Hill Brands
lcherry@heavenhill.com

To view and download more images from this release, click here.

 

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Heaven Hill Brands, Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation Announce Partnership for California Community Center Outdoor Recreation Space

Heaven Hill Brands announced today a partnership with Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation to create a new outdoor recreation area at the California Community Center in West Louisville. Mayor Greg Fischer, Metro Council President David James, and Metro Parks Assistant Director Ben Johnson joined Heaven Hill Brands Chief Operating Officer Allan Latts to unveil plans including updated landscaping, permanent cornhole boards and chess sets.

Heaven Hill Brands first established itself as a community partner in the California neighborhood in 1999 with the purchase of the historic Bernheim Distillery, a site which has produced Bourbon since 1871. Rooted in Heaven Hill’s Corporate Charitable Giving Mission is the goal “to seek to improve the local communities in which our employees work and live by offering charitable support for education, health and well-being, and cultural enrichment.”

“As stewards of this long-standing facility, and as a family-owned and operated company, Heaven Hill recognizes the responsibility to the community that has been built around Bernheim, the community we have become a part of,” said Latts. “We are thrilled to continue this commitment to the California Neighborhood through a new outdoor recreation space for adults and children alike to enjoy.”

In West Louisville alone Heaven Hill has committed a substantial financial impact in the last two years to Dare to Care Food Bank, Simmons College, Reverend Elliott’s programs, Community Connections, Portland Elementary, and Brightside. Within the greater Louisville area, Heaven Hill has a longstanding history of partnerships with the Kentucky Science Center, The Louisville Zoo, The Speed Museum, Fund for the Arts, and many more throughout the city.

“This new park amenity fits right in with our city’s values of compassion, lifelong learning and health,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “I’m grateful to Heaven Hill for being not only good corporate partners, but good neighbors as well.”

To celebrate the announcement the Wheatley chess team joined local dignitaries and community members in a game of chess. Plans to begin construction on the new site are slated for late Summer 2018.

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Heaven Hill Distillery Receives Best Bourbon, Best Small Batch Bourbon and Numerous Medals from 2018 San Francisco Spirits Competition

Awards continue legacy of excellence for Heaven Hill Distillery portfolio

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distillery’s tradition of producing award-winning American Whiskey continues with the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition naming Henry McKenna Single Barrel “Best Bourbon” across all categories of Bourbon, as well as “Best Single Barrel Bourbon.” Elijah Craig Small Batch was named “Best Small Batch Bourbon,” placing second overall only to Henry McKenna.

Both Bourbons and Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey also received the Double Gold designation, which the competition defines as “awarded to the very few entries that receive a Gold medal rating by all members of the judging panel; these are among the finest products in the world.” This recognition comes on the heels of a banner award year for Heaven Hill Distillery. At the 2018 WSWA Spirits Tasting Competition Elijah Craig Small Batch was named “Best of Show Bourbon” and Pikesville was named “Best of Show American Rye Whiskey,” both receiving Double Golds. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof received the 2017 Whisky Advocate “Whisky of the Year” award, was named a 2018 Ultimate Spirits Competition Finalist and previously won Best Small Batch Bourbon in the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The World Whiskies Awards named Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and Pikesville Rye their respective category winners for 2017.

“Heaven Hill Distillery’s pedigree of producing Bourbons and whiskeys with award-winning flavor is a tale of more than 80 years of family passion,” said Heaven Hill President Max L. Shapira.  “Parker Beam’s favorite two words were ‘quality’ and ‘consistency,’ and we are proud to see that tradition carried on through the work of our Master Distiller Denny Potter and all that help bring the product to life. We don’t make whiskey to win awards, but it certainly helps validate all that we do here to make our American Whiskey the best way that we know how.”

The San Francisco Spirits Competition was founded in 2000 and has become a premiere tasting competition grounded in integrity and experience. All spirits are tasted over four days through a controlled blind tasting by expert panelists. No information on producer or price point is given out prior to tastings to ensure each is judged fairly and without bias. For insight on the judging process, Fred Minnick, Wall Street Journal best-selling author, chronicled Henry McKenna’s path to Best Bourbon on his blog here. For more information on the San Francisco Spirits Competition, check out the website at https://sfspiritscomp.com/, as well as the August 2018 issue of the Tasting Panel Magazine.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

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CONTACT:

Lauren Cherry
Heaven Hill Brands
lcherry@heavenhill.com

To view and download more images from this release, click here.

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Lunazul 100% Agave Tequila Awarded Top Awards Across Industry Tasting Competitions

Lunazul Blanco awarded Chairman’s Trophy at 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

Heaven Hill Brands’ Lunazul 100% Agave Tequila is on a sweep of the distilled spirits industry’s top tasting competitions this season. Lunazul Blanco was awarded the 2018 Chairman’s Trophy in the Blanco category of the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Lunazul Reposado received “Best of Show” and a Double Gold medal from the 2018 WSWA Tasting Competition and a Gold medal from the 2018 San Francisco Spirits Competition.

At the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Lunazul Blanco scored 96 points, the highest score of all category entrants and was also designated as an “Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation” and “Great Value.” Crafted using 100% agave and bottled at 40 percent alcohol by volume, Lunazul Blanco was noted as a “benchmark example of what tequila can and should accomplish” according to the Ultimate Spirits Challenge blog. Tasting notes from the judges, a panel of industry experts, described Lunazul as “vividly tropical notes of green mango, passion fruit, and hot sand burst forth on the nose. Subtle citrus dances with black peppercorn and ripe white peach with a soft, rounded texture that is pleasing on the palate. Stimulating and well-rounded.”

Lunazul Reposado is bottled at 40 percent alcohol by volume and rested in Bourbon barrels for six months. With a pale amber color, and classic, earthy agave taste, Lunazul Reposado is a value unmatched for aged 100% agave Tequila. The estate grown, distilled and bottled Lunazul is among the finest 100% Agave Tequilas in the category at an affordable price. For over 250 years, the Beckmann family has been crafting some of Mexico’s smoothest tequila. Founded by Francisco Beckmann in 2004, and now under the watchful eye of his son Jorge Beckmann, the Tierra de Agaves estate is home to the oldest dynasty of tequila producers as 8th generation decendents of the Cuervo family. Lunazul 100% Agave Tequila has been one of the leading new Tequila brands in the 100% Agave sub-category, as both a Beverage Information Group “Rising Star” and Impact “Hot Prospect” for volume growth since 2013.

“Lunazul Tequila’s growth is sky rocketing and we are thrilled industry critics can taste the dedication to quality that Tierra de Agaves produces daily,” said Brand Manager MaryCrae Guild. “Lunazul has an authentic heritage and craft that consumers are drawn to as they continue to learn more about the category.”

The Ultimate Spirits Challenge, San Francisco Spirits Competition, and WSWA Spirits Competition are conducted through a blind tasting process. A complete list of the 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge results can be found at https://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ and throughout the year in Beverage Media publications. For more information on the San Francisco Spirits Competition, check out the website at https://sfspiritscomp.com/, as well as the August 2018 issue of the Tasting Panel Magazine. The WSWA Spirits Tasting Competition results can be found at http://www.wswaconvention.org/spirit-tasting-competition-results/, as well as in the July issue of the Tasting Panel Magazine.

About Heaven Hill Brands: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marktaCLM> W~

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Bartender of the Year New York Finalist Draws Flavors from Legacy of Hospitality

Heaven Hill Brands, Liquor.com announce last finalist for 2018 “Bartender of the Year”

Harrison Ginsberg crafts unforgettable experiences as an ode to his grandfather. Announced today as the Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com New York finalist for the 2018 Bartender of the Year Competition, Ginsberg won first place, $1,000 and a trip to the finals at The Lodge on Sea Island, Ga.

“In 1947 Sid Sinetar, my grandfather, opened his first movie theater in Long Beach, Long Island,” said Ginsberg, bartender at The Dead Rabbit New York. “My grandfather didn’t teach me hospitality, he showed me; he taught me humility, patience, respect, but most of all he showed me the personal joy in looking after people and providing them with an unforgettable experience. The Double Feature is an ode to my grandfather and the man that he made me, a testament to the legacy of hospitality.”

Leanne Favre of Brooklyn won second place and $500. Six semifinalists competed regionally in New York on Sunday, April 29 at The Shanty. Bartenders competed in two rounds, first mixing the family-inspired cocktail from their preliminary submission, then creating an original cocktail fit for the menu of the host bar using at least 1.5 ounces of total of Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, or Rittenhouse Rye Whisky. Contestants and judges were then invited to a family dinner at Leuca where Dave Arnold, author of Liquid Intelligence: The Art & Science of the Perfect Cocktail, and Don Lee, designer and educator at Cocktail Kingdom, led a discussion on collaborating with colleagues, the relationship between sugars and acids, and the science of well-balanced cocktails, before the winner was announced.

National Brand Educator for Heaven Hill Brands Lynn House, Partner at Alchemy Consulting and Owner/Bartender of Pouring Ribbons Joaquín Simó, Co-Founder of New York Distilling Company Allen Katz, and Nathan O’Neill, the 2017 Heaven Hill Bartender of the Year winner and Head Bartender at Nomad Bar, judged the semifinalists’ cocktails and chose one finalist based on highest scores. Contestant skills and cocktails were scored on flavor, appearance, presentation, technical skills, use of sponsor brands, and adherence to judges’ guidelines.

More than 1,000 original cocktail recipes were submitted online nationwide beginning September 15, 2017. Preliminary entries required two original cocktail recipes, one rendition of a classic recipe, and one relating to family along with a short description of how the cocktail was inspired by their interpretation of family. The top contestant from each region will go on to vie for the title of Bartender of the Year and $15,000 at The Lodge on Sea Island, Ga. in June 2018. Finalists will be challenged on their full range of skills as hospitality professionals. Judges will be looking for the ultimate bartender who displays the total breadth and aptitude all bartenders aspire to embody.

Grounded in the original Bartender of the Year Competition hosted by Domaine de Canton starting in 2009, Heaven Hill Brands resurrected the competition due to strong demand from bartenders worldwide. Nathan O’Neill from the Nomad Bar in New York City was named Bartender of the Year in 2017, and Abigail Gullo of Compere Lapin in New Orleans won the inaugural competition in 2016. Visit the official competition website at http://www.bartenderoftheyear.liquor.com for complete competition details.

Double Feature – Inspired by the concept of family
Crafted by Harrison Ginsburg

Ingredients:

Rittenhouse Rye (1.5 ounce(s))
Spanish Brandy (.5 ounce(s))
Cold Brew Coffee Syrup 2:1 (.25 ounce(s))
Barolo Chinato (.25 ounce(s))
Walnut Liqueur (6 dash(es))
Absinthe (1 dash(es))
Angostura Bitters (1 dash(es)) Stirred, and strained over cube.
Add all ingredients into a mixing tin/Glass. Stir cocktail 40 rotations until cold and properly diluted. Strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass with block ice. Garnish with a twist of orange. Serve.

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Heaven Hill Distillery Visitor Centers Celebrate Derby with Two Events

Heaven Hill Distillery Visitor Centers are inviting visitors to bet on bourbon and give back this Derby season with two unique events. On April 27, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience will host “Betting On Bourbon” where guests can learn how to pick winners like a professional from President of the Thoroughbred Racing Nation Manny Cadina. For $85, guests will receive a complimentary Mint Julep, dinner, premium Bourbon tastings, an Evan Williams gift bag, and a chance to win an ownership interest in a 2-year-old racehorse with all expenses paid through 2018. Tickets are available at https://reservations.heavenhill.com/Info.aspx?EventID=9. Guests can call (502)585-3923 for more information.

On Friday, May 4, Heaven Hill’s Bourbon Heritage Center in Bardstown will host a “Fifty Shades of Pink” party benefiting Flaget Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Project Hope. For $100 guests will enjoy food, two drink tickets, pink welcome cocktails, and live music from Derby City Jukebox. Local artist Jim Cantrell has also created a special Oaks inspired print available for purchase at the event. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase a very limited edition of Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon.  This special Evan Williams Single Barrel release was bottled at 104 Proof, in recognition of the 144th running of the Kentucky Oaks on May 4.  Guests purchasing this bottle will get to personally dip it in pink wax.  A percentage of bottle sales will be donated to Project Hope’s efforts to stop cancer in its tracks and raise money to expand the Cancer Center and bring 3D mammography to Flaget Memorial Hospital. You can visit http://kentuckyonehealth.org/projecthope for more information about Project Hope. Only event attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a bottle –  with only 250 available. Each guest will also leave with a commemorative Heaven Hill Distillery/Fifty Shades of Pink rocks glass. Guests are encouraged to incorporate pink into their attire for this event. Tickets are available at https://reservations.heavenhill.com/Info.aspx?EventID=8. Guests can call 502)337-1000 for more information.

For more information on each event, please see below.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Betting On Bourbon

When: Friday, April 27, 7 PM – 9:30 PM

Where: Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, 528 W Main St, Louisville, Kentucky 40202

Tickets: $85, https://reservations.heavenhill.com/Info.aspx?EventID=9

Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center Fifty Shades of Pink

When: Friday, May 4, 8 PM – 12 AM

Where: Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center, 1311 Gilkey Run Rd, Bardstown, KY 40004

Tickets: $100, https://reservations.heavenhill.com/Info.aspx?EventID=8

Media Contact: Lauren Cherry, lcherry@heavenhill.com

 

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Evan Williams Bourbon Joins Home Team as Sponsor of Louisville Bats

Heaven Hill Distillery’s Evan Williams Bourbon, the second-largest selling Bourbon in the world, is partnering with the Louisville Bats as a 2018-2019 Official Team Sponsor. As a Kentucky-owned brand, Evan Williams is joining the Bats to create new fan experiences for a homerun year at Louisville Slugger Field, including a special “Cheers to Bourbon Night.”

As the Official Bourbon of the Louisville Bats, Evan Williams will be featured in-stadium back bars, along with a feature concession stand at each home game. Fans will also find Evan Williams throughout the stadium with special activations, video board signage and drink specials. The sponsorship will be supported through regional online and broadcast media, including features in game week newsletters, game-day program ads, social media, and online at www.batsbaseball.com.

On May 26, the Bats will change their official team name, logo and jerseys for the night to play as the Louisville Mashers. As Official Sponsor of this special game night, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau will throw the first pitch and 1,000 Evan Williams Bourbon and Bats co-branded Bourbon glasses will be given away to fans 21 and older. A Bourbon tasting area will be set up for fans to sample Heaven Hill Distillery products, as well as interact with Bourbon trivia throughout the night on the video board. For more information regarding the Bourbon Appreciation Night, including a competition for a Bourbon and Bats giveaway prize, fans can visit www.louisvillemashers.com. Louisville Mashers jerseys will be auctioned off beginning May 30 with proceeds benefitting the Kentucky chapter of the ALS Association.

“We’re excited to join the home team and sponsor the Louisville Bats this season, bringing together America’s favorite past time and native spirit,” said Filiatreau. “Whether your team rocks or team neat, Evan Williams has a Bourbon done right for everyone.”

Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon is the #2-selling Bourbon in the world. The brand is among the leaders in the rapidly growing American Whiskey segment. For the past five years, Evan Williams has been recognized by Beverage Information Group and Impact for sales growth. Evan Williams is a proud sponsor of Major League Baseball and the World Series. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams, Kentucky’s first commercial distiller, through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit as an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

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Bartender of the Year Chicago Finalist Draws Flavors from Middle Eastern Heritage

Mony Bunni blends flavors from her Middle Eastern heritage to craft a masterful cocktail. Announced today as the Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com Chicago finalist for the 2018 Bartender of the Year Competition, Bunni won first place, $1,000 and a trip to the finals at The Lodge on Sea Island, Ga.

“My parents are both first generation Arab-Americans and I grew up surrounded by Middle Eastern flavors, and try to incorporate them into my cocktails whenever I can,” said Bunni, bartender at Prairie School. “Ras el Hanout is a spice blend from Northern Africa that typically includes cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, clove, fenugreek, coriander, and ginger. The deep savoriness of the Ras el Hanout, mixes beautifully with the caraway notes of the Rittenhouse, the raisin notes of the Sherry, and the thyme and sarsaparilla notes in the amaro.”

Ryan Arvin of Detroit won second place and $500. Six semifinalists competed regionally in Chicago on Sunday, April 15 at Sportsman’s Club. Bartenders competed in two rounds, first mixing the family-inspired cocktail from their preliminary submission, then creating an original cocktail fit for the menu of the host bar using at least 1.5 ounces of total of Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, or Rittenhouse Rye Whisky. Contestants and judges were then invited to a family dinner at Parachute where Dave Arnold, author of Liquid Intelligence: The Art & Science of the Perfect Cocktail, led a discussion on the relationship between sugars and acids, and how to create well-balanced cocktails, before the winner was announced.

National Brand Educator for Heaven Hill Brands Lynn House, Partner at Alchemy Consulting and Owner/Bartender of Pouring Ribbons Joaquín Simó, and Beverage Director of the Ace Hotel Chicago Caitlin Laman judged the semifinalists’ cocktails and chose one finalist based on highest scores. Contestant skills and cocktails were scored on flavor, appearance, presentation, technical skills, use of sponsor brands, and adherence to judges’ guidelines.

More than 1,000 original cocktail recipes were submitted online nationwide beginning September 15, 2017. Preliminary entries required two original cocktail recipes, one rendition of a classic recipe, and one relating to family along with a short description of how the cocktail was inspired by their interpretation of family. The top contestant from each region will go on to vie for the title of Bartender of the Year and $15,000 at The Lodge on Sea Island, Ga. in June 2018. Finalists will be challenged on their full range of skills as hospitality professionals. Judges will be looking for the ultimate bartender who displays the total breadth and aptitude all bartenders aspire to embody.

Grounded in the original Bartender of the Year Competition hosted by Domaine de Canton starting in 2009, Heaven Hill Brands resurrected the competition due to strong demand from bartenders worldwide. Nathan O’Neill from the Nomad Bar in New York City was named Bartender of the Year in 2017, and Abigail Gullo of Compere Lapin in New Orleans won the inaugural competition in 2016. Visit the official competition website at http://www.bartenderoftheyear.liquor.com for complete competition details.

Elective Amnesia – Inspired by the concept of family
Crafted by Mony Bunni

Ingredients:

Rittenhouse Rye (1.5 ounce(s))
Lustau PX Sherry (1 ounce(s))
Brovo Amaro #14 (.5 ounce(s))
Ras el Hanout Bitters (3 dash(es))
Stirred, and strained over cube.

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Bartender of the Year Charleston Finalist Draws Inspiration from Childhood Memories

Heaven Hill Brands, Liquor.com announce sixth of eight finalists for 2018 “Bartender of the Year”

BARDSTOWN, KY – Arthur Boothe’s citrus-enthused winning cocktail blends family ties from central Florida. Announced today as the Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com Charleston finalist for the 2018 Bartender of the Year Competition, Boothe won first place, $1,000 and a trip to the finals at The Lodge on Sea Island, Ga.

“What this cocktail aims to do is tie together two very vivid memories from my youth; the ever present citrus, and the family vacations we would take every summer up the Florida coast,” said Boothe, Co-Conspirator at Bitters & Brass in Sanford, Fla. “When I drink this cocktail the combination of citrus and exotic juices, ginger from the Domaine de Canton, the heat and subtle oak notes of the 100 proof Rittenhouse, blended with Donn Beach’s special mixture of Angostura and Herbsaint echo the flavors and smells that transfer me back to the summers of my youth with my family, in a world that seems so much further away than the one my children are growing up in – even though it’s only right down the road.”

Ryan Smith of Macon, Ga. won second place and $500. Four semifinalists competed regionally in Charleston on Monday, April 9 at Proof. Bartenders competed in two rounds, first mixing the family-inspired cocktail from their preliminary submission, then creating an original cocktail fit for the menu of the host bar using at least 1.5 ounces of total of Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, or Rittenhouse Rye Whisky. Contestants and judges were then invited to a family dinner at McCrady’s where Dave Arnold, author of Liquid Intelligence: The Art & Science of the Perfect Cocktail, led a discussion on the relationship between sugars and acids, and how to create well-balanced cocktails, before the winner was announced.

National Brand Educator for Heaven Hill Brands Lynn House, Partner at Alchemy Consulting and Owner/Bartender of Pouring Ribbons Joaquín Simó, and Owner-Operator of Proof Craig Nelson judged the semifinalists’ cocktails and chose one finalist based on highest scores. Contestant skills and cocktails were scored on flavor, appearance, presentation, technical skills, use of sponsor brands, and adherence to judges’ guidelines.

More than 1,000 original cocktail recipes were submitted online nationwide beginning September 15, 2017. Preliminary entries required two original cocktail recipes, one rendition of a classic recipe, and one relating to family along with a short description of how the cocktail was inspired by their interpretation of family. The top contestant from each region will go on to vie for the title of Bartender of the Year and $15,000 at The Lodge on Sea Island, Ga. in June 2018. Finalists will be challenged on their full range of skills as hospitality professionals. Judges will be looking for the ultimate bartender who displays the total breadth and aptitude all bartenders aspire to embody.

Grounded in the original Bartender of the Year Competition hosted by Domaine de Canton starting in 2009, Heaven Hill Brands resurrected the competition due to strong demand from bartenders worldwide. Nathan O’Neill from the Nomad Bar in New York City was named Bartender of the Year in 2017, and Abigail Gullo of Compere Lapin in New Orleans won the inaugural competition in 2016. Visit the official competition website at http://www.bartenderoftheyear.liquor.com for complete competition details.

Down South Cooler – Inspired by the concept of family
Crafted by Arthur Boothe

Ingredients:

Rittenhouse Rye (1.5 ounce(s))
Domaine De Canton (.5 ounce(s))
Lustau fino sherry (.5 ounce(s))
white grapefruit juice (.25 ounce(s))
Passion fruit syrup (.5 ounce(s))
lemon (.5 ounce(s))
Peychauds bitters (3 dash(es))

Pour ingredients into shaker and fill shaker with 12 ounces of crushed ice. Shake contents for 5 seconds, then pour with seasoned ice into Pearl Diver Glass, topping off with crushed ice. Sprinkle curry powder across the top, and garnish with orchids and a paper straw.

About Heaven Hill Brands: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila and Carolan’s Irish Cream Liqueur.

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CONTACT:

Lauren Cherry
Heaven Hill Brands
(502) 413-0217
lcherry@heavenhill.com

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