Category: Announcements

BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com announced today the champion of the 2019 Bartender of the Year competition. After a nationwide search to find the top bartenders across America, Justin Ware, General Manager and Bartender at Johnny’s Gold Brick in Houston, as well as three-time Bartender of the Year semifinalist, is the 2019 Bartender of the Year and the recipient of $15,000. 

“Cocktail competitions have always been about networking and making connections for me. The Heaven Hill Bartender of the Year competition is wildly more relaxing and celebrates us bartenders through development and community. After three years of competing in this competition, this was the first year that I truly told the story of who I am day in and day out behind the bar, rather than what I thought others wanted me to be,” said Ware. “My bar concept was centered around diversity, education and community, which I saw throughout the week in this competition. Everyone wins at this stage, we now all have seats at the bar across the country, and making these connections through joining the Heaven Hill family and this family of bartenders is a big point in becoming more well-rounded as an industry professional.” 

Set in the scenic mountains of Highlands, North Carolina, the week began as the eight finalists descended upon Half Mile Farm for a week of learning and development, community-building, relaxation, and the opportunity to win a major achievement and recognition. A highlight of the week included a Master Distiller panel before dinner Tuesday night with Heaven Hill Distillery Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll and Tierra de Agaves Master Distiller Francisco Quijano, moderated by Seth Debolt, Director of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits at the University of Kentucky. Down time throughout the week included dock fishing, hiking, paddle boarding, canoeing and bocce. 

The final day was composed of a three part “beverage program” challenge, followed by a surprise classic cocktail round. Competitors had 30 minutes to present a new bar concept with three cocktails representative of a well-rounded menu, with clear vision for the bar. All cocktails needed to fit together in terms of service style and concept, but also represent three different types of drinks, each of which highlights and showcases Heaven Hill’s breadth of portfolio. Scoring was based on use and understanding of Heaven Hill brands, deliciousness and appeal of drinks, coherence and viability of menu concept, functionally and economically, as well as presentation, technical skills, and demeanor. After presenting their bar concept, each contestant was then asked to create a classic cocktail in under three minutes to also show their skill on the fly. 

International Anthem 
Simple Serve by Justin Ware 

2 oz Domain De canton
5 oz House Soda
Ice: Spear 

Method: Chill glass in freezer overnight, chill Domaine de Canton overnight, chill soda in ice cold water 1 hour before serving. Pour cold Domaine de Canton in 14 oz. Collins Glass, top with soda, and garnish with lime zest and grapefruit. 

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, as well as Dubonnet Rouge Aperitif, Sacred Bond Brandy, or Lunazul Tequila were submitted online nationwide beginning September 15, 2018. 48 semifinalists then competed in Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Austin, Chicago, Denver, New York, and San Francisco from January 2019 through end of April 2019. The top contestant from each region moved on to vie for the title of Bartender of the Year and $15,000. 

“Each year we continue to see top industry professionals raise the bar on innovation and creativity through the Bartender of the Year competition,” said Hannah Venhoff, Senior Brand Manager, Heaven Hill Brands. “After an amazing week in a beautiful setting, we are thrilled to welcome each of the finalists to the Heaven Hill family as representatives of their craft. Congratulations to Justin Ware whose persistence and passion shone through this week and throughout the competition.” 

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 Harrison Ginsberg 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. 

Ware now joins the ranks of esteemed past winners: Harrison Ginsberg from Crown Shy in New York City was named Bartender of the Year in 2017, Nathan O’Neill from the Nomad Bar was named Bartender of the Year in 2017, and Abigail Gullo of Ben Paris in Seattle 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 2019 Bartender of the Year Finals: 

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

Heaven Hill Brands, Liquor.com announce last finalist for 2019 “Bartender of the Year” 

BARDSTOWN, KY – Alison Kwan, Bartender at True Laurel in San Francisco, announced as the Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com San Francisco finalist for the 2019 Bartender of the Year Competition. Kwan won first place, $1,000 and a trip to the finals at Half Mile Farm in Highlands, North Carolina. 

 In the second round of the semifinal competition, contestants created the inspired cocktail submitted as a recipe in the preliminary round. Kwan crafted the “New Libations,” inspired by talented women within the industry (see recipe at end of release). 

“I chose to do a take on the Gin–Gin Mule, arguably one of Audrey Saunders’ most signature cocktails. Also known as the ‘Libation Goddess,’ Saunders was the first person to put Rittenhouse Rye on a cocktail menu in NYC. She fought to get this product because she really believed in it as not only a quality product, but also as a piece of American cocktail history. She was the impetus for much of the modern cocktail renaissance,” said Kwan. “I’ve substituted the gin for Rittenhouse Rye, the ginger beer for Domaine de Canton and fresh Granny Smith apple juice (a natural pairing for spicy rye), the lime for lemon, and the mint for aromatic California bay laurel syrup. Audrey’s recipe is timeless, and so is her inspiration to me. It is my dream to continue the legacy of talented female bartenders, to further their cause, and to inspire and empower the women bartenders of tomorrow, just like Audrey has done for me.” 

Thi Nguyen of The Saap Avenue in Oakland, Calif., won second place and $500. Six semifinalists competed regionally in San Francisco on Monday, April 15 at Bon Voyage!. Bartenders competed in three rounds, the first two featuring the classic cocktail and inspired cocktail from their preliminary submission. For the final round, bartenders created a custom drink for a fictional bar menu using a minimum of 1.5 ounces of at least one Heaven Hill brand not previously featured in one of their cocktails including Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, as well as Dubonnet Rouge Aperitif, Sacred Bond Brandy, or Lunazul Tequila. Contestants and judges were then invited to a family dinner at The Workshop at The Progress and professional development with Kevin Diedrich, Owner of Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco. Diedrich created a cocktail utilizing Heaven Hill products and spoke to his inspiration behind it, as well as the path to opening his own bar and the challenges along the way. 

 National Brand Educator for Heaven Hill Brands Lynn House, Bar Manager of Clyde Common & Pépé Le Moko Jeffrey Morgenthaler, and Diedrich 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 1,100 original cocktail recipes were submitted online nationwide beginning September 15, 2018. Preliminary entries required two original cocktail recipes, one rendition of a classic recipe, and one relating to an inspiration, along with a short description of how the cocktail represents a deep inspiration to their life. The top contestant from each region will go on to vie for the title of Bartender of the Year and $15,000 at Half Mile Farm in Highlands, North Carolina from June 17-20, 2019. 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. Harrison Ginsberg of The Dead Rabbit in New York City was the 2018 Bartender of the Year and will return as a guest judge for the finals. Ginsberg joined an impressive rank of past champions, including Nathan O’Neill from the Nomad Bar in New York City who was named Bartender of the Year in 2017, and Abigail Gullo formerly of Compere Lapin in New Orleans who won the inaugural competition in 2016. Visit the official competition website at www.bartenderoftheyear.liquor.com for complete competition details.  

New Libations  Crafted by Alison Kwan 

Ingredients:

• Rittenhouse Rye (1.5 ounce(s)) 
• Domaine de Canton Liqueur (.75 ounce(s)) 
• Fresh Granny Smith Apple Juice (2.0 ounce(s)) 
• Meyer Lemon Juice (.25 ounce(s)) 
• Bay Laurel Syrup  (.25 ounce(s)) 

 Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker. Shake and double strain into ice-filled Collins glass. Garnish with Granny Smith apple fan on skewer. 

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Lunazul Tequila today launched a new marketing campaign titled “Feed the Wolf.” The fastest-growing 100% agave Tequila will utilize the new positioning to showcase raw, authentic experiences and the independent spirit that embodies the Mexican Wolf.

The new campaign conveys the desire for passion and quality that consumers have come to seek from Lunazul. Campaign materials showcase people with a hunger for life, celebrating their aspirations and feeding off the energy of their own pack. Drawing from the spirit of the wolf, the campaign encourages Lunazul consumers to explore the best of what life has to offer and ignite that drive within others. The Feed the Wolf campaign is brought to life across all programming platforms including an updated website at www.lunazultequila.com, social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, digital videos, and point of sale materials. The new Lunazul digital videos will run across social media and can also be viewed here.

“Lunazul has ignited the Tequila category since it launched in 2008 and we are excited to see that energy continue to build as consumers ‘Feed the Wolf,’” said Lunazul Brand Manager MaryCrae Guild. “Backed by the unique heritage, production process and commitment to quality, Lunazul is a standout among the category. We are going back to the roots of where Lunazul started as an homage to the land, distiller and passion that brought this brand to life.”

As 8^th generation descendants of the Cuervo family, the Beckmann family has a desire to create the highest-quality Tequila from using only the best ingredients and classic techniques. Born between the foothills of the Tequila Volcano and the deep valley of the Rio Grande River in Jalisco, Mexico, the Tierra de Agaves estate, where Lunazul is crafted, is home to the oldest dynasty of tequila producers. It is on this land that a symbiotic relationship between the Mexican Wolf and Lunazul Tequila became important. As protectors of the ecosystem in which the blue weber agave is grown, the wolf packs secure the future of the rich soil.

Since announcing the joint venture between Heaven Hill and Tierra de Agaves, Lunazul Tequila has enjoyed tremendous growth and notoriety. In 2018, Lunazul Blanco was awarded the Chairman’s Trophy in the Blanco category of the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, scoring 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.  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. 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 Brand” for volume growth since 2013.

Lunazul Tequilas (SRP $19.99-29.99) are available in five varieties, Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, Primero and El Humoso.  Blanco and Reposado are available in 1.75 liter, 1.0 liter, 1.0 bar liter, 750 ml and 50 ml sizes, while the Añejo, Primero, and El Humoso are available in the 750ml size only.  All are bottled at 40% alcohol by volume.

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

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

Heaven Hill Distillery announced today plans for a renovation, expansion and rebrand of the current Bourbon Heritage Center—Heaven Hill’s visitor experience in Bardstown, Ky. since 2004. The new visitor center renovation and expansion, part of a multi-year $65 million investment plan to expand production capacity in Bardstown, cements Heaven Hill’s commitment to Kentucky’s signature industry through growth and expansion in many areas—from distillation and warehousing, to manufacturing and tourism. Expansion details were announced in partnership with Solid Light, Abel Construction and Kentucky Tourism officials.

With an investment of $17.5 million and an enlarged footprint, the new visitor center in Bardstown will focus on the story of Heaven Hill Distillery since its inception in 1935, the Shapira Family, and iconic brands within the portfolio. Visitors will experience a multi-sensory showcase of the stories behind the evolution of Kentucky Bourbon, rooted in key periods in America’s history. From influential names like Elijah Craig and John E. Fitzgerald, to the barrel rollers and distillery workers, the history will be brought to life through one-of-a-kind exhibits and tours.

Unique to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the visitor center will offer a multitude of signature experiences:The Heaven Hill Distillery American Whiskey portfolio will be on full display through the widest variety of whiskey tastings and educational seminars on the market.

-Interactive, educational spaces dedicated to Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Larceny Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, two brands with unique histories that played an integral role shaping Kentucky Bourbon.

-A “You Do Bourbon” immersive space, where guests will be able to participate in hands-on laboratory learning experiences and bottle their own Bourbon.

-A new rooftop bar will feature cocktails and Bourbon tastings, which visitors can enjoy overlooking Heaven Hill rickhouses.

-An enhanced retail space will offer branded merchandise, specialty food products, locally-crafted gifts, and several of Heaven Hill’s premium Bourbons and American Whiskeys.

“At Heaven Hill Distillery we are committed to the growth of Kentucky Bourbon and invite fans to experience, taste and learn from storied brands across our award-winning portfolio,” said Heaven Hill President Max Shapira. “By honoring historic figures and recognizing the people who are the fabric of this industry, nurturing the dream held by my father and his brothers more than 80 years ago, and educating consumers to enjoy Bourbon into the next generation, Heaven Hill is able to bring history to life in an exciting, modern way relevant to today’s consumer.”

In addition to the visitor center expansion, Heaven Hill will also be adding production capacity with new barrel warehousing, bottling line and equipment upgrades, and increased holdings of aging Bourbon Whiskey, amounting to a total of $47.5 million. Since 2010, Heaven Hill has invested over $100 million into the future of Kentucky Bourbon primarily through distillery expansion, warehouse construction, and tourism.

This newest visitor center expansion will play a vital role in expanding tourism, not only in Bardstown, but across the Kentucky Bourbon Trail through Heaven Hill’s two historically driven stops. When it opened in 2004, the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center was one of the first visitor centers on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and has played an instrumental role in establishing Kentucky as a top tourist destination. The Bourbon Heritage Center is a multiple past winner of Whisky Magazine’s “Visitor Attraction of the Year” award at the magazine’s annual “Icons of Whisky” Awards and is consistently ranked as one of the top tours in the Bardstown area, drawing 60,000 visitors per year. In Louisville, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is dedicated to the story of Kentucky’s First Distiller and the world’s 2nd largest Bourbon brand, Evan Williams. Hosting 100,000 visitors annually, it was the first distillery back on Whiskey Row in Downtown Louisville.

“Our shared commitment to excellence and passion for our home state of Kentucky and Bourbon make working with the Shapira family on the Heaven Hill Distillery Visitor Center an incredible opportunity to convey the history and craft of Bourbon with visitors,” said Solid Light Owner/President Cynthia Torp. “When it opens, guests will have a truly comprehensive and immersive experience that tells the Heaven Hill story, the stories of Elijah Craig and Larceny, and immerses them both in the history of the not only Kentucky bourbon, but the larger history of Bourbon in America.”

Contingent upon receiving tourism incentives, Heaven Hill Distillery’s expanded Bardstown visitor center will generate a significant amount of state and local tax revenue, as well as creating over 20 new full time and part time positions.