America’s second-largest Bourbon brand offered as a better choice then Candian Whisky for campaign photo ops
BARDSTOWN, KY–Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., makers of Evan Williams Bourbon, today sent a bottle to each presidential candidate to prevent a repeat of “Crown Royal-gate”.
The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article on Bourbon, including a tasting which named Evan Williams “Best of Tasting and Best Value”. In it, the columnist opined that Senator Clinton “made the mistake of drinking…a Canadian import” and that “such a faux pas would never do in Kentucky, site of one of the few remaining presidential primaries.” In an attempt to preempt such a heretical occurrence in the Commonwealth, Craig Beam, 7th generation Master Distiller at Heaven Hill, took it upon himself to autograph and send a bottle of Evan Williams, accompanied by a letter from Heaven Hill President Max L. Shapira, to each candidate.
With the Kentucky primary approaching on May 20th, Beam couldn’t bear the thought of any whiskey other than Kentucky Bourbon appearing on the Bluegrass campaign trail. “Since it just won the Journal’s tasting competition, I thought we should send each candidate a bottle of Evan Williams so they could familiarize themselves with what to drink when they’re here for the primaries and general election,” he reasoned. “After all, bourbon was declared America’s native spirit by a 1964 act of Congress, and my ancestors, and probably Evan Williams himself, would roll over in their graves if a bottle of Canadian Whisky gets top billing here in Kentucky.”
Evan Williams is the nation’s second-largest selling Bourbon brand and is named after Kentucky’s first distiller. Evan Williams was also a councilman in Louisville in the late 18th century, who was routinely censured for bringing a jug of his wares to council meetings (but who reportedly always left with an empty jug).
Text for the letters is available here.
Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heaven-hill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second largest holders of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Whaler’s Rum; Burnett’s Gin and Vodkas; Dubonnet Aperitif; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; and Água Luca Brazilian Rum Cachaça.
Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”
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CONTACT:
Larry Kass
Director of Corporate Communications
Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.
(502) 413-0220
lkass@heaven-hill.com