A significant chapter in Westerville’s history revolves around the Whiskey Wars that transpired from 1875 to 1879. This conflict arose when Henry Corbin opened a saloon in a town that prided itself on being dry. The local population was staunchly against saloons, associating them with crime and moral decay. People resorted to protests, resorting to acts of vandalism, including throwing rocks and even blowing up Corbin’s saloon.

Despite attempts to restore the saloon, the community’s resistance culminated in its destruction, marking the end of the Whiskey Wars. As Westerville gained notoriety for its anti-alcohol sentiment, it became a central player in the Anti-Saloon League and the Prohibition movement, maintaining a dry status until 2006.

Today, the landscape of Westerville has transformed dramatically. Following the repeal of Prohibition and the legalization of alcohol sales, the once-quiet town evolved into a vibrant dining and entertainment destination. The Anti-Saloon League’s former headquarters now houses a museum that chronicles its influential history.

With the opening of breweries like Temperance Row Brewing Company in 2014 and High Bank Distillery, which features a speakeasy as a nod to the past, Westerville has embraced its transformation fully. The distillery even produces a flagship whiskey called Whiskey War, celebrating the town’s tumultuous history.

Local establishments are now thriving, with alcohol sales significantly boosting the economy, contrasting starkly with the town’s earlier identity as the "Dry Capital of the World." The resurgence of bars and breweries has revitalized the community, bringing new life and income opportunities, shaping Westerville into a modern hub of culture and entertainment.

Weber Ranch 1902 Vodka has launched "Tex," an AI-driven mobile mixologist that utilizes OpenAI technology to assist consumers in crafting their cocktails. This innovative tool, accessible through SMS or online chat, is designed to recommend, guide, and personalize drink recipes to enhance the home cocktail-making experience.

Consumers can interact with Tex by texting #AskTex to 1-940-400-1902 or visiting the Weber Ranch Vodka website. The AI’s responses are unscripted, ensuring unique phrasing each time. This initiative reflects the vodka brand’s ambition to evolve with the growing influence of AI in the search landscape and consumer engagement.

Lee Applbaum, President and CEO of Round 2 Spirits, which created Weber Ranch Vodka, noted that “AI is replacing search; it’s the way that people access and consume information today, and Tex delivers on that in an entertaining way.” Looking ahead, the team envisions Tex not only recommending recipes but also ordering ingredients for delivery and making reservations to enjoy cocktails at nearby establishments.

Tex showcases the versatility of Weber Ranch Vodka by utilizing recipes developed by bartenders nationwide. For practical use, consumers can take a photo of available ingredients in their pantry or refrigerator, send it to Tex, and receive cocktail suggestions tailored to what they have on hand. Additionally, Tex can assist customers in finding local bars or stores, answering batching recipe inquiries, planning cocktail menus for events, personalizing cocktail names, and suggesting alternative ingredients.

Powered primarily by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, over 70% of Tex’s logic derives from this technology, enhancing both conversation and application functionality. As user interactions increase, Tex will continue to improve and adapt, ensuring its development is a continual process. The AI mixologist was developed in collaboration with Cyphr, a digital-first experience and venture studio.

Weber Ranch Vodka, introduced in 2024, is exclusively made from agave, a trending ingredient in the spirits market. Despite recent stagnation within the category, vodka remains a leading performer, and Weber Ranch Vodka is backed by the same team responsible for establishing Patrón Tequila as a global brand.

For more information, you can visit the official Weber Ranch Vodka press release.

Weber Ranch Vodka has introduced an innovative AI chatbot named "Tex," designed to assist cocktail enthusiasts in crafting drinks from the comfort of their homes. The chatbot engages users via text and aims to simplify the mixology process while still offering sophisticated recipe recommendations.

Lee Applbaum, the president and COO of Round 2 Spirits—Weber Ranch’s parent company—explained that Tex was created to bridge the gap between enjoying curated cocktails at bars and replicating those experiences at home. He noted the challenge many face in recreating the complex cocktails they enjoy when dining out.

Tex operates primarily through SMS, allowing users to send a text to #AskTex at 1-940-400-1902. The chatbot is powered by a blend of ChatGPT’s advanced language processing capabilities and Weber Ranch’s internal recipes. When users query about cocktail possibilities or share photos of available ingredients, Tex provides tailored suggestions. For example, even with a sparse refrigerator inventory, Tex suggested a cocktail mixing Weber Ranch vodka with red wine.

Maintaining a light-hearted, conversational tone, complete with a Texan drawl, Tex emphasizes safety and responsibility, redirecting inappropriate questions to appropriate mixology topics. Applbaum clarified that the chatbot serves as a supportive tool for home mixology rather than as a replacement for professional bartenders.

Weber Ranch Vodka was launched in May 2024 by experienced professionals from the Patrón Tequila team. The brand has positioned itself competitively within the vodka market, which generated significant revenue of $7.2 billion in 2024, compared to tequila and mezcal’s combined total of $6.7 billion. This product leverages the growing interest in agave-based spirits, appealing to consumers looking for unique flavor experiences.

Although Applbaum refrained from disclosing specific growth metrics, he confirmed that Weber Ranch Vodka is currently available in 46 states, focusing on expanding its presence in bars and retail locations to drive further growth.

This weekend in Denver, the Savannah Bananas, a unique professional baseball team often likened to the Harlem Globetrotters for their entertaining style, will entertain fans at Coors Field. The sold-out weekend games have created excitement throughout the city, prompting local bars and restaurants to offer banana-themed drinks and desserts to celebrate.

Several establishments are getting into the spirit of the occasion:

• Ambler (1801 Wewatta St.): Enjoy the Chunky Monkey cocktail, made from rum, crème de banane, crème de cacao, and homemade banana milk for $10, or a non-alcoholic Banana Slam for $5.

• The Corner Office (1401 Curtis St.): Indulge in a decadent Bananas Foster with beignets for $13.

• Cornicello (1800 Wazee St.): This ice cream spot will offer frozen chocolate-covered bananas for $6 each.

• Deviation Distilling (1821 Blake St.): Try their cocktails, including the Banana Stand featuring gin and caramelized banana syrup for $14.

• McGregor Square (1901 Wazee St.): At Milepost Zero, experience the Banana Stand drink with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, priced at $18 with a souvenir cup. The Original offers a creamy Banana Hammock martini for $13.

• The Nickel (1100 14th St.): Their special is Banana Caramel Challah French Toast for $16.

• Poka Lola Social Club (1850 Wazee St.): Their Hollaback Girl cocktail is a highlight at $16, while Kachina Cantina has a dessert taco filled with bananas Foster ice cream for $10.

• Rioja (1431 Larimer St.): They will serve a Bear Necessities cocktail, featuring banana-infused Scotch for $15.

• Ultreia (1701 Wynkoop St.): Enjoy the slightly bizarre Banana Entremet dessert for $5.

Additionally, Wynkoop Brewing (1634 18th St.) is celebrating with buy-one-get-one on beers featuring banana flavors, including Wixa Weiss and This Bxxr is Bananas.

The citywide celebration will continue over the weekend as the Savannah Bananas entertain baseball fans, ensuring that attendees can indulge in creative and fun banana offerings from local bars and restaurants.

Weber Ranch 1902 Vodka recently launched “Tex,” an innovative artificial intelligence mixologist aimed at enhancing the cocktail-making experience for consumers. This unique tool leverages AI to assist users through SMS or online chat, providing personalized cocktail recipes and pairings based on their preferences and available ingredients.

Tex, designed as a friendly Texan character, utilizes advanced OpenAI technology to offer guidance and inspiration for crafting cocktails. Users can simply text #AskTex to 1-940-400-1902 or access Tex through the Weber Ranch Vodka website. This tool stands out by integrating creativity with AI technology, tapping into a wealth of knowledge from industry professionals to recommend drink recipes tailored to individual tastes and circumstances.

One of Tex’s standout features is its ability to provide instant cocktail suggestions based on items users have at home. By sending a photo of their refrigerator or pantry, consumers can receive customized drink ideas. Additionally, Tex can help with organizing cocktail menus for events, suggesting alternative ingredients, and even facilitating delivery of cocktail supplies or booking reservations at local bars.

According to Lee Applbaum, President and CEO of Round 2 Spirits, the parent company of Weber Ranch Vodka, this AI approach goes beyond traditional automated customer service. Tex aims to enrich customer engagement while respecting the craft of professional mixologists. The functionality of Tex will evolve over time as user interactions refine its suggestions and enhance its decision-making capabilities.

This initiative reflects Weber Ranch Vodka’s commitment to innovation in marketing and customer relations. The brand distinguishes itself in the vodka market by being distilled from 100% Blue Weber Agave, setting a precedent for quality and unique flavor profiles.

For more information about Tex and Weber Ranch Vodka, visit their official website.

High Noon Beverage is recalling certain packs of its vodka seltzer after some cans were incorrectly labeled as Celsius energy drinks, potentially leading to unintentional alcohol consumption. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that two lots of the High Noon Beach Variety 12-packs contained cans labeled as "CELSIUS® ASTRO VIBE™ Energy Drink, Sparkling Blue Razz Edition," but they were still filled with the alcoholic seltzer.

The affected cans can be identified by their silver lids, a distinction from the standard black lids used for Celsius drinks. These packs were distributed to several states including Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Retailers in these states were also sent the products, excluding Michigan and Oklahoma.

The recalled packs carry a retail UPC of 085000040065 along with specific lot codes, including L CCC 17JL25 and L CCC 18JL25. Consumers are urged to dispose of these cans without consuming the contents and can contact High Noon for refund information.

The recall was triggered after High Noon discovered that a shared packaging supplier had mistakenly shipped empty Celsius cans to them. So far, there have been no reported illnesses or adverse events related to this issue.

For further details, you can refer to the FDA’s official announcement here.