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After Finn’s drunken night landed him with a restraining order against his daughter on General Hospital, the doctor made his choice between Violet and a bottle of vodka on the June 25, 2024 episode.

Diane (Carolyn Hennesy) arrived at Finn’s (Michael Easton) bearing paperwork that explained not only Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) temporary custody of Violet (Jophielle Love, who recently made a new career move), but the restraining order that was granted. Finn fought the lawyer on her actions before calling his own, and when Scott (Kin Shriner) arrived, things only got worse.

When Scott questioned what happened to make Chase do this, Finn claimed the documented events were exaggerated, but Scott saw right through him. “I can’t fix this legally… you have to fix yourself,” Scott told him, even turning down Finn’s offer to let him keep any money they’d receive from the case.

Feeling like everyone had turned against him, Finn sat hugging one of Violet’s stuffed animals before placing a delivery order for a handle of vodka. “Actually, make it two.”

When his order came, he immediately opened the bottle and was about to take a sip when he looked back down at the restraining order on the table. With a shaky hand inching the bottle to his lips, he suddenly threw the bottle against the wall. The glass bottle shattered while vodka splattered all over the colorful piece of artwork that hangs in his hallway.

Now that Finn clearly chose Violet, a teaser for June 26 showed him finally confronting Chase about the situation. Do you think Finn will get the help he needs to get his daughter back? Let us know in the comments.

The post Finn Chose Between Violet And Vodka On The June 25 General Hospital appeared first on Soap Hub

EDMONTON, AB / ACCESSWIRE / June 25, 2024 / Rocky Mountain Liquor Inc. (TSX-V:RUM) (the “Company” or “Rocky Mountain”), listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “Exchange”), today announced the shareholder voting results of its 2024 Annual General Meeting held June 25, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Shareholders voted and approved to set the number of directors at six (6).

The following individuals were nominated and received the requisite majority of votes, becoming directors of the Company for the forthcoming year:

01.

Peter J. Byrne

02.

David Delaney

03.

Chris Queitsch

04.

Allison Radford

05.

Courtney Burton

06.

Gene Coleman

Shareholders voted and approved to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Accountants as Auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizes the directors to fix their remuneration.

The Company also announces the repayment of its bank loan with Toronto Dominion Bank (“TD”). Originally structured at $2,650,000, the loan was amortized over 36 months with monthly payments of interest and principal scheduled until August 30, 2025. As of June 21, 2024, the Company has settled the outstanding principal balance amounting to $731,809. The Company maintains an ongoing credit agreement with TD, encompassing a demand operating facility with a maximum availability of up to $5,400,000.

About Rocky Mountain

Rocky Mountain is a public company whose shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V:RUM). Rocky Mountain is the parent to a wholly owned subsidiary, Andersons Liquor Inc. headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, which owns and operates 24 private liquor stores in that province.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “appear”, “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “approximate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “predict”, “potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe”, “would” and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as investment decisions. In particular, results achieved in 2022 and previous periods might not be a certain indication of future performance, which is subject to other risks, including but not limited to changes in operational policies, changes in management, changes in strategic focus, market conditions and customer preferences, the impact from COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and third party suppliers. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, the risks that these events may not materialize as well as those additional factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in RUM’s Management Discussion and Analysis, which can be obtained at www.sedarplus.com. If they do materialize, there remains a risk of non-execution for any reason. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release.

The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the TSX-V. This cautionary statement expressly qualifies the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information:

Allison Radford

Peter Byrne

President & CFO

Executive Chairman & CEO

(780) 483-8183

(780) 686-7383

SOURCE: Rocky Mountain Liquor Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com

GVSU Athletics announced Monday that it has partnered with Grand Rapids-based Long Road Distillers to create Lake + Valley Lemonade. GVSU Athletics

ALLENDALE, MI – Grand Valley State now has its own cocktail.

GVSU Athletics announced Monday that it has partnered with Grand Rapids-based Long Road Distillers to create Lake + Valley Lemonade, a ready-to-drink cocktail. Long Road was founded by GVSU alumni Jon O’Connor and Kyle Van Strien in 2015.

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It’s funny to think that Russell’s Reserve, master distiller Eddie Russell’s offshoot of Wild Turkey, started off to commemorate the retirement of his father, the even more legendary Jimmy Russell. The special batch of bourbon was laid down in 1998 to celebrate Jimmy’s 45th year at Wild Turkey, with the intention of bottling and releasing it when he decided to take his leave. 15 years later, Jimmy was still sharing the title of Master Distiller with Eddie, with no retirement in sight. The commemorative bourbon eventually came out in 2014, sans commemoration, as Russell’s Reserve 1998 — now one of the most acclaimed and sought-after of all Wild Turkey bottlings.

In 2024, Jimmy shows no signs of stopping, though his duties nowadays are mostly limited to greeting well-wishers and signing bottles at Wild Turkey’s visitors’ center. And Russell’s Reserve is back with another 15 year old bottling that’s already a sensation among bourbon fans and the secondary market. Officially, Russell’s is a collaboration between father and son, but in practice it’s really Eddie’s baby, especially the older expressions, which Jimmy largely eschews in favor of Wild Turkey classics like 101 and Rare Breed. Eddie tells a story that illustrates the differences in their approaches to bourbon: “When I first started tasting with Jimmy in the lab…. I’m like, ‘I get this super rich dark cocoa —’ ‘I didn’t put none-a that in my whiskey!’”

Eddie Russell has made a terrific bourbon, even if his father Jimmy doesn’t necessarily agree.

“Jimmy … he’d just taste it,” Eddie elaborates. “But I always talk about the journey, starting with the nose, because if you walk into a restaurant and it smells good, you’re already thinking it’s gonna taste good. With taste, I want something up front, something in the middle, and something to finish, but I also want the comeback taste. So for me I want creaminess right up front, whether it’s some kind of sweetness or it’s fruity — vanilla, butterscotch — anything like that. And the mid-palate, I want some of the traditional Wild Turkey spices. And then the finish, Jimmy’s big on the super-long finish. This one has that very long finish. You definitely get some of that oakiness in there. Aftertaste is a big part of it to me, too.”

Russell’s Reserve’s 15-Year-Old 2024 Limited Release Bourbon (actually a blend of 15 and 16 year old bourbons, but only the youngest drops in the bottle can be mentioned) ticks all of Eddie’s boxes — and mine, for that matter. And if you love bourbon, most likely yours as well. More than a dozen or so years in the barrel puts any bourbon at risk for excessive oakiness, characterized by a dry, tannic, often astringent flavor. But here, sweet cherry and vanilla notes dominate on the palate, with a smooth, velvety mouthfeel. At 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV), it’s no shrinking violet, and the oaky spice picks up midpalate, but it complements the sweeter flavors rather than overwhelming them. It finishes off with long, lingering toffee and oak notes. It even looks pretty spectacular, with a deep, dark, reddish amber color that resembles motor oil more than your typical bourbon.

The 15 year old is a replacement for the 13 year old expression that’s been released on a regular basis since 2021, but don’t expect a sequel of the 15 in the near future — there was only enough on hand for one bottling, the quantity of which hasn’t been made public by Wild Turkey or its parent company, Campari. At $250, this bottling isn’t cheap, and bourbon fans being as zealous as they are, it definitely won’t be easy to find once it hits shelves on July 1. But it’s more than a collector’s item, it’s a fantastic bourbon that’s worth the hunt and the dent in your wallet.

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FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — A call about three people who were passed out in a car near a convenience store on the Navajo Nation led to their arrests after officers found 25 bottles of vodka and a loaded gun in the car, according to the Navajo Police Department.

The department said they received the call about the trio being passed out in a car near a Speedway convenience store in Fort Defiance on Saturday at about 9:20 a.m.

Officers approached the car, a red Pontiac Vibe, and saw a bottle of Importers vodka in the cupholder in the front seat.

The officers then took a 24-year-old man, a 34-year-old woman and a 31-year-old woman into custody and searched the car, where they found 24 more bottles of the vodka, a “large amount of cash” and a loaded gun.

The man was charged with delivery of alcohol and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon, while the two women faced charges of public intoxication. They were taken to a nearby Navajo Department of Corrections facility.

The red Pontiac Vibe was towed.

The Navajo Police Department expressed gratitude to the individual who reported the incident to the NPD Window Rock District in a post on Facebook.

“Our communities are our eyes and ears,” the post stated. “If you see something, say something, and report it to your local NPD District.”

The three people who were arrested were not identified. 

FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. – On Saturday, June 22, at approximately 9:20 a.m., the Navajo Police Department Window Rock…

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For decades, the Irish whiskey category was basically dominated by two distilleries: Midleton, where bands like Jameson and Redbreast are made, and Bushmills in Northern Ireland. Those days are long gone, and the country now has about 50 distilleries either making or sourcing whiskey. One of those is Teeling, which when it opened in 2015 was the first to operate in the city of Dublin in 125 years. Nearly a decade later, the distillery continues to release some very impressive whiskey, including this new single-pot-still expression aged entirely in virgin Swedish oak barrels.

Teeling, now owned by Bacardi, continues to source some of its whiskey from Great Northern, the distillery run by Teeling founders Jack and Stephen Teeling’s father, John. But the team in Dublin, led by master distiller Alex Chasko (an American), also produces its own whiskey, with a particular focus on single pot still. This intrinsically Irish style is made on a pot still at one distillery from a mashbill of malted and unmalted barley and sometimes another cereal grain, although at Teeling it’s a 50-50 blend of the two types of barley. The whiskey is triple distilled and matured in a combination of casks: virgin American Oak, bourbon, and sherry. The core single pot still whiskey, however, could not be more different from the new Wonders of Wood expression, the third in this series.

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The first Wonders of Wood release was aged in virgin chinkapin oak, the second in virgin Portuguese oak, and this new whiskey in virgin Swedish oak—not a finish, mind you, but full maturation. According to a Teeling rep, the idea to use this type of oak arose after a conversation with an employee at the distillery who was originally from Sweden. Chasko was interested in finding out how it might affect the whiskey’s flavor, which is the whole point of the Wonders of Wood series, and decided to source some barrels. Teeling is not the first distillery to use Swedish oak to mature a spirit, of course, as it has been used by Swedish brands (sparse as they are) for some time. But Swedish oak is certainly not as widely used as American, Japanese mizunara, or (I hesitate to even bring it up), Brazilian amburana wood.

Speaking of which, those of you who have read this column before might recall that I really don’t care for whiskey finished in amburana barrels. That’s being too nice—99 percent of the time, with a very rare exception, I think it’s terrible. But when I tasted this new Teeling whiskey, it kind of made me think of how I wish amburana-finished whiskey would taste, edging up to the brink of being overly spiced but pulling back just in time. Let me explain. There are notes of balsa wood, cinnamon, grape, apple, leather, and sweet tobacco on the palate. There’s a whiff of potpourri, some dry tannic notes, raisin, honey, brown sugar, and just a little barbecue smoke providing a welcome savory hint. All of this comes together to create an intriguing whiskey, with the fruity, spicy character of the pot still at its core utterly transformed but not lost in the mix.

“`

There’s no shortage of Irish whiskey to try these days, especially from the much better known brands I mentioned at the start of this review. Some of these are just fine, while others are truly excellent. But this new expression from Teeling stands out as being uniquely purposeful in its mission to highlight a specific type of wood, and most importantly it’s really tasty. Try this whiskey in an Old Fashioned (I did and it was great), but definitely sip it neat first to find out what it’s all about. And if you get a chance to sample it alongside the other expressions in the Wonders of Wood lineup, you’ll see just how impactful each barrel is on the whiskey’s flavor.

100 Worth trading your first born for

95 – 99 In the Pantheon: A trophy for the cabinet

90 – 94 Great: An excited nod from friends when you pour them a dram

85 – 89 Very Good: Delicious enough to buy, but not quite special enough to chase on the secondary market

80 – 84 Good: More of your everyday drinker, solid and reliable

Below 80 It’s alright: Honestly, we probably won’t waste your time and ours with this

Every week Jonah Flicker tastes the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world. Check back each Friday for his latest review.

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A south-central Kansas mother has pleaded guilty to one count each of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol and aggravated battery in connection with a fiery rollover traffic crash that killed her 4-year-old daughter and injured her then 2-year-old son last year.

Britne Lee Costello, 33, of Wichita, “pled guilty as charged,” said Dan Dillon, a spokesman for the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. She is scheduled for sentencing on July 25, court records show. Her lawyer did not immediately respond to a message Friday.

Emma Rae Lee Fox died on Feb. 19, 2023, two days before what would have been her fifth birthday, her obituary says.

Authorities have said the girl’s mother, Costello, tried to pass another vehicle as she was driving west on MacArthur when she overcorrected and left the roadway, causing her Ford Explorer to roll and catch fire. A probable cause affidavit released in the case says the Explorer traveled in a ditch for more than 300 feet and over three culverts before “going airborne” and rolling multiple times.

The crash occurred around 5:15 p.m. west of Schulte.

A Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office deputy, along with several citizens, rescued Costello and her children from the burning vehicle. However, Emma was unresponsive and succumbed to multiple blunt force injuries after the family was taken to Wesley Medical Center for treatment, the affidavit states. Her younger brother sustained a broken collarbone and other survivable injuries, while Costello had a cut on her neck and a possible broken ankle, according to the document.

The affidavit notes that a deputy who applied gauze to Costello’s neck at the crash site “could smell the odor of alcohol coming from” her and inside the ambulance that transported her to the hospital. Emma’s father later informed the deputy that he and Costello “had previously consumed vodka straight from the bottle while he was” at Costello’s home “dropping his children off and assisting with tasks around the house,” the affidavit reveals.

Blood tests showed Costello had a blood-alcohol content of .112 less than two hours after the crash, the affidavit indicates — exceeding the legal limit of .08 to drive in Kansas.

Prosecutors charged Costello in May. She previously pleaded not guilty. At the time of the crash, she lived in Douglass, authorities have said.

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John Wind’s kitschy send-up of Revolutionary War heroes pokes holes in the masculine image at the Museum of the American Revolution.

John Y. Wind made a sculpture out of a decanter shaped like Baron von Steuben, a Prussian officer who played a role in the American Revolution. The historical record suggests von Steuben lived openly gay.

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John Wind’s sculpture, “Whiskey Rebellion,” now on view at the Museum of the American Revolution, is triple-aged.

The first rebellion — the one in American history books — happened in 1794 after the newly minted U.S. federal government imposed its first domestic tax on whiskey. It didn’t go over well. A violent insurrection arose in Western Pennsylvania, which quickly diminished.

The second rebellion was in the mid-20th century when distillers like Jim Beam sought to avoid taxes by packaging bourbon in novelty decanters.

Distillers could defer taxes by aging bourbon in bonded warehouses for up to eight years. In the 1950s, the whiskey industry was losing market share to vodka and found itself with a surplus of unsellable product. Facing the inevitable evaporation of whiskey idling in warehouses — the so-called “angel’s share” — coupled with the looming eight-year tax burden, Jim Beam needed to unload lots of bourbon quickly.

Packaging the drink in decorative decanters advertised as collector items worked like a charm. Over the following decades, Jim Beam and other distillers developed thousands of unique designs across a dizzying range of subjects, including Revolutionary War heroes.

“That was the second Whiskey Rebellion,” Wind said. “My Whiskey Rebellion is putting my 21st century self into dialogue with these historical figures, challenging their heroism.”

“Were they heroes based on my own values and what I think is important today?” he asked.

“Whiskey Rebellion” is on view at the museum through June. On Saturday, June 22, Wind will speak to visitors and show off his method of transforming vintage decanters into contemporary art pieces. As a Pride Month event, he will be joined by the Philadelphia Freedom Band marching ensemble, an orchestra of gay and lesbian musicians.

Wind gained access to an extensive collection of vintage novelty whiskey decanters through his fiancé, who leveraged a personal connection to an estate collection of about 300. He uses a hodge-podge of keychains, lapel pins, jewelry charms, stacked books and CD jewel cases to make statements not originally intended by the decanters.

The bourbon industry targeted the decanters to the male demographic and their mid-century man caves: cars, soldiers, hunting. Wind, a jewelry designer, accessorized those male figures to complicate their meanings. The Revolutionary War decanters on view proclaim messages of abolition, gay pride, feminism, self-care, and environmentalism.

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The centerpiece is a figure of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian officer known for turning the Continental Army into the superior fighting force that won the Revolutionary War. Seated on horseback, Steuben holds a rainbow-colored gay pride flag and wears an AIDS activist pin, “Silence=Death.”

The historical record suggests Steuben, a war hero, was indeed gay and lived somewhat openly.

“Doing this kind of work, reclaiming my place in the American story, relating to history and personalizing it has been a really cathartic experience,” Wind said. “My hope was, by making it lighthearted and having that sense of humor throughout, other people can also find a way into what’s otherwise very forbidding.”

Museum president and CEO Scott Stephenson concurs that history museums can seem off-putting to some. Giving artists permission — and even encouragement — to take creative liberties with the way history is traditionally presented opens the door to more visitors.

“Not everything has to be grounded in authenticity, as long as you’re clear with your visitors about what you’re seeing,” Stephenson said. “This is the response of a contemporary person who is reflecting back on history and using it in a very clever and thoughtful way,” Stephenson said.

“I was 10 years old when the Bicentennial began, and I remember these decanters around. My dad had a couple of them. You remember them in the gentlemen’s rooms in your neighbor’s houses,” he said.

Baron von Steuben likely did not flaunt his sexuality, support gun control or proclaim “I Believe Her,” as Wind suggests in his assemblage. But the Museum put together a nearby display about Steuben’s relationships with prominent men in Europe and his aide-de-camps on the ground in the Revolutionary War, then poses the serious question: “Was Baron von Steuben Gay?”

“We are interested in presenting history through questions and evidence,” Stephenson said. “We offer the evidence and ask you: What do you think based on the evidence that we present?”

Wind used to be partial to vodka, which was the marketing problem Jim Beam tried to solve 70 years ago. But after a few years of working on his whiskey decanters, he finds himself leaning toward bourbon.

“Now I’m part of the solution,” he laughed.

The fifteen adorned decanters of “Whiskey Rebellion” will be on view until June 30.

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Vodkas come in all types, distilled with everything from grains and potatoes to grapes and olives.

From there, some are flavored. At the more conventional end of the spectrum, we’ve got citrus and berries, and at the wackier end of the spectrum, we’ve got things like whipped cream and bacon.

Well, that spectrum has shifted a bit. Because now there’s a vodka infused with a meteorite.

Shooting Star Vodka is an “ultra-premium vodka enriched with minerals” from a meteorite. That’s a lot to unpack. But the basics are that it comes from Pegasus Distillerie, a spirits brand founded in France’s Burgundy region. Pegasus makes a variety of spirits, including non-meteorite vodka, gin and a citrus liqueur, and each product finds inspiration from nature and the cosmos. But Shooting Star enlists an actual meteorite to make every bottle.

The celestial object in question was discovered in Nebraska in 1977 but may have landed on earth well before that. Once Pegasus acquired the space rock, they put it to work in their vodka.

The spirit is distilled from French wheat and blended with limestone-rich spring water sourced from 150 meters below the distillery. It then goes into an amphora, a porous clay vessel, to age for a minimum of one year. Suspended at the center of the amphora is the meteorite, which the brand says imparts taste and structure to the vodka resulting from chondrite, a mineral unique to meteorites.

Unless you’ve licked a meteorite, it may be difficult to know exactly how it impacts the 84-proof vodka, but Shooting Star has an inherent sweetness to it. You can use this like any other vodka, by mixing it into cocktails or throwing it over ice. Though the $200 price tag may warrant sipping it straight, so you can taste every ounce of that rock.

And then impress your friends by saying things like, “mm, yes, I’m getting hints of chondrite.”

Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us – it’s free.

Co-owner of Sweet Grass Vodka Jarrod Swanger, with his wife Alicia, reviews plans in December 2021 for the company’s lounge and bottling operations in Charleston. Swanger has since hired a bankruptcy lawyer as investors question where the company’s millions of dollars have gone.

Sweet Grass Vodka owner Jarrod Swanger toasts with his celebrity brand rep, actor Jeremy Renner, in September 2023.

Sweet Grass Vodka is a sponsor of the Charleston RiverDogs.

Sweet Grass Vodka Lounge, pictured Nov. 16, 2022, in The Refinery complex on Meeting Street Road in Charleston.

The Sweet Grass Vodka lounge, pictured Nov. 16, 2022, in The Refinery complex on Meeting Street Road in Charleston.

The Sweet Grass Vodka Lounge in The Refinery complex on Meeting Street Road in Charleston on Nov. 16, 2022.

Alicia Swanger, one of the owners of Sweet Grass Vodka, holds one of the company’s bottles inside the future location at The Refinery on Meeting Street Road on Dec. 9, 2021, in Charleston.

Alicia and Jarrod Swanger, two of the owners of Sweet Grass Vodka, pose for a portrait in their future location inside of The Refinery on Meeting Street Road on Dec. 9, 2021, in Charleston. 

Jarrod Swanger used to be an errand boy. He pulled down about $35,000 a year getting oil changes, groceries, dry cleaning — even Honey Baked Ham gift certificates — for busy hospital workers in Greensboro, N.C.

Ten years later, he found himself kicking back on a private jet with two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner. Together, they soared off to the luxurious Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas to promote Swanger’s company, Sweet Grass Vodka. The “Avengers” actor came aboard to lend some celebrity sizzle to the product in return for a seven-figure payday. 

Life was good for Swanger. He had a million-dollar home in affluent Mount Pleasant. A swank tasting room in one of Charleston’s hip new nightspots. A pair of $150,000 BMW Alpina luxury cars for him and his wife. And a passel of A- and B-listers to add some star wattage to his social media feeds and business endeavors. 

Hobnobbing with celebrities had been a theme for Swanger since he transitioned from running errands to hawking retractable dog leashes and dipping into the South Carolina spirits industry. Years of social media posts show him mingling with pop star Paula Abdul, “Shark Tank” entrepreneur Kevin Harrington, Nickelodeon alum Daniella Monet and NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw.

Now, that shine is fading as his business fortunes appear headed for a crash. 

Jeremy Renner poses for photographers upon arrival at the UK Fan Screening of the TV series “Hawkeye” in London, on Nov. 11, 2021.

Swanger, 38, faces at least four lawsuits in South Carolina from investors and others. He’s accused of defaulting on more than $750,000 in loans. He reportedly owes tens of thousands of dollars to local vendors and distributors. And the S.C. Department of Labor is investigating Swanger for allegedly stiffing his employees on wages.

On May 31, Swanger hired a bankruptcy lawyer.

Padlocks now seal the doors of a darkened Sweetgrass Lounge, a choice spot in The Refinery complex on Meeting Street Road where Swanger once hosted parties, happy hours and live music. It was also where Sweet Grass Vodka, billed as locally sourced and upscale, was bottled in a backroom from watered-down liquor that was distilled elsewhere, a dozen former employees and business associates told The Post and Courier. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity, saying they fear retaliation from Swanger. 

Despite confirmation from the landlord that Sweet Grass’s lease had been terminated in April, Swanger told the newspaper in a May 22 email that the company is “not closing.” 

“We are just thinking about leasing the lounge because it wasn’t making money and we are not a restaurant revenue concept,” he stated.

In another email a week later, Swanger told a reporter to contact his lawyer with all questions. Kevin Campbell of Campbell Law Firm in Mount Pleasant said he had no comment.

But nearly 20 other people have something to say.

The concept for Sweet Grass Vodka is said to have been launched in 2019 from a bar stool inside The Dinghy, a tiny bar and grill on Isle of Palms. The conversation included Swanger and his wife, as well as Victor Webster, a Florence businessman with ties to the beachside community.

The brand was introduced to the market in 2020 and landed shelf space in Total Wine stores across the Southeast and in restaurants and other liquor stores in six states, including South Carolina.

“Super excited that mine and Victor Webster’s vodka will be on 200+ shelves here shortly,” Swanger posted to Facebook in February 2020. “This has been a fun project amongst two drinkers.”

A year later, InterContinental Beverage Capital and Sweet Grass announced a partnership, including a minority ownership position by the New York-based investment company. The announcement referenced a “rapid scale-up and expansion,” with Swanger and his co-founder Brian Friedopfer, a Chicago entrepreneur labeled at one time on the Sweet Grass site as a chief operating officer. The company, according to the release, planned a “state-of-the-art craft distilling and bottling plant in Charleston’s Brewery District.”

Noticeably missing was Webster, who reportedly had no idea he was being edged out. 

In September 2022, Gov. Henry McMaster and other state officials lauded Swanger and Sweet Grass Vodka, which they called a “family-owned spirits and distilling company” with a product made from “South Carolina-grown potatoes.” Plans were announced for a $1.7 million bottling operations and tasting room at 1640 Meeting Street Road in a largely industrial stretch of Charleston’s upper peninsula. 

The project would be the first for Sweet Grass in Charleston County and was expected to create nearly 50 jobs, according to a press release.

Sweet Grass Vodka, which started in the Upstate, added a location at The Refinery in Charleston.

“We are enthusiastic about launching our second location in South Carolina in the beautiful upper peninsula of Charleston,” Swanger said at the time. “We are proud of our quality, locally sourced vodka — and this new facility will showcase Sweet Grass Vodka on a larger scale.”

McMaster poured on an equal measure of praise.

“Again and again, South Carolina has shown it is one of the best places in the world to do business,” the Republican governor said. “This announcement by Sweet Grass Vodka is further proof of our pro-business environment, and we’re excited to see what this locally grown company has in store for the future.”

Roughly 18 months later, signs of financial trouble emerged and failed credit payments began to mount, according to lawsuits.

While money challenges played out behind the scenes, an A-list actor was about to take center stage.

And get sucked into Swanger’s world.

After months of negotiations, Swanger made an announcement on Instagram in July 2023 that immediately garnered national headlines: Sweet Grass Vodka had joined forces with Jeremy Renner, star of Marvel Comics’ “Avengers” and the Paramount+ show “Mayor of Kingstown.” He would be a “full-on brand owner,” Swanger said at the time.

“I’m so grateful for the progress I’ve made since the start of this year which allowed me to move forward with my interest in Sweet Grass Vodka,” Renner posted to Instagram later that month in reference to the new business partnership and his continued recovery from a devastating New Year’s Day snowplow accident. “Their mission is rooted in community and shared experience, which is why the second I tried it, I knew I wanted to become a part of it. I’m excited for new ventures ahead.”

A couple of weeks later, Renner posted more support for the company on his social media.

“Find some quality time this weekend with quality people @sweetgrassvodka #happyfriday #sharedexperiences,” he wrote on Instagram Aug. 11, 2023.

Renner arrived in Charleston two months later for his big introduction with Sweet Grass Vodka.

Swanger set up a meet-and-greet at The Refinery, selling tickets for the event. For one set price, attendees could get a bottle of vodka signed by Renner. For those willing to shell out VIP money, they could get primo parking, access to an open bar and meet the actor.

A lavish three-room party soon overtook the Nest Rooftop Bar at Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms, where Swanger put up Renner during his visit.

The California-born star stressed the importance of learning about Charleston and its people. Partygoers noted Renner was often found talking to staff and ticketholders.

“I got to come on to this when the brand was developed enough, so I needed to learn more about South Carolina,” he told ABC Channel 4. “I had to learn more about this community. This is my first time in Charleston. It’s awesome.”

From there, Swanger and Renner flew to Houston for another signing. They then spent time in Las Vegas.

In several photos, Renner sported a Sweet Grass Vodka-labeled baseball cap and vest. Other shots show him and Swanger toasting their vodka and laughing like old buddies on a couch. In another, Swanger visited the Disney+ “Hawkeye” star’s Reno, Nev., home. There, the two palled around amid the pines, lounging on patio chairs; Swanger tossing up a peace sign in a selfie.

Charleston resident and businessman Bill Mahar introduced the two in 2022 amid Swanger’s search to find a celebrity brand ambassador — an asset he found endeared him to investors. Mahar had known Renner through his work as a brand designer for national companies like Ralph Lauren and Under Armour.

During negotiations, Renner broke more than 30 bones in the snowplow accident and was hospitalized. Sweet Grass investors were willing to wait for him to recover to launch their partnership, Mahar said.

“We really loved him as a person and felt he was right for the brand,” Mahar said.

Renner, who was nominated for Academy Awards for his roles in “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town,” was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars and promised equity in the company to serve as a celebrity face and market the company, Mahar said. Still, he was invested personally in the company’s success — even if he didn’t put any of his own money behind it.

“He came into this in good faith,” Mahar said.

The Sweet Grass Vodka logo also changed from the original man holding a rifle to a fly-fishing rod after Renner came on board. The tweak was at his request, Mahar said.

Renner was scheduled to be paid in early 2024. The money arrived late, sending up red flags, Mahar said.

Mahar said his concerns grew when he heard Swanger was not regularly paying employees.

Toward the end of 2023 and into 2024, Swanger often paid staff through PayPal and Apple Cash, an iPhone application, instead of an accounting system, according to transactions reviewed by The Post and Courier. Some employees were owed up to five weeks in back pay, while checks for others bounced, three workers confirmed.

Investors mentioned they were growing increasingly restless due to not seeing any returns on their investments over the past two years.

Swanger then canceled a photo shoot with Renner earlier this year, Mahar stated, citing budget constraints and production issues.

As of March 2022, Swanger had been promoting Sweet Grass Vodka as a company purportedly worth $26 million, with projected revenue of $40 million by 2023, according to a slide deck he shared with investors.

If the company was worth tens of millions of dollars, there shouldn’t have been money problems, Mahar thought. He observed closely as April approached to see if Renner would receive his next scheduled payment.

Swanger again failed to come through, Mahar said.

Renner was informed of the issues and began working to sever all ties with the company, including canceling his contract, Mahar said.

The Post and Courier tried multiple times to reach Renner, who is currently filming “Knives Out 3” in London, but his publicist did not return requests for comment. Renner has scrubbed all references to Swanger and Sweet Grass Vodka from his website. 

Similar stories are popping up from other investors who told The Post and Courier they trusted Swanger but now believe they’ve been duped.

This includes people Swanger reportedly met on Facebook, people with families who invested their children’s futures on what seemed like a solid investment. Investors include a man with cancer and another who used his company as collateral for a loan used to invest in Sweet Grass Vodka.

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“What Jarrod did to people, to their livelihoods, to their businesses, it’s not just the financial aspect,” said Beth Eggleston, whose Florida company ARE Concepts was hired by Swanger to oversee sales, marketing and national compliance for his distribution. “It’s emotional, and it’s mental.”

Eggleston is one of several former business associates and investors who are trying to recover some of the reported millions sunk into Sweet Grass Vodka.

Some details of Swanger’s life are splashed across social media. He proudly touts his luxury car purchases, flashy watch collections and what appear to be exotic getaways.

Individual investors said they have collectively handed over millions to Swanger, eager to get involved in Sweet Grass Vodka and Swanger’s ideas to buy up companies and take them all public.

The Post and Courier spoke with 19 people who invested money or time into Sweet Grass Vodka or Swanger’s other ventures. Only two said they have recouped some of their investments.

“Jarrod is an illusionist,” Eggleston said. “He knows how to make you want to be in his realm (while) at the same time, keeping you far enough away so that you don’t figure out what he’s really doing.”

In hindsight, Charleston investor Dr. Brian Mahon worries he could have done more to avoid getting wrapped up with Swanger and losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. But he is a physician, not a financial expert. And he was introduced by a mutual friend who trusted Swanger, so he did, too.

“Jarrod said all these great things and that he had done millions in sales and secured $10 million in investments,” Mahon recalled.

All that was required was an investment of at least $150,000.

At the urging of his financial advisor, Mahon in December began asking for financial records to assess the health of his investment.

“(Swanger) couldn’t provide me with very basic accounting paperwork,” Mahon said. “It was then that I knew things weren’t right.”

The Sweet Grass Vodka Charleston Pub at the RiverDogs’ stadium on May 24, 2024.

On June 4, Swanger reached out via email as The Post and Courier continued to interview investors, former employees, business associates and others about his entrepreneurial endeavors, both past and present.

“Today we got a call from no less than three of our investors about this matter which we have already put you on notice for that our legal council (sic) that represents all of us,” he wrote. “I think we’re gonna have to take next steps in this matter.”

Swanger and his wife, Alicia, graced the January cover of Charleston Home + Design Magazine. Inside was a 12-page spread boasting the success of their “authentic, high-quality beverage” experience along with their custom-built residence in Mount Pleasant’s Snee Farm neighborhood — complete with a swimming pool, an indoor-outdoor bar and a bevvy of sleek, modern furnishings. Other shots showed Swanger and Renner sipping the company’s spirits, along with a custom figurine of Swanger signed by the actor. 

Signs were still up promoting the Sweet Grass Vodka Pub at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park when the Charleston RiverDogs baseball team opened its season in April. But cracks in Swanger’s operation had already started to show.

In March, the state Department of Revenue sent a letter to Swanger stating that he hadn’t filed his South Carolina income taxes in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and did not have liquor liability coverage. The same month, the state denied renewal of his liquor manufacturer license along with permits to sell on-premises beer, wine and liquor by the drink.

Still, Swanger opened up his lounge on April 4 to the cast of Bravo’s “Southern Charm” to film an episode. He comped their entire bill, a staff member said. He held another party later in the month, and his wife purchased the liquor wholesale from a local store, according to staff at Six Mile Wine and Spirits in Mount Pleasant.

His wife was often involved in the company’s work. On Sweet Grass Vodka’s website, Swanger states that he “teamed up with local South Carolina potato farmers to distill the finest craft vodka on the market true to Polish traditions”—a detail he has attributed as a salute to his wife’s Polish heritage.

He proclaimed the vodka was locally sourced from potatoes grown at the former Three Sisters Farm in Bluffton, now called Daisy Branch Farm.

Farm owner Mary Connor said she hasn’t produced potatoes for two years after continued crop failures. She also confirmed she has never sold potatoes to Swanger.

In reality, Swanger and his team bottled liquor distilled by a third party, more than a dozen sources said. The grain neutral spirit—high-proof alcohols distilled from grains like corn, wheat, barley or rye—arrived in plastic vats to be proofed down with filtered water in a backroom of the Charleston lounge. Bottles were filled, labeled and shipped out from the Meeting Street Road establishment.

The process isn’t uncommon for craft “distillers” who don’t make their own liquor. It’s just not the story that Swanger tells.

Swanger further presented investors documentation stating that under one of his South Carolina limited liability companies, Might Be Hungover, he owned several other businesses through investors. That roster included Charleston-based and St. Maarten-made Topper’s Rhum along with Virgil Kane bourbon; Niagara Falls Distilling; and Allen Rose Wine, which is owned by country singer Kane Brown’s wife, Katelyn.

Colden King, vice president of Topper’s Rhum, said Swanger is not and never has been an owner of the company, its importer and sales office on Meeting Street.

Swanger further included in his investor pitch that Grammy-winning country musician Luke Combs was a “celebrity owner” of Sweet Grass Vodka. Eggleston confirmed he is not.

Still, Swanger could put on a show — even if reality was far different than the story he sold, Eggleston said.

In 2023, Sweet Grass Vodka barely sold 2,000 cases, said Eggleston, who has copies of the distribution paperwork for that year. 

Investor Nick Logan was one of the first to take action against Swanger, filing a claim in April under the Uniform Commercial Code as more issues came to light, records show. These claims, filed with the S.C. Secretary of State, say a lender is entitled to assets owned by the debtor as collateral for an investment.

Eggleston, appointed by Logan’s lawyer, went to The Sweetgrass Lounge in mid-April, keys in hand, in hopes of seizing $2.5 million in assets under Logan’s claim. That included accounts receivable, cash, inventory and anything related to future receivables, she said.

She grabbed everything she could, namely vodka and equipment. The haul fell well short of $2.5 million.

“We removed less than $60,000 because that’s all there was,” she said.

Through his site manager job with Errand Solutions in North Carolina more than a decade ago, Swanger developed a relationship with supervisor Michael Cook. Today, Cook is the owner of Odyssey Escape Game, a company with escape rooms in Georgia and Illinois. He is also author of the “Black Earth” saga book series and the FalconClaw detective series.

Like Webster, the original co-founder of Sweet Grass Vodka, Cook is well connected.

After Swanger’s errand job ended, he circled back with Cook around 2014, asking him to invest in a new venture: Lucky’s Leash, a dog collar with a retractable leash marketed for $19.95 apiece.

Cook came on board and introduced Swanger to investors like Atlanta businessman Piyush Bhula, who over time invested money and provided personal loans totaling more than $250,000 to help the business get off the ground.

Swanger marketed his business with an animated video, hitting up Las Vegas trade shows where he met Harrington of “Shark Tank” fame and, through him, Abdul. The choreographer-singer and former “American Idol” judge was often pictured with Swanger and her chihuahua Bessie Moo, wearing a Lucky’s Leash product.

Still, Bhula said, investors never saw a return.

In 2015, Bhula said, he personally loaned Swanger $20,000. The first payment he received back was $5,000 in 2017. After hounding Swanger for more later that year, Bhula said, he received another $5,000.

“Since then, I’ve called or texted. He used to answer or text back,” Bhula said. “Now nothing.”

Bhula added that Swanger never kept clear records and constantly pushed for “more and more” money to keep the company afloat, or investors risked losing everything.

Still, the investors trusted him. They had to if they wanted to recover any money, Bhula said.

“He’s a good talker. He is a handsome kid,” Bhula said.

Swanger later sold the company without telling investors, Bhula said, and the business collapsed.

After the leash venture, Swanger relocated back to his hometown of Knoxville, Tenn. By 2020, he picked up again and headed to the Lowcountry to start his new business.

Many investors in Sweet Grass Vodka aren’t the wealthiest of the wealthy. Many are Charleston locals with regular jobs, like Mahon’s physician career, and families who have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Pending lawsuits filed this year against Swanger and Sweet Grass Vodka include one that claims he defaulted on the final $37,000 to repay an $84,000 loan for his bottling equipment.

Another creditor is still trying to collect $113,466.45 as part of a defaulted loan.

And the South Carolina Federal Credit Union has filed a claim that Swanger owes it $25,154.39.

The biggest lawsuit filed so far stems from investor Stephen McCord, who claims he purchased 400,000 shares of capital stock of Swanger’s company Might Be Hungover last August and loaned him $600,000 two months later.

McCord still had not seen a dime as of May 1, according to his lawsuit filed in Charleston County.

“Jarrod made a lot of promises to a lot of people, and none of them came to fruition,” Mahar said. “That was the biggest disappointment.”

A possible positive outcome to the overall situation is that many of the investors, who never knew of each other prior, are banding together in light of their losses and hope to create something new together, Eggleston said.

“Our goal is to recoup what these investors lost,” Eggleston said, and to help the roughly eight employees — not the nearly 50 as touted in the September 2022 press release — who lost everything in the downfall.

Some investors are even talking about reviving the company, though they’re unsure if the name Sweet Grass Vodka can rise from the ashes.

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Jarrod Swanger, Mount Pleasant resident and owner of Sweetgrass Vodka, is involved in four financial lawsuits under the state of South Carolina as of May 29.

On April 26, SC Federal Credit Union opened litigation against him for defaulting on a $30,000 line of credit. He owes $25,154.39, plus interest at a rate of 10.5 percent.

Blue Ridge Financial filed a lawsuit January 18 for failing to pay more than $37,000 on an original $84,000 loan.

“Demand for payment has been given to the Defendants, but the Defendants have refused to pay,” the lawsuit states.

A September lawsuit with Swift Financial ended up in arbitration. By February, the plaintiff was still trying to collect $113,466.45.

The biggest suit stems from investor Steven McCord who purchased 400,000 shares of capital stock of Might Be Hungover in August 2023. Two months later, McCord loaned MBH another $600,000.

Per loan agreement, McCord was to receive 120,000 additional shares plus 16% ($96,000) interest paid before Nov 10, 2023.

He too has seen no return, per the filing.

The vodka brand that recruited Marvel actor Jeremy Renner as a celebrity rep has closed amid owner Jarrod Swanger’s financial issues.  Read moreCharleston’s Sweet Grass Vodka abruptly closed. Brand rep Jeremy Renner and investors lost big.

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The Post and Courier contributed to this report. Read more