Liquor-articles 1866

The top selling hard seltzer brand* is unveiling its first-ever premium hard tea offering

MODESTO, Calif., May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Spirit of Gallo’s

High Noon,

the #1 spirits brand by volume**, is launching

High Noon Vodka Iced Tea, made with real vodka, real iced tea, and no added sugar. Now available on shelves nationwide, High Noon’s new non-carbonated, gluten free hard teas are available in four essential summer flavors – Original, Peach, Lemon, and Raspberry – each at 90 calories and 4.5% ABV with an MSRP of $19.99 in 8-packs of 355mml cans.

“Hard Tea was one of consumers’ most frequent RTD category purchased in 2023***, which created an opportunity for High Noon to provide a premium alternative in a way only the brand can with real vodka and real iced tea,” said Britt West, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Gallo. “With this launch, we’ve taken a beloved classic and elevated it to new heights, delivering a beverage that embodies the spirit of summer in every sip.”

High Noon Vodka Iced Tea is the ideal companion for backyard barbecues, beach days, and any occasion where good times are on the menu. Crafted with the finest ingredients and High Noon’s signature commitment to quality, the new offering encourages tea lovers to trade up their malt-based hard tea for a twist on the summertime classic, and is sure to redefine the summer beverage scene.

High Noon Vodka Iced Tea joins a growing High Noon family alongside consumer favorites like High Noon Vodka Seltzer and High Noon Tequila Seltzer. For more information on High Noon and the new line of Vodka Iced Tea, visit HighNoonSpirits.com or check them out on Instagram.

*Source: NABCA & Total MULO+CONV+LIQUOR last 52W ending 03.03.2024
**Source: IRI Consumer Network Households (NCP) 52 Weeks ending 10/1/2023 vs. YA- Total U.S. All Outlets, NBD Adjusted (Vol)
***Source: IWSR RTDs Strategic Study 2023 – United States

About High Noon

High Noon was introduced in 2019, giving fans a more premium hard seltzer made with real spirits and encouraging them to live like the sun’s always out. Just four years after its inception, the brand was crowned the #1 Spirits Brand by Volume**. High Noon offers something for everyone with High Noon Vodka Seltzer, High Noon Tequila Seltzer, and High Noon Vodka Iced Tea varieties. The Vodka Seltzer and Tequila Seltzer varieties are made with real fruit juice, and the Vodka Iced Tea variety is made with real tea. The full line up is gluten free and has no added sugar. High Noon is part of Spirit of Gallo, an award-winning spirits portfolio that includes E&J Brandy, New Amsterdam Vodka, Pink Whitney, RumChata and more.

About Spirit of Gallo

For nearly half a century, the Gallo family has been growing its portfolio of spirits, now enjoyed by people around the world at occasions ranging from a day at the beach to a fine, after-dinner drink. Known best for E&J Brandy, New Amsterdam and the highly acclaimed High Noon Hard Seltzer, Spirit of Gallo also delivers RumChata, Stratusphere Gin, RumHaven and esteemed partner-owned brands such as The Dalmore, Don Fulano, and Grupo Montenegro. Spirit of Gallo portfolio is featured on www.spiritofgallo.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/high-noon-levels-up-the-rtd-category-with-the-release-of-high-noon-vodka-iced-tea-302136826.html

SOURCE High Noon Spirits Company

We will explore the top 15 rum brands across the globe in this article. If you want to bypass our comprehensive analysis of the international rum market, the recently introduced rum RTD, and sustainability practices in the rum sector, you may want to head straight to the 5 Best-Selling Rum Brands in the World.

The finest rums are predominantly produced in the Caribbean region. The sugarcane crop was brought to this zone in the late 15th century by Europeans and swiftly became well-established. The settlers started sugar plantations, employing forced labour from African slaves. These plantations became the birthplaces of rum. The drink quickly gained popularity, even making its way to Colonial North America. It is believed that on average, every man and woman in the American colonies consumed about three imperial gallons of rum each year before the American Revolutionary War.

As we pointed out in our previous post –12 Countries that Produce the Best Rum in the World – it is projected that the worldwide rum market, which stood at $17.4 billion in 2023, will grow to $24.5 billion by 2033. This is expected to happen at a CAGR of 3.5% during this forecast period.

Rum is gaining popularity and making its mark more substantially in the USA. The category is showing consistent growth, thanks to a few intersecting trends of increasing popularity. In the recent past, rum producers have begun experimenting with incorporating flavors into rum, which has made the segment far more diverse in terms of the offerings. Break it down, and you will find that flavored and spiced rums currently make up over 57% of all rum sales.

This highly mixable spirit also provides a key function in cocktail culture. While rum is a staple of on-premise tiki bars, it is also one of the only spirits for which it’s common to blend multiple varieties in the same cocktail. According to Bacardi’s 2022 Cocktail Trends Report, four of the top-10 best-selling cocktails are rum drinks, making the spirit a must-have for all on-premise programs.

Ready-to-drink beverages continue to make headlines as the fastest-growing alcohol beverage category. RTD cocktails grew 325% between 2011 and 2021, with 68 new drinks hitting the market only in 2021.

A new RTD offering that popped up in the market this February is Captain Morgan Sliced, a line of canned malt-based cocktails with 5.8% alcohol by volume. Owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), the spiced rum brand is seeking a greater presence in the growing canned spirits space. Available in four flavors, Captain Morgan Sliced cans are now available nationwide in a 12-count variety pack priced at $19.99. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) also launched another product of the rum brand earlier this year – Captain Morgan Sliced Up. Available in 23.5oz and 16oz can offerings of Long Island Iced Tea and Tropical Hurricane, these 8% ABV cocktails are available in local convenience stores and wherever you can find Captain Morgan.

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) sits among the Best Brewery and Distillery Stocks to Buy Now.

The modern consumer has become increasingly aware of the climate emergency we unfortunately find ourselves in, and actively seeks out sustainable brands, even if it means paying extra. So, as rum manufacturers find themselves in an increasingly competitive market, committing psychologically and economically to reducing their impact on the planet may also be the only means to make their businesses sustainable in the long run.

In October 2023, Bacardi Limited, the Largest Privately Held Spirits Company in the World, announced the opening of a new Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system at its rum distillery in Puerto Rico that will cut the greenhouse emissions of its Bacardí rum brand in half. The new system will produce 100% of the energy to run the distillery, as well as its surrounding facilities, by replacing the heavy fuel oil with propane gas.

The move is part of the Bermuda-based company’s broader Good Spirited global sustainability program, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As part of the program, Bacardi aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its production sites by 50%, water consumption by 25%, and using 100% recyclable product packaging and 40% recycled content of product packaging materials. In addition, the spirits company is also aiming for zero waste to landfill at all of its production sites across the world.

With a portfolio of more than 200 brands and labels under its belt, Bacardi Limited is one of the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World.

Here are the Most Popular Rum Brands in the World.

We’ve gathered information for this article from The Brand Champions 2023 magazine by The Spirits Business. We searched for the Top-Selling Rum Brands in the World. The magazine only provided details for the top 10 best-selling rum brands, which we’ve ranked according to their 9-liter case sales volumes in 2022. Due to lack of reliable data for the remaining brands, we resorted to estimating sales based on popularity. Brands that were frequently mentioned on sites such as VinePair, Liquor, and Men’s Journal etc., were assigned a score of 1 each time they appeared on these platforms. The scores were then added together to rank the brands.

By the way, Insider Monkey, an investment website that monitors corporate insiders and hedge fund activities, uses a similar consensus system to determine the top stock picks from over 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. Hedge funds’ top 10 consensus stock picks have outpaced the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the past decade (see the details here). Whether you are a novice or a seasoned investor looking for the best stocks to buy, you can gain insights from the strategies of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Insider Monkey Score: 3

Don Q is a rum brand that is very proud of its Puerto Rican heritage. The brand has been produced by Destilería Serrallés since 1865, which is known as the oldest continuously running distillery on the island. To this day, it remains the island’s top-selling rum. The brand began distributing in the United States in 2009.

The distillery in Ponce was given the ‘Green Award’ from The Drinks Business, an accolade awarded to those who demonstrate exceptional environmental practices in the beverage industry.

Insider Monkey Score: 4

Created by Proximo Spirits in 2010, The Kraken is a blend of Caribbean rums that should certainly suit any fans of rich, navy-style rum. Named after the Caribbean sea beast of myth and legend, the spirit is distilled in Trinidad and Tobago where it is blended with 13 secret spices to create a strong, rich, black, and smooth rum.

With over 500,000 9-liter cases sold in the American market in 2021, The Kraken is counted among the Most Popular Rum Brands in the U.S.

Insider Monkey Score: 5

Fully owned by William Grant & Sons since 2008, Sailor Jerry is blended with the finest rums from the Caribbean and a recipe of natural spices.

Owner of some of the Most Popular Scotch Whisky Brands in USA, William Grant & Sons boasts distilling and bottling operations in Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, India, the US, and Mexico, with a team of over 2,600 employees at 48 global locations.

Insider Monkey Score: 6

Despite not being exactly world famous for its rum, India is the country that drinks the most rum in the world, both in terms of consumption per capita and in terms of most rum drunk each year. Old Monk has been the most popular rum brand in the South Asian nation for decades. This inexpensive, best-selling dark rum has come to define what rum should taste like for generations of Indians.

Insider Monkey Score: 7

Although it is technically a liqueur, Malibu is called a ‘flavored rum’ by its owner Pernod Ricard, which is permissible by local laws. This original coconut-flavored rum is a staple in iconic cocktails such as piña coladas and daiquiris.

Pernod Ricard became the owner of Malibu when it acquired Allied Domecq in 2005, in a deal worth $14 billion.

9-Liter Cases Sold in 2022: 1.1 million

Appleton Estate is the oldest and most famous of all of Jamaica’s sugar-cane estates. It makes some of the Highest Quality Rums in the World with characteristic Christmas cake and butterscotch flavors and is known for its long-aged editions.

Gruppo Campari acquired Appleton, including the Wray & Nephew and Coruba Rum brands, in December 2012. This acquisition was part of the Italian conglomerate’s purchase of the Jamaican firm Lascelles deMercado & Co for a price tag of $409 million.

The exceptional Appleton Estate 15 Year Old Black River Casks has found its place among the Finest Rums to Enjoy Neat.

Sales in 9-Liter Cases for 2022: 1.3 million

Božkov Original, a traditional Czech rum with a smooth palate and subtle notes of caramel and spices, is easy to drink. Despite remaining in the Top 10 Most Sought-after Rum Brands, Božkov saw a drop of 9.9% in sales in 2022 compared to the year before.

9-Liter Cases Sold in 2022: 1.3 million

Owned by Radico Khaitan, this Indian rum is matured in wood to make it warm and mellow. The Contessa rums have won several international awards and are especially popular among the Indian military.

Radico Khaitan is among the Largest Liquor Companies in India, boasting a revenue of around $383.9 million in 2022.

9-Liter Cases Sold in 2022: 1.5 million

Old Port is distilled and aged at Amrut’s distillery in Bangalore, India, using 100% native Indian sugarcane. The brand saw a stunning 40.6% rise in sales in 2022 compared to the year prior, with it selling 1.1 million cases. Because of this, it is listed among the Fastest-Growing Spirit Brands in the World.

9-Liter Cases Sold in 2022: 2.7 million

Ron Barceló is considered the top Dominican rum and the most exported dark rum in the world, produced entirely from sugar cane juice from the distillery’s own fields. Majorly owned by Spanish spirits firm Grupo Varma, Ron Barceló is a carbon-neutral brand, having been certified in 2019 by the SGS Group for both its product life cycle and the organization itself.

Ron Barceló takes 6th place in our list of the World’s Most Popular Rum Brands.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Best-Selling Rum Brands in the World.

Suggested Articles:

20 Best Rums for a Refreshing Mojito

25 Most Popular Whiskey Brands in the World

Top 20 Best Selling Vodka Brands in the World

Disclosure: None. 15 Best-Selling Rum Brands in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.

Westward began in 2004 with a vision: to make a distinctive American Whiskey inspired by the American Northwest.

Though we had always deeply respected the history and tradition of whiskey- making around the world, we sought to make something entirely new and Westward Whiskey was born. At the time, there were only three dozen craft distilleries in the U.S. Today, helmed by Founder & CEO Thomas Mooney, Westward is a proud leader among more than 2,200 producers.

WESTWARD WHISKEY PINOT NOIR CASK

From humble beginnings to its impressive footprint today, creating a bold, robust, and delicious whiskey has remained the team’s true passion. For more than two decades, we’ve proudly served as a leading voice for American Whiskey.

WESTWARD WHISKEY STOUT CASK

The Westward Way

At Westward, we’re beholden to whiskey, not the traditions that surround it. This mindset — to set whiskey free — informs our process, where we brew like a craft ale, distill like a Single Malt, and age like a Bourbon. We pursue perfection by building flavor in every step of the way. There are no shortcuts in our long, deliberate process, and therein lies the beauty.

At Westward, our portfolio of award-winning whiskeys offers something for every discerning drinker. Born from our love for whiskey and our desire to create something entirely new, this elevated American original demonstrates our craftsmanship and creativity.

WESTWARD WHISKEY CASK STRENGTH

To Explore the Range including Westward Whiskey Original, Pinot Noir Cask, Stout Cask, Rum Cask and Cask Strength click here and Become a Stockist click here

The leading online news service for Australia’s beer, wine, spirits and hospitality industries. More by The Shout Team

Drunk Vitalie Tanga has been handed a life sentence for murdering Alfred Mattox at his home in Wolverhampton during VE Day celebrations, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard

A ‘homophobic’ killer beat a ‘gentle soul’ to death in his own home.

Drunk Vitalie Tanga has been handed a life sentence for the ‘vodka-fuelled rampage’ which saw him end the life of Alfred Mattox by kicking him savagely in the head, leaving him with multiple facial fractures and brain damage.

The ‘senseless killing’ came as the 56-year-old victim and his friends were celebrating VE Day in his Wolverhampton home. Tanga launched the attack on Mr Mattox because he was gay, prosecutors told Wolverhampton Crown Court. The intoxicated killer kicked him multiple times in the head, leaving him fatally wounded on the kitchen floor

.

Tanga made allegations that his victim had initiated an unwelcome romantic gesture moments before the attack. This incited a violent response from Tanga. His defense team argued that this inopportune approach drove Tanga to assert his masculinity.

40-year-old Tanga pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr. Mattox, a carer, and a second charge of assault causing actual bodily harm to Mattox’s tenant. However, the jurors came to the unanimous decision that Tanga was indeed guilty of both charges on 19th April. Following the verdict, Tanga was incarcerated for life with a minimum term of 25 years on May 3rd at the Wolverhampton Crown Court.

At the time of sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers KC stated, “You subjected Mr. Mattox to a brutal and sustained attack in the safety of his own home. The event was incited by a vodka-fueled rage during which you repeatedly kicked him in the head causing severe fractures and brain damage, leading to his death on 24th May.”

The court disclosed the incidents of May 10, 2021 leading to an attack. Mr. Mattox, his tenant and a companion went to Merridale, Wolverhampton with a bottle of vodka to commemorate the ending of World War II. Tanga, the killer, also partook in the celebration. The group later went out to buy more vodka, according to BirminghamLive.

The victim appeared to be in good spirits during a FaceTime call with his brother at 4.34pm, stated the court. However, less than an hour later, disturbing noises prompted neighbors to alert the police. Arriving at the scene at 5.45pm, the police discovered Mr. Mattox unconscious on the floor. He had suffered severe fractures to his face and skull followed by brain damage leading to organ failure.

Mr. Mattox passed away a fortnight later on May 24. A forensic pathologist from the Home Office claimed that there must have been ‘at least three heavy blows to the head’, consistent with kicking. Upon police’s arrival to the scene, Tanga informed them that the victim was a homosexual. He later justified his actions by saying that the victim had made advances towards him.

Tanga’s second victim bore bruises and scratches from an assault at Mr Mattox’s residence. The timing of the injuries is uncertain, but the victim has now completely recovered.

West Midlands Police stated that Tanga hindered officers from entering the victim’s apartment for seven minutes after they got there. He also reportedly tried to escape.

In court, the prosecution represented by Andrew Wallace, said there was an absence of fatal intent, however, there was an aim of inflicting serious physical harm. According to him, the brutality of the murder was escalated by Tanga’s ‘hostility’ towards his victim’s sexual preference.

The defense, headed by Amjad Malik KC, argued that the victim, Mr Mattox, made a sexual move on his killer, which triggered an ‘out of proportion’ reaction from the ‘highly inebriated’ Tanga. It was reported that Tanga was asked to vacate the apartment as he was ‘no longer wanted’, but he declined and ‘reacted with explosive aggression’, as stated by Mr Malik.

The defense continued to assert that Tanga did not harbor homophobic feelings and that the victim’s sexual preference did not trigger his violence. Mr Malik stated: “The facts clearly indicate that Tanga had known Mr Mattox for a number of years. There was absolutely no issue.”

Judge Chambers stated that the ‘extreme violence’ exhibited by Tanga was largely due to his ‘hostility’ towards the victim’s ‘sexual orientation’. According to the judge, this severe attack was much more than a simple reaction to a sexual advance.

The statement made to the jury indicated that the act was inspired and motivated by a negative attitude towards Mr Mattox’s sexual orientation. And the gathered evidence supports this conclusion.

The court was informed that Tanga, who was aided by a Russian interpreter in court, had a history of violent behavior. For several years, Tanga has suffered from a form of psychotic disorder, likely paranoid schizophrenia, the judge further mentioned.

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Scotch! The Story of Whiskey showcases David Cayman’s exploration into the history of the Scottish drink and its evolution into a global industry. The narrative delves into how the widespread distribution of various Scotch types around the world threatens its distinctiveness and superiority. This series, launched on October 11, 2016, garnered extensive acclaim.

Discover how you can view and stream Scotch! The Story of Whiskey Season 1 through streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video.

You bet! Scotch! The Story of Whiskey Season 1 can be viewed via streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

In episode 1, Cayman learns the craft of distilling and blending whiskey from Kirsteen Campbell. The narration also details Scotch’s evolution into an international brand and the emergence of its competitors. Cayman visits Norfolk in England, as well as Tasmania and Japan, to uncover how the whiskey industry is covering the market and testing Scotch’s reign.

The series showcases actor David Cayman in the principal role.

Scotch! The Story of Whiskey Season 1 can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. This streaming platform, Amazon Prime Video, boasts a vast repertoire of favorite movies, TV series, and its original creations, including successful series such as ‘The Wheel of Time,’ ‘The Boys,’ amongst many others.

Here is how you can stream via Amazon Prime Video:

Access the following link: Amazon Prime Video

Select ‘Sign in’ and ‘Create your Amazon account’

Sign up for a Prime Video membership:

$14.99 per month or $139 per year with an Amazon Prime membership

$8.99 per month for a standalone Prime Video membership

Amazon Prime is a subscription offered by the esteemed online retailer that provides services such as rapid delivery and exclusive deals on products. Their most popular package includes not just these attractive benefits, but also a subscription to Prime Video. Alternatively, you can choose to subscribe to Prime Video on its own.

Presenting the synopsis of Scotch! The Story of Whiskey:

“Through the eyes of David Hayman, we explore the current state of the Scotch whisky industry and delve into the potential risks threatening its global supremacy.”

Please note that the aforementioned streaming services are susceptible to alteration. The details given were accurate at the time of penning this article.

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On May 3, 2024, Robert Arsov, Director of Rumble Inc (NASDAQ:RUM), sold 105,012 shares of the company. The transaction was filed on the same day with the SEC.

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with RUM.

Rumble Inc (NASDAQ:RUM) operates as a video platform company, providing creators with distribution, monetization, and discovery of content. The company aims to foster freedom of speech and grow communities around shared interests and topics.

The shares were sold at a price of $6.77, valuing the transaction at approximately $710,931.24. Following this transaction, the insider’s total sales over the past year amount to 255,012 shares, with no recorded purchases.

The company’s market cap stands at approximately $1.97 billion. Rumble Inc’s valuation metrics include a price-earnings ratio, price-sales ratio, price-book ratio, and price-to-free cash flow. The company’s valuation can also be assessed using the GF Value, which provides an estimate of intrinsic value based on historical multiples, adjusted for growth and yield.

Over the past year, there have been no insider buys and nine insider sells at Rumble Inc, indicating a trend of insider selling activities.

This recent sale by the insider adds to the ongoing pattern of insider transactions at Rumble Inc, which may be of interest to current and potential investors.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — In 1866, the first registered distillery in the United States began in the quaint town of Lynchburg, Tennessee! Today, Jack Daniel’s is the top selling whiskey in the world. Known for its consistency, every drop made is made in Lynchburg.

So how is it that even though the whiskey is made in a volatile climate, the product isn’t impacted by the weather?

It all starts with the water.

To make whiskey, it must be free of iron. Otherwise it would turn black and bitter. One point that led Jack Daniels himself to choose the location of Lynchburg was the natural spring water — and more importantly — the presence of limestone in the area. Limestone acts as a filter, removing iron from the water. When it rains, water is absorbed into the ground through the limestone, eventually making its way down to a spring.

Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller, Chris Fletcher, has a deep-rooted connection with the cave spring, owing to his grandfather, Frank Bobo, who served as master distiller from 1966 to 1988.

As per Fletcher’s knowledge, the cave system extends two miles deep into the ground.

Within this cave spring, the temperature holds steady.

“As far as I know, the ground temperature here as you get so far down is 56 degrees,” Chris Fletcher stated.

Regardless of the outside temperature, be it zero degrees or 100 degrees, this natural spring manages to maintain a steady 56 degrees! One might wonder how this is possible?

The secret resides in the design of the cavern – it prevents the displacement of cold air by warm air.

Periodic checks are performed to guarantee the health of the water.

“We have mapped it out and conducted studies, and approximately every couple of years we arrange for individuals to go back inside to assess its health and confirm that it’s structurally sound,” explains Fletcher.

Water’s quality, followed by the type of grain used, plays a crucial role in distinguishing this whiskey. If a region’s grain crop succumbs to drought, Jack Daniel’s would extend its search for grain as far as Canada or Northern Europe.

Our corn, too, adheres to very precise specifications. We only use cleaned, grade one corn. We avoid grade two corn to prevent the need to separate any debris like twigs, husks, or stones. We follow stringent moisture standards and require a specific starch content for it to be converted into whiskey,” shared Fletcher.

For a whiskey to be a true Tennessee variant, it requires an extra step of charcoal mellowing. It does not involve just any charcoal, but one produced on-site at Jack Daniel’s from Hard Sugar Maple Wood.

“To qualify as a Tennessee Whiskey, it must pass through Hard Sugar Maple Charcoal,” explained Byron Copeland, Jack Daniel’s Manager for Maturation and Innovations.

Also known as the “Lincoln County Process,” the distilled whiskey undergoes filtration through self-made charcoal tanks that stand ten feet tall. This method eliminates impurities and endows the whiskey with a smoother consistency.

The must then age the distilled whiskey. However, the barrel applied to this process isn’t arbitrary.

“The barrels used are constructed from oak. For a beverage to earn the title of bourbon or Tennessee whiskey, it must be stored in new, charred oak barrels. However, we opt to use white oak,” commented Copeland.

According to Copeland, the source of the white oak utilized is primarily Appalachia. They mainly procure their oak from states such as Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. When required, they also source the white oak from Missouri, where the species aligns with their select specifications.

There’s somewhat of a safety net due to the vast region that cultivates white oak essential for this whiskey, as one area may be buffered against extreme weather incidences.

Once the wood is harvested, it’s crucial for Jack to preserve its moisture to prevent the drying and splintering process as it is transported to the distillery.

“To ensure they don’t decompose, you need to retain some water so the wood remains damp,” Copeland stated.

The lengthy aging process then commences, and alterations in temperature become a significant factor—ranging from scorching Tennessee summers to freezing winter months.

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Copeland points out that in the wintertime, the whiskey contracts inside the barrels coming out of the wood into the barrel. In the summertime, the whiskey expands absorbing into the barrel stave. Over time, this is the process that gives the whiskey 100% of its color and between 60% to 70% of its flavor.

From the water, to the grain, to the oak used to make whiskey barrels — they all serve a special purpose to make Tennessee’s second largest export.

And despite extreme cold in the winter — or extreme heat in the summer — remember that a small town in Middle Tennessee harnessed both for decades to make the most recognized whiskey brands in the world!

Growing your family, no matter the journey to get there, is an emotional one. My heart aches for these families who trusted a Nashville fertility clinic with their dreams and finances. Hannah McDonald’s relentlessness to find answers is journalism at its best and hopefully a new avenue of hope for the patients caught up in this mess.

“`

-Carrie Sharp

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

The Rolling Stones are celebrating their latest album by hitting the road for their Hackney Diamonds tour. But along with rocking out with the band in-person, fans now have the opportunity to pick up a limited-edition bottle of the group’s Crossfire Hurricane Rum, released in conjunction with the jaunt.

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The new “Hackney Diamonds” edition of Crossfire Rum is a bottle worthy of being displayed, as it features an all-black base with gold-yellow accents and an updated version of of the band’s logo. In addition to receiving the new rum, fans will take home a keepsake box that also comes with the rock group’s flagship Crossfire Hurricane Rum. The complete boxed set will be released gradually across the country to align with The Rolling Stones’ tour schedule — including on the official Crossfire Hurricane website — at a retail price of $125. Concertgoers will also have the opportunity to buy the rum at the venue.

Keep reading to see where to buy the bottle online when it comes to a city near you.

Buy Now on crossfire hurricane $125

The new edition of Crossfire Hurricane Rum aims to provide the same blended rum taste in an updated bottle while paying “homage to the band’s iconic journey,” according to a press release. For the band, releasing the beverage is yet another way to connect with fans outside of their music.

“This commemorative box set of Crossfire Hurricane Rum is not just a celebration of our US tour, but a toast to the incredible journey we’ve shared with our fans,” The Rolling Stones said in a press statement.

And to complete your collection, the original Crossfire Hurricane Rum is available for purchase on Reserve Bar and Total Wine for under $40. Shop the bottle below.

Buy Now on reserve bar $37

Buy Now on total wine $38.99

The flagship Crossfire Hurricane Rum aims to infuse the flavors of rum from Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Barbados that’s been aged within oak barrels. You can expect notes of caramelized bananas mixed with tropical fruit with each sip.

More celebrities have been coming out with their own form of wine and spirits, with the “Satisfaction” band growing the list of musician-owned alcohol brands in addition to artist-owned wines. And it’s not just the music industry that has picked up on the alcohol trend, Kylie Jenner just released Sprinter, a vodka soda brand, joining her sister Kendall who owns 818 Tequila.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best cocktail books, music coolers and musician cookbooks.

“I just picked her up from the airport and we had dinner — nothing really crazy,” he remembers. “And then as soon as we started shooting the video, that was it”

Ryan Montgomery fell in love with Camille Griffith last December on the set of his music video for his single “Whiskey & Smoke” — and things have only gotten hotter between the two smoke shows.

“I’m in Nashville right now and she’s here with me,” says Montgomery, 25, during an interview with PEOPLE about his girlfriend, a content creator. “It’s just been crazy. We never saw it coming.”

Understandably so, as Montgomery remembers first connecting with Griffith via mutual friends during CMA Fest last year, but it wasn’t until the filming of the fiery “Whiskey & Smoke” video that things heated up between the two.

“She came in the day before we shot the video, and I just picked her up from the airport and we had dinner and stuff — nothing really crazy,” he remembers. “And then as soon as we started shooting the video, that was it. She was supposed to fly out the next day back to Arizona, and she ended up moving her flight and staying a couple more days. It was just crazy the way everything worked out.”

It’s one of the many things that has just “worked out” for the former ice hockey player who homed in on his musical craft as a teen from the back tailgate of his pickup truck in his home state of Florida. 

“I was 18 years old, and I would just drop my tailgate down and set my speakers up and just play country music in parking lots for hours,” he recalls. “My goal at that point was to have a tour where I could maybe go and do some small shows at different places. Right now, of course, my goals are way bigger, but I really can’t believe that we are where we are at. It’s really crazy.”

Bailey Accorto

Where Montgomery is at right now is on his Whiskey & Smoke Tour, crisscrossing the country as a headliner through the end of the year. Montgomery also recently released his next single “Missin’ a Girl,” featuring a stellar lineup of writers including Ashley Gorley, Jaren Johnston and Chris DeStefano.

“I’m such a huge fan of these guys,” Montgomery explains. “To get to collaborate with some of my songwriting idols is just insane. They’ve all written songs for Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, and now me!” He laughs. “This is just really something I don’t know that I ever dreamed could even be possible.”

Nevertheless, it’s a dream that Montgomery wakes up to every day, especially as “Missin’ a Girl” continues to snag some well-deserved attention over social media and such.

“‘Missin’ a Girl is such a special song,” he says. “I think we’ve all had that where we have a song with somebody or we have a drink with somebody somewhere when you’re dating them, and then you break up or drift apart, and you go that same place or listen to that same song, and you start missing them.”

Certainly, Montgomery has known that feeling, but it’s one that he says he hopes he doesn’t want to feel anytime soon as his relationship with Griffith seems to show no signs of slowing down. And it’s this love story that the couple say they want to continue to share with fans.

“I try to be as authentic as possible in my life,” Montgomery says. “There’s definitely some downsides of doing that, but we both feel like it’s real and it is what it is, so why not share it with everybody?”

Because in a cruel world, Montgomery says love feels good.

“My family was able to come to my first ever headlining amphitheater show in my hometown,” remembers Montgomery. “They came on the bus and stayed on the side stage and watched the show at this big amphitheater. It was really cool.”

And it’s all these people that will keep the rising country star grounded in the days ahead. “My grandpa served in Vietnam,” Montgomery explains, “And he’s just somebody that no matter what’s going on, he is always in my ear about staying grounded, appreciating everything and valuing what’s really important in life.”

You’d imagine that popular spirits such as Tennessee whiskey and Fernet wouldn’t need much advertising. Tennessee whiskey is one of the state’s most iconic exports, and Fernet is so esteemed by bartenders and drink enthusiasts that it’s often given as a salute or parting present across the bar, referred to as a “secret handshake.”

However, these two beverages didn’t achieve their immense popularity without keeping their recall value high, so brace yourself, Nashville, because things are about to get spirited!

First on the agenda is the 2024 installment of Tennessee Whiskey Week, brought to you by the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. This consortium of whiskey makers in the state is actually extending the festival this year beyond a single week, with celebrations planned in East Tennessee from May 3 to May 11, Middle Tennessee from May 12 to 23, and West Tennessee from May 20 through May 25.

They’ve scheduled exclusive distillery viewings, live entertainment, and deals on local cocktails and food at partaking eateries, as well as ticketed Master Distiller-Chef dinners where chefs from select restaurants will design specialized menus to honor the yearly celebration, inspired by a native Tennessee spirit brand. However, unless you’re planning to travel to the far-flung corners, it’s perhaps best to focus on our local scene.

Nashville is set to host this year’s key event, Top of the Rocks, a cocktail competition akin to Chopped. The competition encourages mixologists to use bold flavors and native spirits to concoct unique cocktails. The venue for the event is Acme Feed & Seed, and it is scheduled to commence at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. The event will also feature cocktail tastings, a people’s choice competition, light bites, and live music from Timbo and Boo Ray. Tickets can be obtained from the event’s website, with a few competitor slots still available for professional bartenders who wish to participate.

Here’s a catalog of Middle Tennessee restaurants and bars that will be offering Whiskey Week specials on cocktail creations featuring Tennessee spirits, whiskey pours, and specialty drinks between May 12 and May 23:

Dinner collaborations between Master Distillers and Chefs will take place at numerous restaurants across the city, so choose from these amazing options:

For details on specific events and ticketing information, visit the Whiskey Week website.

Fernet Branca has embarked on their Secret Handshake Tour at noted cocktail markets like Miami, Chicago, Brooklyn, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and they actually started the tour here in Nashville beginning on April 25. What, you didn’t know about it? It’s a secret!

They have been setting up special events at local bars, distributing cards that patrons can get stamped and send in for prizes when the tour leaves town on May 23. But where will they be popping up exactly? That’s a secret. However, if you register at the Fernet Secret Handshake Tour website, they’ll send you all the necessary details.

They have announced one event, a special concert at Third and Lindsley, starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. The exact performers remain a mystery. But, Third and Lindsley’s performance calendar reveals that Kody West with Jason Scott and the High Heat will be taking the stage that evening, so you won’t be completely in the dark.

Cheers!

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