BLUE OCEAN BRANDS
DON FREYTAG has been named Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer. In his new position he will focus primarily on developing the Kurvball Flavored Whiskey brand. Freytag was previously Commercial Director, Strategic Advisor and a board member of Rabbit Hole Distillery. He was also responsible for creating the Mary Dowling Whiskey... Read More
PHENOMENAL SPIRITS
TIMOTHY BASHAM has been appointed to the newly created position of Vice President of US Sales. In this role, Basham will be responsible for spearheading a number of initiatives including the company’s commercial, distribution, and sales strategy development, as well as brand marketing and market activations. Prior to joining Phenomenal... Read More
UNITED STATES BARTENDERS’ GUILD
The USBG has elected INGRID SHAWN RODRIGUEZ as the next President of the Guild. T. COLE NEWTON, JOSEPH FREDRICKSON and JESSICA TAYLOR have all been elected to officer positions to round out the board. Based in St. Petersburg, Rodriguez is the U.S. Educator and Florida Area Manager for WhistlePig Whiskey.... Read More
A Toast To HELEN DAVID
By Kirsten Amann Did you know that in 1945, Michigan passed a law prohibiting women from working behind the bar? There was a loophole that allowed male owners to employ their wives or daughters behind the stick, but according to the new law, even women who owned drinking establishments were... Read More
MEDUSA BREWING COMPANY-A HIDDEN GEM IN CENTRAL MASS
By Andy Crouch Central Massachusetts often feels like a bit of a hidden vortex, a place you pass through on the way to Boston or to Western Mass and beyond. For beer lovers, however, the start of sloping landscapes obscures great breweries and bars. Locals have no inferiority complex, knowing... Read More
ENDANGERED COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH-THE IRISH BLONDE
By Pink Lady It’s fun to raise a glass of something Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, and since we’ve covered most of the notable classic cocktails created with Irish whiskey pre-Prohibition, it seems quite fitting to turn our attention to a modern classic. The Irish Blonde is a creation developed... Read More
OBITUARY: Anthony Dias Blue
Legendary wine, spirits and food critic Anthony Dias Blue passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, December 25th. His love affair with wine began in 1978 when he moved his family to San Francisco. He would go on to be the founder and Executive Director of The Tasting... Read More
DE KUYPER
Mark de Witte will retire as CEO of De Kuyper Royal Distillers in April when Heineken veteran LEO EVERS will take over the position on May 1. During De Witte’s nine-year tenure as CEO the Dutch distiller nearly tripled its turnover. Dutch national Evers started his career at Bols International... Read More
BEAM SUNTORY
JAMEY MARTIN has joined the drinks group as its chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer. In her new role, Martin will look to make an impact across the company’s three-pillar DEI strategy of workplace, workforce, and marketplace. She joins Beam Suntory following a 15-year career at Mondelēz International, serving... Read More
CORE WINE TERMS DITCHED
It’s out with the old and out with the new. The US arm of the Court of Master Sommeliers has decided that wine-producing countries will no longer be referred to as “Old World” or “New World” in materials, the body announced in its December newsletter. The decision was driven by... Read More