Blue Run Spirits Reveals First Look at Georgetown, Kentucky Whiskey Distillery
Blue Run Spirits this week revealed the first look at its planned whiskey distillery and headquarters in Georgetown, Kentucky, designed by international architect firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
The 35,000-square-foot distillery and a 20,000-square-foot rickhouse will break ground in 2023 at the Lanes Run Business Park. Projected to open in 2025, distillery operations are anticipated to bring at least 45 fulltime jobs to the local economy, which was heralded in a statement by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear last fall.
“We are thrilled to be able to reveal an early look of Bjarke Ingels Group’s design for the new Blue Run Spirits distillery in Georgetown, giving everyone a glimpse at where we are heading in developing a welcoming, unexpected and modern facility with a true focus on sustainability,” said Blue Run Spirits CEO and cofounder Mike Montgomery. “This will be a game-changing addition to Blue Run’s long-range business plans, allowing us to meet forecasted and unforeseen demand, while also giving our Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon and Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge a home base of operations.”
The design, called “Meander,” is meant to evoke the journey of the limestone-rich water of the Royal Spring in Georgetown as it winds its way through the distilling, aging and blending process to becoming fine Blue Run bourbons and rye whiskeys. The Royal Spring, dubbed the Blue Run by one of the founders, serves as the company’s namesake.
Blue Run Spirits has introduced 13 bourbon and rye whiskey releases since the company launched in October 2020, selling 21,000 9-liter cases in 2022 – a 300% year-over-year increase. The company recently announced expanded distribution in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Washington, Minnesota and Ontario.
Blue Run Spirits can be purchased in California, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas and Washington (Republic National Distributing Company); Georgia (Savannah); South Carolina and Tennessee (Advintage); Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. (Prestige-Ledroit); Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, and Wisconsin (Breakthru); New Jersey (Fedway Associates); New York (Empire); Kansas (Worldwide Beverage Group); Arkansas (Arkansas Wine and Spirits); Connecticut (Connecticut Distributors, Inc.); Massachusetts and Rhode Island (Horizon); Alberta and Ontario (Evergreen); and online at http://www.bluerunspirits.com/shop powered by Seelbach’s.
Chattanooga Whiskey names Tiana Saul as new head distiller
Chattanooga Whiskey this month named Tiana Saul as Head Distiller, succeeding Founding Head Distiller Grant McCracken, who will continue exclusively as Chief Product Officer (CPO).
Saul began her career with Chattanooga Whiskey in 2015 as the Assistant Manager at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery before transitioning to the production team in 2017. Over the next 4 years, she worked on or helped lead nearly every aspect of the production process. Saul shifted her focus to new product development in 2018. She developed a variety of expressions, including barrel-aged gins and infused liqueurs, which helped establish Chattanooga Whiskey’s Experimental Single Batch Series as one of the most prolific and innovative collections in the industry. In addition, her blending efforts helped shape two critically acclaimed expressions: the Chattanooga Whiskey Finishing Series and the Bottled in Bond Vintage Series.
As Head Distiller, Saul will lead a production team of 15 full-time employees and cover all aspects of production, grain-to-glass.
“Over the years, Tiana has shown, among other things, a keen eye for the details, a unique sense of style, and a natural understanding of leadership. She is someone the entire team has always looked up to – in every aspect of what we do,” McCracken said. “For those reasons and more, we’re thrilled to see her in this leadership role.”
Saul said she is beyond excited and honored to embark on this next leg of her spirits journey with Chattanooga Whiskey. “I could not ask for a more knowledgeable and passionate team to work with and am grateful for the chance to build off the foundation Grant has laid. I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of the craft spirits world.”
High Noon launching High Noon Tequila Seltzer
This spring, Spirit of Gallo’s High Noon is dropping a new innovation — High Noon Tequila Seltzer. High Noon Tequila Seltzer is made with real fruit juice, real blanco tequila, is 100 calories, gluten-free with no added sugar, and available in four flavors: Lime, Grapefruit, Passionfruit and Strawberry.
“Tequila continues to gain momentum and is one of the fastest growing spirits in the market. We saw an opportunity to expand our offering and bring tequila fans a hard seltzer we know they’ll love,” said Britt West, SVP & General Manager of Spirit of Gallo. “The debut of the High Noon Tequila Seltzer 8-pack comes at a time where tequila enthusiasts are craving the opportunity to enjoy their favorite spirit without having to compromise on convenience or taste. With tequila coming to the High Noon family, our sun continues to rise higher and shine brighter.”
The High Noon Tequila Seltzer 8-Pack will contain eight 355ml cans for an MSRP of $21.99. For more information on High Noon Tequila Seltzer and High Noon Vodka Seltzer, visit HighNoonSpirits.com.
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