Historic Spoetzl Brewery announces new distillery

The Spoetzl Brewery, the family-owned and independent craft brewer behind Shiner Bock, announced in May the addition of a new onsite distillery, the K. Spoetzl Distilling Company, which will distill a line of Shiner Craft Spirits.

After over 114 years of crafting unique and innovative brews, the Texas brewery is opening a distillery to bring spirits fans expertly crafted spirits including Vodka, Gin and Moonshine—also known as “Shiner Shine”—with barrel-aged spirits to follow.

“The town of Shiner and surrounding areas have a colorful history of distilling that dates back to before Prohibition and ties into Shiner’s rich brewing heritage,” says Tom Fiorenzi, Director of Brewery and Distillery Operations. “We believe our brewing experience crafting award-winning beers uniquely positions us to similarly craft the highest quality spirits for the demanding spirits consumer. The entire process – from grain to glass – will all be done by our team right here in Shiner; after all, great beer is the basis for great spirits.”

Nestled in one of the oldest cellars of the historic brewery, Shiner commissioned a world-class distillation system, including a copper pot still and copper rectifying columns hand-crafted in Scotland. As an ode to the past, each batch of spirits passes through the collection vessel copper grant designed by Shiner’s legendary Brewmaster Kosmos Spoetzl in 1947. “

Visitors are invited to tour the distillery and sample spirits seven days a week. The distillery also has a menu of craft cocktails, each tailored to incorporate the local heritage and flavors. Bottles of spirits are also available for purchase exclusively from the hospitality room for at-home enjoyment.

“The incredible support from Shiner Beer fans over the years led us to this point where Shiner begins a new chapter distilling unique craft spirits that deliver on quality while paying homage to the brewery’s historic past,” says Nick Weiland, Shiner’s Director of Marketing.

BLACKENED Whiskey announces its
first North American cask strength release

 BLACKENED Whiskey recently announced its release of Cask Strength, starting with Volume 01, as a nationwide rollout and will include Canada. BLACKENED Whiskey Cask Strength features the same blend of tNorth American bourbons and ryes as in the original expression. The whiskeys are then married and finished in brandy casks, bottled at cask strength, and non-chill filtered, offering a viscous mouthfeel with an even bolder flavor profile. Each volume of Cask Strength is its own unique batch and limited in quantity.

The makers of BLACKENED Whiskey sonically-enhance their whiskeys to extract more flavor from the finishing casks, using a patent-pending scientific process co-developed by the sound engineers at Meyer Sound, a global leader in sound technology. Dubbed Black Noise™, this sonic-enhancement process produces low hertz sound waves causing the whiskey to reverberate at a fast rate, interacting with the oak staves of the finishing barrel, measurably releasing wood compounds and flavors.

BLACKENED Whiskey Cask Strength features notes of rolled oats, vanilla wafer, fig, maple sugar, and toffee on the nose. On the palate are hints of walnut, caramel, and vanilla creme with a brown sugar, ancho chile, and a cinnamon spice finish.

BLACKENED Whiskey Cask Strength is on shelves now with an SRP of $69.99. To find local retailers or gather information, visit BLACKENED Whiskey’s website www.BlackenedWhiskey.com.

Crown Royal launches Golden Apple

Crown Royal has introduced a multi-pronged, bold new partnership with multidisciplinary artist, Solange Knowles for Saint Heron, to debut the brand’s newest limited-time offering – Crown Royal Golden Apple Aged 23 Years.

Golden Apple is an expression of the meticulous craftsmanship Crown Royal is known for. The exquisite blend of whiskies aged 23 years and the taste of golden delicious apples, paired with decadent notes of creamy vanilla, toasted oak and cinnamon – comes together in a display of bold richness that deserves its own spotlight.

Crown Royal’s partnership with Solange will continue into early 2024 and will highlight new innovations, brand heritage and celebrate the rich history and tradition that has made it one of the most respected and beloved whiskies in the industry.

Crown Royal Golden Apple Aged 23 Years will hit shelves on June 1st and is paired with a bespoke golden bottle in an iconic suede-finished Crown Royal bag and collector’s box. The limited-edition blend has an ABV of 40% and will be available at a suggested retail price of $249.99 for a 750mL bottle. 

Spirit of Gallo acquires Fishers Island Lemonade

Spirit of Gallo has announced it will acquire Fishers Island Lemonade, a female-founded beverage brand. A trailblazer in the ready-to-drink (RTD) category, Fishers Island Lemonade was one of the first premium craft cocktails to be packaged in a can.

Founder Bronya Shillo grew up in Bloomfield, Connecticut and spent summers on Fishers Island, New York where her family owned and operated The Pequot Inn, the only bar on the island, where she began to work as soon as she was old enough. Frequented by locals and visitors alike, The Pequot Inn is known for its signature “FIL” cocktail that was hand crafted in 15-liter batches prior to busy summer weekends. Due to the drink’s popularity, it would sell out regularly at the bar which would cause bartenders to step away to make more. During her time there as a manager, Bronya began to focus on the idea of canning the cocktail, which would not only allow her to serve her customers quicker but also bring the delicious taste of Fishers Island to a wider audience. After two years of research and development, Bronya launched Fishers Island Lemonade on Memorial Day 2014, pioneering the canned cocktail category which is one of the leading contributors to the success of the RTD category today along with High Noon from Spirit of Gallo.

Today, the Fishers Island Lemonade family also includes Fishers Island Half and Half (7% ABV) and Fishers Island Pink Flamingo (7% ABV), line priced with an SRP of $15.99 for a four-pack along with variety 8-pack offerings.