MEMPHIS, TN: B.R. Distilling Company, the oldest licensed distillery in Memphis, announces the release of Blue Note Rye (MSRP 34.99) to its impressive whiskey lineup. Pulling inspiration from and embodying the spirit and soul of Memphis Blues, Blue Note Rye promises a bold yet smooth experience from the first sip. This new addition recently made its debut at the legendary Kentucky Bourbon Festival and will be available in all Blue Note distribution locations in early fall.

  

Blue Note Rye, an unfiltered straight rye whiskey, is aged a minimum of three years with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. At 93 proof, this rich and full-of-character rye whiskey has notes of vanilla, oak, cinnamon and apple with a crisp body leading to an inherently smooth and robust finish.  

"In response to the growing demand for our Blue Note Bourbons and the expanding taste and geographic profile of our customers, we are proud to release our Blue Note Rye whiskey. This release further enhances our commitment to provide high-quality products with an accessible price point and proof range to customers across the U.S.," said B.R. Distilling Company President and CEO Logan Welk. "In a product landscape that includes many overpriced bourbon and whiskey offerings, we are proud to exceed our consumers' expectations while also providing a product that strongly resonates and is directed to our on-premise customers." 

For a closer look, tour the Blue Note facility or enjoy the tasting room in Memphis, for an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes view of the process and art behind crafting extraordinary whiskey. Guests can embark on a guided tour from the Blue Note Bourbon leadership team with the option to add a tasting experience of the award-winning portfolio, including Blue Note Juke Joint, Blue Note Uncut, Blue Note Crossroads and the upcoming addition Blue Note Rye. With Blue Note Juke Joint and Blue Note Crossroads being honored at the 2023 San Fransico World Spirits Competition winning Double Gold Medals for the second consecutive year and Blue Note Uncut receiving the 2022 Double Platinum Ascot Award, the brand's latest venture, Blue Note Rye, is poised to impress.

Check out Blue Note Bourbon’s new website and learn more about the award-winning lineup here.

LONDON, ON, Sept. 27, 2023 /CNW/ - The Banquet Bar, a premium restaurant and dive bar, known for its four thriving locations in Alberta, is set to make its debut in London, Ontario, on October 1, 2023.

Located at 660 Richmond Street, this new Banquet venue features a prime downtown location and will offer exceptional culinary delights, handcrafted cocktails, and a variety of games and entertainment options.

The Banquet opened its first location in 2019 in Fort McMurray, Alberta. This will be the fifth location for the Banquet brand, and the first outside of Alberta.

"We are excited to expand into the Ontario market, especially in such a great location," said Roger Newton, Owner of The Banquet Bar. "We're bringing our A-game with the most competitive specials, top-tier service, electric atmosphere with unique food, cocktails and games. We're not just a restaurant, we're an experience."

With a focus on providing a unique and enjoyable experience for guests, the new location will be open seven days a week with ping pong, shuffleboard, games and more. In addition to the exciting amenities, The Banquet Bar has a busy events calendar, featuring live music, promotions and contests.

The doors to the new establishment open on Sunday, October 1, with hours of operation of 11:30 a.m. - 2 a.m., seven days a week. A Grand Opening Party will be held on Thursday, October 5 and feature 50% off regular priced food all day.

For more information about The Banquet Bar and its new London location, please visit the website at www.thebanquetbar.com.

Get Real. Play Hard. The Banquet

CHICAGO – Broken Shed Vodka, the fastest-growing vodka in the U.S. that’s known for its crisp, clean taste, today announced its new U.S. creative campaign, "Vodka from a Different World." Just like its birthplace in New Zealand, Broken Shed Vodka prides itself on being different with its distinct sustainable distillation process, which results in an exceptional tasting vodka.

"Our ‘Vodka from a Different World' campaign invites consumers on a journey to the awe-inspiring environment of New Zealand, a place that is celebrated for doing things differently - including how Broken Shed makes our award-winning vodka using only three ingredients, two of them water,” said Jean-Marie Heins, chief marketing officer of Broken Shed Vodka. “This campaign is designed to entice vodka enthusiasts to discover how vodka made differently can be and quench their thirst for discovery. It’s a testament to Broken Shed Vodka's commitment to delivering a premium, pure and natural product with incredible taste.”

This captivating campaign seeks to immerse consumers in a different world - revealing the breathtaking and visually stunning landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island with images of Lake Hawea, an outdoor adventurer’s paradise located outside of Wanaka, where Broken Shed was born. The campaign also showcases the unique wildlife you can only find in New Zealand, including the Tuatara (no, it’s not a lizard - it’s the last surviving species of reptilesthat thrived in the age of the dinosaurs - as ancient as the aquifers where Broken Shed sources its water from).

Crafted using two distinct water sources from New Zealand's North and South Islands, Broken Shed is artfully blended with sustainable whey, a natural by-product, resulting in a crisp and pure flavor with a smooth, warm finish. Broken Shed is completely free of additives, sweeteners, and GMOs. It’s naturally gluten-free at every step of the process which celebrates and protects the purity of New Zealand’s beautiful environment. Broken Shed’s natural ingredients make it perfect for sipping on the rocks, creating an infusion or elevating your favorite cocktail.

Broken Shed Vodka is currently available in 30 U.S. markets and plans to expand its footprint nationally in the USA in the coming months through its recently announced national distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits - the world's preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol.

The new campaign was developed by Broken Shed Vodka’s Christchurch and Chicago-based creative agency, TimeZoneOne (TZO). The campaign includes creative, video, print, display, off-premise, on-premise, point-of-sale, digital marketing, PR, website and social content, paid media and coast-to-coast event activations.

To learn more about the ‘Vodka From a Different World Campaign’ click here. To download Broken Shed Vodka campaign assets, click here.

Monday 2 October, London –WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust), the world’s largest provider of drinks education, is to launch two new beer qualifications, Level 1 Award in Beer and Level 2 Award in Beer, from February 2024.

The new beer qualifications will set the global standard for tasting and education in the beer category. They’ve been created by WSET’s Product Development team, led by Sara Hobday, Head of Product Development – Beer Qualifications. The team has been supported by Mirella Amato, Senior Business Development Manager – Beer, WSET Americas – world-renowned beer educator and consultant, and one of only 22 Master Cicerones® – as well as Stuart Howe, Technical Development Manager, Institute of Brewing & Distilling.  

Entering into beer is a natural progression for WSET – the principles that have established the organization as the leading global provider of drinks education transfer easily into the category. Beer will be WSET’s fourth qualification area following wine, spirits and sake and the first new subject stream since 2014 when sake was introduced.

WSET Level 1 and 2 Awards in Beer will provide both trade professionals and beer enthusiasts with the product knowledge and tasting skills to become more beer confident. Initially launching online and in-person in select markets, including the USA, Canada, UK and Australia, the courses will explore the main types and styles of beer, key methods of production, tasting technique and food pairings. Using WSET’s trademarked Systematic Approach to Tasting, students will be equipped with a universal language to describe what they’re tasting and a framework for assessing quality.

Michelle Brampton, WSET CEO, said: “Extending our qualifications to encompass beer is an exciting time for WSET and a natural fit for us as leaders in global drinks education. Bringing over 50 years of educational experience to the beer category, our new Level 1 and 2 Awards in Beer will bring a unique and interactive approach to tasting and learning. We hope people will be inspired to pursue their passion for beer whether for career or personal development using our courses to build their knowledge.”

The announcement comes as WSET reveals that for the previous academic year (2022-23) its non-wine (spirits and sake) candidates have grown at the fastest rate, increasing by 27%, while the number of wine candidates is up by 21%. Wine remains the strongest performing qualification for WSET with candidates making up 88% of its student base in the last academic year.

Overall, in academic year 2022-23, 143,000 candidates enrolled for a qualification, up 22% from the previous year. With courses offered by over 700 course providers in 78 countries, the largest markets for WSET are:  

The USA with 27,000 candidates, up 17% vs previous year

The UK with 24,000 candidates, up 19% vs previous year

China with 13,000 candidates (not operational in previous year)

David Rudman, Executive Director, WSET Americas & WSET Asia-Pacific, said: “Launching into the beer category is an enticing prospect for us. Not only is the United States already our largest market for all our other drinks qualifications, the size of the beer industry and the enthusiasm for North American beers makes it the logical next step. There’s also excitement brewing in our Asia-Pacific markets where beer captures a significant share of attention. We hope our new courses will inspire beer professionals and enthusiasts by equipping them with essential knowledge and skills.”

Sara Hobday, Head of Product Development – Beer Qualifications, said: “Developing the materials for our beer qualifications and piloting them with WSET’s Natalya Watson, Malcolm Venter and others has been a real highlight. Helping students to develop their beer knowledge, skills and confidence, with a focus on teaching through to tasting, has been at the centre of every step in the product development process. This applies to both our online and in-person courses which will soon be accessible to students through WSET’s global network of course providers.”

To learn more about WSET’s qualifications or to find a local course provider, visit wsetglobal.com.