On May 5, this year at the historic Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen, Pax44 will proudly unveil the Liberation Day Edition— a limited release of a Canadian whisky crafted to commemorate 80 years of freedom in the Netherlands. This poignant launch takes place at the very site where, on May 5, 1945, German forces formally surrendered to Canadian General Charles Foulkes and his team including Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, marking a new era of peace.

ThePax44 Liberation Day Edition is a Canadian whisky delicately flavoured with Dutch chocolate, symbolizing the enduring bond between Canada and the Netherlands.

“Pax44 is a message from the past inspiring hope,” said Owen James, founder of Pax44. “This launch marks a victory for all those who have successfully calibrated the moral compass and upheld the warrior code. It acknowledges the unbreakable bond between the Netherlands and Canada.”

Crafted from a single cask of 18-year-old Canadian rye whisky — personally selected and gifted to Pax44 by one of the world’s leading shippers — the Liberation Day Edition offers a bold, earthy aroma layered with notes of caramel, vanilla, and a signature spicy rye finish. Subtle traces of Dutch cocoa enrich the experience, gently appearing on the nose and lingering through the finish.

Only a limited number of specially boxed bottles of the Liberation Day Edition have been produced for ceremonial presentations this year. These collector’s items are not available for sale, emphasizing the commemorative nature of the release. The unique cask will continue to mature, with a wider public release planned for Liberation Day 2026.

Visitors to Hotel de Wereld are invited to try Pax44 and explore the story behind its creation — a powerful reminder of sacrifice, friendship, and the moral compass that guides nations toward peace.

As Prime Minister Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy declared in 1945: “We remember those we lost. We honour those who fought. And we look ahead to rebuilding a peaceful and democratic Netherlands. “Today, that spirit endures with Pax44.

HANDSHAKE SPEAKEASY FROM MEXICO CITY IS NAMED THE BEST BAR IN NORTH AMERICA FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW AS THE RANKING OF NORTH AMERICA’S 50 BEST BARS IS REVEALED

In its fourth edition, the list of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 was announced at a live ceremony in
Vancouver

• Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City, is named No.1 and is crowned The Best Bar in Mexico, sponsored by Perrier

• This year’s list features 26 US bars, 14 from Mexico, 8 from Canada, and 2 based in the Caribbean

• The Best Bar in Canada, sponsored by Torres Brandy, is awarded to Bar Pompette (No.7) from Toronto

• Library by the Sea, Grand Cayman, No.30, earns The Best Bar in the Caribbean, sponsored by Scrappy's Bitters

• Julie Reiner of Clover Club and Milady’s in New York wins the Roku Industry Icon Award

• Lemon, Chicago, wins the Campari One To Watch Award

• Three Cents Best New Opening Award goes to New York’s Clemente Bar (No.11)

• Thunderbolt, Los Angeles, No.24, earns the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award

• Toronto’s Civil Works is awarded the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award

• Mírate from Los Angeles, No.12, is the Nikka Highest Climber Award winner

• New York’s Sip & Guzzle (No.5) earns the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award

• Carry On from Phoenix wins the Best Bar Design Award, sponsored by St-Germain

• Licorería Limantour (No.9) in Mexico City earns the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award

See the full press release attached below.

Attachments:

50-list-announcement-press-release.pdf

[ ]

1030 kB

GATLINBURG, Tenn., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ole Smoky Distillery, the most awarded moonshine and flavored whiskey brand in the U.S., is proud to announce two major wins in the 2025 Growth Brand Awards from the Beverage Information Group, leaders in the beverage alcohol data collection, reporting and analysis, and publishers of Beverage Dynamics, Cheers, StateWays, Beverage Wholesaler. The awards recognize the fastest-growing and top-selling beverage alcohol brands in the country, and Ole Smoky's continued success earned two major distinctions:

• Ole Smoky Mint Chocolate Chip Cream Whiskey – Rising Star Award
• Ole Smoky Whiskey – Fast Track Award

"These awards validate the continued work we've done to bring exciting flavors to the whiskey category," explains Stephanie Moraine, Director of Marketing at Ole Smoky Distillery. "From classic Southern flavors to bold and unexpected profiles like Mint Chocolate Chip, we're constantly looking for ways to inspire and satisfy whiskey drinkers. At Ole Smoky, we go all in with big, innovative flavors and we're honored to be recognized among the industry's top performers for the 6^th year running."

The Growth Brands Awards have recognized successful beverage alcohol brands since 1997. Growth Brands are divided into five categories (Fast Track, Rising Star, Established Growth Brands, Comeback Brands, and Hall of Fame) for wine and spirits, while beer brands are awarded based upon a survey of off-premise retailers and on-premise operators.

Ole Smoky takes pride in its assortment of delicious, flavored Whiskeys, infused with bold, indulgent flavors. From Mint Chocolate Chip Cream Whiskey to Salty Caramel Whiskey, this whiskey is anything but ordinary! Ole Smoky is available in all 50 states and over 20 countries around the world at liquor stores and wherever you pick up your favorite spirits, including the company's four famed distilleries in Tennessee, located at and in Gatlinburg, in Pigeon Forge, and in Nashville.  

For more information about Ole Smoky and where to find its products, visit

LONDON, April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnnie Walker, has announced acclaimed French couture designer Olivier Rousteing as the first cultural partner under the Johnnie Walker Vault platform. Launched earlier this year, Johnnie Walker Vault is a new global luxury platform grounded in blending artistry - uniting bespoke blends, luxurious experiences and collaborations with cultural icons all under one visionary banner. 

First Unveiling: Couture Expression 

Couture Expression is the inaugural limited-edition release from the Johnnie Walker Vault, co-created by Johnnie Walker Master Blender Dr Emma Walker and Olivier Rousteing. Drawing inspiration from the world of high fashion, the collection elevates blending artistry into new dimensions through a seasonal interpretation, setting a new standard of luxury whisky creation. 

"Pushing boundaries through blending artistry has always been at the heart of my work, and opening the doors of the Johnnie Walker Vault to welcome such a progressive, creative talent of Olivier's magnitude has been something that will stay with me forever." says Master Blender, Dr. Emma Walker. 

This launch brings together two creatives at the height of their craft, each renowned for pushing the boundaries of their art. In a hidden 'atelier' beneath Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Dr. Emma Walker, the brand's Master Blender, and Rousteing collaborated to craft and design a collection of four blends - Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter - capturing Rousteing's personal and emotional connection to each season as well as its sensorial spirit.

"This has been an emotional journey," says Rousteing. "What started as a collaboration to create one special release became a creative exploration of four seasons, just like a couture collection. For me, the seasons bring different energy and emotions - the feeling of rebirth in Spring, the hazy freedom of Summer, the self-reflection of Fall and the coziness of home and family in Winter - that Emma so beautifully captured in the collection." 

Couture Expression Blends 

Each of the four blends in the collection begins with the same luxurious 'heart', including ghost whiskies from Brora and Port Dundas, setting a marker for the rarity of the collection. Dr. Walker then layered hand-selected whiskies from the Johnnie Walker Vault - a library of 500 rare, aged and ghost whiskies, personally curated and rotated from the very best of the 10 million casks of Scotch available to her as Master Blender. In an innovative fusion of creative minds, over the course of 12 months, Dr Walker translated Rousteing's personal narrative into four sensorial journeys through flavour and time.

Emma Walker continued, "Olivier brought an emotional language to the blending creation, and we worked together to explore what whisky can express - technically, sensorially and artistically. We deliberately chose to use the same whiskies across several of the seasons, playing with proportions, textures and seasonal notes to create four distinct expressions of whiskies" 

The Couture Expression blends encompass:

• Spring – Refreshing and floral. A celebration of renewal and transformation, with brightness drawn from a selection of rare whiskies including a 1985 Cragganmore, a rarely seen 1977 Caledonian and minerality from a treasured 1978 Port Ellen. 
• Summer – Vibrant. An ode to summer with tropical fruit notes from a selection of rare whiskies including an experimental Cardhu Wine Cask Finish, and a 1990 Clynelish wrapped in the richness of 1988 Benrinnes. 
• Fall – Textured and bold. A time of self-reflection and the relentless pursuit of excellence, this expression features an experimental Teaninich chocolate malt, layered with smoke from the 1978 Port Ellen.
• Winter – Deep and contemplative. Reflecting 'coming home' and the warmth of sharing time and moments with family and friends. The richest of the four, dialling up Islay malts from Port Ellen and Brora with a mulled wine, sweetness from the 1988 Benrinnes.