Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey has named Devin Ershow as its new head mixologist, developing cocktails crafted to showcase the unique features of each of the distillery’s award-winning American Single Malt expressions.

Devin first fell in love with whiskey after “accidentally” stumbling into the Irish Whiskey Museum while on vacation in Ireland. He has since built up a number of accreditations, certifications, and awards in the whiskey and mixology worlds before taking the helm behind the bar at Stranahan’s. Devin’s full bio is below.

Fans can taste Devin’s cocktails from the brand’s new winter cocktail menu – the first curated by Devin in his new role – which can be enjoyed in the Denver distillery’s cocktail lounge or recreated at home using Stranahan’s Blue Peak Single Malt Whiskey. 

Devin Ershow is Stranahan’s Head Mixologist, crafting cocktail recipes that feature the unique characteristics of each of the distillery’s award-winning American single malt expressions. He brings a wealth of whiskey knowledge and appreciation for classic cocktails to Stranahan’s mixology team, leaning into traditional ingredients and techniques to create modern recipes. Devin is an Executive Bourbon Steward through the Stave & Thief Society of Kentucky, the only accredited certification in bourbon expertise acknowledged by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

He is also a Level 2 award recipient with distinction from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) which is a manor of expertise in all spirits and mixology. Devin began his whiskey career as a brand ambassador for Pittsburgh-based Wigle Whiskey Distillery and has worn several hats since, serving as a tour guide-turned-tour and events manager at Brooklyn-based Kings County Distillery and later distilling, blending, and bartending at Denver Distillery. Devin began his transition from the film and television industry to the world of whiskey in 2019, but his journey really began in 2016 when he stumbled into the Irish Whiskey Museum during a trip to Ireland – a happy accident that fueled his passion for whiskey and a thirst for more knowledge of the category.

CALGARY, AB, Jan. 17, 2024 /CNW/ - Big Rock Brewery Inc. (TSX: BR) ("Big Rock" or the "Corporation"), is pleased to announce it has added a $4.2 million tranche to its existing $4.3 million second lien financing (the "Second Lien Financing") with VN Capital Fund I, LP ("VN Capital"). This facility is subordinate to the existing credit arrangement with ATB Financial ("ATB") which provides a $6 million revolving operating loan facility and $10 million evergreen term loan facility (collectively the "Senior Credit Facilities"). 

VN Capital and Big Rock have agreed that the additional funds available from the Second Lien Financing will be used to finance working capital and the replacement of packaging equipment allowing its beverages to be packaged in more environmentally-friendly and flexible formats. The parties agreed to extend the maturity date of the Second Lien Financing facility from June 30, 2024 to December 31, 2024.  

"We are very excited to secure this new investment which will assist us with expanding our business and our production capacity.  This new equipment will sharpen our competitive advantage in multiple markets and assist with our operating margins," noted President & CEO David Kinder. "This is a major step forward for Big Rock."  

VN Capital is a principal shareholder and "insider" of the Corporation and P. Donnell Noone, a director of Big Rock, is a co-founder, principal and managing partner of VN Capital Management, LLC, the manager of VN Capital. The Board of Directors of Big Rock approved the Second Lien Financing (with Mr. Noone abstaining) on the recommendation of the directors independent of VN Capital, and determined that the Second Lien Financing is on reasonable commercial terms that are not less advantageous to Big Rock than if the loan thereunder was obtained from a person dealing at arm's length with Big Rock. 

Big Rock also announces that it has concluded the process initiated in March 2023 where it evaluated potential strategic alternatives with a view to enhancing shareholder value (the "Strategic Review").  The Strategic Review was led by a special committee (the "Special Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Corporation who worked with Acumen Capital Finance Partners Limited who acted as a strategic advisor to the Special Committee. The Special Committee reviewed the Corporation's operations and investigated alternative courses of actions including, but not limited to, cost reductions, restructuring, refinancing and potential business combinations.

"We would like to thank members of the Special Committee as well as our executive group and our strategic advisor, Acumen Capital Finance Partners Limited for their contributions to the Strategic Review," said Chairman Stephen Giblin.  "The organizational adjustments and commitment to continuing to develop and improve results from both our branded and co-packing businesses should continue to deliver growth in profitability moving forward."

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or Big Rock's future performance. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information are not facts, but only predictions and generally can be identified by the use of statements that include words or phrases such as, "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "likely" "may", "project", "predict", "propose", "potential", "might", "plan", "seek", "should", "targeting", "will", and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Big Rock believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon by readers, as actual results may vary materially from such forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary statement.

In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the following:

Big Rock's business plans, outlook and strategy;

the anticipated use of proceeds of the Second Lien Financing;

the anticipated benefits to be derived from the expanded Second Lien Financing, including the Corporation's expectation that the Second Lien Financing will assist us with expanding our business and our production capacity, that the new equipment will sharpen our competitive advantage in multiple markets and assist with our operating margins, and that it will continue to backstop the Corporation's access to liquidity and provide equipment that will allow its beverages to be packaged in more environmentally-friendly and flexible formats;

that the implementation of organizational adjustments will position the Corporation to develop and improve results from both our branded and co-packing businesses and deliver growth in profitability moving forward; and

that Big Rock will generate sufficient cashflow to meet the needs of the business.

With respect to the forward-looking statements listed above and FOFI (as defined below) contained in this news release, management has made assumptions regarding, among other things:

volumes in the current fiscal year will remain sufficient to finance ongoing operations;

there will be no material change to the regulatory environment in which Big Rock operates;

the packaging equipment referenced herein can be procured and delivered in a timely manner; and

there will be no material supply issues with Big Rock's vendors.

Some of the risks which could affect future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information and statements and FOFI contained herein include the risk factors set out in the Corporation's annual information form and also include, but are not limited to:

that Big Rock may not ensure that sufficient working capital remains in the business;

that the expanded Second Lien Financing may not provide Big Rock with the benefits anticipated;

that the expanded Second Lien Financing may not backstop the Corporation's access to liquidity;

that the Corporation may not have a successful fiscal 2024;

that organizational adjustments and commitment to continuing to develop and improve results from both our branded and co-packing businesses may not deliver growth in profitability;

that Big Rock may not generate sufficient cashflow to meet the needs of the business; and

the inability to grow demand for Big Rock's products.

Any financial outlook or future oriented financial information (in each case "FOFI") contained in this news release regarding prospective financial position, including, but not limited to: Big Rock's expectations regarding operating margins and that organizational adjustments and commitment to continuing to develop and improve results from both our branded and co-packing businesses should continue to deliver growth in profitability, is based on reasonable assumptions about future events, including those described above, based on an assessment by management of the relevant information that is currently available. The actual results will likely vary from the amounts set forth herein and such variations may be material. Readers are cautioned that any such FOFI contained herein should not be used for purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein. Such information was made as of the date of this news release and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required pursuant to applicable law.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information and statements and FOFI contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information and statements and FOFI included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Big Rock does not undertake any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information and statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless so required by applicable securities laws.

ATLANTA (January 17, 2024) – Atlanta-based premium spirits company Staghorn is pleased to announce the opening of its first distillery, Garrard County Distilling Co., which has officially begun production in Lancaster, KY. With its towering dual 45 feet tall 36” Vendome Copper and Brass Works column stills, Garrard County Distilling Co. is the largest all-new independent distillery in Kentucky. The $250+ million project is capable of producing up to 8.5 million proof gallons or 150,000 barrels of whiskey a year, while supporting the local economy with more than 60+ new jobs. This is the first commercial distillery in the formerly dry county since the 1800s.

Located 30 minutes south of Lexington, the 210-acre site includes the 50,000+ sq ft distillery, as well as two 20,000 sq ft rickhouses, with plans for a total of 24 aging warehouses by 2030, each holding nearly 25,000 barrels. A visitor center with tasting room and restaurant is scheduled to open by the end of this year. The company already has nearly 17,000 sourced whiskey barrels aging onsite.

“Staghorn’s vision for Garrard County Distilling Co. is to craft the finest whiskeys and spirits in the world at scale to make an immediate impact in the market,” said Staghorn Founder and President Ray Franklin, a near 25-year industry veteran. “To support this goal, we will be hiring nothing but the best in the business, respecting long-honored traditions and craftmanship to assure our products are nothing short of remarkable.”

“Garrard County Distilling Co. is Staghorn’s first distillery and the dedication and size at which they are entering the category is a true testament to the worldwide appeal of bourbon from our great commonwealth,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “Staghorn’s investment is a welcome addition to the Lancaster and Garrard County communities, as well as to Kentucky tourism. I want to thank the company’s leadership for their vision to grow in the commonwealth, contributing to Kentucky’s position as the bourbon capital of the world.”

Garrard County, which was dry until November 2023, was previously home to about ten small distilleries in the 1800s when it was an important railroad hub for hemp, flour and whiskey. The distillery property was formerly owned by Revolutionary War hero James Speed.

Onsite production will utilize limestone-rich water from the Lancaster Public Spring aquifer, first tapped by settlers in 1776. Whiskey will be crafted using proprietary yeast and grain sourced locally from within 50 miles of the distillery. Barrel resources will be provided by Independent Stave and ZAK Cooperage. The company will announce its new head distiller in the coming weeks.

“When selecting the site for Garrard County Distilling Co. it was critically important to me that our location choice would have a significant impact on the local economy,” continued Franklin. “The folks of Garrard County and Lancaster have been a real pleasure to work with and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to this peaceful corner of the Commonwealth.”

“Communities across Kentucky have benefited greatly from the recent bourbon boom and now I am pleased to say Garrard County will as well,” said Garrard County Judge/Executive Chris Elleman. “Working in close cooperation with Staghorn we will be bringing more than 60 jobs to the local economy, as well as increased commerce for vendors supporting the facility and tourism dollars. It is a great win for the County.”

“As recently as three months ago, Garrard County was dry, but we were already working cooperatively with the team at Staghorn on this project because we clearly understood the benefits this distillery would bring to Lancaster and the surrounding area,” said Lancaster Mayor Michael Gaffney. “We see Garrard County Distilling Co. as a real opportunity to not only grow our economy, but to share our central Kentucky heritage with folks from around the world… over a glass of whiskey, of course.”

Garrard County Distilling Co. will be home to All Nations Whiskey, which is already available in select markets nationwide, in addition to several soon-to-be announced whiskey and other spirits brands. All Nations Whiskey was named from the poster hung in bars during Carry Nation’s temperance crusade in the late 1800s, smashing saloons with her infamous hatchet. The tongue-in-cheek posters read: “All Nations Welcome Except Carry.” Travelers to the distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail will be able to visit Carry’s Garrard County birthplace home, which was transported and reconstructed stone by stone on the site.

Santa Rosa, Calif., Jan. 16, 2024 – Foley Family Wines (FFW), the Sonoma County-based family-owned wine and spirits company, has announced that Chip Tate has joined the company as Master Distiller for Innovation. FFW has continued to increase its footprint in the spirits business since the 2023 acquisition of Minden Mill Distilling, and the US launch of Charles Goodnight Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey and New Zealand Lighthouse Gin. FFW made the strategic decision to add spirits to its growing luxury wine portfolio as the total spirits market continues to grow and has reached nearly 300 million cases as of January 2023.

“We are honored to have Chip join Foley Family as our spirits portfolio continues to grow and our production at our Minden Mill facility expands,” said Shawn Schiffer, FFW President. “Chip’s reputation and experience using techniques from centuries of distilling tradition and adding his own innovative ideas will help us as we launch our next generation of spirits.”

Best known as the founder of Balcones Distilling, Tate’s career in the spirits industry is a storied journey. Originally from Lynchburg, VA, Tate received a philosophy degree from the College of William & Mary and studied theology at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond. In 2002, he followed his wife to Baylor University in Waco, TX where he served as an assistant dean. The same year, he earned a diploma in Brewing & Distilling from the Institute of Brewing & Distilling and considered using his long-time passion to start a brewery in Waco. Since Texas had multiple breweries but no distilleries, Tate turned to whiskey and in 2008 founded Balcones Distilling. Working out of a former welding shop near the Baylor campus, Tate designed and built his own copper pot stills and distillation equipment. He crafted a line of Texas Whiskeys including Texas Single Malt Whiskeys, Texas Rye, and Baby Blue, a corn whiskey which won a double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

“I am very excited to be joining the Foley Family team. As Master Distiller for Innovation, I look forward to expanding Foley’s growing portfolio of spirits, as well as collaborating with the other Foley Family Master Distillers, Joe O’Sullivan in Minden, and Rachel Hall in New Zealand, to create a collection of spirits that set the bar for quality and craftsmanship.”