Start-up distillers pick ad shop

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on October 19, 2009 at 9:19 am

Brentwood-based Hoodoo Spirits, which is developing a line of high-end booze, has chosen Mullen, a Boston-based unit of Interpublic, to handle advertising and marketing. Hoodoo’s spartan Web site features very little on the company, which appears to be run by Iasis Healthcare General Counsel Frank Coyle, who together with fellow Iasis attorney Heath Clark, pushed to expand Tennessee’s distillery laws.

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Tags: advertising and marketing, alcohol, food business, Frank A. Coyle, Heath A. Clark, Hoodoo Spirits, Mullen, The Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.  

Blackstone a GABF winner

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on October 14, 2009 at 8:12 am

That’s the Great American Beer Festival to those of you not-so-craft-beer-inclined. The West End brewery recently nabbed its 15th GABF medal – and its first gold since 2006 – for its St. Charles Porter.

”We have other beers that have won medals but St. Charles Porter is the most decorated. This is the sixth GABF medal that this beer has won over the years. St. Charles Porter currently leads the Brown Porter category with the most medals ever.” says Stephanie Weins, Owner/General Manager at Blackstone Brewing Company.

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Tags: alcohol, awards, Blackstone Brewing Co., food business, Great American Beer Festival  

Lipman adds to beer distribution deal

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on September 29, 2009 at 10:43 am

Nashville drinks distributor R.S. Lipman will help Florida importer Black Art Beverage expand the reach of a German Kulmbacher beer into Tennessee and Kentucky.

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Tags: alcohol, beer, Black Art Beverage Inc., Braustolz Brauerie AG, distribution, R.S. Lipman Co.  

Jack steps back from NASCAR

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on September 21, 2009 at 2:01 pm

Brown-Forman, the parent company of Jack Daniel’s, will stop sponsoring the Richard Childress Racing No. 7 at the end of this season, saying the economy has pushed it to conclude that “other areas in the marketing mix require additional investment.”

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Tags: alcohol, auto racing, Brown-Forman Corp., Jack Daniel's, NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, sponsorships, sports business  

Zingo returns

By Walker Duncan Posted on July 24, 2009 at 1:40 pm

Good news for the intoxicated this weekend and going forward: Designated driving service Zingo Nashville relaunched last night after a several-month hiatus.

The service, which provides customers a ride home in their own car, works like this: A customer calls for a ride. The driver then arrives on a collapsible scooter which can fit inside a large back pack. The bike is folded up and put in the trunk. The driver takes the customer home in their own car, unpacks the bike and tools away to his/her next fare.

The parent company, based in Atlanta, originally launched Zingo Nashville last year, but was forced to briefly close the operation down following insurance difficulties. According to the company’s leadership, those have all been resolved.

At the helm of the new local incarnation is President Nick Pagliari.

More info at the company’s Web site.

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Tags: alcohol, Nick Pagliari, public safety, Zingo Nashville  

New Yazoo beer is green

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on June 12, 2009 at 12:18 pm

Popular hometown brewery Yazoo has launched a summer ale brewed entirely with clean energy generated by the Green Power Switch program run by TVA and NES. The beer’s first tapping will take place Saturday at the Sounds’ game with the Memphis Redbirds.

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Tags: alcohol, alternative energy, Nashville Electric Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, Yazoo Brewing Co.  

Some early recognition for local gin distillery

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on April 23, 2009 at 12:27 am

Corsair Gin, the first product from a Nashville-based venture that crafts its wares in Kentucky, was recently awarded a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. From a release:

Corsair Gin is produced in extremely small batches using a hand-hammered gin-head pot still. This uncommon step makes the gin crisp, with an exceptionally smooth finish. Corsair is produced using a mix of traditional and non-traditional botanicals, including juniper, coriander, citrus peels and hyssop. All ingredients are sustainably harvested, giving the Corsair Gin a unique and refreshing character. Corsair Gin is 44% ABV (88 Proof) and should be in Nashville liquor stores today. Lippman Bros. is the distributor.

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Tags: alcohol, awards, Corsair Artisan LLC, food business, gin, R.S. Lipman Co., spirits