News Briefs: Limestone Branch's New Club, Pittsburgh's Kingfly Shutters, Company's New Hire
February 20, 2026 –––––– Danny Brandon
Limestone Branch Creates New Membership Program
Limestone Branch Distillery, producer of Yellowstone whiskey, has launched a new club called The Branch. There are two packages available for purchase, including an individual plan ($225 per quarter/$799 annually) and a family plan ($329 quarterly/$1,199 annually) that covers two people. Membership comes with several benefits, including four members-only expressions a year (no additional purchase necessary), invitations to distillery events, early access to certain releases, virtual events, free tours, private barrel tastings, access to a members-only clubhouse, and discounts at the retail store. Members will also get a seat at virtual town halls, granting them the opportunity to vote for upcoming events, expressions, and more. Interested parties can apply for a membership via the club website.
Kingfly Spirits Goes Out of Business
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania craft producer Kingfly Spirits announced last week that it has shut down permanently. In a social media post, the distillery confirmed that it has suspended all sales, cancelled and issued refunds for all future events, and is no longer open to the public. Founded in 2019, Kingfly was located in a retrofitted warehouse in Pittsburgh’s historic Strip District, an area that was once an industrial hub but today is renowned for its local food scene. The distillery produced a number of spirits, including vodka, blended bourbon, rye, limoncello, gin, and rum.
On January 31st, Kingfly hosted a 7th-anniversary party that offered guests 50% discounts on bottles, along with other festivities. The night before the event, the team mentioned that the distillery would be taken offline for “structural repairs” sometime in February, with more info to follow soon. At first it seemed that the closure would be temporary, but in just a few weeks the team announced that it would be permanent.
Company Distilling Hires New Director of Production
Tennessee-based Company Distilling, the spirits company co-founded by former Jack Daniel master distiller Jeff Arnett, has brought on Stanton Webster as director of production. Webster will work closely alongside Arnett in this new role, overseeing production strategy, innovation, operational systems, and quality control.
Webster has been involved in the Tennessee spirits scene for over a decade, having first discovered his love for mixology while pursuing a degree at the University of Tennessee and finding work as a bartender. In 2014, he helped launch Knox Whiskey Works, a small distillery in Knoxville that focused on making whiskey from local heirloom corn. He left the brand a few years later and founded Post Modern Spirits, a distillery also located in Knoxville that specialized in making spirits and liqueurs for mixing. He stayed on with Post Modern until the very end, with the distillery shutting down after nearly a decade in late January due to financial difficulties.
