News Notes: Horse Soldier's New Distillery, Uncle Nearest Prepares For a Sell-Off, & More

Horse Soldier Set To Open Its New Kentucky Home

After breaking ground in 2021, Horse Soldier’s new distillery and visitor center in Somerset, Kentucky is finally ready to open its doors. The new complex, to be called Horse Soldier Farms, will have a two-day grand opening that kicks off on July 3rd with a concert by country music star Chris Janson. The following day, Nashville-based country duo LOCASH will take the stage, followed by a fireworks show to wrap things up. There will also be bull riding on both days, with the Professional Bull Riders league holding a pair of shows at an outdoor arena on the distillery’s grounds.

Uncle Nearest Receiver Intends to Sell Nearly Everything

Tennessee’s Uncle Nearest Distillery has been embroiled in a fierce legal battle for nearly a year, having been sued for $108 million over unpaid loans in July and put into receivership in August. In the latest development, court-appointed receiver Philip Young has written a letter of intent to sell the distillery and its assets. The prospective buyer has signed a nondisclosure agreement to keep their identity a secret for the time being, though it’s understood to be an African American-owned investment firm that aims to keep the workforce in place. The sale excludes the assets of owner Fawn Weaver’s Grant Sidney company, as well as the brand home on Martha’s Vineyard and Domain Saint Martin cognac house in France—the latter two of which are currently entertaining other offers from outside parties.

Whiskey House of Kentucky Cuts Nearly a Third of Its Employees

Elizabethtown-based contract distiller Whiskey House of Kentucky has laid off 22 employees, representing a 30% reduction in its workforce. According to CEO David Mandell, the decision was made to “protect the long-term health of our company,” which has been facing some challenges in the current market slowdown—operating at 60% capacity as demand has receded. The employees were given severance packages and assistance in finding new jobs, with the option to rejoin Whiskey House if conditions improve.

Southern Glazer’s Changes Its Name

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS), the nation's biggest spirits and wine distributor by far, announced that that it will drop the “wine & spirits” from its name starting next month. President, commercial sales Mark Chaplin said the new name is meant to signify that SGWS’s business goes beyond just wine and spirits. The company has long handled beer, RTD, and non-alc brands to some degree, notably entering into a national distribution agreement with A1R Water back in October, but the new name aims to truly drive the point home as those categories continue to gain market share. The positioning is also interesting considering that rival distributor Reyes Group, the nation's number-one beer distributor, has started to gain major ground on the wine and spirits side.

Fee Brothers Flavored Fat Washes

Cocktail ingredient company Fee Brothers has launched a line of shelf-stable fat washes crafted to replicate the effects of fat-washing, a popular but time-consuming method of infusing a spirit with fat to lend velvety mouthfeel and depth to cocktails. The 5 oz.-bottles of fat washes come in three flavors: browned butter (popular in bourbon cocktails and desserts), bacon, and roasted duck, tailored to the growing savory cocktail style. Designed for dash-by-dash use, each is water-soluble, so that it integrates easily into cocktails without causing separation or residual oiliness. The line joins a portfolio of cocktail bitters, mixers, cordials, and botanical waters. The fat washes can be purchased as a three-pack ($39) or individually ($18) online.

New Spirits Releases

House of Rare Now Available in the U.S.

House of Rare, a tequila company whose barrel aging techniques are inspired by scotch whisky methods, has launched its first two core-range expressions in the U.S.: an unaged blanco ($70, 40% ABV) and a reposado ($90, 40% ABV) that was aged for 6 months in PX sherry casks. Both expressions were produced at Herencia de Agaves (NOM 1648), a Lowland distillery that also produces Taberna De Águilas.

La Pulga Unveils Double Barrel Reposado Aged in Still Austin Red Corn Barrels

La Pulga Tequila has announced a limited release reposado, finished in barrels that previously held red corn bourbon from Texas whiskey maker Still Austin. Though its 45% ABV makes it a relatively high-proof tequila, it’s notably mellower than the label’s 110-proof blanco and reposado.

Three Fort Worth entrepreneurs established La Pulga in 2020, and as natural partnership with Still Austin, both even sharing a red serpent on their labels. La Pulga—meaning a “flea”—pays homage to one of the oldest outdoor markets in Fort Worth and the vibrant markets, or “pulgas” in Mexico and the Southern U.S. Bottles are $70 and are available for pre-order online.

Casa Maestri Celebrates The U.S.'s 250th Birthday With a Limited Edition Añejo Tequila

Casa Maestri is commemorating the United States’ semiquincentennial with a gold-chrome ceramic bottle design for its core range añejo tequila. Bottled at 40% ABV, it’s aged for 2 years in bourbon barrels sourced from Brown-Forman. This one retails for $70, slightly lower than the $80 price tag on the core range añejo. It’s available in limited quantities at retailers nationwide and online.