Latest news with #craftspirits
Entrepreneur
16 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Diageo India Acquires Majority Stake in Craft Spirits Maker NAO Spirits at INR 130 Cr Valuation
This strategic move will see NAO Spirits become a subsidiary of Diageo India, further solidifying the company's commitment to India's growing premium craft spirits segment. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Diageo India (United Spirits Limited) has announced the acquisition of a controlling stake in NAO Spirits and Beverages at an enterprise value of INR 130 crore (approx. USD 15.2 million USD). This strategic move will see NAO Spirits become a subsidiary of Diageo India, further solidifying the company's commitment to India's growing premium craft spirits segment. NAO Spirits, founded in 2017 by Anand Virmani, is the force behind acclaimed brands such as 'Greater Than', India's first London Dry Gin, and 'Hapusa', a Himalayan craft gin made with foraged juniper. The company expanded into the rum category in 2024 with the launch of 'PIPA', an aged, spiced Indian craft rum made from jaggery spirit. Praveen Someshwar, MD and CEO of Diageo India, said, "Ventures, Diageo India's investment arm, is dedicated to strengthening our portfolio by investing in disruptive alco-bev startups. The acquisition of NAO Spirits represents a pivotal step in exploring future growth opportunities in Indian craft spirits. We believe it is the right time to scale up NAO Spirits using Diageo's expertise, unlocking new avenues for distribution and production." NAO Spirits' founder, Anand Virmani, stated, "We are excited to be a part of the Diageo India family. This acquisition is a powerful validation of what we've always believed—that India can create great craft spirits. With Diageo's support, we can scale further while staying true to our identity and community. Our DNA remains unchanged, and we'll continue to be the pathbreakers." Diageo India, a leading alcobev player, has a wide portfolio including iconic global and Indian brands such as Johnnie Walker, McDowell's No.1, and Godawan single malt. With this acquisition, the company aims to further strengthen its premium offerings and cater to the evolving preferences of modern Indian consumers.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dunamis Premium Spirits Partners with RNDC, Expands to Georgia, Wins Gold Medal at NYISC, and Hosts Whiskey Tastings in Atlanta
ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla., June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunamis Premium Spirits, founded in 2021 by entrepreneur and pilot Victor Young, is making significant strides in the craft spirits industry. The company has partnered with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), expanding its distribution to include Georgia, in addition to existing markets in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to increase the brand's national presence. Dunamis' portfolio includes several award-winning products. The recently launched Aero Squadron Vodka has garnered a Gold Medal at the 2025 New York International Spirits Competition, highlighting the brand's commitment to quality and innovation. Additionally, the company has hosted numerous whiskey tasting events in the Southeast United States, allowing consumers to experience their acclaimed spirits firsthand. As one of fewer than 20 African American-owned distilleries in the United States, Victor Young emphasizes the importance of representation and excellence in the industry. "Being one of the few African American distillers in the country is both an honor and a responsibility," said Young. "I want to show others that excellence knows no boundaries, and that greatness can come from anywhere." Dunamis Premium Spirits continues to grow and innovate, offering exceptional products that reflect their dedication to quality and community. About Dunamis Premium SpiritsFounded in 2021, Dunamis Premium Spirits blends exceptional craftsmanship with aviation-inspired storytelling. Based in Zephyrhills, FL—famous for its pure, high-quality water—the distillery produces award-winning bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka, including the Double Gold Interstellar Bourbon, Gold-awarded Bianca Supreme Rum, Zulu Hotel Gin, and Aero Squadron Vodka. For more information about Dunamis Premium Spirits, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Dunamis Premium Spirits Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
2 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Liquid Death's next act: A whiskey aged in a casket
Liquid Death is getting closer to resembling its name. The trendy water brand is partnering with WhistlePig Whiskey to create a new whiskey partially aged in an actual casket at the Vermont distillery, and made with Liquid Death's mountain-sourced water, the companies announced Wednesday. The limited-time release, called 'WhistlePig GraveStock Wheat Whiskey,' is 'pouring one out for the drinkers who know life is too short to drink anything but the best,' the companies said in a press release. The collaboration is taking aim at people who might be tired of spritzes, canned cocktails and beers. Rest assured, it doesn't taste anything close to death: The wheat whiskey was aged several years in a traditional oak barrel and then finished in the custom-made casket — no actual corpses involved — for about two weeks. WhistlePig said what results is a lively, 86-proof spirit that has notes of honeysuckle, biscotti and butterscotch. For WhistlePig, the collaboration couldn't have come at a better time. Spirit sales are sagging with major distilleries enduring layoffs following a post Covid-19 boon. That's a challenge for WhistlePig Whiskey CEO Charles Gibb, who joined the company earlier this month from cocktail mixer company Fever-Tree. 'The industry's having a tougher time than it's had for a while,' he admitted to CNN. 'But, in a weird way, I see that as an opportunity for brands such as WhistlePig because we're not yet at massive national scale and consumers are still looking for brands that have authenticity at their core.' WhistlePig and Liquid Death, both of which are younger brands in their respective categories, often bet big with partnerships to make noise. The former has teamed up with Formula 1 racing, rocker Alice Cooper and Solo Stoves for custom whiskey blends. Liquid Death, which is reportedly valued at $1.4 billion, has partnered with e.l.f. cosmetics and Martha Stewart for new products in addition to regularly dropping new flavors. So collaborating together was an easy fit, Gibb said. 'They've both got their own very distinctive followings and as a result, the partnership is where the DNA of one brand meets the DNA of another brand, collaborating and combining to create something that pique's people's interest as well as opening up both brands to new consumers,' Gibb told CNN. Gibb sees collaborations, like GraveStock, as a proven way to bring in new drinkers into the ultra-premium rye whiskey category, which WhistlePig is the top-selling brand in. In particular, this whiskey release is on the lighter side, Gibb says, resulting in a 'easy drinking, light summer whiskey' for customers who might be drinking WhistlePig for the first time. 'WhistlePig GraveStock Wheat Whiskey' costs $74.99 for a standard-sized 750ml bottle and will be sold beginning June 24 online and at select retailers, restaurants and bars.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Make A Perfect Martini With This Single Malt Vodka
The Reid Vodka martnin Character matters—in a person and in a vodka—just ask Cardrona Distillery Master Distiller Sarah Elsom. Elsom grew so weary of the neutered taste in vodka, a spirit we must admit is distilled to have little to no taste, that she set out to make a vodka she wanted to drink, the result was The Reid Vodka—a fragrant delicious single malt expression that is perfectly suited for a world-class martini. The distillery is situated in New Zealand's Crown Range Mountains and was established in 2015 by Desiree Reid in an effort to raise the profile of spirits offerings in New Zealand. Indeed, Reid's vision has sone much to elevate New Zealand's global reputation in the spirits industry. Everything is produced grain-to-glass, meaning every step of the production process—from milling the grain to bottling—is carried out on-site. This complete and total control is the canvas on which Elsom was inspired to create an uncommon vodka, one that tasted of place, of something local. It's not chill or charcoal filtered to ensure the character of the raw materials shines through. The vodka is fragrant with botanical notes and even a touch of toffee and lemon. It's a designer spirit to be sure and a perfect choice for any martini. Below are a few of Elsom's suggested martini cocktails: Ingredients: Instructions: Combine vodka and dry vermouth in a cocktail mixing glass. Fill with ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 3 olives on a cocktail stick. Ingredients: Instructions: Add ice into stirring glass. Stir until cold and slightly diluted. Strain into a cold coupe glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel (express lemon oil) Ingredients: Instructions: Add ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake and strain with a Hawthorn strainer and mesh strainer into a coupe glass. Ingredients: Build over plenty of ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
True Standard Distilling comes to downtown Frederick
One of the keys to True Standard Distilling's operations sits away from the shiny white quartz countertop of the new tasting room or the 500-gallon copper still that sits behind a glass wall nearby. In a corner of a back room of the distillery — which celebrated its grand opening on Frederick's North Carroll Street on May 29 — is a case of glass beakers, each labeled with a strip of blue tape. The beakers contain extracts pulled from various types of fruits and spices, which head distiller Kristian Naslund, co-owner Brian Allen, and their team use in creating the distillery's products. Each of the extracts — whether from orange, grapefruit, lime, peppercorn, ginger, cardamom, or other items — is made in-house, said Allen, who co-owns the business with his wife, Ashley. The products include silver rum, spiced rum, silver spiced rum, and dark spiced rum, as well as a vodka. 'We're a house of cane,' Allen said, with their drinks based around cane sugars. The silver spiced rum is especially good for light, refreshing summer drinks, Naslund said. 'We want to be able to appeal to anyone who walks in the door,' he said. The neighborhood near Frederick's East Street has a history of brewing and distilling, Allen said. He and Ashley looked at the building, a former antique store, several years ago when they were looking for a location, then came back to it in 2021, he said. They kept most of the exterior walls, but gutted almost everything else, took off the roof, put in new trusses, and rebuilt the front wall. It took about a year to design the new building, and about two years to construct, he said. Allen started distilling as a hobby about 15 years ago. He and Ashley have three children. Eventually, she told him, he needed to find another location for his hobby other than at their house, he said with a laugh. He said he most enjoys the art and craftsmanship of experimenting with chemistry to create different products. Naslund also started distilling as a hobby, and began working professionally in Colorado in 2008. He said he likes trying to improve on a technique developed a long time ago, as well as the people he comes in contact with. 'For me, it's the people and connections, he said. He said that when he met Allen, he showed Naslund what he had in mind, then let him go to work. About 90% of what they produce goes into old bourbon barrels to age, Allen said. The barrels are stacked along a rear wall of the distillery's back room. The rest goes into the spiced rum and other drinks. Rum is traditionally aged in barrels, and flavors are pulled out of the wood, Naslund said. Along with the tasting room in Frederick, they're also focusing on distribution to be able to sell their product outside the Frederick area, Allen said. The tasting room is about 1,500 square feet, while the building is about 9,000 square feet overall, he said. They currently have 11 employees, bur plan to eventually have 15 to 20, he said. They're looking for a good chef, but are currently coordinating with some food trucks to provide food options, he said. As the business continues to grow, both Allen and Naslund are enjoying making a living at what they love. 'Once you get into the hobby of distilling, it gets into your blood, literally and figuratively,' Allen said.
