Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in Chicago, Illinois has announced the release of its first widely distributed spirit: Spruce Gin. More details can be found below.

The first of its kind to establish brewing and distilling roots under a single roof, Maplewood Brewery & Distillery announces the release of their new Spruce Gin distilled from a blend of neutral spirits and malted barley.  The Spruce Gin is the Distillery’s first widely distributed product in their ever-evolving craft spirits portfolio.

Known for their Charlatan American Pale Ale (2016 & 2018 Great American Beer Festival Bronze APA), Son of Juice Hazy IPA, and Fat Pug Oatmeal Milk Stout (2017 Great American Beer Festival Bronze Oatmeal Stout), the Brewery is excited to begin offering craft spirits alongside their beer at on and off premise accounts throughout The Chicagoland Area. “Until now, we’ve only been able to offer our craft spirits in 375ml formats to-go at the Lounge and select whiskey-forward bars and restaurants. It’s exciting to be able to offer our Spruce Gin to more places that have supported Maplewood throughout the years by carrying our beer,” said Ari Megalis, Head Distiller and Co-Owner.

Distilled with a generous amount of Colorado spruce tips, rooibos tea, citrus, lavender, and traditional gin botanicals, the 47.5% Alc/Vol Spruce Gin evokes deep forest pine notes that blend with bright citrus and meadow-like floral depth.

WhistlePig in Shorham, Vermont has announced a new collaboration whiskey with mobile spirits app Flaviar. Full details on this limited release are below.

SHORHAM, VT — WhistlePig Rye Whiskey is pleased to announce the introduction of WhistlePig HomeStock Whiskey, a whiskey blended together, while apart.  The limited edition whiskey was created via a virtual crowd blending experience in collaboration with Flaviar, a leading online spirits club. WhistlePig will donate 20% of online sales via Flaviar & Caskers from HomeStock to the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) Foundation’s Emergency Assistance Program, which provides COVID-19 Relief Grants to bartenders. HomeStock is the first variant from WhistlePig’s award-winning portfolio that stretches outside of the Rye category, also using Wheat and Barley whiskeys.

Rabbit Hole in Louisville, Kentucky is planning to expand its portfolio of spirits with a new Bespoke Gin. Full details on this release are below.

Louisville, KY – Rabbit Hole is expanding its portfolio of spirits with “Bespoke Gin,” a London Dry Gin aged and finished in the brand’s award-winning “Boxergrail” Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey barrels.

Rabbit Hole Bespoke Gin marks the first new product outside of the American whiskey space for the rapidly-growing, Kentucky-based spirits brand. “Bespoke Gin” will begin rolling out at retail nationally in mid-April.

Kaveh Zamanian, Rabbit Hole’s CEO, founder and whiskey maker said, “I have always had a soft spot for gin and wanted to create my own, an expression that brings forth subtle nuances of rye against the backdrop of botanicals. Rabbit Hole Bespoke Gin is everything I wanted it to be and more. It’s a spirit that celebrates the opulence of traditional English gin and the enduring charm of Kentucky rye. One barrel, two distinct spirts, it speaks to our ongoing commitment to innovation.”

Hotaling & Co. in San Francisco, California has announced the reintroduction of HIRSCH Bourbon. Full details of this release are below.

SAN FRANCISCO – In 1974, when A.H. HIRSCH first imagined his now legendary bourbon, he set the gold standard for thoughtful American whiskey. Today, Hotaling & Co., the San Francisco-based leading importer and distiller of super-premium artisanal spirits, reintroduces HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys, offering a new expression of this iconic whiskey brand with the release of the first selection, THE HORIZON Straight Bourbon Whiskey (46% ABV, $39.99 SRP). This first expression reflects the brand’s philosophy of curating the best in American whiskey and celebrates “The Spirit of the Journey.” HIRSCH will continue to release new expressions in 2021, as the brand invites whiskey drinkers to follow along and discover that the journey is the reward.

Grain & Barrel Spirits in Bardstown, Kentucky has announced the new release of Chicken Cock Ryeteous Blonde, a whiskey collaboration with Goodwood Brewing Co. Full details are below.

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Grain & Barrel Spirits has launched Chicken Cock Ryeteous Blonde, its newest limited-edition expression, in partnership with Goodwood Brewing based in Louisville, Kentucky.This marks the company’s second beer barrel finish collaboration with Goodwood. With only six barrels produced, Ryeteous Blonde will be allocated in limited quantities to select states.

Six barrels of this very special, high-quality Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey were finished in original Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Bourbon barrels that were used by Good wood to age their Blonde Ale. Once the ale had completed its finishing process in the Chicken Cock Bourbon barrels and the beer removed for consumption, the barrels were then shipped back to the distillery and refilled with Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. They were sampled periodically during the finishing process by Master Distiller Gregg Snyder, to evaluate the spectacular transformation, as the Rye flavors married perfectly with the complimentary flavors of the Blonde Ale. Gregg determined that the flavor combinations reached their peak in the barrel at 90-proof, adding the proper amount of water to “open up” the amazing flavors, without over-diluting them.

Ogden's Own distillery in Ogden, Utah has announced the opening of a new 32,000 square-foot multi-purpose facility. Full details are below.

Silver Eagle Houston has announced the launch of the Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig® system in Houston, Texas. Full details are below.

HOUSTON, Texas– Silver Eagle Distributors Houston, LLC is excited to announce on behalf of Anheuser-Busch InBev and Keurig Dr Pepper, the launch of the Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig® system in Houston, Texas. The new offering includes the Drinkmaker and Drinkworks Pods.

Drinkworks® prepares cocktails, beer and more using Drinkworks Pods at home, with just the push of a button. Each drink is made consistently, every time using the precise amount of chilled water and carbonation. There are currently more than two dozen Pod varieties and counting, which contain a signature blend of premium spirits, real flavors and natural ingredients. The custom recipes are crafted, tested and perfected by in-house mixologists, brewers and scientists. From Margaritas to Moscow Mules, Drinkworks® has you covered for any occasion!

“Silver Eagle Houston is very excited to share this new beverage innovation that brings entertaining to a whole new level and distribute the Drinkworks Pods to our liquor store accounts.” said John Johnson, president of Silver Eagle Distributors Houston, LLC. “Now is an important time more than ever for consumers to discover at-home options and cocktail alternatives that are equally comparable to handmade cocktails. And Drinkworks® does just that with a touch of a button.”

Jiant Hard Kombucha in Denver, Colorado has partnered with Elite Brands in order to expand its distribution in its home state. Full details are below.

DENVER – Jiant Hard Kombucha is thrilled to announce a new distribution partnership with Denver-based Elite Brands of Colorado.

“We’re very excited to be working with the great team at Jiant,” said Terry Cekola, Owner & President of Elite Brands. “Jiant serves as a perfect compliment to our award-winning craft portfolio as evidenced by their commitment to quality and passion for their brand. We look forward to continuing to share Jiant’s story with Colorado consumers and feel strongly that they are going to enjoy Jiant’s hard kombucha as much as we have.”

Founded by long-time friends Aaron Telch and Larry Haertel Jr., Jiant launched in Southern California in June 2019 and can now be found in retailers such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Ralph’s, and Bristol Farms. The idea for Jiant grew out of a shared frustration with the lack of gluten-free alcoholic beverages that were low in sugar and made from real, high-quality organic ingredients. As big fans of non-alcoholic kombucha, they thought it would be the perfect canvas for a better-for-you alcoholic beverage that delivered on that promise without sacrificing taste.

Beavertown Brewery in London, England has announced a new "super session IPA" called Nanobot that clocks in at only 2.8 percent ABV. Full details on this easy-drinking brew are below.

LONDON — This week, Beavertown Brewery is launching the latest addition to their award-winning core range. Nanobot, a new low alcohol ‘Super Session’ IPA,is a 2.8% pint-sized powerhouse brewed with Sabro and Simcoe hops, packing it with punchy citrus and juicy tropical top notes. Nanobot was created to give beer fans even greater choice when it comes to their drinking experience, without having to compromise on flavour or quality.

Tune into Beavertown’s Instagram Live Friday 1st May at 4pm for a live tasting with Logan Plant, Founder and CEO.

Logan says: “When Beavertown started we were all about creating punchy, big-hitting beers that people hadn’t had before in the UK. Nowadays, people want even more from their food and drink choices to suit their lifestyle and a lot of the time, that can mean choosing a low ABV or less calories at the expense of something else – flavour. We want to remedy that with Nanobot”.

The addition of oats and wheat to the brew give a fuller, richer mouthfeel, meaning you get a drinking experience like that of a regular 5% IPA. At 97 kcal per can it’s also a lighter option for those who want it, and as always with Beavertown’s core beers it is 100% vegan.

Ecliptic Brewing and Ruse Brewing in Portland, Oregon have collaborated on an Italian-style pilsner. The beer will be the first in Ecliptic's Cosmic Collaboration series in 2020. Full details on this collab are below.

Portland, Oregon — Portland’s Ecliptic Brewing and Ruse Brewing — led by co-owners and brewers Shaun Kalis and Devin Benware — have teamed up to create an Italian-style Pilsner launching in 16-ounce cans and draft this May. This will be Ecliptic’s first Cosmic Collaboration Series beer of 2020 and the first of this series available in 16-ounce cans.

Brewed with German lager yeast, Weyerman Extra Pale Pils malt, and dry hopped with all German hops, the result is a pilsner with a crisp, clean finish and fresh hop aroma. With spring officially here, this beer makes the perfect patio partner as a light and refreshing option.

“We’re excited to play with a new style that we’ve never made before and also offer a lager in cans,” says Ecliptic Owner and Brewmaster, John Harris. “We’ve been friends with the Ruse crew for a long time. Sean and I have played music together for years, and Ruse has always been a part of our summer Brewer’s and Their Bands event. It’s about time we made a beer together!”