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On August 6th, 2024, Empire Distributors, Inc. of Georgia customers and trade members were invited to our annual Trade Tasting for the Athens area! The 2024 Athens Trade Tasting brought together many of Empire’s brands with retail & on-premise beverage buyers from across the Athens, GA area. Read on to get a recap at some of the suppliers & brands that attended the event and their featured items available in the Athens, Georgia market.
About Atlanta Hard Cider Co. & Distillery: Atlanta Hard Cider Co. & Distillery started with founders Mark & Liz Deno home brewing hard cider in their garage. After much research, Mark decided that he wanted to learn all about making cider. He headed west to Portland Oregon where he took Oregon State’s cider making course and learned the craft from some of the best cider master’s in the world! Fast forward 6 years later and here they are making cider and now distilling it for all to enjoy.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Atlanta Distillery American Dry Gin and Vodka, Atlanta Hard Cider Rosé, Atlanta Hard Cider Tiki Haze and Tepache Pineapple Cider
About Empress Gin: Explore a new aesthetic of extra-sensory, extra-sensational spirits. Empress 1908 Gin is the perfect combination of exquisite taste, delicate aroma, soft texture, and remarkable presentation that provides the perfect base for cocktail innovation and enjoyment.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Empress 1908 Original Indigo Gin, Empress Cucumber Lemon Gin and Elderflower Rose Gin
About Meiomi: Made like no other for a taste like no other. Meiomi’s approach of complementary blending achieves wines that are easy to love and hard to forget. By combining California’s exemplary qualities into a single wine, Meiomi achieves unforgettable balance, complexity and richness of flavor.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Meiomi Bright Lower Alcohol Pinot Noir, Meiomi Cabernet and Chardonnay, Meiomi Pinot Noir and Red Blend
About El Bandido: Presenting an ultra premium tequila experience that’s carefully crafted for the most delectable sips and savors, El Bandido Tequila is criminally smooth, authentic to the core and made with 100% Blue Weber Agave.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: El Bandido Blanco, Reposado and Anejo
About Shottys: Shottys gelatin shots are the perfect party-starter for tailgates, pool parties, BBQs and all celebrations.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Shottys Classic, Shottys Coconut Breeze/Tropical, Shottys Green Tea Shots and Shottys Strawberry Lemonade/Peach Mango
About Duplin Wine Cellars: Duplin Winery strives to produce wines that capture the spirit of their heritage while maintaining the freshness of the fruit with unwavering quality. Every bottle produced by Duplin draws the same pleasure and appreciation as the first.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Duplin Carolina Red and Pelican Red, Duplin Huckleberry and Duplin Southern Mist, Duplin Muscadine/Moscato and Duplin Orange Blossom, Duplin Pina Colada and Duplin Sweet Rose
About Authentico Tequila: Simple in spirit, yet so pure and smooth. Authentico Tequila is created for those who crave authenticity in everything they do.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Authentico Reposado, Blanco and Cristalino
About Five Farms: Five Farms is made with the richest dairy cream, smooth and sweet and luxurious. Five Farms contains a greater amount of Irish Whiskey than other brands on the market, setting it apart in the category and allowing for an intensity of whiskey flavor and warmth that is truly one of a kind. The result is a superior Irish Cream Liqueur with the richness of Ireland itself.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur
About 360 Vodka: Best flavors on earth – from the earth’s first eco-friendly vodka. In fact, our premium quality ingredients are locally grown, then distilled using state-of-the-art, eco-friendly American technology.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: 360 Vodka Double Chocolate and Madagascar Vanilla, 360 Vodka Georgia Peach, Mandarin Orange and Watermelon, 360 Vodka Sorrento Lemon and Blue Raspberry
About Sea Sun Vineyards: Sea Sun Wines are layered wines produced by Charlie Wagner from the singular beauty and character of the California coast, made to have broad appeal.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Sea Sun Pinot Noir
About Caymus: Since its founding in 1972, Caymus has become renowned as a consistent leader in the production of Napa Valley Cabernet. Caymus is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon and remains 100% family-owned by the Wagners.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Caymus California, Caymus Napa 50th Anniversary, Caymus Suisun Grand Durif, Caymus Suisun Walking Fool
About Conundrum: More than 25 years ago, Conundrum was a bold experiment – today it’s still about doing things your own way and daring to explore. A perfect blend of California grapes make Conundrum the perfect wine, any time.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Conundrum
About Mer Soleil: Mer Soleil began in the late 1980s, with a journey to the central coast of California in search of ideal conditions to plant Chardonnay. Their first vineyards were in the Santa Lucia Highlands, a small but exceptional appellation about a 30-minute drive from Monterey. With morning fog, bright sunshine and howling gusts of afternoon wind, the region’s dramatic weather leads to an extended growing season, enabling Mer Soleil to make wines with distinctive aromas and flavors.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Mer Soleil Reserve 30th Anniversary
About Bonanza: Bonanza is a California Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks to the simple pleasures of day-to-day life. Created by Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, this wine is delicious, accessible and enjoyable over a meal. It’s made from the “bonanza” of our great state – vineyard sites that hold potential to produce good Cabernet but are often overlooked. Features flavors of luscious fruit, dark chocolate and silky tannins.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Bonanza Lot 7
About Bounty Rum: Bounty Rum is produced by St. Lucia Distillers which is located in the scenically beautiful and agriculturally rich valley of Roseau on the Caribbean island of St Lucia. Our rums are a blend of column still rums from molasses predominantly from the Dominican Republic. They are known for their clean and soft mouthfeel and wonderful character, ideal to be enjoyed in your favorite cocktails.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Bounty Coconut Rum Liqueur, Premium Dark Rum and Premium Spiced Rum, Bounty Strong 151 and Bounty White Rum
About Chairman’s Reserve: Saint Lucia’s Finest Rum. Chairman’s Reserve is as iconic as the Piton Mountains which adorn its bottle. Pour a glass and you’ll instantly be transported to the gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, miles of lush rainforest, and lively nightlife full of tradition and culture which embody St. Lucia.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Chairman’s Reserve 1931 Rum, Chairman’s Reserve Legacy Rum and Original Rum, Chairman’s Reserve Rum Forgotten Cask and Spiced Rum
About Fior Scotch: Fior is a super-premium, hand crafted blend of Highland and Speyside Scotches. The color is a deep, rich maple and the nose is inviting with rich vanilla and just a hint of campfire smoke. The rounded palate is complete with notes of oak, chocolate, and soft spices while a luxuriously smooth, long finish balances comforting malt tones with warm salted almonds for a taste that lures you back for more.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Fior Scotch
About Frisky Whiskey: Frisky Whiskey is the highest-rated premium flavored whiskey ever! Frisky’s breakthrough formula uses pure caramel and natural vanilla to accentuate and enhance the naturally occurring whiskey notes.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Frisky Whiskey
About Milestone Rye: Voted Worlds Best Rye three years in a row, each batch of our Dutch Single Rye Whisky is meticulously handcrafted using 100% rye mash, slowly aged for a minimum of 100 months in new American oak casks. The nose has rich notes of citrus fruit and spices with delicate tones of honey combined with vanilla and oak.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Milestone Rye 100
About Ugly Mug: Ugly Mug blends the flavor of real coffee with the smoothness of premium whiskey. The espresso-like nose and the bright, slightly dry finish create the perfect balance of taste.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Ugly Mug Coffee Whiskey
Reach out with any questions you may have to see just how responsive, knowledgeable and downright friendly an Empire Representative can be.
