Free Republic

When 2024 Democratic presidential hopeful Rep. Dean Phillips took over his family's booze business in 2000 he oversaw a raunchy ad campaign used to sell Revelstoke, a spiced Canadian whisky. The ad campaign used strippers to sell the whisky and suggested men needed to drink more of it to deal with overweight, undesirable women. It also used creative technology so that the name of the whisky brand would show up in urinals as male customers went to the bathroom. Phillips has used his business background as a benefit since launching a political career in the aftermath of former President Donald...

An investigation is underway in Florida after burglars used tractor trailers to steal more than $1.6 million worth of alcohol from a distribution company that carries brands including Jose Cuervo and Malibu. The theft began during the early morning hours on July 8 at Republic National Distributing Company, located in Hillsborough County south of Tampa, according to a newly unsealed search warrant obtained by CNN on October 5. Between between 4:10 a.m. and 9:45 a.m., the thieves removed 4,277 cases of liquor from the company that also distributes alcohol from Franzia Wines and Sutter Home Winery, according to the search...

All Philadelphia Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores, as well as one across the border in Cheltenham Township, will be closed Wednesday after at least 18 locations were broken into on Tuesday night. A few stores were open and staffed when people began stealing items. “Fortunately, no employees were hurt, although some were understandably shaken,” Shawn M. Kelly, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, said Wednesday in a statement.

The DeSantis administration stripped a major Miami hotel of its liquor license after hosting a Christmas-themed drag queen show in December with children present despite warnings. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation warned the Hyatt Regency Miami against hosting a "sexually explicit show with children present," but the hotel did anyway, according to a statement from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's office. "Therefore, the Department is revoking the venue’s license for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages," the statement adds. "Sexually explicit content is not appropriate to display to children and doing so violates Florida law. Governor DeSantis...

SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon Department of Justice is opening a criminal investigation into allegations that senior officials in the state's alcohol regulatory agency violated ethics laws by diverting rare, sought-after bourbons for personal use, the state attorney general said Friday. The officials said they were paying for the whiskey, which can cost thousands of dollars a bottle, but they allegedly used their knowledge and connections at the commission to obtain the products, according to an internal investigation by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. The practice had purportedly been going on for many years and involved not only state...

NATIONAL HOT BUTTERED RUM DAY On January 17th, National Hot Buttered Rum Day warms us up during mid-January. #HotButteredRumDay Depending on where you are on this January day, it may be warm, chilly, cold, or frigid. Enjoying a hot buttered rum drink would sure be a good way to warm up if you are in one of the latter three. A mixed drink containing rum, butter, hot water or cider, sweetener, and spices (typically cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves), hot buttered rum is especially favored during the fall and winter months and is sometimes associated with the holiday season. In the...

This week shockwaves were sent through the liquor legal world when Privo filed an antitrust lawsuit against Southern Wine and Spirits (Southern) and Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC). The complaint takes aim at alleged anti-competitive behavior of Southern and RDNC acting together to destroy Provi’s business and create their own model based on Provi’s success. It shines a light on the concept of wholesalers behaving badly in the marketplace. [snip] Provi, started in 2016, gained momentum with its great and convenient service and signed up national accounts such as Chili’s, Red Robin, Benihana, P.F. Chang’s, Cinemark and AMC Theatres.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The panel that regulates the sale of alcohol in Pennsylvania has ordered the removal of Russian-made products to show solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board took the action Sunday in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The board’s action comes as some other U.S. states have made similar moves, and bars and liquor stores have pulled Russian vodka off their shelves and promoted Ukrainian brands instead. “Given the evolving political-economic climate, it’s just the right thing to do,” said chairman Tim Holden in a statement. Pennsylvania ’s board...

Search resumes of 'vast' preserve for boyfriend of missing 22-year-old Senate Democrats hit roadblock in bid to help millions become U.S. citizens BOSTON (CBS) — Sam Adams is adding even more “spirit” to its brew. The 12th edition of Samuel Adams Utopia has 28% alcohol by volume – so strong that it’s illegal in 15 states, including New Hampshire. The beer is legal in Massachusetts, where bottles can be found at select specialty liquor stores at a suggested retail price of $240 starting on Oct. 11.

South Africa bans liquor sales amid coronavirus surge © Getty Images South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced a new swath of COVID-19 restrictions, including shutting down bars and reimposing a ban on liquor sales. Medical experts are warning that the country’s health system is at risk of being overwhelmed due to rising coronavirus cases coupled with those needing urgent care due to alcohol-fueled incidents. A new, more infectious strain of coronavirus has recently been detected in South Africa that has caused many countries to limit or ban travel to and from the country. According to a report from...

Maryland is ramping up enforcement of coronavirus restrictions ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday as the pandemic surges just as people usually gather with family and socialize in bars, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday. In addition to family gatherings on the holiday itself, the night before Thanksgiving has become one of the biggest bar-hopping nights of the year as people return to their hometowns and catch up with old friends over drinks. “I cannot emphasize how reckless that behavior would be this year,” the Republican governor said during a news conference in the State House rotunda in Annapolis. Health officials already...

If I remember correctly, the state of Pennsylvania liquor store employee union voted not to work during the corona state shutdown by our governor. From the standpoint of virus spread our governor's decision to close the state stores did not make a lot of sense. (I drove to Ohio and spent money out of state!!!!!!!!!!!) Does anyone know if Pennsylvania's liquor store employees are getting paid during this shutdown??? What's the chance that the public is ticked enough to now oust the State from the liquor business??

Pennsylvania's system of state-owned liquor stores, closed because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, resumed limited online sales Wednesday only to have the state’s Fine Wine & Good Spirits website fail to keep up with demand. The state's website is accepting a "controlled number" of daily orders but plans to expand as it develops more capacity. The website had an apology posted Thursday morning that told customers that “due to overwhelming demand, the online store is not available at this time.” People looking to reload their booze supply are urged to try again in the coming days.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced an executive order that mandates 100% of the state's workforce "must stay home, excluding essential services," until further notice. That order does not apply to liquor stores, the New York State Liquor Store Association clarified later Friday. "Liquor stores have been deemed an essential business and may remain open," the association said in a press release. "You do not need to reduce your workforce. This applies to all SLA licensed entities as per the SLA." Beverage manufacturing, including alcoholic beverages, is also considered an essential operation, and is included under the state's...

Pa Governor has on short notice closed the Pa unionized liquor licensed stores, which in PA are the only stores. This will cause these horrible bums to be paid while not working and get votes for the worst in life governor. We in PA need your support in defying this ban, which is a socialist government ban on free trade. Here is the number of the PR person for the PLCB (1 717 919 1905 Liquor Board) Elizabeth Brassel and the PA gov's number is 1-717-787-2500 These jerks need a lot of calls. Thanks for your help George

If they weren't already gone, there goes the bars & restaurants.

Once you age an Old Fashioned or martini for 60 days, you’ll never go back.... __________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you want a truly exceptional cocktail at home, you might need some patience. How does 2-3 months sound? If you’re barrel-aging your cocktails, the extra time might be worth it. You’ve probably seen (or ordered) a barrel-aged drink at one of your city’s finer cocktail establishments. These aren’t just drinks thrown into the same casks that will up a distillery’s warehouse; these are tinier, often countertop-sized vessels that can imbue your drinks with a unique character. “In a barrel, the cocktail tends to...

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 24 (C-Fam) The State Department’s top official for UN affairs will retire next month after five decades of public service, beginning as a combat-decorated Marine, and including U.S. ambassador to the UN in Geneva. His departure comes after an internal campaign against him by career staffers, propelled by the left-wing media, Democrats in Congress, and the State Department’s inspector general. The campaign against assistant secretary of state Kevin Moley, and his senior advisor, Mari Stull, began shortly after he was called out of retirement to assume his responsibilities in April 2018. Emblematic of the poor state of...

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Two barrel warehouses at a Jim Beam aging facility burned for hours overnight in Kentucky. WKYT reports the facility caught fire at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. One warehouse caught fire, which then spread to a second warehouse. Roughly 45,000 barrels of bourbon were in one of the burning warehouses. Officials said it’s possible the fire was caused by a lightning strike. VERSAILLES, Ky. (WKYT) - Multiple crews are on the scene of a major fire at a bourbon warehouse facility. Massive fire at a Jim Beam warehouse facility in Woodford County Woodford County Emergency Management Director Drew...

As I wrote in an earlier article, new laws concerning drinking and driving came into effect in Canada on Dec. 18. As well as increased penalties, cops no longer have to have a “reasonable suspicion” that a driver has been drinking before demanding that driver provide suitable breath samples. As well, a police officer can demand someone provide breath samples if that person has driven anytime within the previous two hours. If the demand is made to a person drinking at home or in a bar and that person blows over the legal limit, he or she can be charged....