Southern Wine & Spirits Announces '40 for 40' Donation Campaign

Southern Wine & Spirits of America Inc., Miami, the nation’s leading wine and spirits distributor and control states broker is honoring its milestone 40th anniversary by making donations to 40 separate charitable and community-based organizations around the country as part of the company’s long tradition of giving back to the communities in which it does business.

FTA Gives Excellence Awards

The Sixteenth Annual Fred Tibbitts & Associates “An Autumn Evening in New York with Very Special Friends” at the Union League Club wowed the 100-plus fortunate few admitted to the FTA spectacular Excellence Awards and Scholarship dinner.

U.S. Drinks Conference a Success

Conference organizer Brand Action Team held the U.S. Drinks Conference 2008 in London recently.

“This was the second year that we’ve put on the event in London, and this year we had a larger number of delegates from even more countries,” said Steve Raye of Brand Action Team. “The feedback we’ve gotten from attendees was overwhelmingly positive with frequent comments on the level of insight provided and comprehensiveness content.”

Cruzan Brings Spirit of Islands to Life With New Design and Ownership 

Sky Ranch Names Robinson MVP 

Bacardi U.S.A. Inc. Names Michael Misiorski Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Source: Market Wire

Last update: 2:44 p.m. EST Nov. 3, 2008

Bacardi U.S.A. Inc., the United States import, sales and marketing arm of one of the world's leading spirits and wine producers, announces the appointment of Michael Misiorski as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Crecca Named Editorial Director for Nightclub & Bar

CLEVELAND, OH – October 27, 2008– Questex Media Group Inc. announced today that Donna Hood Crecca joins the Company as Editorial Director for Nightclub & Bar magazine and its digital initiatives, including nightclub.com.

Hospitality Industry Must Say 'No' to Higher Alcohol Taxes

Sazerac to Take Firefly Global

Firefly Distillery and The Sazerac Company have formed a joint venture to sell and market Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka globally. The joint venture is effective September 15th and provides Firefly with access to the Sazerac global distribution network. Scott Newitt, Partner for the Firefly distillery, commented: "We are extremely pleased with the success of Firefly Sweet Tea in our initial market rollouts, and now have the ability with Sazerac as our partner to expand and market our brand more aggressively and proactively. This really is a win - win partnership with great synergy and potential." Mark Brown, CEO of Sazerac commented: "We believe that Firefly Sweet Tea is a great product and we are very pleased to be able to partner with Scott and Jim Irvin at Firefly to build it."

Beer Capitol Distributing Inc. Acquires Miller Brands-Milwaukee LLC

Waukesha, Wis. - Beer Capitol Distributing Inc., a wholly-owned division of The Madrigrano Companies, has agreed to acquire beer wholesaler Miller Brands-Milwaukee LLC, a move that will strengthen the beer distributor's growing portfolio of brandsoffered in the Milwaukee market. With this combination the brands offered by the newly formedMiller-Coors alliance will now be more efficiently sold and distributed throughout the Milwaukee area. The deal is expected to close  by Oct. 31. The combined companies will allow Beer Capitol Distributing Inc. to offer excellent  sales and service to over 2,000 area accounts and will employ about 250 team members.

Free The Hops

Things got a bit political at the J. Clyde bar in Birmingham, Ala., this past winter, and the icy attitude towards the current beer laws doesn’t look like it’s going to be letting up anytime soon.

Tour de Champagne

Lance Armstrong sipped champagne while cycling around the Champs-Élysées. He did so seven times, as a matter of fact, because that’s what happens when you win the Tour de France seven times. Only a few people will ever know what that’s like, but don’t despair. There’s another tour that almost anyone can take part in, and it’s right here in America. 

Doctor's Orders

Rochester, New York, has been an entertainment hotspot since the days of Cab Calloway. Foreigner wrote "Rev On The Red Light" about cruising down Lake Avenue. But Enogh FYI trivia about Rochester. At The Dr.'s Inn there, they work hard to make their patrons feel entertained and to fell like regulars.

Nightclub & Bar Goes "e"