Southern Will Now Handle Over 50% of U.S. Accounts for Fast-Growing Ole Smoky
Gatlinburg, TN (September 18, 2014) – Ole Smoky ® Tennessee Moonshine, the leading distiller of premium moonshine in the U.S., is transitioning its distribution in 11 states and Washington D.C. to Southern Wine & Spirits, the nation’s leading wine and spirits distributor, giving Southern over 50% of Ole Smoky’s U.S. accounts. The move is further evidence of the unprecedented growth for the moonshine brand, which now retails in 49 states, Canada and the Caribbean. Ole Smoky will continue to be distinguished as Southern’s top-selling moonshine brand among the distributor’s impressive roster of top spirits across the industry.
“We are excited to extend our relationship with Southern Wine & Spirits as we continue to expand our national footprint,” said John Cochran, CEO of Ole Smoky Moonshine. “This is a significant crossroads in the growth of the brand as we reach out for even more consumers to take a good ole’ sip of Americana.
As part of the Southern transition, Ole Smoky’s Mobile Holler will be traveling to all of the transition states, including key markets such as Los Angeles and New York, where the brand projects its biggest growth. The tour’s purpose is to educate Southern’s reps on Ole Smoky, the colorful history of moonshine, its flavor profiles, cocktail recipes and more. Ole Smoky Founder Joseph Baker, CEO John Cochran, Chief Marketing Officer Frank Guernsey and VP of Sales Michael Bender will meet with representatives in all states. The eleven new areas that will now be handled by Southern Wine & Spirits are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia.
The growth and success of Ole Smoky has been non-stop since launching in 2010, after the state of Tennessee changed its laws and a group of local families saw an opportunity to showcase authentic, high-quality, mountain-made moonshine. Originally sold only to visitors at its distillery, known as The Holler, in four short years Ole Smoky has evolved into the leading distiller of premium moonshine in the U.S., fueled by rising consumer interest in the broader un-aged whiskey category and craft spirits. Regularly winning medals and other awards at public and industry events, Ole Smoky continually aims to reach more consumers through on-premise accounts, targeted advertising, partnerships, and sponsorships across sports, music and other lifestyle areas.
Ole Smoky’s founders and management team remain focused on building a vertically integrated craft spirit distillery that preserves the brand’s unique character and maintains its independence from big spirit brands and holding companies. To keep up with increased demand and expand its reach, Ole Smoky quadrupled its jarring capacity in early 2013 with the addition of a 20,000-sq. ft. facility near its original distillery, and this fall will open a second location “down the hill” at The Island, a popular retail, dining and entertainment destination in neighboring Pigeon Forge. The new location, called the Ole Smoky Barn, is a 6,000-sq. ft. facility that features the same elements (distillery, tasting bar, retail store) as its original “Holler” in Gatlinburg, and will allow the brand to better reach visitors of Pigeon Forge, home to Dollywood and other local attractions.
About Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.
Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. is the nation’s largest wine and spirits distributor and broker with operations in 35 markets. The multi-state distributor currently operates in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Southern also holds operating licenses and permits in Nebraska and Texas. On a national basis, Southern employs more than 14,000 team members. Southern urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information please visit http://www.southernwine.com.
About Ole Smoky® Tennessee Moonshine
Currently, Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine nationally retails thirteen flavors of moonshine made using authentic East Tennessee recipes, jarred and shipped directly from the company’s famed Gatlinburg distillery. The Ole Smoky Moonshine™ distillery, known as The Holler™, is America’s most visited distillery and produces the brand’s signature flavors. Original Moonshine (100 proof), White Lightnin’™ (100 proof), Lightnin’ Line (80 proof): Strawberry Lightnin’, Lemon Drop Lightnin’ and Hunch Punch Lightnin’TM, and the 40 proof line including: Moonshine Cherries™, Peach Moonshine™, Apple Pie Moonshine™, Blackberry Moonshine™, Pineapple Moonshine, Watermelon Moonshine, Sweet Tea Moonshine and Charred Moonshine™ are available selectively in 49 states and Canada. Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine can be found at local retailers and is sampled and sold at some of the biggest music and sporting events in the country. True to its roots, each Ole Smoky Moonshine flavor is born from the hand-crafted recipes of the Tennessee families who have been filling moonshine jars and jugs in the Smoky Mountains for more than a century. For more information about the brand, please visit http://www.olesmoky.com. Find them on social media: Facebook.com/olesmoky, Twitter.com/olesmoky, Instagram.com/olesmokymoonshine.