Palm Republic Rum Expands National Footprint with Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

Award-Winning Rum Brand Marks Next Phase of Growth with Eight-Market Expansion and CEO Appointment

New York, NY (July 15, 2026)  Palm Republic Rum, the award-winning premium rum brand co-founded by actor Eric Winter and spirits entrepreneur Brad Parkes, today announced a significant expansion of its U.S. distribution footprint, marking the companys next phase of growth across key markets nationwide.

Beginning this summer, Palm Republic Rum will expand into eight new markets through a series of strategic distribution agreements, significantly increasing availability for both on- and off-premise accounts across the country. The brand will now be represented by Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits in California, Florida, and Texas, and expand into states including New York, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Colorado. In addition, the brand will launch in Georgia through Empire Distributors, Inc. and Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, with Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits as the brands broker in the state.

Palm Republic Rum offers two premium expressions that celebrate the diverse traditions of Caribbean rum-making. The Silver Rum blends rums from Jamaica and the U.S. Virgin Islands, offering aromas of banana, vanilla, and fresh sugar cane layered with nutmeg and clove, while the Aged Rum combines rums from Panama, Jamaica, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, aged up to eight years in sherry casks. The expression offers notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and molasses leading into muscovado sugar, gingerbread, and baking spice for a rich, full-bodied finish. This multi-origin blending philosophy is central to Palm Republics approach, bringing together rums from different regions to create a more dynamic, layered expression of Caribbean rum-making.

"Palm Republic was created to celebrate premium rum and the moments that bring people together," says Eric Winter, Co-Founder of Palm Republic Rum. "My connection to rum goes back nearly two decades to Puerto Rico with my wife, an experience that sparked a real appreciation for the spirit. Bringing that passion into the brand has been incredibly meaningful. As demand continues to grow, partnering with Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits marks a major milestone. Their scale, expertise, and relationships make them an ideal partner as we introduce Palm Republic to new markets nationwide."

The expansion comes in tandem with the recent appointment of the brands CEO, Jeff Popkin, a beverage industry veteran who joined the company in early 2026 to lead the brands growth strategy, commercial operations, distribution expansion, and long-term business development. Prior to joining Palm Republic, Popkin served as President of Compass Box Whiskey, VP of Sales at Stoli Group USA, and spent several years in senior commercial leadership roles at Red Bull North America.

"Palm Republic has already built an incredible foundation through exceptional liquid, authentic storytelling, and an experienced, passionate team of industry vets," says Jeff Popkin, CEO of Palm Republic Rum. "The opportunity now is to thoughtfully scale that success. With our new brand identity and reimagined bottle design, Palm Republic really stands out on the shelf. I'm thrilled to help lead the brand as we continue building long-term momentum."

The brand has quickly earned recognition throughout the spirits industry, led by strong Wine Enthusiast ratings of 96 for its Aged Rum and 94 for its Silver Rum. The brand also received Platinum for its Aged Rum and Double Gold for its Silver Rum at the 2025 SIP Awards, along with Platinum and Gold honors, respectively, at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Palm Republic Aged Rum and Palm Republic Silver Rum are currently available locally in Florida, Texas, and California, with significant U.S. expansion planned in 2026. The rums are also available to ship nationwide in approved states. To learn more about Palm Republic Rum, please visit @palmrepublicrum.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Rachel Harrison Communications

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About Palm Republic Rum

Palm Republic is a premium rum brand co-founded by actor Eric Winter and industry veteran Brad Parkes. Born from a 20-year journey of discovery across the Caribbean, Palm Republic blends exceptional rums from Panama, Jamaica, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to create dynamic, expressive spirits sourced to be sipped. The portfolio includes Silver Rum, smooth and floral with notes of banana, vanilla, and sugarcane, and Aged Rum thats rich and full-bodied with flavors of caramel, molasses, dark chocolate, and warm baking spices. Crafted without additives, each expression showcases the distinct character of its origins, coming together in a thoughtful blend thats more layered, balanced, and compelling than any single component alone.

About Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits

Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits is the preeminent total beverage distributor, building brands for moments that matter. The multi-generational, family-owned Company has operations in 47 U.S. markets and Canada, as well as brokerage operations through its Southern Glazers Travel Retail Sales & Export Division in the Caribbean, Central and South America. In 2026, Southern Glazers was recognized by Newsweek as one of Americas Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community. In 2025, Southern Glazers was recognized by Newsweek as one of Americas Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and Americas Greatest Workplaces for Women. Southern Glazers urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. Follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram @sgwinespirits.