NH Liquor Commission to Host One of the Largest Spirits Tasting Events on the East Coast

Distiller’s Showcase draws 1,000 people to sample 400 premium and ultra-premium spirits; three bottles of rare, Pappy Van Winkle 23yr bourbon to be auctioned  

Concord, NH – With an expected capacity crowd of more than 1,000 guests and featuring more than 400 premium and ultra-premium spirits for sampling, the fourth annual Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits will take place on Thursday, November 10, in Manchester, NH. Hosted by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC), the world-class event is one of the largest spirits tasting events on the East Coast, featuring more than 140 tables of spirits, food from New Hampshire’s top restaurants, and the chance to meet brand ambassadors and distillers from around the globe, including Tito Beveridge, founder of Tito’s Handmade Vodka. In addition, guests this year will be able to bid on three bottles of the extremely rare Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23yr Kentucky straight bourbon.

Tickets cost $60 at http://distillersshowcase.com. The event will take place from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester with proceeds benefiting the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire.

“Whether you are an aficionado or just beginning to explore the world of premium spirits, the Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits is the perfect opportunity to sample and purchase more than 400 of the world’s finest whiskies, tequilas, vodkas, rum and much, much more,” said NHLC Chairman Joseph Mollica. “Our commitment to offering our 11 million annual consumers access to unique and exclusive products has played a major role in burnishing the NH Liquor & Wine Outlet Brand and driving our sales to record-breaking heights. Last year, our total sales increased by $36.3 million to a record $678 million, which includes a 7.6-percent increase in spirits sales to $384.3 million.”

NHLC, which was named the third best state to buy bourbon by BreakingBourbon.com, developed the Distiller’s Showcase to give both spirit novices and aficionados the opportunity to explore their palettes through sampling hundreds of diverse spirits, including various styles of whiskey, Scotch, tequila, vodka, rum, gin, cordials and liqueurs. Many of the spirits available for sampling and purchase during the Distiller’s Showcase are only available at NHLC’s 79 NH Liquor & Wine Outlets. In addition to some of the world’s premium brands, several New Hampshire distillers, including Sea Hagg Distillery of North Hampton, Djinn Spirits of Nashua, Flag Hill Distillery of Lee, Tall Ship Distillery of Dover, New England Sweetwater Farm and Distillery of Winchester, Stark Brewing Company of Manchester, Tamworth Distilling of Tamworth, and Smoky Quartz Distillery of Seabrook, will take part in the Distiller’s Showcase as well.

Distiller’s Showcase guests will be able to purchase spirits at a 10% savings through NHLC’s award-winning, state-of-the-art mobile ordering app and pick up their purchases at any one of the state’s 79 NH Liquor & Wine Outlets.  

Coupled with the Distiller’s Showcase, NHLC teamed up with the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association (NHLRA) for a Pappy Van Winkle Raffle & Exclusive Tasting Experience, which featured the chance to win a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23yr bourbon and a one-of-a-kind trip to New Hampshire for an exclusive Pappy Van Winkle tasting and fine dining experience. The prize package also included VIP access to the Distiller’s Showcase. Raffle proceeds will support NHLRA.

During the Distiller’s Showcase, guests will have the chance to bid on three bottles of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23yr bourbon. In the last three years, NHLC has auctioned seven bottles of the extremely rare Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23yr bourbon, raising more than $10,000 to support the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire. Guests this year will also have the chance to bid on an all-inclusive, trip-for-two to Scotland to experience the world’s most historic Scotch distilleries.

“The New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s tremendous buying power enables us to deliver exclusive opportunities to consumers,” Chairman Mollica continued. “In addition to events like the Distiller’s Showcase, we have hand-selected and purchased a record 16 barrels of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel for our customers, walked through the rack houses of Jim Beam’s distillery in Clermont, KY to secure eight barrels of Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve, and acquired the only existing barrel in the world of a rare 16 year Aberfeldy Single Cask Scotch Whisky named the 7th best whisky of 2014 by Whisky Advocate.”

Previously, the Distiller’s Showcase has provided the opportunity to sample limited release BenRiach, Glendronach and Aberfeldy single cask single malt scotch whiskies, and interact with the likes of Chris Fletcher, Assistant Master Distiller at Jack Daniel Distillery, Alasdair Day, owner of Tweeddale Blend, and Elayne Duff, Diageo USA’s luxury brand mixologist. A list of 2016 participants is available at www.distillersshowcase.com.   

The Distiller’s Showcase features silent auctions, raffles, and delicious food from top New Hampshire restaurants, including Amphora Fine Greek Dining, Bedford Village Inn, Campo Enoteca, Faro Italian Grille, Giorgio’s Ristorante, Ignite Bar & Grille and Hooked Seafood Restaurant, JD’s Tavern, O Steaks & Seafood, Canoe Restaurant & Tavern, Republic Cafe, Stark Brewing Company, Stella Blu, The Common Man, the New Hampshire Food Bank’s RFS, Culinary Job Training Program, The Fresh Market, The Quill Restaurant at Southern New Hampshire University, Tuscan Kitchen, Veranda Martini Bar and Grille, the Wild Rover Pub, and XO on Elm.

In addition, this past summer Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which has demonstrated a profound commitment to animals and animal rescue through its “Vodka for Dog People” effort, and Martignetti Companies of New Hampshire made a commitment to donate $1 for every Tito’s Handmade Vodka & Lemonade drink sold this summer at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford. Tito Beveridge will present a significant donation to the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire to kick-off the Distiller’s Showcase. 

The Distiller’s Showcase has raised more than $152,000 to support the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire over the past three years. The Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, which helps more than 2,200 animals each year, will use this funding to support general operating expenses, as 73-percent of the League’s operating budget goes to general animal care and medical expenses. 

“We are extremely grateful for the support we receive through the Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits,” said Monica Zulauf, president & CEO of the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire. “The Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire does not receive any state or federal funding, and we are dependent upon community support from businesses and community members alike. This critical support will have a major impact on our ability to help pets and the people who care for them.”

NHLC has worked with suppliers and brokers to raise $720,000 for nonprofit organizations making an impact in New Hampshire during the past three years. In addition to the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, Homes for Our Troops, Operation Care for Troops, Easter Seals New Hampshire, Toys for Tots, New Hampshire Food Bank, Granite United Way, Concord Hospital and the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire have all benefitted from NHLC’s support. 

NHLC is encouraging guests to imbibe responsibly and will feature a Brown-Forman social responsibility area. The Radisson Hotel Manchester is offering a special “sip and stay” package and a safe ride home program from Grace Limousine.  Visit www.distillersshowcase.com for more information.