A mixologist-crafted lineup centered on clean flavors, lighter ingredients and refreshing serves.

BARDSTOWN, Ky., June 3, 2026 – Elijah Craig, the award-winning family of premium American whiskeys, today introduced Clean Cocktails: an assortment of light and fresh serves crafted to let its distinctively smooth bourbon, made of pure ingredients and aged to perfection in charred barrels, shine through. As imbibers continue to prioritize quality ingredients and meaningful cocktail moments, the collection focuses on seasonal ingredients, fresh flavors and simple recipes to showcase Bourbon as a surprisingly approachable choice for mindful sips.

The hero serve, Elijah Craig Branch Water, is both a modern take on one of America’s first cocktails, the circa-1800s Bourbon and Branch, and a riff on today’s popular Ranch Water. It showcases how simple, mineral rich water combined with Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon forms the foundation of a clean-tasting, refreshing yet still flavor-forward cocktail. Elijah Craig Portfolio Mixologist Lynn House uses Old Limestone’s Kentucky Water for a pure, naturally filtered taste, then adds just the right touch of grapefruit juice for zest and a few dashes of cucumber bitters for a subtle contrast that brings everything together.

“We’re seeing the cultural shift toward occasion-based experiences and fresh ingredients, and we want to show our fans, both old and new, that Elijah Craig fits naturally into those moments,” said Max Stefka, Associate Vice President of Global Whiskey Brands at Heaven Hill Distillery. “As a pioneer in American whiskey, Elijah Craig has always embraced a simple process that delivers a bold flavor, whether enjoyed neat or in a cocktail.”

Elijah Craig Branch Water

• Ingredients:

○       1.5oz Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon

○       1oz fresh squeezed grapefruit juice (or a fresh-squeezed citrus of choice)

○       4oz spring water (limestone-filtered or other; avoid tap or distilled)

○       5 dashes of cucumber bitters

○       Garnish: citrus peel

• Method: Build the cocktail in a rocks glass, adding all ingredients and topping with ice. Stir, garnish with a citrus peel and enjoy!

Additional offerings include a Soursop Spritz, highlighting the exotic tropical fruit as the hero ingredient, the refreshing, Tiki-suggesting Island Fizz featuring coconut water, guava nectar and lime juice, and the Carrot Crush, a vibrant sip made with carrot, ginger and turmeric juice.

“Darker spirits are often associated with heavier flavor. Our Clean Cocktails challenge this notion, showcasing Elijah Craig Bourbon’s versatility for crafting and enjoying lighter, refreshing, fresh cocktails,” says Lynn House, Elijah Craig Portfolio Mixologist. “Our Bourbon brings exceptional depth of flavor and aroma while giving room for other ingredients to shine. It all owes to our brand’s namesake, who is known to be the first to age Bourbon in charred oak barrels, and whose practices we follow to this day. A simple recipe with fresh ingredients can deliver a cocktail as vibrant and refreshing as any made with clear spirits.”

At the center of the collection is Elijah Craig Small Batch, the award-winning, 94-proof expression the brand is known for. Crafted from a trifecta of quality grain, Kentucky limestone water, a 40-second Level 3 char and then aged through Kentucky’s elements to deliver an ingenious expression. It blends a smooth and warm taste of spice, smoke and nutmeg with a delightfully complex aroma of vanilla bean, sweet fruit and fresh mint. The long, sweet and slightly toasty finish is the perfect foundation for this cocktail lineup, balanced with invigorating citrus ingredients.

Elijah Craig Small Batch and more from the portfolio can be purchased at select retailers nationwide and on ElijahCraig.com for a SRP of $31.99. Follow Elijah Craig on Instagram or visit ElijahCraig.com for more summer cocktail inspiration.

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ABOUT ELIJAH CRAIG

Elijah Craig is one of the most award-winning families of premium Bourbons and Ryes. Its inaugural Barrel Proof Rye release (2025) is Whisky Advocate’s reigning Whiskey of the Year. The Reverend Elijah Craig, the brand’s namesake, is known as “The Father of Bourbon,” having established his distillery in 1789 on the banks of Elkhorn Creek in modern day Georgetown, Kentucky. He is credited with being the first distiller to age his wares in charred oak barrels. The clear, unaged corn liquor became transformed into a bold amber liquid with a distinctively smooth flavor that makes Bourbon what it is today. Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, the family of whiskeys includes Elijah Craig Small Batch, Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Elijah Craig Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. First brought to market in 1986, Heaven Hill Distillery’s Master Distillers were selecting a small number of barrels of the finest Bourbon to make Elijah Craig Small Batch long before the term “small batch” even existed. It is this attention to detail and superb craftsmanship that give Elijah Craig an ideal balance of age, robust body, and rich flavor. Along with Whisky Advocate’s Whiskey of the Year, the brand’s accolades have included Best Small Batch Bourbon, Best Single Barrel Bourbon (aged 11+ years) and Best Straight Bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Excellent Highly Recommended honors at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. For more information, please visit www.elijahcraig.com

TORONTO, June 1, 2026 /CNW/ - Asahi Canada has announced a strategic partnership with Coldhaus Direct, who will represent the company's portfolio across Ontario's rapidly growing Convenience & Gas channel, as well as Walmart locations throughout the province.

This collaboration marks an important step in Asahi Canada's ongoing growth strategy in Ontario, expanding access to its premium international beer and beverage portfolio and strengthening execution across this key retail channel in Ontario. The portfolio includes globally recognized brands such as Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Asahi Super Dry, Grolsch Pilsner, Pilsner Urquell, Tyskie, Lech, Kozel, Żubr, and RTD Vodka Mudshake, offering consumers a diverse selection of premium beer and ready-to-drink options.

Following the province's landmark decision in Fall 2024 to permit the sale of beer and wine in approximately 5,500 convenience outlets for the first time, approximately 20% of beer sales now occur in convenience stores*. With premiumization emerging as a key consumer trend**, this partnership will give retail partners wider access to Asahi Canada's ready-made portfolio. In addition, from June both Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Asahi Super Dry brands will launch new 4x500ml can pack formats specifically to meet the needs of the channel with a grab and go format for impulse and spontaneous get togethers.

Katelin Bernard, Head of Sales at Asahi Canada, commented, "We're thrilled to be working with Coldhaus Direct. We're aligned in our ambition to empower retailers to leverage our international premium offering and their instore support to drive growth, and through doing this, offering consumers more choice in the convenience & gas channel."

With more than two decades of experience in direct store delivery and convenience retail, Coldhaus Direct will support Asahi Canada through frontline sales execution; accelerating distribution, increasing in-store presence and driving sales performance. Coldhaus Direct's investment in a robust route-to-market solution and established retailer relationships will play a key role in supporting Asahi Canada's ambition to build distribution, visibility, and long-term growth across the province.

"Partnering with Coldhaus Direct allows us to rapidly strengthen our route to market in Ontario and unlock the full potential of the convenience channel," adds Bernard. "Their expertise, proven execution capabilities, and focus on premium brands make them an ideal partner as we continue to drive growth in this channel."

*Source: Ontario, LCBO Wholesale, Convenience Channel Share, All Beer, HL, R3 PE P12 Feb 2026
**Source: Ontario, LCBO Wholesale, All Channels, Import Branded Beer, Dollars, R13 PE P12 Feb 2026

About Asahi Canada

Asahi Canada is home to a collection of international super premium beer brands and iconic RTDs in Canada, including Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Asahi Super Dry, Grolsch, Kozel, Pilsner Urquell, Vodka Mudshake and Twisted Shotz. With offices in Ontario and Québec, Asahi Canada aims to provide innovative, high-quality beverages to the nation. It is a purpose-led organisation with a strong focus on employees and contributing to the local communities where it operates. Visit AsahiCanada.ca to learn more.

SOURCE Asahi

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This June, Louisville-based distiller Michter's will be releasing its 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye.

"At tastings, we occasionally encounter bourbon drinkers who are reluctant to taste rye because of past experiences," observed Michter's President Joseph J. Magliocco. "We explain that Michter's makes Kentucky style rye that is different from many other American ryes. More often than not, those bourbon drinkers discover that they really enjoy our rye."

"We make a Kentucky style rye that has more corn and malted barley in its mashbill than many other ryes. The result is a well balanced rye whiskey that has a rich sweetness and a flavor complexity that complement its spice notes," said Michter's Master Distiller Dan McKee.

Rye whiskey has been a focus for Michter's for over a quarter of a century. According to Michter's Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, the whiskey's cooperage and aging are crucial to ensuring the quality and character of Michter's 10 Year Rye. Wilson explained, "A critical component of aging Michter's 10 Year Rye is creating a barrel that is going to accentuate the beauty and elegance of a Kentucky style rye after aging for over 10 years. This whiskey possesses a balance of complexity and refinement driven through baking spice, citrus, and floral characteristics, all of which are bolstered by the sweetness and maturity of the oak."

A 92.8 proof (46.4% alcohol by volume) spirit, Michter's 10 Year Rye is a single barrel whiskey, and it has a suggested retail price of $210 in the U.S.

In October 2025, Michter's became the first whiskey to be named in three consecutive years The World's Most Admired Whiskey by an international academy of voters convened by UK-based Drinks International. Michter's has a rich and long legacy of offering traditional American whiskeys of uncompromising quality. With each of its limited production offerings aged to its peak maturity, Michter's highly acclaimed portfolio includes bourbon, rye, sour mash whiskey, and American whiskey. For more information about Michter's, please visit michters.com

WINDSOR, ON, May 25, 2026 /CNW/ - Today, J.P. Wiser's is proud to announce the launch of the Master Blender Series, a new collection released annually which celebrates the pinnacle of blending innovation, with the inaugural Master Blender Series 2026 Release now available as a distillery exclusive. The expression reframes blending as the ultimate mark of expertise and creativity, challenging the long-standing misconception that blending is a compromise in quality, and coincides with the celebration of Master Blender Dr. Don Livermore's 30th anniversary at the historic Hiram Walker Distillery.

As one of the world's few Master Blenders with a PhD in wood science and a background in microbiology, Dr. Don Livermore has spent three decades pushing the boundaries of Canadian whisky. The Master Blender Series 2026 Release draws inspiration from his academic roots, mirroring the foundations of his renowned Dissertation whisky. It utilizes an identical grain composition of rye and corn and a dual-distillation approach in both column and pot stills, the very method that earned him his PhD.

"In my 30 years at the Hiram Walker distillery, I've had the opportunity to work on a number of high-quality J.P. Wiser's Canadian whiskies," says Master Blender Dr. Don Livermore. "By returning to the foundations of my original 'Dissertation' blend, I wanted to take the scientific roots of rye, corn, and dual-distillation, and push them into exciting new territory to create the Master Blender Series."

While rooted in tradition, Dr. Don has advanced this blend into new territory by layering a global character through a sophisticated multi-cask finishing process. Bottled at 46.1% abv, this intricate harmony of wood and spirit yields a deeply complex, velvety profile featuring notes of succulent Bosc pear, indulgent dark chocolate, and the warm, artisanal spice of rye sourdough. The whisky was finished in a unique combination of:

• Black Sea Oak
• Once-used Speyside Malt Barrels
• Port Casks
• Heavily Charred White Oak

"The Master Blender Series is about showcasing the incredible complexity that true blending expertise can achieve," says Maura Cowan, VP of Marketing. "By introducing a global character through unique cask finishes like Black Sea Oak and Speyside barrels, this inaugural release shows exactly how J.P. Wiser's continues to redefine the Canadian whisky landscape. It is a true testament to the artistry and innovation behind Canadian whisky."

This release is a true distillery exclusive available only through jpwisers.com for $89.95. With only 1,500 bottles produced, the Master Blender Series 2026 Release offers enthusiasts a chance to own a piece of Dr. Don Livermore's 30-year legacy and is a testament to the innovation redefining the Canadian whisky landscape. Get yours today!