To educate consumers about the brewing process or how handcrafted spirits are made, many breweries and distillers operate as “go-to” destinations complete with tours, taprooms, samples and merchandise. Alcohol and non-alcohol beverage companies often hold grand openings and ribbon cuttings to celebrate expansions and new varietals with fans, the media and sometimes even government officials.

For instance, in late June, the Lacassine, La.-based Bayou Rum distillery hosted a grand opening for its $8 million Barrel Library and Event Center. The center houses thousands of batches of the latest creations from Master Blender Reiniel Vicente Diaz and Master Distiller and Operations Director Jeff Murphy, as well as operates as a tasting area where visitors can sample Bayou rums and learn more about the art of distilling, the company said in a statement.