When the founder of Bacardi, Don Facundo Bacardí Massó, purchased the company’s first distillery in Cuba, he found a colony of fruit bats hanging from the rafters.
The American Distilling Institute (ADI), Hayward, Calif., held its ninth annual Craft Distilling Conference from April 1-4 at the Huber Winery and Starlight Distillery, Starlight, Ind. Bill Owens, founder and president of ADI, reported that this year’s event was almost 30 percent larger than last year’s conference. This year’s event featured a focus on whiskey and rum with hands-on distilling classes, distillery tours, a vendor expo and a program of educational seminars.
Beam Inc., Deerfield, Ill., announced a definitive agreement with White Rock Distilleries, Lewiston, Maine, to acquire Pinnacle Vodka, Calico Jack rum and other related assets for $605 million in cash. Pinnacle Vodka’s 2012 volumes are expected to exceed 3 million 9-liter cases and will significantly enhance Beam’s presence in the growing vodka category, the company said.
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