LORETTO, Ky., April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Maker's Mark® today announced the debut of Star Hill Farm Whisky, the distillery's first new mashbill and first wheat whisky, celebrating the role regenerative agriculture plays in creating healthier soil, better flavor and a more sustainable future. The annual release will be available in the United States and the United Kingdom beginning in mid-May and in Australia later in 2025. With its launch, Maker's Mark is scaling its sustainability efforts by establishing The Maker's Mark Regenerative Alliance and has committed to transitioning a million acres of conventional farmland to regenerative over the next three years.

"Guided by our founders' pursuit of excellence and a higher purpose, we are proud to share Star Hill Farm Whisky with the world — a 10-year journey to unlock nature's depth of flavor, resulting in something new from the Maker's Mark Distillery," said Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker's Mark. "The launch of Star Hill Farm Whisky will expand our platform to advance regenerative agriculture beyond our business, fostering a more sustainable future for our industry, people and planet."

While Maker's Mark has used the same mashbill for over 70 years to create a balanced and consistent bourbon, Star Hill Farm Whisky will evolve each year, exploring flavors that soil, wheat, water and wood impart to quality ingredients when expertly blended, aged and grown regeneratively. The inaugural release will highlight soft red winter wheat — the distinctive grain in Maker's Mark's mashbill — and will remove corn entirely, allowing the wheat to shine. The 2025 release of Star Hill Farm Whisky is crafted from two mashbills: one with 70% soft red winter wheat and 30% malted barley, and the other with 100% malted soft red winter wheat.

"We're proud to introduce the first wheat whisky in our distillery's history, one that showcases our vision and innovation and honors the land that makes it all possible," said Dr. Blake Layfield, master distiller, Maker's Mark. "This release is a complex yet balanced blend of seven- and eight-year whiskies, bottled uncut at cask strength. The nose captivates with notes of buttery caramel, golden raisins and gingerbread. On the palate, you'll find a soft, bright mix of honeyed toffee, chocolate-covered cherries, and a hint of apple pie spice. The finish is smooth and inviting, with toasted pecans and soft cinnamon bringing it all together."

Partnering to Advance Regenerative Agriculture

Star Hill Farm Whisky is named after the 1,100-acre farm that is home to the Maker's Mark Distillery, chosen by its founders, Margie and Bill Samuels Sr., in 1953 for its unique water source and proximity to grain growers. Maker's Mark still owns, protects and enriches its watershed and land. Today, Maker's Mark is the first and only bourbon distillery to achieve B Corp Certification in Kentucky and the first distillery globally to achieve certification from , the leading regenerative certification company.

With the launch of Star Hill Farm Whisky, Maker's Mark has formed an alliance with Regenified and Understanding Ag, which provides education and technical support to build healthy farm ecosystems. The Maker's Mark Regenerative Alliance will invite farms, bars and restaurants — starting in New York, Kentucky and greater London — to join its mission: pledging to adopt regenerative practices in sourcing and operations, while promoting its benefits through menu storytelling and consumer engagement.

Star Hill Farm Whisky will be the first to carry an Estate Whiskey certification — a new designation by The Estate Whiskey Alliance™ group established by the University of Kentucky to highlight the advantages of local sourcing and sustainable production in the whiskey industry. Estate whiskey refers to a category that is produced entirely on the distillery estate, using grains sourced from estate owned or controlled land.

With an ABV of 57.35% (114.7 proof), the Star Hill Farm Whisky 2025 Release will have a suggested retail price of USD $100. In the United States, the limited release will be available at select retailers nationwide and available for purchase at the Maker's Mark Distillery by booking a Star Hill Farm Whisky experience at

NEW YORK, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- is excited to unveil the latest addition to its collection: Chinola® Pineapple Liqueur. This handcrafted liqueur is artfully made with the prized MD2 pineapple, one of the Dominican Republic's most cherished varieties. As the third release in the portfolio, Chinola® Pineapple Liqueur reinforces the brand's mission to celebrate and share the vibrant tropical flavors of the Dominican Republic with cocktail professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Chinola's® story began in 2014, named after the local word for passion fruit. Following the success of and the 2024 debut of , the brand is thrilled to bring pineapple into the fold.

"We've always been driven by a passion to create liqueurs that reflect the beauty and authenticity of the Dominican Republic. The Chinola® Pineapple brings that vision to life with the bold, tropical intensity of MD2 pineapple, which is renowned for its golden sweetness and rich, full-bodied flavor," says Founder and CEO Andrew Merinoff.

Like its predecessors, Chinola® Pineapple is a natural, low-ABV liqueur made with 100% fresh fruit and a neutral cane spirit, free from artificial additives. Rooted in the Samaná Peninsula and crafted in the Dominican Republic, it reflects Chinola's commitment to quality, authenticity, and sustainable practices from farm to bottle. From regenerative farming techniques like polycropping, organic fertilizers, and biochar soil enrichment, to embracing beekeeping and repurposing byproducts into oils, soaps, and compost, every step is thoughtfully designed to reduce impact and give back.

The farm, built using reclaimed materials, also serves as a hub for community development, supporting infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and water wells in the Samaná region. Locally sourcing ingredients and using an off-grid, bioenergy-powered distillery further helps minimize Chinola's carbon footprint from farm to bottle. These mindful farming practices not only preserve the environment, they also enhance the vibrant, naturally rich flavor of the liqueurs.

Chinola® Pineapple offers a bold, fresh flavor and bright, natural aromas, crafted with 100% fresh pineapple juice and a smooth neutral cane spirit. Its golden hue mirrors the pineapples grown in Monte Plata and Sánchez Ramírez, where they're harvested each spring. Distilled and bottled in the Dominican Republic at 21% ABV, this new expression continues the brand's mission to spotlight the Dominican Republic's tropical flavors. Rooted in the same production practices as the original passion fruit liqueur, Chinola® Pineapple delivers a naturally rich, balanced taste that elevates every sip.

"Research and development is always happening behind the scenes, so as we looked at the fruits that truly define the Caribbean, pineapple stood out. It's not just a flavor, it's a symbol of the region's agricultural heritage," says Merinoff. "Many would have walked away when they realized how challenging it is to maintain a fresh pineapple flavor. It takes years of research and an unwavering commitment to quality to create a liqueur that actually tastes like the fruit itself. But, from inception we set out to fill a void behind the bar, creating a sustainable, high-quality way to bring authentic fruit flavors into cocktails."

Starting April 14th, 2025, the Chinola® Pineapple Liqueur ($29.99, 750ml) will be available in 40 United States markets, country-wide from Massachusetts to Florida and all the way out to Hawaii. To find out more about the products, recipes and where to find Chinola go to . To get it shipped right to your door, visit .

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Water Distilling Co. is proud to announce that Molly Troupe has joined the team as Master Distiller. Known for her scientific precision, creative vision, and fearless leadership, Molly Troupe brings a wealth of experience and a celebrated track record to her role at Clear Water.

Molly rose to prominence as the youngest female master distiller in the United States and became a partner at Freeland Spirits, a pioneering woman-owned distillery in Portland, Oregon. Her groundbreaking work earned her a coveted spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2018 and a seat on the board of directors for the American Craft Spirits Association.

"We are beyond excited to welcome Molly to Clear Water," said Matt Eau Claire, CEO of Clear Water Distilling Co. "Her scientific background, creative drive, and uncompromising standards align perfectly with our mission to redefine what spirits should be."

A Southern Oregon University graduate with a degree in chemistry, Molly went on to earn a master's degree in brewing and distilling from the prestigious Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her journey has taken her through key roles at Hood River Distillers and Oregon Spirit Distillers before she helped launch Freeland Spirits in 2017.

With her arrival at Clear Water Distilling Co., Troupe will play a pivotal role in increasing Clear Water's production in response to the explosive growth they have seen with their products, even as overall industry momentum has slowed. Troupe will also help shape the next generation of exceptional spirits — pushing boundaries while honoring the science and artistry of distillation.

Toronto, April 1, 2025 – The next government can protect the 1.2 million workers in the foodservice industry, improve food affordability for Canadians and help keep foodservice businesses afloat during the tariff war by exempting all food from sales taxes, as it did during the recent GST/HST holiday, says Restaurants Canada. Eight in 10 (77%) Canadians would like to see the GST/HST holiday made permanent, and 84% believe food should not be taxed, according to a spark*insights public opinion poll conducted on behalf of Restaurants Canada. 

New Statistics Canada data reveal that commercial foodservice sales increased by a robust 7.5% year-over-year in January. Even after adjusting for inflation, real sales rose by 4.3%—the highest real growth since April 2023. This supports that the GST/HST holiday led to a 67,500 year-over-year increase in foodservice sector jobs in January.

“Restaurants are the number one source of first-time jobs and the fourth largest private-sector employer in Canada,” said Kelly Higginson, President and CEO of Restaurants Canada. “A million dollars in sales in our sector generates $1.8 million in output in the wider economy and 17.6 jobs, both above the average for other industries. There is real opportunity here for the next government to invest in a major driver of the Canadian and local economies, protect jobs and help make life more affordable for Canadians.”

Restaurants and their employees pay $26 billion in federal, provincial and municipal taxes and contribute 4% of the national GDP. However, economic instability has left the sector vulnerable: 53% of foodservice businesses say they are operating at a loss or just breaking even, up from 12% pre-pandemic. Bankruptcies in the industry increased by 45% in the first eight months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Restaurants Canada has reached out to all the major federal parties with a list of additional recommendations for their platforms, including reducing interprovincial trade barriers and reducing payroll taxes.

“2024 was a tough year for restaurants, with consumer spending down due to the affordability crisis impacting Canadians across the country, while every operating cost was going up. The GST/HST holiday was a much-needed boost, but we need permanent measures to address affordability for Canadians and allow our industry to continue to be a major contributor to the Canadian economy, especially as we face the new threat of U.S. tariffs,” concluded Higginson.