LORETTO, Ky., Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of Women's History Month, Maker's Mark today announced a collaboration with acclaimed artist Ashley Longshore to design a limited-edition label celebrating spirited women and benefitting the leading nonprofit Vital Voices. Beginning today through the end of March, bourbon enthusiasts can visit  to personalize a complimentary Maker's Mark label with the name of an inspirational woman in their lives. Maker's Mark will donate $1 for every personalized label ordered, up to $50,000, to support the organization's mission of uplifting female leaders.

"When I make art, I go big, I go joyful and I go full color. Collaborating with Maker's Mark to celebrate spirited women like the brand's co-founder Margie Samuels felt like pouring that same energy onto the bottle's label," said Ashley Longshore. "This design celebrates women who burst into the world with color and courage — fearless women who think big and command attention wherever they go."

Ashley Longshore is a Southern-born, self-taught painter, sculptor and entrepreneur celebrated for changing the game—challenging the traditional art gallery business model by building her own pop art empire. Known for her vibrant maximalism and irreverent sense of humor, Longshore designed a label befitting of Margie Samuels and inspired the brand's Kentucky homeplace. Bursting with bee-pollinating blooms found across Star Hill Farm, nature is at the heart of the label's design with nods to the jewels—diamonds, pearls and gems—that have adorned Southern women for generations.

"From the very beginning, my grandmother Margie Samuels set a perfectly unreasonable standard that endures today—every bottle still hand-dipped in red wax, every barrel rotated by hand, and every decision guided by the brand's higher purpose," said Rob Samuels, managing director for Maker's Mark and eighth generation whisky maker. "Ashley Longshore shares that same pioneering and uncompromising spirit. We're thrilled to bring her art to life on a Maker's Mark bottle while supporting the meaningful causes championed by Vital Voices."

While Maker's Mark co-founder Bill Samuels, Sr. focused on crafting the highest-quality bourbon, his wife Margie shaped the brand; the bottle's shape, the label, the signature red wax topper and even the name are all her legacy. One of the first women inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, Margie also championed the distillery's aesthetic and visitor experience, laying the groundwork for today's Bourbon Trail. Women continue to lead across Maker's Mark, from product development and farm operations, to brand marketing and sustainability.

Throughout the year, consumers can create a custom Maker's Mark gift for anyone with the brand's personalized label program. Labels are currently available for 750mL bottles, which must be purchased separately and recipients must be 21+. For additional information about Maker's Mark, please visit  and share your personalized label at on Instagram.

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Redbreast®, the World's Most Awarded Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey*, announces the launch of , the fifth iteration in the award-winning Redbreast Iberian Series. While all Redbreast whiskies are matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, what makes the Iberian Series even more special is the unique sherry casks specifically selected for these expressions. Crafted by Master Blender David McCabe, this limited-edition honors both Redbreast's heritage and innovation by using Moscatel Wine casks from the historic Bodegas Quitapenas to enrich the flavor profile of the famed Irish single pot still whiskey.

Inspired by Redbreast's historic ties with fortified wines, Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is first matured in a selection of ex-American whiskey casks and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, followed by a final maturation period of 16 months in Málaga Moscatel casks. Bottled at 46% ABV, Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is rich in Mediterranean expression, bringing a noticeably elegant and more citrus forward personality to the whiskey.

Across several decades, McCabe and former Master Blender Billy Leighton have developed deep relationships with cask producers and winemakers throughout the Iberian Peninsula, inviting whiskey enthusiasts on a journey of discovery across this region. For this sun-soaked release, the team at Midleton Distillery partnered with Bodegas Quitapenas in Málaga, now led by fifth‑generation custodians Marta Suárez Prieto and Víctor Suárez OnrubiaI. Under their careful watch, these curated hogsheads made from European Oak were seasoned with Moscatel wine for two years before being shipped to Midleton Distillery, where they were filled with a bespoke batch of Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

With a complex flavor journey, the whiskey opens with notes of fresh, sweet tangerine and twisted orange peel, accompanied by delicate herbal notes of chamomile tea with dustings of nutmeg and cedarwood. The wine-seasoned oak imparts vanilla, with notes of floral honey and sugar glazed fruits, while the pot still spices add subtle notes of black peppercorn and clove in the background.

"The launch of Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is a celebration of Redbreast's heritage, craftsmanship, and incredible legacy dating back to the late 1800s," said Master Blender, David McCabe. "The use of Spanish Moscatel-seasoned casks is a tribute to Redbreast's historic ties to sherry and fortified wines, and our appreciation for the incredible people across the region, including Marta and her family at Bodegas Quitapenas, which was founded in 1880. Their remarkable family heritage inspired the richness and depth of this expression."

"It has been a great honor to work with David and his team at Midleton on the launch of Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition, which pays such a wonderful tribute to our rich family history," said Marta Suárez Prieto of Bodegas Quitapenas. "Along with my cousin Víctor, we have taken great care to season the casks perfectly, to ensure the new expression is infused with wonderful flavor notes of sweet honey, dates and caramelized fruits alongside gentle herbal, floral and citrus tones."

Crafted to be enjoyed neat or over ice, Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is available at (SRP: $109.99). To learn more, follow #RedbreastWhiskey #QuiteTheFind #RedbreastMoscatel.

*Based on the tasting results of eight global blind tasting competitions in 2025, including The Irish Whiskey Masters, International Wine & Spirit Competition, International Spirits Competition, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, World Whiskies Awards, Beverage Testing Institute, New York World Spirits Competition and Asia World Spirits Competition.

Fred Minnick is one of the best-known names in bourbon. He’s written several books and hundreds of articles on the subject, cofounded major festivals including Louisville’s Bourbon & Beyond, launched podcasts and tasting events with celebrity friends like Dierks Bentley and pro football Hall of Famer Jared Allen, and created the ASCOT Awards for bourbon and other spirits. But while even casual whiskey fans recognize Minnick and his influential palate, few know the role bourbon played in helping bring him back from the brink of despair.

Minnick touched on the subject during a Today show appearance in late 2021. Speaking remotely from his Louisville studio and wearing one of his signature ascots, shelves behind him crowded with bottles, he spoke about the psychological toll of his experiences as an Army photojournalist in Iraq. He recalled a June day in 2004 when, while on patrol, his unit was ambushed and a rocket-propelled grenade landed near his feet. “I thank God that that RPG was a dud,” Minnick said. “If it had gone off, I wouldn’t be here.”

That moment was one of several close calls during his deployment that followed him home, leading Minnick to seek therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs and to an eventual PTSD diagnosis. Those experiences also contributed to his focus on bourbon, though not as an escape. What started as sensory-based therapy evolved into his four-point tasting method, in which he uses mindfulness techniques to systematically analyze a whiskey’s color, body, aroma, and flavors. It’s an approach that has made him one of the most-respected reviewers in bourbon and set him on the path to his remarkable whiskey career.

Minnick details this journey in his new book, Bottom Shelf: How a Forgotten Brand of Bourbon Saved One Man’s Life. Part memoir and part historical investigation, the book examines his wartime trauma, his struggles once he came home, and how an infatuation with a vintage bottle of Old Crow led him to a deeper appreciation of the modern bourbon revival.

TORONTO, Feb. 2, 2026 /CNW/ - Two brands deeply woven into Canadian culture are coming together to introduce one of the country's most recognizable serves in a ready-to-drink (RTD) format. J.P. Wiser's and Canada Dry are launching their Whisky & Ginger Ale premixed cocktail. Built for modern occasions, this new pairing is available nationwide beginning in February.

"Whisky and ginger ale have a long history of showing up wherever Canadians gather, from game night to everyday moments. That connection played a big role in how this partnership came to life," said Maura Cowan, Vice-President of Marketing at Corby Spirit and Wine. "As we look to the future, this launch reflects a deliberate approach to evolving the J.P. Wiser's brand. It's about exploring new innovations and occasions while remaining anchored in the values, quality, and standards that have defined it for generations."

With more than a century of Canadian heritage between them, J.P. Wiser's and Canada Dry approached this collaboration with a shared focus on precision and consistency. The whisky needed to remain expressive and balanced, while Canada Dry Ginger Ale had to deliver its signature crisp, refreshing taste. The result: a Whisky & Ginger Ale RTD at 7% ABV that feels familiar from the first sip.

"If there's one ginger ale Canadians trust with their whisky, it's Canada Dry," said Chris McMahon, Vice-President, Away-from Home Sales & Ready-to-Drink at Keurig Dr Pepper Canada. "This marks the first entry of our ginger ale into the ready-to-drink category, and partnering with J.P. Wiser's, one of Canada's most established and awarded whisky brands, made this pairing a natural evolution of Canada Dry."

Beginning in February, the new RTD will be available nationwide, offering a versatile option for a range of occasions. It will be available in a 473 mL single-serve can, with four-packs offered in BC, AB and QC. J.P. Wiser's & Canada Dry Whisky & Ginger Ale requires no mixing or measuring and can be served straight from the can or over ice, offering a bar-quality expression of a Canadian favourite.

Designed to meet consumers where this classic serve is already enjoyed, the partnership extends well beyond shelf. J.P. Wiser's and Canada Dry will activate nationally throughout the year across retail, on-premise, and culture. Planned activity includes in-store tastings and retail sampling programs, select bar and restaurant features, high-profile sponsorships tied to major sporting and cultural events, and a rotating series of immersive pop-up experiences and festival appearances.

As the Official Whisky of Game Night, J.P. Wiser's will also extend the partnership into game-day occasions that resonate with fans coast to coast. A dynamic digital and social campaign will further amplify the collaboration, celebrating Canadian moments and the nostalgia of this iconic pairing. Additional activations will be announced as the rollout continues.

For more information, visit