We have just made our first bourbon angels and wanted you to be one of the first to know. Already famous for producing hand crafted, limited edition SCOTCH whisky filled glass angels we thought it was time to spread those wings and create an angel for our fellow whisky makers in Kentucky.
We have joined forces with family firm A Taste of Kentucky who will be selling the distinctive Bourbon Angels in their gift shops.
This move follows last years successful trade trip to the American Midwest organised by Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise.
Our director, Karen Somerville and Sales Manager Jen Kidd were among 10 companies selected for the four-day visit which focused on the states of Illinois and Kentucky.
Karen said: “It was a fantastic trip and we set up meetings with representatives of different companies where we could showcase our products and see if they were interested in partnering with us.
“We actually met the owner of A Taste of Kentucky, John Hassmann, quite by chance after popping into his shop in Louisville to buy some souvenirs just before we flew home. Jen and I got chatting to the shop assistant and told her about our signature product, glass angels filled with Scotch whisky, and she said her boss would love to see them.”
She organised a meeting with Mr Hassman where Karen outlined the idea of creating handmade Bourbon Angels for the Kentucky market given the state’s reputation as the home of Bourbon.
She said:
“Since 95% of US Bourbon is distilled in Kentucky, we thought it would be ideal to swap Scotch for Bourbon to create Bourbon Angels and John loved the concept. It was a serendipitous meeting and we’re delighted it led to our first American partnership.”
The couple sell products made locally or `in the spirit of Kentucky’ at their three Louisville-based stores and online shop.
Mr Hassman said:
We are confident we will make further inroads into the US market following the multi-sector trade visit as discussions continue with American firms including Brown-Forman, owners of best-selling whiskey Jack Daniel's.
Ms Somerville said:
“The American whiskey market is booming with new distilleries opening every month. We’re confident we’ll be able to finalise further partnership agreements with several companies who are interesting in selling our unique whisky-related gifts.