Double Gold Celebration

March 31, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor Tomblin Signs SB 574 as Bloomery Re-Opens Doors with a Double Gold Medal Win in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Senate Bill 574 was signed into law today by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, giving much needed economic relief to the craft distilling industry in WV. The Bill amends Chapter 60 of the WV Code to reduce the mark up fee charged by the State of WV from 28% to 5% and the market zone tax that distilleries are required to pay to retail liquor stores from 10% to 2%.

On February 11, 2015 Bloomery Plantation Distillery, Charles Town, WV, closed its tasting room doors while fighting for legislation to change prohibition-era laws to alleviate the economic hardship on WV distilleries. The Bill passed the Senate on March 1 and the House on March 10. A Title Amendment was adopted, with final concurrence on the Bill was on the last day of the legislative session on March 14. Thank you to the Governor, legislators, friends and fans for coming together on the passage of this Bill!

Before their tasting room closed, Bloomery had submitted their SweetShine Black Walnut to the 2015 San Francisco World Spirit Competition, the most industry respected competition in the world. Bloomery found out this past week that they had won a Double Gold, the highest award for Best Nut Liqueur with their Black Walnut entry. Chandler Moore, Managing Director of the competition, told Bloomery, “Congratulations! The judges were over the moon about your product!” One of the judges, Fred Minick, Wall Street Journal Best Sellling Author, stated in his article, on March 27, 2015, Best Bourbon: The Shocking Winner at San Francisco World Spirits 2015, “I also tasted an incredible Black Walnut Liqueur (Brand: Bloomery) that I can’t wait to make a bourbon cocktail with. Of the more than 150 spirits my panel tasted, we gave out a handful of Double Golds and many Bronze medals. The competition tasted more than 1,500 spirits.”

A Double Gold Grand Re-opening Celebration, for the passage of the Bill and Bloomery’s world win in San Francisco, is planned for Saturday, April 4, 11 am – 8 pm. For details, visit www.bloomerysweetshine.com.

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