Global Tequila brand Don Julio is offering spirits collectors the opportunity to own a limited-edition release of the iconic Don Julio 1942 with an exceptional cask finish through its inaugural global cask sale.

Five expressions will be bottled as new-to-world editions of Tequila Don Julio 1942. They will be masterfully crafted through an extended finishing process utilizing casks that previously held Bourbon, Ruby Port, Orange Wine, Madeira Wine, and Crémant.

“The culture surrounding agave-based spirits is exciting, constantly evolving, and this inaugural Tequila Don Julio 1942 global cask sale demonstrates our commitment to continue to push the boundaries of what a luxury tequila experience can be,” said Sophie Kelly, Senior Vice President of Global Tequila and Mezcal Categories at DIAGEO.

“We recognize that for many, luxury tequilas are considered an extension of one’s lifestyle, so we’re meeting the demand for prospective buyers and tastemakers to not only own an extremely rare, super luxe-tequila but to own a piece of the Tequila Don Julio history and legacy.”

Within the range, the Crémant Cask Finish introduces floral and citrus notes, while the Orange Wine Cask Finish imparts tea and sweet spices. The Ruby Port Cask Finish offers a combination of cinnamon and dark chocolate, the Madeira Wine Cask Finish brings the opulence of toffee and spices, and the Ex-Bourbon Double Charred Cask Finish deepens the warmth of Tequila Don Julio 1942 with toasted oak and caramelized banana notes.

Tequila Don Julio will store all five casks at its Mexico distillery until bottling, which will occur between December 2024 and March 2025. The BlockBar global platform, powered by blockchain technology, offers owners a unique opportunity to sell or gift their special cask finishes of Tequila Don Julio 1942 to anyone of legal drinking age worldwide.

Owners can sell or gift each cask NFT, representing the equivalent of the full cask of the tequila they purchased. At bottling, the cask NFTs will each convert to 40 NFTs that can also be gifted or sold, representing ownership of 40 cases of six 750ml bottles. These bottles will be stored by BlockBar and will be available for redemption globally by June 2025.

The auction is now live on BlockBar, with each finish representing its own lot. The starting bid for each cask is $35,000, and individuals who are of legal purchase age for beverage alcohol in the country in which they reside, and in any case aged 18 or older, can participate by creating a BlockBar account before the auction closes at 10 a.m. EST on June 20, 2024.

For more information or to start bidding, go to blockbar.com

Pernod Ricard North America, in collaboration with Safe Night LLC and the Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, is working with local communities to create safer nightlife environments.

Starting in Greenwich Village, New York City, the initiative is designed to promote responsible alcohol consumption, reduce harm, and create safer nightlife environments across the U.S. and Canada.

Prioritising the well-being of patrons, hospitality professionals and community members, the initiative builds on the success of the Good Neighbor Initiative pilot program launched in Dallas in 2021.

‘ Good Nights Are Safe Nights’ provides bars, restaurants, and hospitality professionals with training, resources, and voluntary accreditation for responsible nightlife operations. It aims to enhance safety within local communities by merging data-driven strategies and operational analysis, applying prevention and enforcement strategies, and fostering relationships between hospitality professionals, local law enforcement and community stakeholders.

“We’re not just nurturing responsible brands,” explains Pierre Joncourt, SVP of Operations for Pernod Ricard North America, “but also fostering a culture of safety and respect within the hospitality industry. With this initiative, we’re making significant strides towards creating safer nightlife environments, instilling a sense of security and conviviality for all.”

Participating venues can also earn accreditation, such as the “Village Safe Spot” certification from the Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, enhancing their reputation for safety and responsibility in the nightlife industry.

“We are proud to launch the Village Safe Spot, a critical harm reduction model designed to ensure that nightlife in Greenwich Village is safe and inclusive for everyone,” explained Jesse Gericke, Executive Director of the Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce.

“By partnering with local bars, restaurants and clubs, we’re creating designated safe spaces where nightlife establishments can address nightlife issues before they become a bigger problem. We aim to foster a nightlife culture where safety, respect, and community are at the forefront.”

For more information on ‘Good Nights Are Safe Nights’ and how to bring the initiative to your city, please visit goodnightsaresafenights.com.

Global Cognac brand Hennessy and basketball legend LeBron James have teamed up to unveil a V.S. bottle, ‘Hennessy Limited Edition by LeBron James’.

Available globally from September 30th, the collaboration brings an unexpected twist for fans and the industry alike. The expression features a fresh, vibrant, and distinctive design that nods to James’ impact on and off the court.

“As an admirer of Hennessy and its iconic brand, I’ve always appreciated its commitment to basketball and how it celebrates the sport’s influence on and off the court,” explained James.

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“I was fortunate enough to visit the Maison in Cognac a while back, and seeing the care and craftsmanship that go into creating each bottle was pretty incredible. This collaboration represents a shared sense of dedication and discovery coming to life for everyone to enjoy.”

While the blend will remain the same and delivers on the bold yet smooth character that has made Hennessy V.S. one of the most popular cognacs in the world, the packaging showcases an illustrative portrait of James in purple and orange.

The iconic Hennessy Bras Armé is reimagined, sporting a sleeve as a tribute to James and intertwined with his trademark crown.

“We are elated to officially welcome LeBron James to the Hennessy family after many years of mutual admiration and friendship,” said Antoine Varlet, Senior Vice President, Hennessy U.S.

“LeBron is not just a basketball star, but someone who redefines boundaries in sport, style, culture and beyond. This partnership is more than just a collaboration; it’s a statement about what’s possible when two cultural icons come together.”

For more information, go to hennessy.com or follow @HennessyUS on Instagram.

Global Tequila brand Cuervo unveils Devil’s Reserve, a brand-new tequila infused with a devilishly delicious, sweet heat.

As the story goes, the Devil was bored and wanted a party in hell, so he sought out those famous for fun. No one knows a good time better than Cuervo, so it was obvious that the Devil would come knocking with a simple request–for all the Cuervo tequila produced, the Devil gets his fair share. And thus, Devil’s Reserve was born!

Cuervo went to hell and back and picked up a devilishly sweet heat along the way. Smooth, delicious, and featuring a lower ABV, Devil’s Reserve is the perfect new spirit for those mischievous nights out, whether pouring a round of chilled shots or whipping up some devilishly delicious cocktails.

For those wanting flavour-forward adventure in their drinks, seeking out spicy and sweet to bring their tequila drinking experience to the next level, Devil’s Reserve is here to answer their call.

“Devil’s Reserve unleashes an entirely new taste upon the world of tequila, bringing the Devil’s mischievous spirit to life for those craving unforgettable nights of adventure with the perfect drink in hand,” said Lander Otegui, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Proximo Spirits.

“Cuervo has an epic legacy in creating centuries of good times across 10 generations, and no one knows how to raise a little hell as much as we do. The Devil is in the details.”

Devil’s Reserve presents clear with a fiery, light yellow hue, with a sweet heat taste and finish that teases the senses. The bottle design looks as good as Devil’s Reserve tastes, boasting a vibrant and unique label inspired by Mexican folk art, including loteria cards, traditional Mexican illustrations and the fantastical Alebrije art styles.

For mroe infomation, got to devilsreserve.com or follow Devil’s Reserve on Instagram at @DevilsReserve.

Global Amaro brand (and bartender’s handshake) Fernet Branca has announced the release of its Limited Edition bottle, The Record Label.

This collector’s bottle is the first of its kind, and it invites Fernet loyalists to unlock never-before-seen content inspired by the world of music and mischief, pillars deeply rooted in the brand.

Designed by the Brooklyn-based creative collective Madwell, The Record Label bottle, fitted with AR capabilities, unlocks the surreal world of ‘FernetworkTV’- a non-stop broadcast and hub featuring existing content along with new, never-before-seen music-inspired additions starring the famous brand mascot, Fernando.

“For our first-ever limited edition offering in the U.S. market, we wanted to create something that goes beyond the traditional experience, as we typically seek out the bold and unexpected at Fernet-Branca,” said Edoardo Branca, the sixth-generation family member who is leading the charge in the U.S market.

“The Record Label celebrates the fusion of two passions—great taste and great music—while connecting our fans to the heart of the Fernet community in a fun, interactive way,” he continued.

Earlier this month, Fernet-Branca concluded its five-month-long Secret Handshake Tour, an interactive bar crawl that brought music and fun to fan-favourites across the U.S. neighbourhood ba. This release of The Record Label marks the grand finale of the tour, keeping the celebration alive and creating another avenue for front-row seats to the brand.

Additionally, limited edition bundles are available, featuring exclusive unreleased apparel, posters, and more. The brand also partnered with sought-after tattoo artists nationwide for the Bottle & Tattoo bundle, which includes a voucher for a bespoke Fernet tattoo that proudly and permanently declares their love for the liqueur.

For more information, go to fernetbranca.com or follow on Instagram @fernetbranca.

Irish Cream Liqueur brand Baileys has joined forces with American fashion label 3.1 Phillip Lim to take New York Fashion Week by storm with the release of the limited-edition 3.1 Phillip Lim x Baileys Mini Market Tote.

Custom-made to fit three Baileys Minis so you can make every night out even sweeter, the Market Tote is the only item from 3.1 Phillip Lim that can be purchased immediately, off the runway, as a limited-edition collectable.

“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of 3.1 Phillip Lim, I am thrilled to partner with Baileys on something that we’ve never done before,” says Phillip Lim, Creative Director and Co-Founder, 3.1 Phillip Lim. “Joy is our purpose with this season’s Spring runway show, this anniversary moment and a common thread of our long history with Baileys.

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“This limited-edition Market Tote signifies my desire to bring people together to connect, experience joy and share in life’s beautiful pleasures,” Lim continued. “We’re excited to give our global community a chance to carry this intention with them every day and just have fun with it!”

Baileys Minis Original Irish Cream Liqueur is the perfectly petite, on-the-go treat for whatever the night’s stylish adventures hold and tones perfectly with the leather fringe detail of the 3.1 Phillip Lim x Baileys Mini Market Tote.

Evoking feelings of dancing on a night open to endless possibilities, the tote is adorned in beige pebbled leather with black dome stud details on the fringe that seamlessly take the tote from day to night. Custom interior pockets perfectly fit three Baileys Minis (100ml each) that allow you to share the sweet and creamy taste of Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur with a close friend.

“Baileys and 3.1 Phillip Lim have a mutual appreciation for celebrating life’s most joyful moments, and we are incredibly excited to offer a unique piece that allows people to share in those moments with us,” says Whitney Mullen, Director of Baileys and Liqueurs, DIAGEO North America.

“A Baileys cocktail is like an everyday accessory that can be paired, styled and flaunted to add a little indulgence to any experience, and now this exclusive tote allows you to bring your favourite treat on-the-go with you.”

For more information, go to 31philliplim.com