New year, new deals!
In a press release, it was announced that Black-owned Victor George Spirits (VGS) has closed a deal to purchase an equity stake in Palm Beach Distillery (PBD) located in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Currently, PBD produces vodka, rum, and gin with Victor George Spirits products slated to join in on the production.
“We feel this is a great opportunity to help Palm Beach Distillery get to the next level. The Victor George Spirits team brings experience, marketing, resources, and distribution opportunities that will help get our award-winning brands in the hands of more consumers,” said Chief Operating Officer and Master Distiller of Palm Beach Distillery Summer Piep in a press release statement.
Victor George Spirits
As previously reported by AfroTech, Victor George Spirits continue to be a force in the spirits industry. Just last year the brand’s development company Northeast 6th Development was approved by the Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board who made the unanimous decision to provide $2,450,000 to cover the cost of a brand new 15,000-square-foot facility to house a distillery, restaurant, cigar bar, whiskey lounge, and a co-working space. It also includes a rooftop bar and lounge in Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk Boulevard.
The vodka brand can currently be found in major retailers across the nation, including Kroger, Trader Joe’s, and more.
Deep-Rooted History
For years, the Victor George Spirits brand has been rooted in culture and the deep history that goes hand in hand with Black people in the spirits industry.
With the new move, PBD will begin producing several of the company’s products which includes a rye whiskey, Pullman Porters 1867, and a bourbon Fort Mose’ Pullman Porters 1867, which is a six-year aged rye whiskey named after former slaves who became the highest-paid Black people of the 1860s.
Fort Mose is named after the first city in America where Black people could live free and is located outside of St. Augustine, FL. The new collections will be released in February 2022 to commemorate Black History Month.
