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Medal Winner

Jake Turner (left), brewmaster for Maize Valley Brewery, takes the stage to accept the Hartville brewery’s Great American Beer Festival silver medal from GABF founder Charlie Papazian.

Winning Cocktail

Hayden Oleen shows off his Raspberry Vanilla-tini, which was the winning cocktail in the recent Bacardi Bartenders Contest at Reel Bar in Put-in-Bay.

Wholesaler Of The Year 2018

Casey Forbes (right), president of Vintage Wine Distributor Inc., accepts the 2018 John T. Fleming Wholesaler of the Year award from Ohio Tavern News account manager Max Eckenwiler. The presentation was made Sept. 10 during the 84th annual fall convention of the Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio in Columbus.

Pomp And Peculiarity

The Hendrick’s gin L.E.V.I.T.A.T.R.E. hot air balloon is making a return appearance Sept. 29 at the Nuit Blanche Toronto contemporary art event. Winners of golden tickets will have the opportunity to ride the 65-foot L.E.V.I.T.A.T.R.E. (Levitating, Elevating, Voluminous, Illuminating, Tantalizing, Amazingly, Towering, Roaming, Eye) during its 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. visit to Toronto.

Making A Scene

Members of the Cleveland Tito’s “Dream Team” making the scene at Scene magazine’s Alefest 2018 are (l-r) Drew Walker, Danielle DeLorge, Rose Cre, Courtney Koenig, Aly Adams and Rob Bell.

‘Professor’ Leads Tasting

Participating in a recent Heaven Hill bourbon tasting at Fado Irish Pub at Easton in Columbus are (l-r) Fado manager Cason Peter; Bernie Lubbers, Heaven Hill brand educator (aka “The Whiskey Professor”); Tom Athey, Heaven Hill Brands Ohio regional manager; and Fado manager Ian Montgomery.

Class Is In Session

The crew at Harrisons on Kenny in Columbus takes a break from a recent staff training for Casa Noble tequila.

Special Sale

Ohio Division of Liquor Control Superintendent Jim Canepa lends a hand during a special sale of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel bourbon at Weiland’s Market, Agency 794, in Columbus. Weiland’s was one of only seven agencies in Ohio to participate in the sale of eight barrels of the bourbon, matured in American white oak barrels with the deepest No. 4 “alligator” char and individually bottled at 110 proof. Ohio’s allotment of eight barrels, specially selected by Liquor Control and Wild Turkey master distiller Eddie Russell, sold out in 90 minutes.

Winning Foursome

Team Stagnaro Distributing Co. — (l-r) Chad Kamstra, Sam Jannetta, Joe Heinsch and Mike Stagnaro — celebrates its victory in the 2018 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association golf outing June 5 at Moraine Country Club. The annual outing was held in conjunction with WBWAO’s spring business meeting.

Family Affair

Celebrating during a Casa Noble tequila Cinco de Mayo party at El Meson restaurant in Dayton are three generations of the Castro family: (l-r) Jill Zahora, Scott Lamley, Tatiana Lamley, El Meson founder Herman Castro, Gloria Castro, Rachel Jensen, Stefan Lamley, Marie Castro, Bill Castro and Joe Ellis.