Charitable Efforts Amid Covid-19

As the pandemic swept the U.S. in mid-March, the beverage alcohol industry responded in kind. These are all of the industry's charitable efforts as of April 17.

Angel's Envy shifted its Louisville, Kentucky-based operations to hand sanitizer production.
Angel's Envy shifted its Louisville, Kentucky-based operations to hand sanitizer production.

Abasolo Whiskey
-Partnered with Another Round, Another Rally (full list of mentioned organizations listed at bottom of page), and will provide them with 100% of their profits through August.

Angel’s Envy
-Shifted its Louisville, Kentucky-based operations to hand sanitizer production.

Bacardi
-Launched the #RaiseYourSpirits initiative and committed $3 million to supporting bar and restaurant operators hurt by the Covid-19 crisis.
-The initiative will see Bacardi funnel funds to organizations like Another Round, Another Rally; Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE); the James Beard Foundation; Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation; and Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.
-The new $3 million pledge comes in addition to the $1 million that Bacardi’s Patrón brand donated to support restaurants and bars.
-Bacardi has consistently increased its hand sanitizer production, expanding its operations to include Bacardi Bottling in Jacksonville, Florida, which will produce 23,000 gallons of hand sanitizer for donation to local hospitals and emergency workers; Bacardi rum in Tultitlán, Mexico; Grey Goose in Cognac, France, which will produce 7,600 gallons of alcohol daily for French manufacturers; Bombay Sapphire in Hampshire, England; Martini in Pessione, Italy; Dewar’s Whisky in Aberfeldy, Scotland; and Angel’s Envy Bourbon in Louisville, Kentucky.
-The company expects to produce more than 267,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to aid in combating the spread of Covid-19.

Battle Creek Vineyards
-The vineyard is collaborating with celebrity couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, as well as the entire Nocking Point team, on the 2018 Quarantine Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir. 100% of the profits from this Pinot Noir will support multiple Covid-19 response efforts through charities.
-The Quarantine Pinot Noir is sold exclusively at officialquarantinewine.com and is available at a suggested retail price of $50 for 2 bottles.

Beam Suntory
-Teamed up with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS) on a joint $1 million donation benefiting the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) Foundation Emergency Assistance Program and the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation
-Made a joint donation with Major Brands of $100,000 to the Missouri Restaurant Association Workers Benefit Fund, an effort that will specifically and directly support restaurant workers across the state.

Breakthru Beverage Group
-Formed a partnership with local relief organizations across the U.S., pledging $500,000 to help combat the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the company, the money will go towards purchasing meals for first responders, children, and the elderly across the nation.
-In addition to working with local groups across its 13-state footprint, Breakthru will also make a donation to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation.

Bacardi launched the #RaiseYourSpirits initiative, committing $3 million to supporting bar and restaurant operators hurt by the Covid-19 crisis.
Bacardi launched the #RaiseYourSpirits initiative, committing $3 million to supporting bar and restaurant operators hurt by the Covid-19 crisis.

Brown Forman
-Pledged $1 million to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation and USBG Foundation Emergency Assistance Program, among other groups.

Campari America
-Donated $1 million to Another Round, Another Rally, a non-profit group raising funds to support bartenders and other hospitality workers affected by the on-premise shutdown. Consumers can “tip their servers” by donating to Another Round, Another Rally’s virtual tip jar, and then ask their friends to do the same using the hashtag #AnotherRoundChallenge.

Charbay
-Shifted all operations to hand sanitizer production; has pledged to make at least 30,000 units (in 4-ounce spray bottles, 1-gallon jugs, and 5-gallon carboy jugs).

Cincoro Tequila
-Joined the #TipYourBartenders campaign. Through May 1, the brand is donating 30% of all proceeds from online orders to the USBG Emergency Assistance Program

Conor McGregor’s Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey
-Donated $1.3 million dollars to first responder organizations around the world.
-Donated $100,000 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Covid-19 fund. The money will provide meals, protective equipment, and, if needed, mortgage payments for health care workers battling the virus.
-Additionally, Proper No. Twelve is selling ‘One For All’ t-shirts with 100% of the money going to Tunnel to Towers.

Davos Brands is selling a limited t-shirt designed by local bartender Rolando Pettigrew, with 100% of the sales going to USBG's BEAP fund.
Davos Brands is selling a limited t-shirt designed by local bartender Rolando Pettigrew, with 100% of the sales going to USBG's BEAP fund.

Constellation Brands
-Committed to donating $2.5 million in Covid-19 relief funds across its various brands.
-The donation includes $1 million for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, $500,000 for the USBG, and $250,000 to support first responders.
-Additionally, the company is contributing $250,000 to relief efforts in Italy, home of its Ruffino brand.
-It’s also establishing a company Covid-19 relief fund, which will match its employees contributions 2 to 1, and launching an employee effort to support local restaurants via take-out and delivery orders.

Cutwater Spirits
-The Miramar, California-based business is using its production resources and facility to produce an 80% alcohol hand sanitizer. On March 30, Cutwater began donating the first batches to non-profits within San Diego County including longtime charity partner, The San Diego Food Bank.
-Cutwater will also be donating funds to the Food Bank that will help the organization produce over 50,000 meals for distribution.

Davos Brands
-Aviation gin launched the #TipYourBartender initiative; to kick it off, the company donated $15,000 to the USBG. In addition, Aviation pledged a 30% tip to the USBG for every bottle of Aviation ordered online in the U.S., through May 1.
-Following Aviation gin’s moves, the Davos portfolio (which also includes Balcones Whisky, iichiko Shochu, Sombra Mezcal, Astral Tequila, and TYKU Sake) has launched an online platform (86Covid19.com) to support and encourage consumers to order take-out  from local on-premise accounts. The site lists local restaurants that are currently offering the option to order your favorite cocktail or dish for takeaway.
-Additionally, Davos Brands is selling a limited t-shirt designed by local bartender Rolando Pettigrew, with 100% of the sales going to USBG’s BEAP fund.

Diageo
-Pledged donations of 2 million liters of alcohol for hand sanitizer, enough for 8 million bottles, to support front-line health workers.
-Launched the #TipsFromHome imitative, a social pledge movement to rally support of the hospitality community. The program includes virtual experiences, like Bulleit Bourbon and Tanqueray gin cocktail recipe demos with bartenders from across the country. The social media-based initiative gives people the ability to tip those in the bar and restaurant industry who have been affected by Covid-19. Diageo kicked off the movement with an initial $500,000 pledge.
-Diageo North America will donate $1 up to $1 million to the USBG every time someone shares a cocktail image using #TipsFromHome and #DiageoDonation

Constellation Brands committed to donating $2.5 million in Covid-19 relief funds across its various brands.
Constellation Brands committed to donating $2.5 million in Covid-19 relief funds across its various brands.

E. & J. Gallo
-Launched the Support Your Local Bartender initiative under its New Amsterdam vodka brand.
-The brand is selling t-shirts featuring its Pink Whitney offshoot at com, with 100% of the net proceeds going to the USBG Foundation’s Covid-19 Relief Campaign.
-Additionally, New Amsterdam will donate $5 for every Pink Whitney t-shirt purchased.
-Barefoot brand has donated $100,000 to CORE
-In addition, Gallo will match U.S.-based employee contributions one-to-one through its employee match program.

F.E.W. Spirits
-Utilizing its Evanston, Illinois production facilities to produce hand sanitizer, in partnership with Meliora Cleaning Products

Ghost Tequila
-Launched the “Ghost Cocktail Challenge,” in which more than 100 out-of-work bartenders are sharing videos of themselves creating Ghost Tequila cocktails, with consumers encouraged to vote for their favorites. For every vote cast, Ghost is contributing $1 to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation (RWCF) COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.
-Participating bartenders will receive various prizes, with the winner taking home around $2,000. The brand is matching contributions up to $10,000 on its GoFundMe page.

Diageo launched the #TipsFromHome imitative, a social pledge movement to rally support of the hospitality community.
Diageo launched the #TipsFromHome imitative, a social pledge movement to rally support of the hospitality community.

Glendalough
-Shifted all of its operations to hand sanitizer production, donating its batches to a local children’s hospital as well as Ireland’s national hospital system.

H-E-B
-Aiding local restaurant operators with a new program to sell their prepared meals in its stores. Some 29 H-E-B locations—in San Antonio, Houston, and Austin—are now carrying packaged, chef-prepared meals from five Texas restaurant operators: Max & Louie’s New York Diner and Rosario’s in San Antonio; Underbelly and Cherry Block in Houston; and Fresa’s Chicken in Austin.
-Max & Louie’s owner, Drew Glick, told the San Antonio News that the program has enabled him to bring back nearly a dozen furloughed staff.

Heaven Hill Brands
-Has pledged $400,000 to help combat the Covid-19 outbreak spreading across the U.S. The company will focus its monetary donation in two areas: to its employees’ communities and to hospitality professionals in need. Heaven Hill will donate to Louisville, Kentucky’s One Louisville; Bardstown’s Tri-County United Way; Austin, Texas’ Stand with Austin; Lethbridge, Canada’s United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta; and Dublin, Ireland’s Community Foundation of Ireland.
-The company will also donate directly to charitable organizations across the U.S. benefiting hospitality workers.
-In addition, a portion of the distilling resources at Deep Eddy Tasting Room, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, and Black Velvet distillery will be dedicated to producing hand sanitizer for healthcare professionals, high-risk people, and first responders.

Hood River Distillers
-Is running a massive operation producing hand sanitizer. The effort began two weeks ago and has since produced 1,000 gallons of sanitizer, which the company has packaged into over 10,000 375-ml. bottles.
-An additional 11,000 gallons is in production; all of it will be distributed throughout the state to frontline healthcare and food industry workers in coordination with the Oregon Health Authority.

Jack Daniels
-Donated 1 million to coronavirus relief
-Dedicated part of its distilling infrastructure to producing hand sanitizer

H-E-B (San Antonio, Texas store exterior pictured) is aiding local restaurant operators with a new program to sell their prepared meals in its stores.
H-E-B (San Antonio, Texas store exterior pictured) is aiding local restaurant operators with a new program to sell their prepared meals in its stores. (Photo by Craig Washburn)

Jose Cuervo
-Will donate $1 million as part of its effort to help people suffering from the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. The money will go to two charities: CORE and the World Central Kitchen, which gets meals to vulnerable populations and frontline healthcare workers.
-The donation follows a $200,000 pledge to the USBG Foundation’s Bartender Emergency Assistance Program, made on behalf of the company’s Bushmills brand.

Josh Cellars
-Donated $100,000 to RWCF to help provide relief to workers laid off due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The company chose RWCF to show founder Joseph Carr’s appreciation and respect for his roots; prior to founding his wine brands, Carr worked for years in the service industry, from bus boy up to sommelier.

Keel Vodka
-Launched a fundraising campaign aimed at spurring donations to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s Employee Relief Fund (NRAEF). The campaign, called the Lift Your Spirits Challenge, encourages drinkers to create videos of themselves mixing their favorite drinks and to then donate a tip, with all proceeds going directly to the NRAEF’s fund.

Luxco
-Donated $100,000 to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Covid-19 Response Fund. The CDP fund supports nonprofits working to help communities most vulnerable to the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

Martignetti Cos.
-Pledged $250,000 to provide aid to restaurant employees across the U.S. Initially, the company will donate $120,000 split between the Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund ($50,000), the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Foundations’ Hospitality Employee Relief Fund ($20,000), and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s Employee Relief Fund ($50,000).

SGWS leveraged its delivery fleet where available to transport critical medical supplies, including BIPAP equipment and masks, in local markets.
SGWS leveraged its delivery fleet where available to transport critical medical supplies, including BIPAP equipment and masks, in local markets. (Photo by Airport Voice)

New Riff Distilling
-Producing hand sanitizer at its Newport, Kentucky facilities.

Ole Smoky Distillery
-Will distribute 5-gallon tubs of hand sanitizer to local law enforcement. Ole Smoky is staffing the operation with employees whose responsibilities have been impacted by the closing of the company’s tasting rooms and visitor centers.

Patrón Tequila
-Donating $1 million among three charities: CORE; Another Round, Another Rally; and the James Beard Foundation. The donation extends support from Patrón to families, employees, and restaurant owners, respectively. These charities offer financial assistance, medical supplies, food, and other support to the industry while most bars and restaurants are shuttered.

Pernod Ricard USA
-Donated $500,000 to the USBG Covid-19 Relief Campaign.
-The company, through Jameson, has also donated $500,000 to the USBG fund and will also match outside donations, up to $100,000, through March 30.
-Additionally, Pernod is devoting distilling capacity at its Fort Smith, Arkansas manufacturing facility, Rabbit Hole Distillery (Louisville, Kentucky), Smooth Ambler Spirits (Lewisburg, West Virginia), and TX Whiskey Distillery (Fort Worth, Texas) to producing hand sanitizer.
-Pernod is also donating is 70,000 liters of pure alcohol to France’s Laboratoire Cooper, a leading supplier of hydroalcoholic gels to pharmacies.

Rabbit Hole
-Rabbit Hole announced a long-term partnership with Tales of the Cocktail Foundation that will provide immediate financial relief to the bar industry and support the 501c3 nonprofit’s mission of leaving a long-lasting impact on the communities it touches.
-The donation marks the beginning of a campaign created by Rabbit Hole called #2DreamInside.

Redemption Whiskey
-Donated $30,000 to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation. The money will offer aid to unemployed service workers across the U.S.

Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC)
-Donated $500,000 to the USBG Covid-19 Relief Campaign (matching the gift of Pernod Ricard).

Texas' Treaty Oak Distilling shifted its operations to hand sanitizer production.
Texas' Treaty Oak Distilling shifted its operations to hand sanitizer production.

SGWS
-Teamed up with Beam Suntory on a joint $1 million donation benefiting the USBG Foundation Emergency Assistance Program and the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation
-Launched the SOBEWFF & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Relief Fund to provide immediate financial support to independently owned and operated restaurants and bars impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
-Launched a restaurant employee relief fund with our New York City Wine & Food Festival benefiting restaurants and bars in New York.
-Established a free online resource center at Sgwscustomercare.com to help customers navigate Covid-19.
-Offered pro-bono corporate services for Werbig.org, a non-profit started by Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten to insist that insurers pay owed business losses to hospitality businesses impacted by the Coronavirus.
-Leveraged the SGWS delivery fleet where available to transport critical medical supplies, including BIPAP equipment and masks, in local markets.
-Donated thousands of KN95 masks to the American Red Cross for distribution to healthcare professionals.
-Launched an employee Virtual Happy Hour volunteer campaign benefiting CORE and RWCF.

Destilería Serrallés
-Donated more than 55,000 gallons of high-proof alcohol to hospitals, clinics, healthcare providers, and public safety and security personnel across the island for disinfection and sanitization purposes.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
-Pledged a donation of $50,000 to The Plate Fund.
-Pledged a donation of $50,000 to the WA Food Fund.
-Pledged a donation of $25,000 to the Seattle Foundation.

Teeling Irish Whiskey released a limited-edition bottling, Teeling Front Line Heroes, with all profits benefiting a range of charities that support front line workers battling the coronavirus.
Teeling Irish Whiskey released a limited-edition bottling, Teeling Front Line Heroes, with all profits benefiting a range of charities that support front line workers battling the coronavirus.

Tanteo Tequila
-Partnered with New York City-based bar and catering company The Wayland to release “Party In Place” packages, delivered by local bartenders and barbacks affected by the pandemic.
-10% of proceeds for each sale will be donated to The LEE Initiative, an organization giving back to restaurant workers at a grassroots level by offering dinners and essential supplies.

Teeling Irish Whiskey
-Released a limited-edition bottling with all profits benefiting a range of charities that support front line workers battling the coronavirus. Teeling Front Line Heroes is a 48.5% abv whiskey aged in Irish oak, a first for Teeling. Only 300 bottles will be available in Ireland for €75 (roughly $81).

Templeton Rye
-Templeton is currently distilling water, which is then loaded on a truck to deliver to the state for the production of sanitizer. Templeton Rye says they will most likely send them another round later as well.
-Proceeds at this time are going to “Just the tip,” a tip service set up under com, and the brand is also looking for ways to contribute to the Iowa Restaurant Association.

Treaty Oak Distilling
-Shifted its Texas-based operations to hand sanitizer production, available through local delivery and pickup options.

Vale Fox Distillery
-Diverted all production to hand sanitizer.
-Its e-commerce store will go live on their website this week where people can buy limited quantities of sanitizer without having to go out to a drug store or other crowded locale.
-The Vale Fox Distillery is currently working to supply sanitizer to first responders and the supply chain supporting essential businesses.
-The sanitizer will be sold at cost plus 25 cents extra per ounce, which will be donated to bars and restaurants and their employees.

Wine Spectator
-The Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation pledged a contribution of $250,000 to World Central Kitchen
-“Jose Andres is world famous for his enormous charity efforts devoted to feeding people in need,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator. “This donation is intended to help feed many of the Americans who have lost jobs due to Covid-19, including restaurant workers, as well as front-line health care workers and other vulnerable groups.”

 

Mentioned relief initiatives/foundations: