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The Brand Guild is an integrated agency that moves brands forward with a holistic approach to spirits marketing, public relations, brand strategy, social media, design, and events. We specialize in helping spirits brands with a story connect with new audiences and turn them into forever brand fans!
We’ve worked with the most innovative brands in spirits.
The Brand Guild began our partnership with Uncle Nearest in 2018 at the apex of its national launch, meticulously working to tell the story of Nearest Green, the formerly enslaved man for whom the brand is named, and the all-female leadership team breaking glass ceilings in the spirits industry.
Now the fastest-growing whiskey brand in U.S. history, we have engaged media and consumers by bringing the media to their Tennessee distillery, and by bringing the award-winning whiskey and founder/CEO to the media through press activations and —all with the focus on storytelling around this award-winning brand that preserves a legacy and honors the spirit's past.
The Brand Guild isn't just our PR agency, they are an extension of our core team, and you’d be hard pressed to figure out where our team ends and theirs begins.
Project Highlights:
Oprah's Favorite Things • NPR's How I Built This • Entrepreneur • Esquire • The TODAY Show • Inc • The New York Times • Essence
We helped the new-age, sugar-free cidery find unprecedented traction during Covid-19 with a digital spirits marketing campaign strategy that highlighted contactless outdoor experiences and a specialty goods shop. Our aggressive PR campaign has resulted in results-driving wins in the Washington Post, Refinery29, GQ, Fortune, and Men's Journal.
Four Roses originally engaged The Brand Guild to tell their story to earned media, and it quickly evolved into so much more. A heritage brand with a cult following, they were looking for a partner to push them outside of their boundaries and find creative ways to increase their national presence.
Their goal is to expand their target audience - male millennials - outside of the whiskey space. We've ideated partnerships, created media moments around their limited edition bourbons, introduced their national brand ambassador through in-person events, and created holiday events in historic theaters in key markets. Valentine's Day is their Super Bowl, so we've created wide-reaching influencer campaigns and media-worthy partnerships in 2022 and 2023 that have resulted in increased sales year over year.
In 2023, our efforts resulted in over 17B impressions and generated $148M in Media Value (no that's not a typo).
The Brand Guild developed and designed a new brand—from naming to logo design, packaging to web development—for DC Brau, an artisan brewing company. Old Time Lager is a new, accessible beer that allows DC Brau to expand into the American lager category while still catering to the customers who appreciate the fit and finish of their flagship beers. With an iconic mark and classic packaging, Old Time Lager’s launch sold over half of their initial units on the first day.
Amy is a seasoned communications specialist with more than two decades of experience guiding communications for spirits companies including Pernod Ricard USA and Beam. She oversees public relations at The Brand Guild and leads the press team’s three divisions: F&B + Hospitality, Consumer Lifestyle, and Commercial Real Estate. Her team builds communications strategies and executes media outreach for The Brand Guild’s portfolio of clients, including Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and ANXO Cidery. In a career spanning New York and Washington, DC, Amy has guided some of the most iconic spirits brands in the world, including Jameson Irish Whiskey, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet Single Malt Whisky, Wild Turkey Bourbon, and Espolòn Tequila. She has a developed expertise in all areas of communications, including developing strategic campaigns, brand positioning and messaging, and media training. She has extensive relationships with top-tier media.
Vanessa leads the Marketing Team at The Brand Guild, creating and implementing strategic integrated campaigns for clients. She’s a senior marketing leader with over 15 years of experience developing consumer brands. Formerly an SVP at Grey Advertising, Vanessa led cross-industry award winning brand campaigns (including food, retail, tech, financial services and wellness categories). Vanessa has years of experience in the wine and spirits category including Ketel One and various properties in the Constellation Wine portfolio (Kim Crawford, Toasted Head, Black Box, Robert Mondavi Private Selection). This included a social program celebrating gentleman makers for Ketel One's "A Gentleman's Call" (with media partner GQ), Kim Crawfords multi-year sponsorship of New York Fashion Week and Robert Mondavi's multi-year mobile tasting and education tour.
Giselle leads the PR team focused on food, beverage, and hospitality clients. She has over a decade of experience helping brands tell their story, including Sweetgreen, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, &pizza, and Milk Bar. She has overseen press for over $200 million in hotel renovations for hospitality brands within the Starwood family while her CPG experience includes launching Rethink Kids Water, Gordy's Fine Pickle Brine, and Icelandic Provisions. Prior to joining The Brand Guild, Giselle created and managed press campaigns for New York Times bestselling authors at some of the world's top publishing houses. She has a Level 2 Spirits Award from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.
Jessica leads public relations for brands like Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, ANXO Cidery, and Blue Point Brewing Co. inside The Brand Guild’s spirits portfolio, where she builds press strategies and executes media relations, brand storytelling, executive thought leadership, and press events for her clients. She has previously led press for Beam Suntory brands like EFFEN Vodka, Booker's Bourbon, Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch, Little Book Whiskey, and Midori Melon Liqueur.
Katina focuses on consumer-facing brands at The Brand Guild, including the likes of Four Roses Bourbon, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Imperfect Foods, and JUST Egg with an emphasis on influencer relations and partnerships. She has experience managing local to national campaigns, focused on everything from rebrands to new product launches. Katina comes from a hospitality background with six years of experience at a restaurant technology firm where she led digital and email marketing services for their independent restaurant division.
The magazine’s Icons of Whisky America awards celebrate the industry’s best and brightest people, places and products. The Brand Guild was recognized for its work with Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the fastest-growing independent American whiskey brand in U.S. history.
Our public relations, marketing, events and strategy teams are each led by some of the foremost experts in their fields. Together, we're an integrated team of creators and storytellers who bring seasoned experience and relentless passion to the table. We have a true spirit of collaboration—both across our teams and with our clients—with which we build strategies that get our clients measurable results.
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