We're Here to Raise Your Spirits
The Brand Guild is a full-service agency that moves spirits brands forward. We partner with spirits brands at every stage, from launching new brands to collaborating with iconic established ones. Our expertise lies in crafting compelling stories through the most effective channels, helping to build and grow category leaders. We go all-in with our clients, taking your brand from awareness to affinity.
We’re world-class spirits storytellers.
We work with the most innovative brands in wine & spirits.
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
The Brand Guild has been the PR partner to Uncle Nearest since the start of their national launch in 2018. We have meticulously worked 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 brought media to their Tennessee distillery, and brought the award-winning whiskey and founder/CEO Fawn Weaver to the media through a continuous stream of press activations—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.
Why we were named Whisky Agency of the Year:
Groundbreaking new product launches, including eight new whiskeys, the opening of the Nearest Green Distillery, and their industry-transforming initiatives — the Nearest and Jack Advancement Initiative and the $50 million Uncle Nearest Venture Fund
Launch of CEO Fawn Weaver’s book Love & Whiskey, to #2 on The New York Times Best Sellers List
Four Roses
As a heritage brand with a cult following, Four Roses sought a partner to broaden their national presence and appeal to new audiences beyond the traditional whiskey space. In addition to day-in, day-out press coverage, we ideate impactful partnerships, curate media moments around limited edition bourbons, and host engaging in-person events.
For Valentine’s Day 2023, the brand’s benchmark holiday, The Brand Guild ideated and executed a partnership with Four Roses and OSMO, the chef-driven, TikTok obsessed salt brand. The resulting co-branded product, Toasted Vanilla Bourbon Salt, led to 9.8 billion impressions and $108 million in media value, marking a 5,300% increase from the year prior. This year, we facilitated a partnership between Four Roses and Ooni, the beloved pizza oven brand, on a Bourbon Barrel Aged Honey to elevate summer's perfect pairing: pizza & cocktails.
DC Brau & Old Time Lager
The Brand Guild worked with DC Brau to develop a new legacy brand, now called Old Time Lager. From naming to logo design, packaging to web development, we developed a product and brand that allowed DC Brau to expand into the American lager category, and meet the needs of Millennials and Gen Z. With an iconic mark and classic packaging, Old Time Lager’s launch sold over half of their initial units on the first day.
Channel Mix:
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Brand Development
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Logo Development
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Visual Identity
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Website Development
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Creative Concepting & Asset Production
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Meta Advertising
Casa Obsidiana
TBG was retained to bring to life an ultra-premium tequila that was created through an epic partnership between the legendary Boisset-Gallo wine family and Beckmann-Gonzalez spirits dynasty. In addition to growing Casa Obsidiana’s Instagram by an average of 1,000 new fans per month, The Brand Guild social team also maintained an average CTR of 2.93% and engagement rate of 2.6% despite the niche market and rapid increase in growth, and all before it officially hit shelves.
Our Leadership Team
Amanda Katz
Amanda works on the execution of press strategies, thought leadership opportunities, storytelling and press events as the public relations manager for The Brand Guild’s spirits team. Prior to working on spirits, Amanda worked across PR, influencer marketing and brand partnerships for both emerging and established brands across multiple verticals including CPG, lifestyle and fashion. Notable clients include: Four Roses Bourbon, Papa's Pilar Rum, McBride Sisters Wine and Casa Obsidiana Tequila. She has a Level 1 Spirits Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.
Abby Colby
Throughout her decade-long career in digital marketing and social media, Abby has worked with organizations including Edelman, Marriott International, and Bozzuto Group to develop industry-leading, strategy-first social media content. At The Brand Guild, Abby leads her team on a number of highly successful projects, including the development and execution of refreshed content playbooks for Sheringham Gin and Doña Vega Mezcal along with launch campaigns for subsidiary brands of The Bouqs Co. and Boisset Collection.
Katina Stevenson
Katina focuses on consumer-facing brands at The Brand Guild, 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.
Jessica Davis
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. She has a Level 1 Spirits Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.
Lance Hayden
Lance oversees the creative team at The Brand Guild, helping deliver thoughtful, innovative work across the social media and visual studios. With close to two decades of experience in branding, marketing, identity design, collateral and UX/UI design, and a career spanning technology, consumer goods and real estate industries, Lance brings a varied background and wide range of expertise to his work at The Brand Guild.
Giselle-Marie Roig
Giselle leads the PR team focused on food & beverage clients. She has over a decade of experience helping brands tell their story, including Sweetgreen, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Papa’s Pilar Rum, and Milk Bar. 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.
Amy Clark
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, building and executing communications strategies for brands including Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Four Roses Bourbon. 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.
We turn brands into cultural movements.
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.