Blackstar invests in Black Button Distilling
Beverage producer Blackstar Company has come to the financial aid of New York’s Black Button Distilling.
In July, Jason Barrett, founder of Black Button Distilling, took to Facebook to announce the company would be closing its tasting room after 13 years.
Barrett also told The Spirits Business the distillery was not closing entirely. In fact, he said all four bottling lines were running at full capacity at the time, with a second shift sometimes needed.
Black Button Distilling is based in Rochester, New York, and was founded in 2012. It relocated to a new space in July 2023.
Barrett said: “I’m happy that the distillery will remain open and our team will stay in place. I’ve known Kris [Comstock, president of Blackstar] for years and have the utmost respect for his ability to build brands. I feel that Black Button is in great hands.”
Thanks to the investment from Blackstar Company, Black Button will continue to produce its award-winning portfolio of spirits, including its Bourbon, Empire Rye Whiskey, vodka, gin, and Bespoke Bourbon Cream.
The tasting room will remain closed for the time being, but Black Button will be heading to farmers’ markets every weekend. The brand also promised its Bourbon Cream will be back on shelves across the region soon.
“Really, it’s the people of Rochester who helped save Black Button,” said Comstock, whose past experience includes being vice-president of marketing, premium whiskey, at Sazerac. “I saw how much it meant to them and I knew I had to do whatever I could to help.”
Black Button Distilling is not the only distillery that has faced hardship recently. This week, The Spirits Business exclusively revealed Diageo has paused production at its Balcones and George Dickel distilleries in the US, plus Teaninich in Scotland.
Related news
Entrepreneur saves Turncoat Distillery from closure
