Prost Beverage Company, RF Kettle Company and Two Trees Distilling Company have merged under a newly formed parent company, Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc. with headquarters in Fletcher, NC.
The companies merge to combine private label capibilities, third-party manufacturing and its own line of proprietary brands.
The transition is effective on July 1, 2021.
The merger brings together Prost Beverage Company, which collaborated with Tim Smith, reality TV star from Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners,” to develop national brands of Climax Spirits and Tim Smith Southern Reserve; Two Trees Distilling Company; and RF Kettle, with plans to advance RF Kettle’s proprietary technology for rapid-aging, the company says.
The newly combined company uses a 1,000-gallon system to produce and scale the volume equivalent of approximately 20 barrels of aged product per day, the company says.
The company has already raised $6 million in Series A fundingm which is expected to close in July.
Two Trees Beverage Co. will offer rapid-aging on a contract basis for private labe.
Some forms of rapid-aging have been met with cynicism within an industry steeped in tradition, but Chad Slagle, CEO, and Chris Sellers, president of the newly formed parent company, believe in their technology. “It’s disruptive to put innovation in tradition, some people are uncomfortable with that, but innovation isn’t about doing what is comfortable, it requires change to improve the old ways of doing things,” says Slagle.
“We can help companies keep up with increasing consumer demand for premium spirits, beer, and wine in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner,” Slagle says. “By combining our expertise in blending with rapid-aging technology, we can deliver rapid, speed-to-market products that are aged to perfection without the wait and without bottom-line surprises.”
The company plans to engage with R&D professionals and brand marketers across adult beverage categories to expand innovation.
“Our mission is to provide a culture of breakthrough innovation,” says Chris Sellers, President of Two Trees Beverage Co. “We remove obstacles to achieve exceptional, intriguing tastes, timeliness, scale, and consistency to provide fine spirits, beer, and wine that can be enjoyed now and, in the future.”
