Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/118688
Blue Chair Bay Rum at Honky Tonk Central, Nashville, TN "The biggest challenge has been the timing with the tour because it has an absolute start date. I've been working to get appointments with distributors and trying to get out to see them all," says Battipaglia. "We've put together an absolute dream team of distributor partners." This isn't just lip service. Battipaglia literally walked into a boardroom of one of the distributors (who he says shall remain nameless) and the entire room was decked out in mocked up Blue Chair Bay Rum POS. "The senior managers were in swim suits and flip flops to go with our beach theme," says Battipaglia, "and that was in the dead of winter!" "They set the bar quite high," continues Battipaglia, who points out brand distribution isn't limited to tour stops. Blue Chair Bay Rum will even be available for sale at some concerts; Battipaglia plans on full activation to commence with the May 11 tour date in Dallas, Texas. "The distributors are excited because this is an artist-owned brand, there is a new CD, a new tour and the leverage of Kenny's star power," he says. "Kenny picked the bottle, made decisions on point of sale, the cork—he's not just another celebrity who will get bored and move on, because this is really part of him." PHOTO: DOUG ALLARD Swim Suits and Flip Flops Jonathon Scott, GM of Honky Tonk Central in Nashville, says that between Kenny Chesney and his prime location, it's going to be a great partnership. The bar is in the heart of Broadway, the home of country music's new oldschool honky tonk tradition. "We have a very unique honky tonk in that we have three different floors, three different stages, with balconies on the second and third floors, says Scott. "It's " unlike any other place and very open-air, so Blue Chair Bay Rum, which feels like a summer brand, will be a home run in our joint. People will love it!" With so many country General Manager Jonathon Scott and Bar fans coming through during Manager Carmen Mann of Honky Tonk Central CMA Music Fest, as well as in Nashville, with the Honky Tonk Breeze. throughout the year, people who gather on any one of the Honky Tonk Central balconies can look all the way from the historic Ryman Theater (original home of the Grand Ole Opry) and Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, to the Cumberland River. The bar just celebrated its one year anniversary, and has already become a Nashville institution. "Our patrons are country music fans who come here for the experience, and they also come for the specialty cocktails, says Scott, " who has 19 bartenders on staff, all of whom test ◗ 2 oz. Blue Chair Bay White Rum drinks. "We'll have a tasting and give them all a ◗ 2 oz. Blue Chair Bay Coconut chance to create something awesome from this new brand. " Spiced Rum ◗ 2 oz. orange juice Scott knows that Blue Chair Bay Rum fits the ◗ 2 oz. pineapple juice scene. "The whole vibe in Nashville is a great ◗ 1 oz. blue cuaraço energy—and it's not just contrived hospitality. We really want to know if you had a good experience ◗ Mix over ice and garnish with and if you had a good time. What a perfect brand to serve here!" an orange wedge. Honky Tonk Breeze Blue Chair Bay Rum at Iron Bar, Morristown, NJ Kenny Chesney may call the Caribbean and mountains of Tennessee home, but his appeal extends to points far beyond those intimate communities. One of Blue Chair Bay Rum's accounts is in Morristown, New Jersey—just 25 miles from Manhattan—where Darrell Remlinger's Iron Bar is the new hotspot. "Offering Blue Chair Bay Rum is great exposure for the new place, plus having an association with Kenny Chesney is a good thing, because he has a surprisingly huge following in Jersey, says Remlinger. "But it still comes down to what's in " the bottle and the price. The product is very good and has a super-premium quality and taste, plus it smells smoother than others that are on the market. There's no alcohol odor to any of the Blue Chair Bay Rums. " april 2013 / the tasting panel / 65