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VUE | Spring 2016

The Digest | New Jersey Magazine

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How did you and the organization obtain the capital/funding for Beach Whiskey? How did you obtain investors for your venture? We began with a founders' seed investment that allowed us to take this concept to a tangible product. Led by our deeply knowledgeable CEO, Smoke Wallin, and our CMO, Bill Henderson (Grey Goose, Jaegermeister) we developed the liquid: expertly distilled from the highest quality bourbon mash (99 percent corn based), then carbon filtered to remove all remaining impurities. Our Island Coconut and Bonfire Cinnamon Whiskies are flavored by the best boutique in Louisville, KY. Then we built our founders' team, which includes the guys behind Tequila Avion, Ken Austin and Kenny Dichter. I flew to Nashville with my partner McG and we paid a visit to country music stud Jake Owen, whom we knew tangentially but whose life embodies the beach. On a celebrity front, we only wanted him. He's a Vero Beach, FLA kid who wake boards and waterskis and he has a hit called "Beachin'" for crying out loud. And women think he's handsome— which he is. He listened to us, tasted the liquid with his most trusted advisors, his dad Steve and manager Brandon Gill, and he loved it. He sank in his money and has been our most enthusiastic brand ambassador. His financial investment was crucial because it meant he believed as we did. Same goes for Gavin DeGraw who is a personal friend. I went out to dinner with him and after one sip and hearing the spiel, he sank his money in too. Our remaining partners and investors are all deeply connected in fields that will help service and market the brand perfectly. For the rest of our exclusive interview with BIlly Bush, visit www.vuenj.com VUE ON LIFESTYLE V U E N J . C O M 57

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