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Kentucky firm buys Rochester’s Black Button, revives distilling operations
Jason Barrett, founder and master distiller at Black Button Distilling. (Photo provided by Blackstar)
Jason Barrett, founder and master distiller at Black Button Distilling. (Photo provided by Blackstar)
Kentucky firm buys Rochester’s Black Button, revives distilling operations
Listen to this articleLast call for Black Button Distilling has been canceled, thanks to an investment from a Kentucky-based firm.
Forced to close in July due to mounting financial strains, Black Button has been reborn, with master distiller and president Jason Barrett and his eight staff members still in place.
Blackstar Company, an affiliate of Lexington-based Blackstar Spirits, has assumed ownership and provided funding to allow Black Button to continue producing its signature spirits.
Black Button will again be distilling, bottling and selling New York Grown bourbon, Empire Rye whiskey, vodka, gin and Bespoke Bourbon Cream, but the tasting room will remain closed for now.
Blackstar offers strategic guidance for makers of spirits, helping companies and brands navigate production, compliance, logistics, marketing and distribution hurdles.
“Although this is bittersweet, I’m happy that the distillery will remain open and our team will stay in place,” said Barrett, who founded Black Button in 2012.
The outpouring of support shown for Black Button during its closing in July prompted action by the Blackstar team.
“I was heartbroken to hear Black Button was closing and saw the community’s outpouring of support on social media,” Kris Comstock of Blackstar said in a news release. “Really, it’s the people of Rochester who helped save Black Button. I saw how much it meant to them, and I knew I had to do whatever I could to help.”
Comstock and Barrett have know each other for several years, and the sale was finalized over the past several weeks.
“I’m thrilled about this partnership and happy to say that operations will continue as normal under Jason’s leadership,” Comstock said.
Said Barrett: “I’ve known Kris for many years and have the upmost respect for his ability to build brands. I feel that Black Button is in great hands. But neither me nor my team is going anywhere. We will still run the day-to-day operations as always, but now have extra help and industry expertise from Blackstar.”
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