WESTON, Mo. — The oldest business in the Kansas City area celebrated its relationship with an iconic team.
On Saturday, March 24, the Holladay Distillery, operated by McCormick Distilling Co., held a launch party for its 360 Royals Berry vodka.
Visitors trekked into the welcome center to celebrate the launch of the fourth annual commemorative Royals bottle. Patrons had a chance to sample the new flavor — which brings the 360 Vodka brand total to 13 varieties.
CODY THORN/Citizen photo
Weston’s Holladay Distillery, operated by McCormick Distilling Co., held a launch party for the new 360 Vodka produced for the Kansas City Royals. The 2018 edition is Royal Berry, which has a limited production run and is currently in stores throughout the Kansas City metro area only.
The first year the company launched a commemorative bottle was following the Kansas City Royals winning the American League pennant. The following year, a bottle to honor the World Series championship was crafted. Last year, a Raised Royals bottle to honor the 1985 and 2015 World Series wins was produced by Holladay, which first opened in 1856.
The new keepsake bottle tapped into a different flavor, with a mix of different berries that delivers a sweet taste in the light blue colored drink.
The Royal Berry is a limited release and is only available in the Kansas City market. The bottle is already in stores and also at the welcome center.
All 360 Vodka bottles are made of recycled materials and feature swing-top closures. Through the company’s “Close the Loop” program, a donation is made to local and environmental charities for every closure that is returned to the distillery. In the first three years of partnership with the Royals, 360 Vodka has donated $30,000 to Royals Charities through this program.
The launch party, which lasted six hours, gave visitors a chance to tour the grounds and see where bourbon – which will be released in 2019 or 2020 — and whiskey are made. In May, the company starts its bourbon night tours and feature bourbon at different stages of aging.