A SALUTE TO PHIL: PITTSBURGH’S WIGLE DISTILLERY AND THREADBARE CIDER HOUSE PAY HOMAGE TO A PENNSYLVANIA TRADITION WITH THE RELEASE OF TWO GROUNDHOG DAY BEVERAGES 

Pittsburgh, PA: Wigle Whiskey Release - Friday, January 17 Threadbare Cider Release - Saturday, January 18 

Wigle Whiskey and sister company Threadbare Cider & Mead will release two themed beverages this January in anticipation of the Keystone State’s quirkiest tradition, Groundhog Day. Both beverages, Phil’s Shadow Whiskey and Phil’s Burrow Cider, feature Punxsutawney Phil on the label. Phil is the Punxsutawney born and bred groundhog that the nation relies on to prognosticate the remaining winter season. 

About Phil’s Shadow Whiskey: Wigle Whiskey’s Phil’s Shadow is made from Wigle’s Organic Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey, first aged in 25 gallon oak casks for at least eighteen months. Then Wigle distillers transferred their whiskey into two 53-gallon casks that previously held maple syrup from a regional maple farm. Here, they let the whiskey rest an additional six months to allow it to absorb the beautiful earthy sweetness of the maple barrel. The resulting spirit has notes of maple, vanilla, and baking spices. The label for the whiskey was designed by Pittsburgh artist Jenn Joyce and features Phil betwixt a winter and spring Pennsylvania scene. The whiskey is $38 per 375 mL bottle. Wigle is also selling accompanying Phil rocks glasses for the occasion! 

Bottles will be available for pre-sale this week online at wiglewhiskey.com/store for shipment throughout Pennsylvania. Bottles are also available at Wigle locations and limited PLCB stores throughout PA while supplies last! 

About the Phil’s Burrow Cider: Phil’s Burrow rum-raisin cider is made from a blend of Pennsylvania dessert and baking apples. The cider is fermented dry using a mixed culture yeast, then transferred into small rum barrels that previously held Wigle Whiskey’s Landlocked Spiced Rum and Dunder Rum. After three months of resting, 50 pounds of chopped raisins and 2.5 pounds of ground cinnamon were added to the cider and left to macerate for three days. The resulting cider has notes of vanilla, rum, marzipan, and baking spices. Threadbare’s Phil’s Burrow Cider is $20 per 750 ml bottle. 

Threadbare’s cider makers gained inspiration for Phil’s Burrow cider from the historic New England-style cider: a strong, spiced, barrel-aged beverage that would have been found in the region during the period of America’s thirteen colonies. Traditional New English-style cider was made with the addition of maple sugar, sap, brown sugar, honey, and/or raisins, then aged and fermented in oak barrels. Because of the trade connection between New England and the Carribean during this time period, it is likely that many of these aging casks were rum barrels, which lent another layer of warmth and spice to the beverage. 

Release Events: Wigle Whiskey Distillery will host a release event of Phil’s Shadow whiskey on Friday, January 17th, from 6-9 PM. Beyond featuring cocktails and sampling, the event will be visited by the esteemed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil and his Inner Circle for photos. Tickets to the event are $12 and can be purchased on the Wigle website. 

On Saturday, January 18th, Threadbare Cider will host Phil at the Cider House as they release Phil’s Burrow cider. From 11-3 PM, guests can enjoy lunch, Groundhog Day children’s activities, and the same opportunity to take a photo with the famous groundhog. The event is free to attend. 

Both events are in collaboration with the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club and a portion of both bottle sales go back to the Groundhog Club to support their efforts at continuing this great Pennsylvania tradition! ____________________________________________________________________________________ 

About Wigle Whiskey: Founded in 2011, Wigle Whiskey is Pittsburgh’s first distillery since Prohibition. Since beginning distilling, Wigle has released over 36 unique whiskeys, gins, rums, brandies, and liqueurs. The distillery has worked to restore Pittsburgh’s legacy as the birthplace of American whiskey through education and innovation. Wigle spirits are distributed throughout the country. The Distillery has been the most awarded Craft Whiskey Distillery in the US by the American Craft Spirits Association for four straight years and twice named a James Beard semi-finalist. 

About Threadbare Cider House: A sister company to Pittsburgh’s Wigle Whiskey Distillery, Threadbare Cider House & Meadery produces thoughtfully crafted hard ciders and meads using regional apples and honey. Since opening in 2017, Threadbare has championed the lost legacy of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, and his lasting impact on the agricultural landscape of Western Pennsylvania. Threadbare produces their award-winning ciders and meads in a converted tannery located in Pittsburgh’s historic Spring Garden neighborhood. 

CONTACT: Wigle Whiskey Jill Harries National PR and PLCB Team Manager Wigle Whiskey & Threadbare Cider jharries@wiglewhiskey.com 
www.wiglewhiskey.com www.threadbarecider.com