Austin-based Whiskey Company to Welcome Former Pernod Ricard Executive Nick Papanicolaou to its Board of Directors
Nine Banded Whiskey, the award-winning Austin-based whiskey company, recently announced a $10M series A round of financing led by No Sleep Beverage, a prominent investment and operating group founded by spirits veteran Nick Papanicolaou. Papanicolaou is the former head of mergers and acquisitions at Pernod Ricard USA and launched New Brand Ventures for Pernod Ricard, the world’s leading premium spirits company. Nine Banded Whiskey’s core portfolio includes its Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, and the newly released award-winning Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon.
We are thrilled to partner with Nine Banded Whiskey. We believe the brand has a strong foundation and culturally significant ties to the great city of Austin. We are excited to add Nine Banded to our portfolio of emerging brands and look forward to working with the team in the years ahead.
Nick Papanicolaou, No Sleep Beverage
About Nine Banded Whiskey
Founded in 2016, Nine Banded Whiskey is an Austin-based award-winning bourbon company on a mission to make great whiskey while embodying Austin’s rich and historic lifestyle. The brand’s name pays tribute to the nine-banded armadillo, the state small mammal of Texas. The armadillo’s nine bands symbolize people’s diversity and our belief that everyone should be celebrated for who they are as individuals.
Nine Banded Whiskey has become a favorite among bourbon whiskey lovers across Texas and beyond, thanks to its award-winning portfolio of bourbons launched in 2019. Since 2021, the brand has received numerous national awards for its whiskeys including a Double Gold Medal and Gold Medal for its Wheated Bourbons at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Awards.
We are excited to partner with No Sleep Beverage and take the next step forward in our journey. This strategic investment will enable us to move forward with seasoned leadership as we double down on our key products and markets with exciting new plans for innovation. The development of a tasting room will bring together our friends from the spirits, music and culinary scene, in a new brick and mortar space for the entire Nine Banded family to enjoy.
Nine Banded Whiskey co-founders Sean Foley, Chris Ogden and Whitney Kroenke Silverstein
About Nine Banded Whiskey’s Portfolio
STRAIGHT BOURBON
- A Blend Of 87% Corn, 11% Rye & 2% Malted Barley
- The perfect base for any cocktail. The rye gives the Straight Bourbon backbone. It is designed to be versatile and works in all of the classics. You can also enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or with your favorite mixer.
- Color: Chestnut Muscat
- Nose: Honey, Vanilla, Citrus, Brown Sugar
- Palate: Butterscotch, Cinnamon, Clove, Cognac
- Finish: Long, Vanilla Caramel, Winter Spice, Oak
WHEATED STRAIGHT BOURBON
- A Blend Of 51% Corn, 45% Wheat & 4% Malted Barley
- The Wheated Straight Bourbon is slightly viscous with a rich and round mouthfeel, due to the high wheat content and the minerality in our limestone-filtered water. This smooth-sipper can be enjoyed neat, or in your favorite spirit-forward cocktail.
- Color: Golden Brown
- Nose: Maple Syrup, Ice Cream, Nutmeg, Tall Grass, Dandelion
- Palate: Silky, Honeysuckle, Ripe Banana, Sweet Cherries
- Finish: Long, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Licorice, Earthy Tones
CASK STRENGTH WHEATED STRAIGHT BOURBON
- A Blend Of 51% Corn, 45% Wheat & 4% Malted Barley
- The Cask Strength Wheated Straight Bourbon is bottled at 115 proof, and is our first line extension to our core wheated bourbon. It is full-bodied, with a well-balanced finish. We suggest enjoying this bourbon by itself, on a rock, or with a splash of water.
- Color: Polished Mahogany
- Nose: Hot Alcohol, Cinnamon, Smokey Vanilla, Burnt Marshmallow
- Palate: Apple Pie, Tobacco, Dark Chocolate, Alcohol Forward
- Finish: Medium, Toffee Pudding, Maple Syrup, Minerals, Sweet Cream.
For more information about Nine Banded Whiskey visit ninebandedwhiskey.com
About No Sleep Beverage
No Sleep Beverage is an alcohol beverage investment company in the U.S. for emerging brands that embraceculture and transcend boundaries. Founded by former Pernod Ricard executive Nick Papanicolaou, No Sleep Beverage closed its fundraising in April 2023 and within eight months, invested in and partnered with five brands specializing in lifestyle-focused beverages: Barr Hill Gin, Solento Tequila, Nine Banded Whiskey, Juliet Wine, and Soley Beverage. With a mission to connect people and capture culture, No Sleep Beverage enables entrepreneurs to take their visions from early-stage to high-growth, maximizing their chances for success. Learn more at www.nosleepbeverage.com.
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