Woodstock and the Vodafone Warriors has a ring to it that is about to become more familiar to fans of the club with the announcement that Woodstock is a major sponsor for the next three years.
“With 2015 signaling a new chapter in our history we are delighted to welcome Woodstock into the Vodafone Warriors’ family,” said Vodafone Warriors chief executive Jim Doyle, of the new sponsorship deal.
Independent Liquor plans to promote the sponsorship significantly in key retail stores and also with a strong presence on Facebook.
The deal will see the Woodstock and Wild Buck Ale brands displayed on the NRL and NSW Cup jerseys respectively. In addition, Independent Liquor will have pourage rights at all 11 Vodafone Warriors matches to be held at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland as well as signage, player access and a number of exclusive behind the scenes experiences.
“We’ve always been popular with Vodafone Warriors fans and couldn’t be prouder to share their passion in what is a very special year for the club,” says Adam Maxwell, marketing director for Independent Liquor.
“We’ll be there every step of the way to help the Vodafone Warriors kick off their 20th anniversary celebrations. It’s a great time to start our partnership,” says Maxwell.
Another significant addition to the Woodstock brand is the launch of Woodstock Black; a premium bourbon that spends four years aging in American white oak barrels, prior to release, on which it is blended with old style cola.
This long aging process enables Woodstock Black to develop the smoothness, concentration and complexity of flavours during its evaporation in barrels over the aging process.
Long aging in wood concentrates the flavours of bourbon So the liquid left over intensifies in flavour as it ages. The longer the aging process, the more intense the concentration.
Aged Bourbon also gains colour and flavour from the oak, which it picks up as it ages. New American white oak barrels are deeply charred, which enhances the taste of bourbons as they mature in barrels.
Woodstock master distillers use high quality corn and other premium grains along with iron free water, which flows from the limestone hills of Kentucky.
“Woodstock Black has a subtle taste of toffee and vanilla with slight dried fruit in the initial rush of flavour in a good aged bourbon. The charred oak barrels give it a distinctive spicy oak firmness that is unique to American whiskeys, balanced out with the citrus dry cola taste,” says Maxwell.
“We’re excited about standing shoulder to shoulder with New Zealand’s most popular* bourbon and cola and can’t wait to roll out the plans Woodstock has for Vodafone Warriors fans in 2015.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Warriors with the club’s first home game of the season to be held on Saturday March 21st against the Parramatta Eels.
