Phillips Distilling Company to Support 'Fork the Fire' Benefit

MINNEAPOLIS, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Phillips Distilling Company (Phillips), the Minneapolis-based, five-generation creator of premium spirits, is proud to give back to its community by donating $2 from every bottle of Prairie Organic Vodka purchased by Twin Cities restaurants, bars and night clubs from March 8-12, 2010. The donations will be gifted to a fund that is supporting the recently lost local Minneapolis restaurant businesses, Heidi's and Blackbird Cafe. Both acclaimed restaurants were destroyed by fire on Feb 18.

"Our hearts go out to all of those affected by the loss of these two outstanding local establishments," said Dean Phillips, CEO and president, Phillips Distilling Company. "When something like this affects our community, giving back is second nature."

Heidi's and Blackbird Cafe, located in Minneapolis' Lynnhurst neighborhood, were favorites among locals.  The morning of the fire, Heidi's owner and star chef Stewart Woodman was named a semifinalist as one of the 20 best Midwestern Chefs for the 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards. Blackbird Cafe had been lauded in reviews from City Pages, Star Tribune, and Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine. Despite the best efforts of the fire department, both eateries were a total loss.

Phillips is joined by over 55 restaurants who, as partners in "Fork the Fire", are donating a portion of their proceeds from the entire business day sales on Sunday, March 14 (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), to the owners of Heidi's and Blackbird in order to help with their enormous expenses related to the fire and loss of business.

"Tragedies like this affect not just the owners, but many hardworking servers, chefs, and support staff that make their livelihood in those restaurants and local purveyors who sell their products to them," said Phillips. "We want Heidi's, Blackbird Cafe and all of their employees and vendors back on their feet again as soon as possible."

For more information about Fork the Fire benefit, please visit http://forkthefire.org/

About Phillips Distilling Company

From a small distributor of candy and newspapers to becoming one of the most innovative and enduring distilled spirit companies in the United States, Phillips Distilling Company has been producing high-quality products using the finest ingredients sourced from around the globe for five generations. From America's first schnapps in the 1930's, to flavored vodka in the 1950's, to flavored whiskey in the 2000's, Phillips has always been a pioneering company while continuing to operate as one of America's last family owned spirits businesses. The Phillips portfolio includes the UV line of flavored vodkas, Prairie Organic Vodka, Trader Vic's Rums, Liqueurs and Cocktails, Feckin Irish Whiskey, Phillips Union Whiskey, SourPuss Liqueurs and Ice Hole Liqueurs. The company is based in Minneapolis.

For more information, visit www.phillipsdistilling.com

SOURCE Phillips Distilling Company