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Former Seagram, Jim Beam and Brown Forman Executives Join Drinks Americas Sales and Marketing Team

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  Published in House and Home on Friday, January 23rd 2009 at 12:22 GMT, Last Modified on 2009-01-23 12:24:07 by Market Wire

WILTON, Conn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Drinks Americas Holdings, Ltd. (OTC BB: DKAM) ("Drinks Americas" or the "Company") today announced key additions to its sales and marketing team who are expected to play key roles in the expansion of Drinks business outlined in the companies recent letter to shareholders. Drinks Americas is adding executives who's prior professional careers draw from Seagram, Jim Beam and Brown Forman. Drinks Americas markets iconic beverages including Trump Super Premium Vodka, Willie Nelson's Old Whiskey River Bourbon, Paul Newman's Sparkling Fruit Juice Drinks, and a variety of premium spirits brands. The Company recently purchased Olifant Vodka, and is currently bringing to market Leyrat Cognac, a new sparkling vodka, and beer in partnership with Kid Rock's new American Badass Beer Company. All these products will be introduced in the coming months in partnership with Drinks Americas' strategic music and entertainment partners.

Patrick Kenny CEO of Drinks Americas commented, "Drinks Americas is very pleased to have attracted sales managers of the caliber of Charles Lynch, Jack McKenzie, and Tad Holtsinger. They will clearly help us reach our sales milestones and help grow the Company for our shareholders."

Jack McKenzie, formerly President of Olifant USA, will join Drinks Americas as Vice President of Sales for U.S. and will continue to oversee the sales direction and marketing of Olifant in the U.S. Prior to managing Olifant USA, Mr. McKenzie was the principal of McKenzie & Co., the Jim Beam distributor and brokerage for the State of Pennsylvania for fifteen years. Prior to that, Mr. McKenzie's career included working for Coca Cola, The Seagram Wine Company, Martini and Rossi, Christian Brothers Sales Company, and subsequently as Jim Beam Brands National Field Sales Manager. In addition to overseeing the transition of the Olifant brand, Mr. McKenzie's responsibility will include the management of all Drinks Americas brands in Illinois, Texas, Colorado, Missouri, Louisiana, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Also joining Drinks Americas is Jason McKenzie, who will continue as Regional Manager overseeing all of Drinks Americas brands in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and South Carolina.

Tad Holtsinger will be joining Drinks Americas as Vice President of Southeast U.S. and Control States. Tad Holtsinger has 25 years of experience in managing premium wine and spirits brands, most recently for Blavod Extreme Spirits. Prior to that, Tad managed brands on a national and regional basis for Seagram Chateau and Estates and the Joseph E. Seagram Company's Seagram Wine Company.

Mr. Holtsinger's responsibility for all Drinks Americas brands will include managing the Company's control state distributor, The Liquor Group, in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Ohio, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Iowa, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Holtsinger will also work with Bruce Klein who currently is managing the Company's Florida distribution in order to expand the Company's business in Florida and Georgia.

Charles Lynch continues with Drinks Americas as Vice President and National Sales Manager. Over the past two years, Charles Lynch has led Drinks Americas' ongoing sales and marketing initiatives. Mr. Lynch is a 32 year industry veteran who held a series of positions with Brown Forman Beverage Corp. Prior to joining Drinks Americas, Mr. Lynch managed a sales division of Charmer Distributing, generating over $112 million in annual sales. Patrick Kenny added, "Charles Lynch has led us to where we are now in sales and it says a great deal about what he has accomplished for us that we now have three additional extremely talented managers growing our business going forward."

Mr. Lynch will be responsible for all Drinks Americas brands in the metropolitan New York area, the balance of New York State, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, Nevada and Arizona, as well as key national accounts.

About Drinks Americas

Drinks Americas was founded in 2004 by J. Patrick Kenny, a leading expert in beverage sales and marketing. Drinks Americas develops, owns, markets, and nationally distributes alcoholic and non-alcoholic premium beverages associated with renowned icon celebrities. Drinks Americas' portfolio of premium alcoholic beverages includes Donald Trump's award winning Trump Super Premium Vodka and Willie Nelson's Old Whiskey River Bourbon. The Company's non-alcoholic brands include the distribution of Paul Newman's Own Lightly Sparkling Fruit Juice Drinks and Flavored Waters. Drinks Americas recently formed a joint venture with Interscope Geffen A&M Records to develop and market beverage products, and in a separate venture, is partnering with Kid Rock to launch an American style beer.

For further information concerning Drinks Americas and the products that they represent, please visit their website at [ www.drinksamericas.com ].

Safe Harbor

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including the description of the company and its product offerings, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the historical volatility and low trading volume of our stock, the risk and uncertainties inherent in the early stages of growth companies, the company's need to raise substantial additional capital to proceed with its business, risks associated with competitors, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.