City of Industry, CA (April 20, 2015) – Three expressions—the Blanco, Reposado and Añejo—from Iconic® Brands’ Sangre de Vida® were honored with Double Gold Packaging Design Awards and Silver Medals from The 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition that took place in late March. Made in Jalisco, Mexico, Sangre de Vida’s® offerings inhabit handcrafted and hand painted skull-shaped packaging that feature unique artwork and show off the rich history of Mexico. The brand uses traditional means, such as brick ovens for roasting piñas and double-distillation in cooper pot stills, to produce this award-winning spirit. Unaged, Sangre de Vida® Blanco Tequila (ABV 40%, SRP $40) has a clean mouthfeel that delivers notes of sweet agave, minerals and chocolate to the tastebuds. The 110-proof Sangre De Vida® Reposado (ABV 55%, SRP $45) balances the warmth from the alcohol with citrus and spices of cayenne and cinnamon. Aged for a minimum of 12 months in oak, Sangre De Vida® Añejo Tequila (ABV 40%, SRP $50) provides a complex bouquet of honey, orange and clove that the palate mirrors elegantly. Receiving these scores at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition couldn’t be more exciting for the recently launched Sangre de Vida®,” Kim Brandi–CEO notes. “I am proud of the products—both inside and out—that we are developing at Iconic® Brands and I look forward to sharing them with retailers, bars and consumers.” The 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the largest and most influential spirits competition in the U.S. Based on a blind, consensual procedure, judging is done by a panel of nationally recognized spirits and packaging experts—with more than 1,500 spirit entries were judged, it was the largest competition in its 15-year history. About Iconic® Brands Iconic® Brands, Industry, CA delivers art inside and out with its award winning APOCALYPTO® Tequila, DEADHEAD® Rum and SANGRE DE VIDA® Tequila. Founded on a “no compromise” philosophy, Iconic’s cocktail for success is simple: Create brands deeply rooted in tradition that offer a strong message about authenticity and attention to craftsmanship. Iconic’s determination to be at the forefront of an ever-evolving liquid culture is evident in the critical acclaim and medals its brands continue to earn. Each brands’ voice can be heard loud and clear, making them franchise players behind the bar and rising stars in terms of volume growth and revenues. ### For more information: Kim Brandi, CEO 909-333-4482 kim@iconicbrandsinc.com

Unanimous jury agrees skulls are distinct

"Though KAH and Crystal Head are packaged in skull-shaped vessels, they are two very distinct products and can co-exist – even complement each other – in the marketplace. This victory is for the entire beverage industry!"

Kim Brandi is the creator of KAH®, Day of the Dead® Tequila and the NEW Sangre de Vida® Artists Series. Though several specialty tequilas have been introduced to the market to allure fans of different ages and background in recent years, Brandi dedicated her life to breathing new life into this spirit by tapping into an unusual inspiration—Mexico’s Day of the Dead.  While inspiration for her sugar skull bottles may seem a little surprising at first glance, the time-honored tradition that originated with the Aztecs 3,000 years ago is actually a celebration of life.

“There are many brands out there, but not all of them have a heart or a soul,” reflects Brandi.  “So many spirit producers spin off products that have no meaning or reason for being; nothing to connect to emotionally. This is why I chose the most beautiful celebration, Dia de los Muertos, to build a brand around. This is a holiday about life and love that in many ways is closer to Valentine’s Day and Memorial Day."

To round out the concept into a full, sensory experience, Brandi developed the concept of rendering the bottles for the artisanal spirits as Calaveras--stylized skulls crafted from sugar that represent the continued presence of the spirit during Day of the Dead festivities. Inspired by the artwork of Dia de los Muertos, expressions of love and life, beauty and decay combined with the spiritual impact of the celebration, the concept was completed and took on a very interesting life of its own.

In the short time since the introduction of her first Artists Series, KAH®, even with the fires of rival firms and competitors blazing hot, beverage industry critics and experts have responded to Brandi’s vision in a most life-affirming fashion. Beverage Dynamics Magazine awarded Brandi first place for New Product Packaging in its annual Advertising & Promotion Awards for her bottle design, artwork and concept for KAH® Tequila.

Brandi was again recognized for her work by the International Beverage Tasting Institute -- all three renderings of her Day of the Dead Tequila bottles swept honors in major categories in a field of over 100 entries from around the world.  Entrants were judged by design artists, spirits writers, retail and on-premise buyers according the following categories: Creativity, Graphic Design, Form, Style, and Functional Innovation.

“I put serious thought into the design, not only in terms of a wholly original design concept, but one that would serve as a framework instead of a mere marketing device. These honors were huge, and it is validation that my intention to put out a superior tequila with a strong message about craftsmanship and authenticity shined through,” says Brandi.

Genius at Work

Kim BrandiKim BrandiCulturally attuned and naturally curious about the world around her, the L.A.-based and New York City-bred Brandi boasts a multi-faceted background in magazine publishing, graphic design and product marketing —a triple threat that has made her a star in her field.

Brandi’s experiences and relationships continue to shape her artistic voice.  Her life’s journey is more than the sum of its parts – drawn from her past, the present and beyond she describes this continued sensory journey as one that allows her to indulge in her passions, including different forms of visual artwork and working with fine sipping spirits.

With the success of her first series, this is an auspicious time to introduce Sangre de Vida®, which she assures is just as distinctive as her first.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kim Brandi Reaffirms Rightful Ownership of “Calaveras” Bottle Design

City of Industry, CA (November 24, 2015) – Clarifying a lengthy legal ordeal, the CEO and founder of Iconic® Brands, Kim Brandi, reasserts that she is in fact the rightful owner of the “calaveras” bottle design, which her line of Sangre de Vida® Tequila and Mezcal (www.sangredevida.com) is housed in.

Brandi originally had a licensing deal with Elements Spirits, Inc., which allowed the company to legally utilize copyrighted works owned by Brandi, to be sold under the mark KAH Tequila. However, Brandi cut ties with Elements after several breaches of the licensing agreement, and established Sangre de Vida® Tequila and Mezcal. Elements sued Brandi, claiming it had developed a “trade dress” in the very bottle design which is protected by Brandi’s copyrights.  In response, Brandi filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Elements, Aveniu Brands, and Fábrica de Tequila Finos, S.A. de C.V. ("Finos"). Finos is the manufacturer of KAH Tequila and Aveniu is its master distributor.  Brandi has also issued cease and desist letters to distributors and to the on- and off-premise accounts who continue to sell the unauthorized counterfeit “calaveras” bottles.

The United States District Court assigned to the matter has already issued two rulings in the case, both favorable to Brandi.  In a ruling on June 11, 2015, the Court specifically found that Elements had failed to establish a likelihood that it could succeed on the merits of its trademark claims.  More recently, on September 17, 2015, the Court ruled that Brandi had alleged sufficient facts to support her claim that Elements obtained the cancelled license agreement through fraud.

“KAH Tequila continues to use and profit from my work without my permission, in direct violation of the Copyright laws,” Brandi notes, “and in the process is deceiving consumers by selling an unapproved knock-off, degrading the high-quality product that I produce in the form of Sangre de Vida Tequila.” Brandi stated that she “will continue to fight for my rights both as an artist and a businesswoman, and will always offer my customers a superior tequila in a bottle that has a superior aesthetic design.”

About Iconic Brands

Iconic® Brands, Industry, CA delivers art inside and out with its award winning APOCALYPTO® Tequila, DEADHEAD® Rum and SANGRE DE VIDA® Tequila. Founded on a “no compromise” philosophy, Iconic’s cocktail for success is simple: Create brands deeply rooted in tradition that offer a strong message about authenticity and attention to craftsmanship. Iconic’s determination to be at the forefront of an ever-evolving liquid culture is evident in the critical acclaim and medals its brands continue to earn. Each brands’ voice can be heard loud and clear, making them franchise players behind the bar and rising stars in terms of volume growth and revenues.

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