Wisconsin

Wisconsin's first Black-founded alcohol distributorship adds new whiskey line

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2025

Wisconsin's first Black-founded alcohol distributorship adds new whiskey line

Mequon-based Big League Distributing has announced that it will distribute Illinois-made Alexander James Whiskey expressions – a brand created by former Division I college athlete Jesse Steward Jr. – in Wisconsin.

Steward – who was a sprinter and jumper at Purdue University and Lewis University (as well as being an operations supervisor at O’Hare International Airport, which is probably a challenging sport of its own!) – has a bourbon and a rye so far.

Each is distilled by Two Eagles Distillery in Mount Prospect, Illinois, aged four years in charred American white oak barrels and bottled at 90 proof.

“Big League Distributing and Alexander James are a great match,” says Steward, who launched his whiskey brand on his 30th birthday in October 2021. “The BLD team understands that behind every high-quality product is a meaningful story. And those stories are key ingredients.

“Alexander James was born of my family’s rich history passed down to me from my father, his father and so on, each story told over a glass of whiskey. BLD also made history in its founding. Wisconsin is a state of discerning diners and drinkers, and we are confident that Alexander James will resonate.”

The deal is the first to distribute Steward’s whiskeys outside Illinois.

But, I admit I’ve buried the lead here, because Big League Distributing (BLD), founded in March by former professional baseball player Larry Hisle Jr. and journalist James H. Burnett III, appears to be Wisconsin’s first-ever Black-owned alcohol distributor.

“BLD, to the best of our knowledge and that of alcohol industry veterans we consulted, is the first Black-founded, minority-owned alcohol distributorship in Wisconsin,” Hisle says, noting that four years of planning went into the 2024 launch.

“Black-founded because two African American men created the company before bringing in our third partner, an Indian American man (Krishan Mehta), whose father was a successful first-generation immigrant from India.”

In addition to Steward’s bourbon and rye, BLD distributes more than a dozen wine varietals from two different California-based wineries and a New York-Jersey Metro-area importer. Among them are Baker Family Wines, which is co-owned by former LMB star Dusty Baker, and Robert Randolph Prosecco, a label created by Grammy-nominated guitarist Robert Randolph.

“We had a great tequila brand on board as well, but a catastrophic production issue iced that arrangement,” Hisle says. “It has been a roller coaster ride – but thankfully far more ups than downs – as we’ve grown our business over the past five years.

“We’ve learned a great deal, including the solution to the chicken-or-egg question of which to put the most energy into at first/up front: scoring more ‘carriers’ or building up a variety of product offerings and inventory to ensure stability and lower the risk of supply line interruptions.”

What they learned? Focus on the latter and the former will come.

“Now that we’ve got a healthy variety, we’re making an aggressive push to get into more venues,” he says. “We hear from restaurant and tavern owners every week requesting meetings to either taste or coordinate the purchase of our products. This game is a marathon and not a sprint. And we’re in a good place, a great place.”

To help further expand its business, BLD will host an industry tasting event later this month for owners, managers and buyers at local restaurants, taverns, retail outlets and entertainment venues that sell alcoholic beverages.

Of course, the Alexander James Whiskey bourbon and rye will be featured.

“We’re especially excited to work with Jesse Steward, founder of Alexander James, for several reasons,” Hisle says. “His distillery produces quality whiskeys. To date, his products are the closest to Wisconsin that we carry, geographically. So, the logistics will be easier.

“And there’s a personal element. We want people to work with us because we offer great products and service. But we recognize that we’ve made history with our entree into the wholesale alcohol business. To be executives on the distribution side of this industry is extremely rare for people of color, especially Black Americans. It’s less rare but still something of a novelty to see ‘us’ on the production side. So we feel a bond with Jesse as both his operation and ours push to rise and thrive in this industry.”

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Wisconsin

NBA Draft: Wisconsin’s John Blackwell Rises With Two Strong Performances

Published

57 minutes ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

NBA Draft: Wisconsin’s John Blackwell Rises With Two Strong Performances

Having led Wisconsin in scoring during their two Big Ten victories so far, sophomore guard John Blackwell is emerging as a legitimate draft prospect.

As a strong guard with an explosive first step, Blackwell excels at getting to the rim both on and off the ball. His upside on offense and defense looks promising, but he still needs to continue rounding out his game to translate effectively to the NBA. The full body of work he has produced so far this season has been encouraging, but his productivity through the first two games of Big Ten play has stood out the most.

Let’s take a closer look at Blackwell’s strong start to his sophomore season, with a particular focus on his two most recent conference outings.

Through his first 15 games this year, Blackwell has helped the Badgers to a 12-3 record with impressive averages of 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.7 steals while shooting 50% from the field, 33.9% from three and 83.1% from the free throw line. He has led his team in scoring in just four games but has reached double digits in all but two contests. Despite not leading the team in any single statistical category, he currently ranks second in points, third in assists and fourth in both rebounds and steals. While his well-rounded game has been a highlight, it’s his ability to score from all three levels that has been most intriguing. In nine matchups against power conference opponents, Blackwell has averaged 16.8 points while shooting an impressive 60% from the field, showcasing his ability to step up in big games.

Two of his strongest showings this year came during conference play, where his team-high-scoring performances against Iowa and Rutgers were particularly encouraging. Let’s dive into how he stood out in these two Wisconsin victories.

On Friday, Jan. 3, Wisconsin defeated Iowa 116-85, thanks in no small part to Blackwell’s well-rounded game. He finished with a career-high 32 points, along with eight rebounds and five assists. Shooting 11-of-18 from the field, 6-of-10 from three and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line, Blackwell scored at will and stayed aggressive from the opening tip. His ten three-point attempts were a season high, and he connected on six of them, shooting an impressive 60% from beyond the arc. While this level of scoring production might not show up nightly, the consistent two-way aggression he displayed has become a hallmark of his game, significantly boosting his draft stock.

Following this game, Blackwell delivered another stellar performance on Monday, Jan. 6, in a 75-63 win over Rutgers. He tallied 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Blackwell maintained his attacking mindset, getting to the rim off the dribble and using smart cuts to exploit gaps in the defense. His ability to capitalize on transition opportunities and push the pace allowed Wisconsin to generate cleaner looks than they typically achieve in half-court sets. His unselfishness and ability to elevate his teammates were evident throughout the game.

Blackwell’s performances against Iowa and Rutgers illustrate his growing confidence and evolving skill set as a key player for Wisconsin. As the season progresses, his ability to sustain this high level of play will be crucial, not only for the Badgers’ success but also for cementing his status as a legitimate NBA prospect. If he continues to develop his all-around game, Blackwell has the potential to be one of the standout guards in the Big Ten and a rising star on the professional radar.

Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

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Wisconsin

Rutgers player grades vs. Wisconsin: 5-star freshmen struggle, pair of bench players emerge

Published

9 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Rutgers player grades vs. Wisconsin: 5-star freshmen struggle, pair of bench players emerge

Rutgers could not get back on track at the RAC.

The Scarlet Knights (8-7, 1-3) suffered a 75-63 loss to Wisconsin in Piscataway on Monday, marking their second straight defeat, their first home defeat of the season (7-1) and their sixth defeat in their last nine games. The result drops them to 0-5 in Quadrant 1 games and leaves them with one less opportunity to begin building a postseason résumé.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Jan. 6, 2025

Published

17 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Jan. 6, 2025

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 6, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

17-34-46-66-67, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 2-2-4

Evening: 4-5-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 4-1-1-0

Evening: 4-9-0-3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 05-06-07-09-10-13-14-15-16-17-18

Evening: 02-04-06-08-09-12-13-15-17-18-19

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

03-05-06-16-31

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

03-13-16-17-21-24, Doubler: N

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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