Eastside and John Rich Join Forces for Portland Pre-Launch of Redneck Riviera Whiskey

Eastside Distilling, Inc. ESDI ("Eastside" or the "Company") announced that on Tuesday, December 12, the Company hosted a pre-launch of Redneck Riviera Whiskey. Redneck Riviera Whiskey is the Company's collaboration with John Rich, the multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer and one-half of the award-winning duo Big & Rich. Activities included a meet and greet with fans at Eastside Distilling's headquarters in Portland, multiple media interviews with print, television, and radio stations, and culminated with John performing at a charity concert at the University of Portland hosted by local radio station "The Wolf, KWJK."

John Rich's Interviews with the NBC and Fox Portland affiliates can be found at: John Rich NBC and John Rich Fox.

Images of the Portland Pre-Launch Event can be found on Eastside's website at: www.eastsidedistilling.com/redneck-riviera-pdx-pre-launch-party.

In October, Eastside Distilling and John Rich signed an exclusive global spirits licensing agreement with Rich's burgeoning Redneck Riviera lifestyle brand. The "Work Hard, Play Hard" brand celebrates the working men and women who are the backbone of the U.S.

"What a great day in Portland as we met with so many members of the Eastside team," Redneck Riviera's John Rich said. "Eastside's Redneck Riviera Whiskey is a perfectly blended American whiskey that is smooth as can be. I can't wait for all of my fans across the world to be able to sit back and relax while sipping this fantastic whiskey!"

In addition to meeting with local fans and media members, Eastside Distilling and the Redneck Riviera team prepared for the Redneck Riviera Whiskey national launch scheduled with an event in Nashville in early January. The national launch is expected to include national media members, liquor distributors from around the country, and die-hard country music fans.

Grover Wickersham, CEO of Eastside Distilling, commented, "John had some great creative meetings at our offices, met with our sales team and some local friends, then we attended and really enjoyed the Wolf's charity concert. We got caught a bit by surprise by John's TV appearances and phones were ringing off the hook at our Seventh Street tasting room asking for the whiskey. To please John's local fans, we are going to speed up the paperwork with the Oregon liquor commission to have Redneck Riviera Whiskey available in Oregon this year, even before the official January launch in Nashville."

About Redneck Riviera:

Redneck Riviera is a privately held lifestyle brand that celebrates America's hard-working men and women. Built for people who live to turn up the music and have fun with friends and family, Redneck Riviera is America's ‘Work Hard, Play Hard' brand that offers something for everyone who likes to rock the red, white and blue all year long. Launched in 2014, the brand brings these values to life through footwear, apparel, hospitality, food, spirits and licensed products in a variety of categories. Redneck Riviera has expanded its reach with the opening of honky-tonk bar Redneck Riviera Las Vegas and a Nashville location opening in 2018. More information can be found here.

About Eastside Distilling:

Eastside Distilling, Inc. ESDI has been producing high-quality, award-winning craft spirits in Portland, Oregon since 2008. The company is distinguished by its highly decorated product lineup that includes Burnside Bourbon, West End American Whiskey, Goose Hollow Reserve, Below Deck Rums, Portland Potato Vodka, Hue-Hue Coffee Rum and a distinctive line of fruit infused spirits. Eastside Distilling is majority owner of Big Bottom Distilling (makers of The Ninety One Gin, Navy Strength Gin and Delta Rye whiskey) and the Redneck Riviera Whiskey Co. All Eastside, Big Bottom and Redneck Riviera spirits are crafted from natural ingredients for quality and taste. Eastside's MotherLode Bottling subsidiary is one of the Northwest's leading independent spirit bottlers and ready-to-drink canners. For more information visit: www.eastsidedistilling.com or follow the company on Twitter and Facebook.

Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; acceptance of the Company's products in the market; the Company's success in obtaining new customers; the Company's success in product development; the Company's ability to execute its business model and strategic plans; the Company's success in integrating acquired entities and assets, and all the risks and related information described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the financial statements and related information contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and interim Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release may include statements related to our strategic focus, product verticals, anticipated revenue, and profitability. The Company assumes no obligation to update the cautionary information in this release.

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