Print
Restaurants

Former NFL Player To Help Launch Blue Shark Vodka Nationally

By Jessica Maurer, posted Oct 14, 2020
Former NFL player and Hoggard High School graduate Connor Barth is serving as spokesman for Wilmington-based Blue Shark Vodka. (Photo courtesy of Blue Shark Vodka)
Wilmington’s Blue Shark Vodka, announced last week that it claimed six international medals in its first year of production, including a Platinum SIP Award.
 
The SIP Awards is the only international spirits competition where consumers serve as judges. 
 
Now the family behind Blue Shark Vodka had enlisted the help of former NFL player and Hoggard High School grad, Connor Barth, to help them expand nationally by serving as spokesman for the brand.
 
Barth, who resides in Wrightsville Beach, played for the University of North Carolina before a 10-year career in the NFL. He was a member of the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears. He holds a number of records, including the highest field goal percentage in Buccaneers franchise history.
 
“I’m happy to be part of the Blue Shark family and use my platform to introduce the rest of the country to Wrightsville Beach and its amazing vodka,” he said.
 
Barth said he first tried Blue Shark Vodka during its debut week at King Neptune’s of Wrightsville Beach, the distillery’s first local account.
 
“I had no idea what to expect trying local vodka for the first time, but I immediately wanted to know more about Blue Shark,” Barth said. “It was an incredible first sip. That was July 2019, and now if a bar doesn’t carry it I just ask for a beer.”
 
Barth now joins two other celebrities that have joined forces with Wilmington’s first spirit. This summer, world-renowned ocean mural artist Wyland designed a limited-edition label for Blue Shark.

The proceeds from these special edition bottles benefitted both shark research and ocean conservation.

This month, bartender and author Dale Degroff will release his newest cocktail recipe book, The New Craft of the Cocktail, using Blue Shark Vodka in 13 of his recipes.
 
“We are thrilled to take Blue Shark Vodka beyond North Carolina with the hopes of being a national brand by 2021,” said co-founder Mark Bloomquist. “We had a wildly successful first year -- a Platinum SIP Award medal, we sold out our special edition Wyland artist bottles in mere days and we have fans across the state. Now it is time for the rest of the country to see North Carolina has the world’s smoothest vodka.”
 
Blue Shark Vodka uses non-GMO heirloom-variety sweet corn grown in North Carolina’s Southern Piedmont region. Master Distiller Brooke Bloomquist uses a small-batch, triple-filtration process to yield the smooth spirit that has the tagline, “the shark that doesn’t bite.”
 
Have a tip for Restaurant Roundup? Email us at: [email protected].
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
2022052 75 142344351

Bridging Futures: The Case for Toll Funding in Wilmington’s Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Revamp

Natalie English - Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Dave sweyer 300 x 300

Insights into the 2023 Leasing Market in Wilmington, NC: What You Need to Know

Dave Sweyer - Sweyer Property Management
Headshotrosaliecalarco 1182131047

The Government is Calling? Think Again!

Trending News

Conservation Group Signs $8M Deal To Buy The Point On Topsail Island

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

National Organization Bestows Top Award On Cape Fear Professional Women In Building

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

Engineering Firm Hires Four Employees

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

N.C. Ports Officials React To Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

NCino's Fourth-quarter Earnings Signal Rebound From Liquidity Crisis

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 27, 2024

In The Current Issue

MADE: Polyhose Inc.

Polyhose manufactures and fabricates hose protection, paint hose assemblies and rubber hydraulic assemblies from its Pender County facility....


Berries, A Battlefield And More In Pender

The N.C. Blueberry Festival, founded in 2003, is one of several events in Pender County that have drawn more attention over the years....


Hacking Cyberdefense Shortage

A shortage of cybersecurity professionals influenced professor Ulku Clark and her team to slowly evolve UNCW’s offerings to now include eigh...

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments