Caroline Porsiel Brings National American Brandy & Rum Initiative to Capitol Hill During DISCUS Congressional Fly-In

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

House Of Applejay founder presents her national AMBRu vision to Georgia congressional offices in Washington, D.C.

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EAST ELLIJAY, GA — October 14, 2026 — Caroline Porsiel, founder and CEO of House Of Applejay, Inc., participated in the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) Congressional Fly-In on September 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C., introducing her vision for greater national recognition of American brandy and American rum.

During the event, Porsiel visited the offices of U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and U.S. Representatives Buddy Carter, Sanford Bishop, and Andrew Clyde.

Alongside broader discussions affecting the distilled spirits industry, she introduced the AMBRu Campaign — American Brandy & American Rum, an initiative she co-founded to strengthen the identity, recognition, and commercial opportunities of two historically important American spirits categories.

Her visit was subsequently covered by the Times-Courier in the article “Local business owner visits Congress for rum revolution.”

Read the independent newspaper coverage:

https://timescourier.com/news/370997/local-business-owner-visits-congress-for-rum-revolution/

Bringing an American Spirits Initiative to Washington

American whiskey has achieved international recognition as a distinctive product of the United States. American brandy and American rum, despite their long history of domestic production, have not established a comparable shared national identity.

The AMBRu Campaign seeks to address this opportunity through collaboration among producers, greater product recognition, and the development of a national discovery network.

During her Capitol Hill visits, Porsiel introduced her working paper, Recognition to Revenue, presenting a producer-led framework for developing American Brandy and American Rum as distinctive products of the United States.

The initiative aims to connect product identity with practical economic opportunities for distillers, agriculture, tourism, and communities across all 50 states.

From Recognition to Revenue

Porsiel's framework outlines a progression from national product recognition to consumer discovery, tourism, and commercial opportunity.

A central component is the proposed American Brandy & Rum Trail, envisioned as a nationwide network connecting more than 500 potential destinations, including distilleries, historic sites, farms, museums, and tourism partners.

The campaign's beta trail map is already available at https://ambru.org/map/.

The economic opportunity is substantial. According to 2025 U.S. spirits trade figures compiled for the AMBRu congressional briefing, the United States imported approximately $1.01 billion in brandy and rum, compared with approximately $125 million in exports.

Porsiel's proposal argues that stronger American product identities, combined with greater consumer awareness and tourism, could help domestic producers compete more effectively at home and abroad.

The campaign invites participation from producers in shaping any future category recognition or production standards. It is not a formal regulatory petition and does not claim to speak on behalf of the entire industry.

From American Spirits History to Industry Advocacy

Porsiel's Capitol Hill presentation builds on her work researching American distilling history and advocating for greater recognition of American-made spirits.

In April 2026, she addressed the American Distilling Institute on the history of American brandy and rum. She continued that conversation at the ADI Rum Summit in Miami in August 2026.

Her September 2026 working paper, Recognition to Revenue, developed these ideas into a national framework linking American product identity, producer participation, and economic opportunity.

The DISCUS Congressional Fly-In provided an opportunity to introduce that framework in conversations with congressional offices and connect it with broader industry discussions about manufacturing, trade, and economic development.

A National Conversation from East Ellijay, Georgia

Born in Germany, Porsiel founded House Of Applejay in East Ellijay, Georgia, in 2022.

As a distiller and liqueurist, she has developed an internationally award-winning portfolio of American liqueurs and spirits, including Winter Cherry Mountain, which received Double Gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Her work extends beyond the distillery through historical research, industry education, and her role as co-founder of the AMBRu Campaign.

Her participation in the Congressional Fly-In illustrates how independent distillers can contribute ideas and perspectives to national discussions about the future of American spirits.

For House Of Applejay, the visit represents another milestone in a growing record of product innovation, industry engagement, and recognition beyond North Georgia.

Independent Media Coverage

The Times-Courier, serving Ellijay and Gilmer County, reported on Porsiel's visit to Congress and her work to advance American rum and brandy recognition.

The Times-Courier — “Local business owner visits Congress for rum revolution”

https://timescourier.com/news/370997/local-business-owner-visits-congress-for-rum-revolution/

The coverage provides an independent account of a local entrepreneur bringing a national spirits industry initiative from East Ellijay to Washington, D.C.

About Caroline Porsiel

Caroline Porsiel is a distiller, liqueurist, entrepreneur, and spirits industry advocate. She founded House Of Applejay, Inc., in East Ellijay, Georgia, in 2022 and serves as its CEO.

She is co-founder of the AMBRu Campaign and author of the Recognition to Revenue framework, which advocates for greater recognition of American Brandy and American Rum as distinctive U.S. products.

Her work combines spirits production, historical research, industry education, and initiatives aimed at developing new opportunities for American distillers.

About House Of Applejay

House Of Applejay, Inc., operating as Applejay Distillery & Winery, is an independent, woman-owned distillery in East Ellijay, Georgia.

Founded by Caroline Porsiel in 2022, the company specializes in small-batch American liqueurs and spirits. Its portfolio has earned medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and New York World Spirits Competition.

House Of Applejay welcomes visitors to its East Ellijay distillery and tasting room.

Website: https://www.houseofapplejay.com/