Franco Wine / K&R Beverage LLC
Wholesaler · Off-Strip ·
Fine wine and spirits distributor with collectible challenge coins
Fine wine and spirits distributor with collectible challenge coins
"This bitter, mentholated, herbal amaro—affectionately called a “bartender’s handshake”—runs a small, highly collectible challenge-coin program that has become a global marker of bartending and spirits know-how. What began with a friends-only medallion in 2012, produced by two brothers for a Las Vegas mixology event, grew into an official series of commissioned coins (starting in key markets like San Francisco in 2013) distributed at competitions, trade shows, pop-ups and industry events. The coins are deliberately scarce—individual runs rarely exceed a couple hundred and the original 50-piece batch is the rarest—so earning one signals deep familiarity with the liquid and its culture; holders often “pull” coins worldwide as a way to connect. The brand stages playful, high-effort giveaways (from first-come baskets at Tales of the Cocktail to escape-room-style pop-ups where players can win chips to gamble for a coin) and intentionally resists making the coin a transactional perk (the myth that it entitles you to a free shot is unofficial). Distinct pieces—like a numbered 175th-anniversary coin and a Los Angeles release stamped “In Branca We Trust”—are prized by the producer, who carries and archives a few in his office, while the program’s popularity has inspired imitators and a vibrant collector culture of trading, comparing and using coins as conversation starters among bartenders and fans." - G. Clay Whittaker
"In the second week of Anna Tobias’s residency the menu represents the biggest departure from the restaurant’s usual house style: dishes lean into Italianate touches informed by the chef’s River Café training while also offering comforting, nostalgic classics. The rotating-chef residency model is credited with keeping the place feeling fresh and relevant to regulars, and the current food has been described as very good." - George Reynolds
"A restaurant noted for its use of simple, stoneware plates that act as a blank canvas, allowing dishes to stand out visually and become especially photogenic for Instagram-driven dining culture." - George Reynolds
"Once an overlooked wine shop that became a celebrated restaurant of the year, this venue’s rise is tightly bound up with a social-media-fueled story: early, curiosity-baiting Instagram shots highlighted William Gleave’s enchantingly gorgeous presentations, then Tim Spedding briefly ran the room before a foodie-set viral moment in 2016–17. With Gleave back in charge at a new site, expectations are for immediate, large-scale success; whether that will change its distinctive, magic-in-a-bottle, Gravner-esque wine vibe is an open question that will likely be answered over time — and across lots of ‘grams." - George Reynolds
