Connecticut Distributors, Inc. (CDI), welcomed new, exclusive brands during a June sales meeting. First introduced was Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey, created by Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, actors from the hit television show “The Vampire Diaries.” Somerhalder and his team joined CDI virtually to educate the sales staff on the brand, inspired by the bond their characters, the Salvatore brothers, share. “The brand name is both a nod to our on-screen characters and our common love for great-tasting bourbon, but also a reflection of the brotherhood we have formed over the years,” he said. The hand-selected batch is distilled and aged in the tradition of all great bourbon, offering a “big warm hug of robust flavors,” nutty spice notes that ease for a complex, warming finish. Second was Ireland Family Wine & Spirits Owner and Founder Chris Ireland. Inspired by a trip to Napa and Sonoma, California, in 1989, Ireland began his beverage industry career as a bartender, gaining 20-plus years of experience from building award-winning wine lists to sales and management roles at distributors, importers and wineries. Ireland and his wife, Amy, realized their dream of owning a winery in February 2020, developing an import portfolio of boutique producers from around the world. The team tasted through several wines, including Coursey Graves Chardonnay, Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon; Ireland Family Rosé and Pinot Noir; Works and Days Durrell Vineyard Chardonnay; Heitz Chardonnay; Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir; and Spring Hill Pinot Noir.