NASHVILLE (October 23, 2007) – For it’s second straight year Delta Blues Iced Tea Company is providing the ready-to-drink tea punch for the annual Once in a Blue Moon gala benefiting The Land Trust for Tennessee. The charity takes place on Saturday, October 27, at the historic Glen Leven antebellum estate on 4000 Franklin Road in Nashville. Other noted sponsors for the $200-a-plate event will  include CVS Caremark, HCA Tri State and Jack Daniels, to name a few.
        Leslie Bass, Nashville native and owner/president of Delta Blues Iced Tea Company comments on her company’s proud sponsorship:
        “Once In A Blue Moon is an ideal event for our company’s participation. For our state’s preservation of land and resources, this event not only raises money for The Land Trust for Tennessee, but increases consumer awareness on the importance of conserving land for future generations.”
        Preserving history is the premise for the creation of Bass’s company. After moving from her native south to Chicago, Bass missed many southern traditions. One being southern tea punch, the beverage served at every social event in the south. Using her grandmother’s recipe, Bass re-created this blend of fresh tea, citrus and mint and bottled it. First, sold in Farmer’s Markets in Chicago, Delta Blues Tea Punch has expanded throughout the southeast.
        “Even the Yankees started enjoying my southern tea punch. When I taught them how to mix it with booze, they liked it even better,” said Bass.
        During the Once In A Blue Moon VII, Bass will be introducing Bayou Soleil, a new green tea punch, and serving her signature drink recipes, “Delta Jack Hot” and “Bayou Soleil Rum.” Delta Blues Tea Punch will also be served without alcohol.
        “With Delta Blues Deep South and Bayou Soleil tea punch scheduled for launch in Nashville’s Whole Foods Market November 1," Bass said, “People attending the Blue Moon event will be able to taste Delta Blues beverages, and then purchase them at Whole Foods, Belle Meade Plantation and The Produce Place in Nashville, in addition to the Blue Chair Bakery and Coffee Shop in Sewanee.”

ATLANTA (September 12, 2007) – Delta Blues Iced Tea Company, the first to manufacturer the tea punch category, announced a new agreement with Global Specialty Foods, Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, a specialty food brokerage and distribution company.
        The agreement increases the distribution of Delta Blues Iced Tea Punch in Whole Foods stores throughout the southeastern U.S. and other specialty retailers across the country. Global Specialty Foods, founded by CEO, John Magnuson in 1989 has helped to launch many specialty foods, such as Rising Sun Farms Tortas and B.R. Cohn Olive Oils and Vinegars. Products represented by Global are unique to the market and, in many cases, offer retailers opportunities to introduce new categories.
        “Delta Blues Iced Tea Punch broadens our successful product portfolio of teas, by adding a totally new category,” said Magnuson. “Beverage trends are now more regionalized as well as diverse. Consumers have options like never before, and they want more choices,” added Magnuson.
        Leslie Bass, owner/president, Delta Blues Iced Tea Company, echoes Magnuson’s comments. “We’re a southern company with a decidedly southern beverage,” said Bass. “People who are from the South are familiar with tea punch and know that it’s time-consuming to make. Now they’re glad to find it ready-to-drink (RTD),” she said.
        Global’s distribution network is ideal for Bass’s products. “As our company grows, Global fits our product positioning. Bass is preparing to introduce a new tea punch flavor this fall that is representative of the bayous in the South. Accentuating her native Tennessee draw, Bass speculated, “Before long, the Yankees are gonna start kickin’ back sippin’ tea punch.

ATLANTA (June 9, 2007) — Delta Blues Tea Punch, the only ready-to-drink (RTD) tea punch on the market, has been pouring into the royal cups of queens throughout the U.S.; Sweet Potato Queens, that is.
        Since sponsoring the Sweet Potato Queens annual weekend in early spring, Delta Blues Tea Punch has been splashing all over the southeast. Since the majority of Sweet Potato Queens hail from the south, they are no stranger to tea punch. A blend of brewed tea infused with citrus, spices and spearmint, this recipe has been served at wedding receptions, church socials, open-houses, and funerals across the south for umpteen years. Leslie Bass, owner/president, Delta Blues Iced Tea Punch, created the ready-to-drink version from her southern grandmother’s family recipe. The familiar taste of the south, coupled with the name Delta Blues Iced Tea, was the perfect partner for sponsorship. Throughout the weekend, and especially during the Pearls & Jams event, Jill Conner Browne, THE Sweet Potato Queen, thanked Bass for her sponsorship and contribution, and bestowed the official “lick of approval” sticker on every bottle.
        “With this release, Delta Blues has become the first company to launch a certified shelf-stable tea punch in a bottle,” stated Bass. “Delta Blues Deep South Tea Punch is refreshingly smooth with a lingering hint from spearmint,” she added.

ATLANTA (February 6, 2007) — When Leslie Bass, owner of Delta Blues Iced Tea Company, was approached about a sponsorship of the Atlanta History Center’s annual concert series, “Nothin’ but the Blues,” she responded with one of her typical southern clichés: Sure, “that’s right down my alley.” Delta Blues Iced Tea will be pouring its original ready-to-drink southern iced tea punch during the four different concerts, which take place February 1 & 2, March 1 & 2, April 5 & 6, and on May 3 & 4 at McElreath Hall in the Atlanta History Center.
        As one of the sponsors, attendees will have an opportunity to sample Delta Blues Iced Tea Punch, either plain, or in Bass’s original recipe, “Delta R&B” (rhythm and bourbon). When it comes to music, especially the blues, Bass is a fan of many legendary artists. She plays harmonica and has jammed on harp in small blues ensembles in Chicago.
        Relating the sensations of hearing blues music and sipping Delta Blues Iced Tea punch, Bass recalls a quote from the late blues artist, Led Belly: “If you wanna play the blues, you have to have lived’em,” to which Bass adds, “If ya wanna lose the blues, sip’em.”
        For blues enthusiasts wishing to experience listening and losing the blues at the same time, these concerts offer a one-of-a-kind opportunity.

ATLANTA (October 5, 2006) – Delta Blues Iced Tea Punch (DBITP), the first ready-to-drink southern punch in a bottle, announced today, that it is now available at Whole Food stores in Atlanta, with plans to expand throughout the chain’s southeastern region.
        Using an old southern family recipe, DBITP Founder/President, Leslie Bass, has been able to recreate the same taste of rich homemade tea blended with citrus and spearmint that characterizes tea punch. There are no preservatives or artificial sweeteners and real tea leaves are used for a clean, bold taste.
        Whole Foods Market is committed to supporting and promoting vendors within its regions. “Here in the South Region, Delta Blues Iced Tea Punch is a perfect fit,” said Vince (Big Daddy) Griesman, Grocery Coordinator. “We don’t have anything quite like it in our stores, and our customers, both native Southerners and transplants from other areas of the country are really enjoying it.”
        Traditionally, southerners have used Iced Tea Punch at every social gathering. As Bass pointed out, “the versatility of DBITP is adaptable to any season of the year, either plain or with the addition of good bourbon,” she said. “It’s also delicious hot. Just add mulling spices and a slice of lime for delightful sipping in front of a warm fireplace,” said Bass.