5 Minutes with Ryan Umholtz (Edrington)

By Kimberly Koehler, Sponsorship Specialist

For over three years, Edrington, a global premium spirits company, has been a proud supporter of many of ArtsQuest’s events and festivals like the Ginvitational, ¡Sabor! Latin Festival and Christkindlmarkt. Their commitment to helping provide accessible and educational programming allows ArtsQuest to expand our festivals for the community. We recently caught up with Edrington’s Ryan Umholtz, about their company’s commitment to ArtsQuest. Here’s what he had to say:

ArtsQuest: Edrington has been a supporter of ArtsQuest programming since 2022. What drove your decision to support ArtsQuest? 

Ryan: As a local growing up in the Lehigh Valley, I’ve always enjoyed the programming, ethos and the people at ArtsQuest. Their community engagement, philanthropy and outreach really aligns with Edrington’s.  

AQ: What has been your favorite memory with the ArtsQuest programming you’ve supported? 

R: That’s such a tough question, because everything I’ve been involved with has given me so many opportunities to meet and work with such great people. My wife and I got married in December in Bethlehem, so Christkindlmarkt really has a special place in my heart and the “Old Fashioned Christmas” event really gives me an opportunity to experience Christkindlmarkt in a different way and on a more intimate and educational way with the attendees. So, I have to go with Christkindlmarkt and An Old-Fashioned Christmas.

AQ: What are some other initiatives and/or community programs Edrington is involved with?

R: Being a global company, the list is super long. We are owned by a charitable trust (The Robertson Trust), so “giving more” is in our DNA. Every meeting we have as a company involves some sort of community engagement from working at food shelters to supporting cancer research.  We have such great people at Edrington and have so many employees championing charitable causes close to their hearts that the Edrington community supports.

 AQ: Is there anything new in the works at Edrington?

R: We are always looking at new ways to give consumers a new experience in the products we produce. The Macallan just released a limited quantity of “Time Space Mastery” which was a celebration of our 200th anniversary and new release of our Harmony Collection called “Vibrant Oak” which was a collaboration with Cirque Du Soleil. Our Wyoming Whiskey brand also released “Queen of the Tetons” in memory of Grizzly 399, who was a mother to 18 cubs over her 28-year life, she became the matriarch of an ecosystem and an influential ambassador for her species.  All brand profits from that release will be donated to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation to advance grizzly bear education, conservation and research.

AQ: What is your favorite event or festival that ArtsQuest puts on throughout the year? 

R: Hands down Musikfest. Again, as a local that has played such a special part in my family’s life.  We can’t get enough of it!