On the Henry Clay's: Agreed! Hard to beat for the price
Regarding business selling (I've been on both ends of M&A activity for the last ten years or so) I made the partners in a start up I invested in agree in advance to the buyout price before I gave them a nickel. Anyone who thinks "I'll never sell no matter what" is either a fool or not thinking things through all the way.
It makes sense for both. Boutique is the hot thing in beer and cigars...it makes sense to cozy up to a Pete Johnson because that name will make it sell. At this point, just making up a name and slapping it on a band and a decent back story of overcoming odds will get people talking better than simply a new NC RyJ release.