Spirits

Diversity in Spirits: Black Spirit Owners Look to the Past and the Future to Build Legacy Businesses

Diversity in Spirits: Black Spirit Owners Look to the Past and the Future to Build Legacy Businesses

Last week, premium whiskey Uncle Nearest announced its third in a series of investments designed to create a tangible shift in the funding inequities for BIPOC-owned businesses. It comes at a time when other Black founders and business leaders are also making strides to celebrate Black people’s historical contributions to spirits and build more Black-owned legacy beverage businesses.

Diversity in Spirits: Suppliers Commit to Equalize Representation of Black Community Working in Spirits

Diversity in Spirits: Suppliers Commit to Equalize Representation of Black Community Working in Spirits

The pronghorn is the second-fastest land mammal in the world, second only to the cheetah. But the pronghorn can sustain its speed for longer than a cheetah, according to Dia Simms, a co-founder of Pronghorn, an initiative focused on cultivating the next generation of Black entrepreneurs, executive leaders, and founders within the spirits business. Simms,… Read more »

Star Power: What Makes Celebrity Booze Brands Fly or Fail

Star Power: What Makes Celebrity Booze Brands Fly or Fail

From actors to musicians to the world’s richest man, high profile figures have built their own category within the alcohol industry: celebrity spirits. But as celebrity-owned or endorsed brands become the norm, what makes them succeed or fail?

Not-So-Suddenly, Sotol Makes Inroads

Not-So-Suddenly, Sotol Makes Inroads

With both tequila’s and mezcal’s growth rates soaring, the agave spirits category could surpass vodka in a number of years, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. While not an agave spirit, another new product from Mexico is starting to build an audience: Sotol.

Cold Box Battle Between Beer, Spirits Moves to State Legislatures

Cold Box Battle Between Beer, Spirits Moves to State Legislatures

With sales of spirits-based ready-to-drink canned cocktails continuing to boom, battles for turf in the cold box can be tracked to statehouses across the country. And spirit makers are looking for some low-cost ammo: While beer has historically enjoyed favorable excise tax rates, spirit makers are attempting to change those laws, they say, to level the playing field for products of similar ABVs and package sizes.

Spirits Investor 99 Proof Partners Seeks Well-Crafted Stories

Spirits Investor 99 Proof Partners Seeks Well-Crafted Stories

Matt Brown had worked with entrepreneurs for more than 20 years, but it was his first beverage client who lured him into craft spirits. Now, the business advisor and entrepreneur is all in, with two partners who are focused on investing in craft spirits brands that have stories that make a splash.

Experts: Austin Cocktails Purchase Doesn’t Signal Open Season on RTD M&A

Experts: Austin Cocktails Purchase Doesn’t Signal Open Season on RTD M&A

Another independent canned cocktail maker boarded the “mother ship” last week when Constellation Brands announced the full acquisition of Austin Cocktails. It’s a move that’s in-step with the other global beverage companies picking up fast-growing RTD producers — but observers in the industry caution that the deal may not be the harbinger future RTD acquisitions.

Brewbound Podcast: A Discussion with DISCUS

Brewbound Podcast: A Discussion with DISCUS

On the heels of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States’ annual convention in Austin, Chris Swonger, the trade group’s president and CEO, joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the growth of ready-to-drink spirits-based canned cocktails, and the organization’s efforts to even the tax rates for RTD products with beer, as well as efforts to add direct-to-consumer sales privileges and much more.

BevNET’s Cocktail Showdown, A Pitch Competition Showcasing The Hottest New RTD Cocktail Brands

BevNET’s Cocktail Showdown, A Pitch Competition Showcasing The Hottest New RTD Cocktail Brands

BevNET is proud to announce its inaugural Cocktail Showdown, a pitch competition that will showcase the most innovative and disruptive brands in the rapidly emerging category of spirit-based ready-to-drink and ready-to-pour cocktails. Taking place on August 12, 2021, the competition will be presented as a virtual platform for the hottest new pre-mixed cocktail brands in America.

What You Need To Know To Build A Successful RTD Brand

What You Need To Know To Build A Successful RTD Brand

With projections predicting continued segment growth for RTDs, anyone looking to enter the space will face a competitive landscape. But by studying brands who have either launched during the pandemic or have weathered the storm without faltering, there are plenty of opportunities for new premixed canned cocktails to thrive.

Anheuser-Busch to Acquire Fast-Growing Cutwater Spirits

Anheuser-Busch to Acquire Fast-Growing Cutwater Spirits

Anheuser-Busch InBev today announced the purchase of fast-growing Cutwater Spirits, a craft distilling venture that was originally born inside of Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits. Specific financial terms of the deal – A-B InBev’s first in the spirits space — were not disclosed.