The Spirits Business - Latest News and Information
Ammos, a premium vodka distilled from hand‑picked black olives and rare Vakhalou lemons, launched in London targeting the Martini market. The spirit undergoes a two‑week maceration and low‑temperature vacuum distillation, preserving citrus oils and olive salinity. Packaged in a custom ceramic bottle with refill cans for sustainability, it retails at £62 for 700 ml and £46 for refills. The brand has secured placement as the house vodka at London’s sole Greek Michelin‑starred restaurant and appears on several high‑end cocktail menus.
Ian Macleod Distillers has officially opened Laggan Bay Distillery on Islay, marking the island’s 11th whisky producer. The first cask was filled on 2 April 2026 by managing director Leonard Russell, his son Tom, and distillery manager Malcolm Rennie. Laggan Bay aims...
Eminente, the Moët Hennessy‑owned Cuban brand, has launched its second Gran Reserva rum, a 10‑year‑old expression finished for four months in Sauternes wine casks. The spirit emerges at 43.2% ABV, higher than typical Cuban rums, and showcases honey, apricot, tropical...
Alberta introduced Bill 24, the Alberta Whisky Act, to create an official "Alberta Whisky" designation. The legislation mandates that every step of production, from mashing to bottling, occurs within the province and that water and at least two‑thirds of the...
Oregon‑based Hood River Distillers announced the acquisition of the Crater Lake Spirits portfolio from Bendistillery for an undisclosed amount. The deal adds gin, flavored vodka and rye whiskey, along with the Timberline Vodka and Forthwest Whisky brands, to HRD’s existing...
Diageo and AB InBev have withdrawn their sponsorship of the 2026 Wireless Festival after Kanye West was announced as the headline act. The controversy surrounding West’s recent antisemitic remarks and extremist imagery prompted other sponsors, including Pepsi, Rockstar Energy, and...
Pete Marino, president of Lofted Spirits, will depart at the end of June after three years leading the Kentucky whiskey maker. Under his tenure the company’s brands more than doubled, the portfolio was streamlined, and new tasting rooms and state...
Hacha’s original Dalston bar will shut its doors on 25 April 2026, exactly seven years after opening. The closure leaves the brand without a permanent venue after the Brixton site closed in February 2025 and the Bermondsey location folded after...
Rosebank Distillery has renewed its three‑year partnership with Celtic Renewables, extending the agreement to 2029. The deal channels the distillery’s pot ale by‑product to Celtic’s Grangemouth biorefinery, where 500 tonnes of bio‑based chemicals are produced each year. Since the collaboration began,...
Gallo has completed a $775 million acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon from Japan’s Kirin Holdings, returning the iconic brand to U.S. family ownership after 83 years. The deal expands Gallo’s premium spirits portfolio and strengthens its presence in Europe and Japan....
Eagle Park Brewing & Distilling has acquired the ready‑to‑drink brand SoulBoxer Cocktail Co, marking its first major move into canned cocktails. The deal expands Eagle Park’s portfolio beyond beer and spirits to include RTD cocktails, with plans for non‑alcoholic and...
Mucho Group has opened Bar Bridge, a new cocktail venue on Sydney’s Bridge Street that positions itself as a classic Martini bar for modern patrons. The concept emphasizes extra‑dry Martinis, featuring a Vesper‑style Bridge Martini, a yuzu‑infused Citron Martini, and...
The Spirits Business hosted an International Women’s Day panel in London, gathering about 75 women to discuss mentorship’s role in the drinks sector. Speakers including Ingrid Smith, Cleo Farman, Raissa de Haas and Roberta Mariani shared informal mentorship experiences, scholarship...
Diageo’s Talisker has launched a 47‑year‑old single malt, Magma, limited to 622 bottles and aged in new American oak casks toasted with heated volcanic rocks from Skye. The innovative rock‑toasting replaces traditional open‑flame exposure, delivering deeper fruit, smoke and spice...
The L’Aventure du Sucre exhibition in Mauritius has reopened after a two‑year renovation, featuring a dedicated New Grove Distillery experience. The interactive space walks visitors through fermentation, copper column and pot still distillation, oak‑barrel ageing and blending, using real equipment...
