Why Building a Spirits Brand Is Becoming Harder
Spirits distributors are aggressively trimming portfolios, pushing brands toward higher volume and lower price points. After a decade of growth, the premium segment (≈$44‑$66 per bottle) is hollowing out, with consumers gravitating to sub‑$33 offerings. Industry leaders say brands must demonstrate at least 2,000 cases per year in a market to remain on distributor lists, while ultra‑premium labels like Clase Azul still command strong margins. The shift forces new entrants to prioritize efficiency, strong distributor relationships, and niche categories such as liqueurs to gain shelf space.
Abstract Ice Brings Customisable Craft Ice to On-Trade
California startup Abstract Ice is scaling its patented ice‑making system across the United States, offering bars and restaurants crystal‑clear, dense craft ice in hours instead of days. The technology promises up to 50% cost reductions while delivering custom shapes and...
Sazerac Brings 99p Shot Brand to UK
Sazerac is rolling out its 99 shot brand across the UK, pricing each 50 ml serving at 99p (about US$1.34). The launch features 20 flavours, with Apple, Blue Raspberry and Cherry as the flagship options, all at 15% ABV. A 90s‑themed...
Compass Box Names New CMO
Scotch whisky maker Compass Box has appointed Ivo van den Brand as chief marketing officer to drive its next phase of global growth. Van den Brand brings experience from Too Good To Go, DiDi, Huawei and Philips, and will focus...
World Gin Week to Launch in June
World Gin Week launches June 13‑20, featuring pop‑ups, tastings and seminars across top bars worldwide. Organized by spirits experts Phillip Duff and Karl Finegan, the week builds on the momentum of World Gin Day, which began in 2009. Participating venues...
Gin Guild Welcomes 31 New Members
The Gin Guild announced the addition of 31 new members, raising total global membership to 642. The intake, revealed at the Guild's annual dinner and Spring Installation in London, includes major brands such as The House of Suntory, Adnams, and...
Tarquin’s Gin Maker Hits £1m Whisky Sales in First Year
Tarquin’s Spirits’ flavored whisky brand Tinner Bros has surpassed £1 million (≈US$1.36 million) in sales within its first 12 months. The brand, launched in March 2025, attributes rapid growth to strong retail, export and direct‑to‑consumer channels, with exports accounting for roughly one‑third...
Dug Group Relaunches Venezuelan Rum Tepuy
Family‑owned Dug Group has relaunched its Venezuelan rum, Ron Tepuy, as a super‑premium label for 2026, introducing two 40% ABV expressions. Monumento is a pot‑still blend aged up to 12 years in American oak and finished in three sherry casks,...
Does the Spirits Industry Have a Short-Term Problem?
CEO Zak Oganian of Origen X warned that the spirits sector is trapped in a short‑term brand‑building mindset, urging a shift to 15‑ or even 30‑year visions. He traced the problem to post‑World War II mass‑market expansion and the later influx...
Rhum Clément Debuts New Look
Martinique’s century‑old rum producer Rhum Clément has launched a new proprietary glass bottle for its aged range, developed with Saverglass and design studio Linéa. The silhouette is about 23 % lighter, features engraved branding instead of screen‑printed labels, and uses FSC‑certified...
RTDs up 14% in US as Spirits Fall in 2025
US spirits volumes fell 4% in 2024, while spirit‑based ready‑to‑drink (RTD) cans surged 14%, according to IWSR data. Malt‑based RTDs declined 5% and overall RTD volume slipped 1%, contributing to a 5% drop in total beverage alcohol (TBA) volumes. National...
Little Door & Co to Open Its Largest Venue
London bar group Little Door & Co is set to launch the Little Neon Door in Shoreditch this summer, marking its largest venue to date. The two‑floor space features five experiential rooms—Sitting, Living, Kitchen, Laundry, Bathroom—and a mezzanine Games Room...
NIQ: 305 Hospitality Sites in GB Shut in Q1
Britain’s hospitality sector shed 305 licensed venues in the first quarter of 2026, a 0.3% drop to 98,609 sites – roughly three closures per day. Bars were the hardest hit, losing 1.2% of their locations, while nightclubs fell 1% quarter‑on‑quarter....
Ex-Suntory Manager Joins ABUK as Marketing Director
Amber Beverage UK (ABUK) has appointed Selene Cakmak‑Rathee as its new Marketing Director, bringing 25 years of food‑and‑drink experience. Cakmak‑Rathee joins from Suntory Global UK, where she managed the Scotch portfolio and previously led American whiskey marketing at Edrington UK....
Quarter Proof Lands First Mid-Strength Spirit Supermarket Listing
Quarter Proof, a 15% ABV mid‑strength spirit, secured its first supermarket placement at Sainsbury’s, now stocked in 111 UK stores and online. The brand saw a 129% sales surge on Ocado after its 2021 launch, reflecting rising consumer appetite for...