Mangrove Takes on Arette Tequila in UK
Mangrove Global has secured exclusive distribution rights for the fifth‑generation, family‑run Arette Tequila brand in the United Kingdom. Arette’s portfolio includes the 38% ABV Clasico Blanco, a twice‑distilled 100% agave expression, alongside several reposado and añejo variants. The partnership arrives as UK demand for premium agave spirits accelerates, offering Mangrove a chance to deepen its craft‑focused portfolio. Both parties aim to position Arette as a premium choice for discerning British tequila drinkers.
Peddlers Gin Partners with Starbucks Bars in China
Peddlers Gin, a Shanghai‑based craft gin, has partnered with Starbucks Reserve Bar Mixato to launch a limited‑time cocktail program across China. The menu, featuring the brand’s Rare Eastern, Salted Plum and Barrel‑aged gins plus a Year of the Horse bottling,...
Is Canada’s Spirits Market Opening Up?
Ontario and Nova Scotia have signed a landmark agreement to permit direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) alcohol sales between the two provinces, allowing consumers to buy spirits, wine and beer directly from producers. The deal is part of a broader push, backed by...
Espolòn Celebrates Short Kings with The Hangover’s Ken Jeong
Campari Group’s Espolòn Tequila has launched a Short King Week campaign featuring actor Ken Jeong, celebrating confident underdogs. The promotion runs May 1‑9 and includes a nine‑day “Short Kings” advent calendar with a $75 margarita kit. Espolòn, the seventh‑largest tequila globally,...
Buffalo Trace Distillery Café Confirms Opening Date
Buffalo Trace Distillery will launch its first permanent dining venue, the John G Carlisle Café, on May 11. Housed in the 1935 Elmer T Lee Clubhouse, the 4,900‑square‑foot space seats 70 guests and adds patio seating. The menu blends made‑to‑order...
Ojo De Tigre Creates Art Contest for London Pride
Ojo de Tigre, the Mexican mezcal brand, has become the official drinks partner for Pride in London 2026 and launched an open‑ended art competition for LGBTQI+ creatives across the UK. The contest invites submissions in any medium, with a deadline...
Filliers Family Reserve 34YO Is Belgium’s Oldest Whisky
Belgian family‑owned Filliers Distillery has launched its oldest whisky yet, a 34‑year‑old single grain expression. The spirit, bottled at 52.3% ABV, was laid down in 1992 in a single American white oak cask and represents the final cask produced by...
Behind the Celebrity Spirits: People, Stories & Strategy
At ProWein 2026, a panel of celebrity‑spirit founders discussed the shifting trade perception of celebrity‑backed alcohol brands. Participants from Brother’s Bond Bourbon, Wolfie’s Gin and James Gin noted that buyers now view such products more skeptically, seeing them as gimmicks...
Trump Administration Begins $166bn Tariffs Refund
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has launched the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (Cape) platform to process refunds totaling about $166 billion for tariffs the Court of International Trade ruled unlawful. The refunds, stemming from tariffs imposed under the...
Clan Campbell Smooth Shot Vanilla Targets High-Energy Moments
Stock Spirits Group is introducing Clan Campbell Smooth Shot Vanilla, a blended Scotch whisky liqueur flavored with vanilla and bottled at 25% ABV. The 700 ml bottle will debut in France at a recommended retail price of €13.40 (about $16) and...
Jameson Signs Alan Curbishley for Drinkaware Campaign
Jameson has relaunched its Know Your Score initiative for a second year, teaming up again with UK alcohol charity Drinkaware and featuring former EFL manager Alan Curbishley as the face of the campaign. The program offers a free three‑minute online...
Glengoyne Creates Signature Whisky for Supermarkets
Ian Macleod Distillers has introduced Glengoyne Signature, a grocery‑exclusive single malt, debuting in Tesco stores and online across the UK on 20 April 2026 for a three‑month run. The 700 ml, 40% ABV whisky is a flavour‑forward, non‑age‑statement expression highlighting Glengoyne’s fruity profile...
Run The Jewels Gains $2m Investment for RTDs
Hip‑hop duo Run The Jewels’ beverage arm Juice Runners secured a $2 million seed round to accelerate its ready‑to‑drink (RTD) portfolio. Launched in spring 2025 with a mezcal‑based Paloma Remix, the brand is now poised to roll out a rum‑based Sea Legs...
The Big Interview: Helen Medina on Leading the WSA
Helen Medina, the inaugural CEO of the World Spirits Alliance (WSA), is steering the trade group’s global push to reshape alcohol policy through data‑driven advocacy, fair taxation and consumer education. The WSA, launched in 2019, now unites 13 major spirits...
Super-Premium-Plus Spirits Fall 15% in 2025
Preliminary IWSR data shows the global spirits market contracted in 2025, with total beverage alcohol volumes down 2% and value down 4% across 21 markets. The super‑premium‑and‑above segment suffered the steepest decline, losing 15% in value, while lower‑priced tiers held...
Desi Daru Strengthens UK Team
Desi Daru, a British‑Indian vodka brand, hired Chet Patel as national account manager and Gregorio Soriente as brand manager/investor to accelerate its UK on‑trade expansion. Patel brings Diageo and Nxus Drinks experience, while Soriente adds luxury bar expertise and influencer...
Pernod Downplays US Slowdown Amid Brown-Forman Talks
Pernod Ricard reported a modest 0.1% rise in Q3 organic net sales to €1.94 billion (≈$2.28 billion) while US sales plunged 12%, highlighting a soft market driven by affordability pressures. Finance chief Hélène de Tissot downplayed the slowdown as cyclical, noting a shift...
Café Del Mar Spirits Eyes European Expansion
Balearic Drinks will roll out its Café del Mar Spirits line across six European countries in 2026, focusing on Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy and Portugal. The brand previously spent three years establishing a foothold in the UK, Ibiza...
Chilco River Acquires Daru Whiskey
California‑based Chilco River Holdings has acquired Canadian craft brand Daru Whiskey through a restricted stock‑share transaction. Daru, founded in 2020, offers a 45% ABV, Indian‑inspired whisky priced at $34.99 and is already stocked in more than 50 California and Arizona...
Patrón Keeps It 100
Patrón Tequila has launched Patrón 100, a 50% ABV, undiluted spirit produced entirely with the traditional tahona stone method. The high‑proof expression showcases full agave character without additives, targeting bartenders seeking bold yet refined flavor. Priced at $49.99, it arrives...
Iain McPherson Unveils New Cocktail-Making Technique
Iain McPherson, founder of Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons, has launched a new cocktail‑making method called “densing.” The process uses vacuum blending to bring liquids and oils to the same temperature, fully liquefying the oils and creating a stable, uniform mixture....
Isle of Barra Prepares for US Debut
Isle of Barra Distillers, Scotland's westernmost whisky producer, has secured a distribution deal with Total Wine & More to introduce its gin, vodka and Island Dark Rum to the U.S. market. The launch will roll out in June across more...
818 Tequila Dominates Coachella’s First Weekend
Creator marketing platform Traackr analyzed 1,408 Coachella‑tagged posts from 239,800 creators and found Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila led social buzz, with 290 creators generating 536 posts, 2.2 million engagements and a Brand Vitality Score of 7,110. The brand’s post volume jumped 93%...
Casa Azul Spirits Names Paul Stacey President
Casa Azul Spirits has elevated CFO Paul Stacey to the newly created role of president while he retains his finance duties. Stacey, who joined in November 2024, brings over 25 years of global finance and operations experience. His promotion follows...
Koch Mezcal Lands in Hungary
Koch Mezcal, the Oaxacan premium agave spirit, launched in Hungary on April 10 through the Jan‑ker/Mr Alkohol platform. The entry follows previous rollouts in Sweden, Romania and the Baltics, marking a strategic foothold in Central Europe. Brand Venture brokered the...
LVMH Starts 2026 with Spirits Uplift
LVMH’s spirits division posted a 5% organic rise in Q1 2026, delivering €610 million (US$719 million) in revenue, buoyed by a favourable Chinese New Year timing that lifted Hennessy Cognac sales. The broader wine‑and‑spirits segment fell 2% on a reported basis, with...
Stoli Vodka Expands Australian Presence
Stoli vodka has added retail listings to more than 1,790 Australian stores in the past six months, including 292 Dan Murphy's and 1,400 BWS locations for its 50 ml bottles. In March 2026 the brand’s premium 700 ml format entered 100 Local...
Industria Licorera De Caldas Certified Carbon-Neutral
Industria Licorera de Caldas (ILC) became the first Colombian spirits producer to receive a Carbon Neutral Footprint certification for its entire portfolio, and it also secured verified Water Footprint certification, joining only ten spirits companies worldwide with that distinction. The...
Disaronno Celebrates ‘Dolce Side of Life’
Illva Saronno has unveiled the Dolce Side of Life campaign ahead of National Amaretto Day, targeting UK consumers with a fresh, experience‑focused narrative. The initiative, backed by a "significant" media spend, rolls out a five‑week ATL push from 19 April...
SB Meets… Paolo Dalla Mora, Liquid Ventures
Liquid Ventures has launched as Europe’s first venture builder dedicated to the fast‑growing no‑ and low‑alcohol sector. Unlike traditional incubators, it co‑creates brands with full operational infrastructure, from branding to distribution, and backs them with capital. The firm sees untapped...
Amrut Names Exclusive US Importer
Amrut Distilleries has appointed Brooklyn‑based PM Spirits as its exclusive U.S. importer, effective May 1, replacing Glass Revolution Imports which introduced the brand a decade ago. PM Spirits, already Amrut’s New York distributor, will now handle national distribution across the United...
Global Brands Taps Into Higher-ABV RTDs
Global Brands has introduced Quadz, a vodka‑based ready‑to‑drink (RTD) line featuring four 18.8% ABV flavours in 200 ml pocket bottles. The range targets Gen Z and Millennial consumers seeking value and on‑the‑go pre‑drink options. Quadz enters the fastest‑growing higher‑ABV RTD sub‑category, a...
The SB Podcast: Why Distribution Needs a Shake-Up
Eoin Bara, founder of Tipple, argues that spirits brands must generate demand before chasing distribution. After burning out selling his own Mór Irish Gin, he created Tipple, a digital platform that lets brands sell directly to consumers and businesses while...
Strength in Depth: Stock Spirits Group
Stock Spirits Group is leveraging its market leadership in Eastern Europe—where it commands roughly a quarter of clear‑vodka volumes and a third of flavored vodka—to accelerate growth in the mainstream vodka segment across Europe. The company has intensified its presence...
Armorik Chouchenn Whisky Given Permanent Spot
French whisky maker Armorik has moved its Small Batch Chouchenn expression from a limited 2025 release to its permanent portfolio. The 2,500‑bottle edition was aged in Chouchenn mead casks and Breton oak, bottled at 46% ABV and retailed for €54.50...
Salvatore Calabrese Guides New Donovan Bar Menu
The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel in London’s Mayfair has launched the 2026 edition of its Our Way cocktail menu, developed with renowned mixologist Salvatore “The Maestro” Calabrese and director Federico Pavan. The menu stays rooted in classic cocktails but...
Savoy Appoints F&B Director
The Savoy in London has named Nicolas Schell as its new director of food and beverage. Schell will oversee the hotel’s all‑day dining venue Gallery, the iconic American Bar, the Beaufort Bar, in‑room dining, and the Banqueting and Scoff scone...
De Kuyper Taps Into Canned Cocktails
Dutch spirits producer De Kuyper Royal Distillers has launched a new line of 200 ml single‑serve canned RTD cocktails, debuting three flavours—Passionfruit Martini and Amaretto Sour (8% ABV) and Espresso Martini (10% ABV)—ahead of World Cocktail Day. The cans target young adults...
Crealis Reshapes Operations
Closures producer Crealis Group has unified its eight brands—Enoplastic, Sparflex, Le Muselet Valentin, Rivercap, Maverick, Pe.Di, Supercap and Corchomex—under a single group name, allowing customers to place orders through one local contact. The commercial organization has been restructured under chief...
Angostura Rum Receives Brand Refresh
House of Angostura has refreshed its rum portfolio with a lighter‑weight bottle, a butterfly‑centered label and fully sustainable secondary packaging for three premium expressions. The redesign draws on the brand’s 200‑year Trinidadian heritage while emphasizing modern, eco‑friendly values. The new...
Spirited Awards Names US Nominees
The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announced the 2026 Spirited Awards nominees for the United States, covering Best Bar Team, Cocktail Bar, Hotel Bar, Restaurant Bar, and New Cocktail Bar across Central, East, and West regions. More than 250 industry...
Pronghorn Expands Tequila Portfolio with Humano Investment
Pronghorn, the Diageo‑backed drinks accelerator, has invested in Humano Tequila, a fast‑growing, additive‑free brand in the United States. Humano, founded by former Still Austin sales VP Luis Abundis and ex‑Tequila 1921 director Anahí Rivera, is among the top 30 tequila brands...
Sazerac Reportedly Eyes Brown-Forman Deal
Sazerac has reportedly approached Brown‑Forman about a potential deal, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The talks come weeks after Brown‑Forman disclosed merger discussions with Pernod Ricard, the world’s second‑largest spirits group. Brown‑Forman’s sales have stalled, especially after Canada’s ban...
Mount Gay Rum Debuts Bajan Spiced
Mount Gay, owned by Rémy Cointreau, has entered the UK spiced‑spirits market with Bajan Spiced, a 35% ABV rum‑based drink made from natural Barbados ingredients. The 700 ml bottle launches in Tesco at £25 (about US$34) and will be rolled out...
Kentucky Bourbon Trail Hits 2.7m Visits in 2025
Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail welcomed 2.7 million visitors in 2025, matching its 2024 record and surpassing the 2023 figure of 2.5 million. The influx, driven largely by out‑of‑state tourists, generated average per‑trip spending of $600‑$1,400 and reinforced the trail’s $10.6 billion economic contribution to...
Belgian Whisky Distillery Seeks Buyer
The Owl Distillery in Belgium, founded in 2004, is being liquidated and all assets are up for auction on the Auctim platform. The sale includes a fully operational production facility capable of one million litres per year, original copper pot...
MGP Halts Production at Kentucky Distilleries
MGP Ingredients announced a temporary halt to distilling at its Limestone Branch and Lux Row facilities in Kentucky, affecting 33 employees, as the U.S. whiskey market remains structurally oversupplied. The pause, effective May 1, could last up to 12 months while...
Shared Spirit Brings ‘Different Approach’ to Whisky Festivals
Shared Spirit, a culture‑led whisky festival, will debut in London on 6 June at St Mary’s Church, Primrose Hill. Designed for “people who don’t do whisky festivals,” the event replaces traditional hierarchy with a relaxed fair‑like atmosphere featuring small pours, food, music,...
Deep Eddy Vodka to Shut Second Distillery and Tasting Room
Heaven Hill Brands announced that its Deep Eddy Vodka distillery and visitor centre in Dripping Springs, Texas, will close this summer after a $6 million expansion. The site will be sub‑leased to another vodka producer beginning August 1, 2026, while production remains at...
Abbey Lands Distillery Planned for 2027
Whitby Distillery is launching a second equity campaign to raise £200,000 (US$268,660) for its new Abbey Lands Distillery, a destination site beside Whitby Abbey. The new venue will feature a visitor experience, tasting bar and the brand’s first small‑batch coastal...