Spirits on LiquorNewsUSA

U.S. Spirits Market Posts Modest 2.1% Growth in Q1 2026

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The U.S. spirits market grew 2.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary data from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). Total category sales reached $8.47 billion, up from $8.29 billion in Q1 2025.

March Brings Accelerated NA Beverage Growth, NIQ Reports

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:09:08 +0000

After seeing some slowdown at the beginning of last month, non-alcoholic beverage sales remained “healthy and stable” with light acceleration in the two-week period ending March 21, 2026. according to the latest analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

After Old Elk Deal, Middle West Focuses On “Aged Yet Affordable” Whiskey Portfolio

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:43:25 +0000

Despite headwinds in the American whiskey category, U.S. distilleries continue to invest for the future. Among the notable examples is Columbus, Ohio’s Middle West, which last year acquired the Colorado-based Old Elk brand and operates one of the largest contract … Continue reading → …

Gary Heck And Korbel Re-Acquire Kenwood Vineyards From Pernod Ricard

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:42:02 +0000

Pernod Ricard has sold Sonoma, California’s Kenwood and its winery operations to F. Korbel & Bros, owned by Gary Heck, for $4 million. The deal includes Kenwood’s trademarks, production facilities, visitor center, and 20 acres of vineyards. The sale of … Continue reading → The pos…

Oregon’s Stoller Aligns With SGWS In 21 States

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:41:28 +0000

Oregon’s Stoller Wine Group has forged a new distribution alignment with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits covering 21 U.S. markets. Stoller’s brands include Stoller Family Estate, Chehalem Wines, Elouan, Chemistry, History, and Stoller Swing. The winemaker’s portfolio grew to 300,…

News Briefs for April 3, 2026

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:40:49 +0000

Oregon’s Hood River Distillers has acquired the Crater Lake Spirits portfolio from Bendistillery for an undisclosed sum. Bendistillery continue to distill the brand’s vodkas, gins, and whiskies, while Hood River will integrate Crater Lake into its sales and distribution system. … Continue r…

Taste Radio: M&A Isn’t Slowing. It’s Getting More Focused.

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:23:13 +0000

The hosts break down the latest wave of CPG deals, including HOP WTR’s sale to Constellation Brands and So Good So You’s acquisition by a private investment group – just two of several recent moves. They explore what’s fueling continued buyer activity and why non-alcoholic, functional, and better…

The VinePair Podcast: The Middle Tier Is Merging and Morphing

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:00:43 +0000

In January, VinePair broke the news of Reyes Beverage Group (RBG) buying a portion of Republic National Distributing Company’s (RNDC) national operation. Since then, a spate of mergers and acquisitions in the alcohol industry’s middle tier have made for a newsworthy first few months of 2026. Then…

7 Things You Should Know About Beringer Vineyards, Napa’s Oldest Continuously Operating Winery

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:55:45 +0000

Like many of Napa’s earliest wineries, the story of Beringer Vineyards is the story of the American dream. In the late 1860s, Jacob Beringer emigrated from Mainz, Germany — a town just off the banks of the Rhine River — to the U.S. after hearing about the country’s bountiful opportunities. He lan…

After the Craft Beer Gold Rush

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:45 +0000

Now that the release lines have died down and the hazy bros have moved on, craft beer culture in America is different—but that’s not such a bad thing.

Source: Punch

Molson Coors Needed a Slam-Dunk RTD Play. Instead, It Went for the Layup

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:01:47 +0000

From the outside looking in, Big Beer can appear like a lager-spewing monolith. This seemed especially true during the heady days of the craft-brewing industry’s second boom, during which scrappy beardos and reformed Boston Consulting Group executives alike smeared “corporate beer” as a bland, ho…

Gallo Finalizes Acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon From Kirin Holdings

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:41:47 +0000

Megawatt wine, beer, and spirits producer E&J Gallo Winery announced today that it completed its acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon from Japan beverage conglomerate Kirin Holdings. Neither party disclosed the terms of the transaction. The completion comes roughly two months after Gallo agreed …

Reviews: Lapo’s Dives into Negroni Water, Esprizio Espresso Spritz Sparkles

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:37:18 +0000

In this week’s BevNET reviews: Esprizio showcases its take on espresso spritz (if you didn’t guess already), while Lapo’s gives its much-hailed RTD negroni a second, new look.

Source: BevNET

Sommeliers’ 6 Favorite Wine Glasses for Restaurant Service

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:12 +0000

From universal workhorses to precision stems, these are the wine glasses sommeliers rely on during service

Source: SevenFifty Daily

Inside the Wine Lockers at The Capital Grille — the Elusive Steakhouse Status Symbol

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:00:43 +0000

Before a host greets you at the New York City outpost of The Capital Grille off Wall Street, columns of walnut-colored wood lockers with crosshatched metal doors set the scene. Nameplates listing individuals and companies label each unit. Inside the lockers are shadowy bottles of wine. These are …

The Buildout Podcast: De Vie

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:15 +0000

This episode of The Buildout is brought to you by Farmer’s Gin. It’s brought to you by the same amazing people who brought you Michter’s, and it’s actually the gin that I use at home for my Martinis. It’s clean, crisp, unfussy — perfect for building any kind of Martini that you would like. Farmer…

Wine 101: Quintessa

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:30:34 +0000

In 1944, George Mardikian purchased a 280-acre plot of land in the northern Napa Valley as a vacation home for his family. By then, Mardikian was already something of a popular name on the West Coast: He gained renown for surviving the Armenian Genocide, escaping Turkish prison, and opening one o…

Diageo names John O’Keeffe as North America CEO

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:16:52 +0000

Johnnie Walker owner Diageo has appointed John O’Keeffe as its North America president and CEO to replace Sally Grimes The post Diageo names John O’Keeffe as North America CEO appeared first on The Spirits Business.

Source: The Spirits Business

IWSR: spirits ‘worst performing’ category in 2025

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:36:34 +0000

Total beverage alcohol volumes fell by 2% in 2025, with spirits suffering the biggest value drop, according to IWSR data The post IWSR: spirits ‘worst performing’ category in 2025 appeared first on The Spirits Business.

Source: The Spirits Business

High fidelity blend: Traveller Whiskey

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:21:33 +0000

Chris Stapleton has teamed up again with Harlen Wheatley, the master distiller of Buffalo Trace Distillery, to amp up the volume of Traveller Whiskey The post High fidelity blend: Traveller Whiskey appeared first on The Spirits Business.

Source: The Spirits Business