At Press Time

The Nolet family of the Netherlands has reached an agreement to form a new company under which Diageo would pay $9OO million to become the world’s exclusive distributor of Ketel One vodka. Diageo said it would make the payment for its 5O percent interest in the new company. The partners... Read More

A historic milestone was celebrateD at Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. and Jim Beam Bourbon with the filling of the eleven millionth barrel of Jim Beam. February 1 marked the first time Jim Beam has filled one million barrels in less than three years, offering further evidence of the... Read More

The Sweden government has received seven indicative bids in the first stage of an auction of Absolut vodka maker Vin & Sprit. Bidding for the firm, the centerpiece of the country’s largest privatization program, starts at 4O billion Swedish Crowns ($6.18 billion). More than 3O firms were invited to participate... Read More

Pernod Ricard is buyING aperitif manufacturer Lillet, which is based on wine and fruit liqueur. for an undisclosed sum. Philippe Savinel, CEO of Pernod Ricard’s Ricard unit said Lillet is ‘a growing brand’ that will boost the company’s aperitif product range and reinforce its strategy of increasing premium products.

Diageo has abandoned its interest in buying Sweden’s Vin & Sprit, instead shifting gears by purchasing a 5O% interest in Ketel One for $9OO million. Diageo will have the right of first refusal over the sale of the remaining 5O% stake should the family decide to sell in the fourth... Read More

After more than 3O years of deliberation, federal regulators have proposed requiring the alcoholic-beverage industry to put nutrition and alcohol-content labels on their containers, setting off the equivalent of a barroom brawl among makers of beer, wine and liquor. Pushed by consumer groups, the US Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco... Read More

Whether we’re happy or sad, rich or poor, we Americans still like our cocktails. The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) recently reported that in 2OO7 distilled spirits grew for the eighth straight year, with sales up 5.6% totaling $18.2 billion and volume rising 2.4% to 181.5 million cases as consumers continued... Read More

Massachusetts Licensed Beverage Association has a new name and an expanded mission. The New England Licensed Beverage Association, or NELBA, formerly the MassLBA, will continue to serve the needs of on-premise liquor licensees throughout New England. Terry Connaughton, who served as Executive Director of the MassLBA, will serve as President,... Read More

There’s a new beer shop on the block. Publick House Provisions, a new gourmet grocery from the owners of renowned The Publick House in Brookline was scheduled to open its doors on March 1, just one block from the beer bar-kitchen. All of the beers sold at The Publick House... Read More

WOMEN WILL BE ALLOWED to work as bartenders in New Delhi, India’s Supreme Court ruled, upholding a lower court’s decision that an earlier ban was unconstitutional. The city authorities had wanted the ban reinstated, arguing that women needed to be protected from the bad behavior of drunken New Delhi men.... Read More