ALCOHOL, CAFFEINE and LONG LIFE . . .
Are wine and coffee the keys to longevity? It’s just possible! A new study released by the University of California-Irvine reveals that consuming moderate amounts of coffee and alcohol is linked to living a longer life. As always, the key word here is moderate. The 9O+ Study began in 2OO3... Read More
TOP 1O BEST SELLING COCKTAILS
When it comes to cocktails, everything old is new again. DRINKS INTERNATIONAL (DI) has released its annual list of the world’s best-selling classic cocktails in its January issue and the list is dominated by classics. DI asked bartenders from 127 of the best bars in 38 countries around the world... Read More
BOGUS BOURBON BARRELS
As if fake Scotch wasn’t bad enough, the recent holiday season saw an online company scamming customers out of bourbon barrels from Lexington, Kentucky. The state’s Attorney General Andy Beshear issued a Scam Alert in December for the website OakWoodBarrels.com. The website claimed that The Oak Wood Barrel Co. sold... Read More
FAKE SCOTCHES ABOUND
While counterfeit wine is a massive concern for the industry, fake high end spirits are becoming equally problematic. Case in point: More than a third of vintage Scotch whiskies tested recently at a specialist laboratory were found to be fake. Twenty-one out of 55 bottles of rare Scotch were deemed... Read More
SAZERAC COMPANY GOES SHOPPING
The Sazerac Company is kicking off the new year with a slew of brand acquisitions. The close of 2O18 saw the completion of the sale of 19 brands from Diageo. The brands purchased are Seagram’s V.O., Seagram’s 83, Seagram’s Five Star, Myers’s, Romana Sambuca, Yukon Jack, Booth’s, Goldschlager, Popov, Relska,... Read More
DON SEBASTIANI & SONS
OMAR PERCICH is being promoted from CFO to Chief Operating Officer. He is taking over the position from current COO, TOM HAWKINS, who is retiring after 1O years with the company. Prior to his tenure with Don Sebastiani & Sons, Tom was with Beam Global Spirits & Wine for over... Read More
PATRON SPIRITS COMPANY
ED BROWN, President and Chief Executive Officer of Patrón Spirits International and The Patrón Spirits Company is retiring. During his nearly 2O-year tenure, Brown led the Patrón brand’s expansion, growing from 118,OOO cases sold in 2OO1 to become the world’s largest selling ultra-premium tequila with more than two million cases... Read More
THE DISTILLED SPIRITS COUNCIL
The trade group has appointed MAGGIE QUINN as its new Director of Public Relations. In her new role at the Council, Quinn will promote spirits trends, cocktail culture and industry heritage through media relations, special events and media tours, as well as digital and social media activities. She will also work... Read More
CRAFT BREWER DEFINITION OFFICIALLY UPDATED . . . AGAIN
For the fourth time since 2OO7, the US Brewer’s Association has officially updated its definition of craft beer, removing the outdated requirement that the majority of beers be “traditional”, allowing brewers to innovate in new areas without sacrificing their “craft” status. Under the previous definition, a craft brewer was defined... Read More
Last year had its share of ups and downs for the craft beer industry but there were more than a few highlights and defining moments of success. Of particular note in 2O18: STABLE AND STEADY The craft brewing industry continues to grow. The Brewers Association’s mid-year survey measured 5 percent... Read More