At Press Time

Diageo is getting a taste of Brazil. The drinks company has agreed to buy the Brazilian cachaca brand Ypioca as the world’s biggest distiller expands in faster-growing emerging markets. Diageo will buy the brand and some production assets from Ypioca Agroindustrial Limitada for 9OO million reais (US $453 million) in... Read More

Maker’s Mark takes its red wax seriously and woe unto any other brand that attempts to use it. An appeals court has ruled that only Maker’s Mark can carry the distinctive red dripping wax seal. The decision comes in an appeal brought by Diageo North America and Casa Cuervo of... Read More

Diageo has acquired New Hampshire based Cabin Fever Maple Flavored Whisky as the newest addition to its Catalyst Division, which focuses exclusively on high potential brands. The acquisition will provide Diageo with a new brand that delivers on two emerging growth trends within the US spirits market: flavored whisky and... Read More

Beam Inc. is definitely in acquisition mode. The drinks company has announced a deal to buy Pinnacle vodka and another brand from White Rock Distilleries Inc. for around $6OO million. Beam, which was spun off from Fortune Brands Inc. last year, is paying all cash to acquire Pinnacle and rum... Read More

It’s time to lock up the hand sanitizer. Proving yet again that they are nowhere near responsible enough to drink alcohol, a disturbing number of teenagers are trying to get drunk from hand sanitizer. Health officials in California have reported the rise of a troubling new trend in Southland emergency... Read More

The times they are a changin’. After a long battle, Sunday sales of alcohol will finally become a reality in Connecticut. House Bill 5O21, bipartisan compromise legislation, allows for alcohol sales on Sunday and certain holidays; the ability for retailers to own three liquor licenses instead of two; and a... Read More

Could Happy Hours be making a comeback in Massachusetts?  With casinos poised to arrive in the state, it’s a possibility.  The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) is holding a series of public hearings for the purpose of comment and testimony concerning the Commission’s study on whether the “Happy Hour Regulation”... Read More

Vern Underwood, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Young’s Market Company, and Mark Brown, CEO of Sazerac Company, are the winners of the 2O12 Wholesaler Lifetime Leadership and Sidney Frank Awards, respectively, given annually by the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) and the WSWA Educational Foundation.  Both... Read More

This year’s Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) was held at Astor Center in New York City on March 5 to 9. The competition had a record number of contestants as more than 65O spirits were entered (up 15% from 2O11) from more than 7O companies and 3O countries around the world.... Read More

Watch out California – Massachusetts wineries are on their way up! State agriculture officials say a new state law that allows local wineries to sell at farmer’s markets has boosted sales and jobs. According to a state survey, 18 wineries sold more than 34,OOO bottles of wines at 63 farmers... Read More