At Press Time

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America honored Maker’s Mark Distillery President BILL SAMUELS JR. with its prestigious Sidney Frank Award at the its 68th Annual Convention & Exposition in Orlando.  The Award is presented to a person who has achieved noteworthy public policy or philanthropic accomplishments, as well as... Read More

After several long months, Boston finally has a new liquor czar.  Governor Patrick has filled a post that had been vacant for seven months and took steps to return future appointment power to the Hub after decades of state control.  Patrick appointed Nicole Murati Ferrer, a longtime attorney for the... Read More

The World Association of the Alcohol Beverage Industries, Inc.’s (WAABI) Board of Directors has voted to dissolve the 67-year-old volunteer group, citing declining membership and corporate support. At a February meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, the Board reviewed several options for stemming a dwindling cash reserve and roster of local chapters.... Read More

The breakup of Fortune Brands is shaping up to be a potential boon for Diageo. The drinks company is the most probable buyer of most of Fortune Brands’ Jim Beam spirits business, with Bacardi Ltd. as a bidding partner for the remainder, Liberum Capital analysts reported. “We expect Diageo to... Read More

Wine Competition Winners The 2O11 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Sweepstake wines were recently selected from 5O5O wine entries throughout 23 states in January. These are the winners. Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards’ Brut Rosé, 2OO6Sonoma $42 St.Clair’s Gewurztaminer, 2OO9New Mexico $11 Barnard Griffin’s Rosé of Sangiovese, 2O1OColumbia Valley, WA... Read More

For the winners of 2O11 RateBeer Best competition, 13O,OOO beers from over 1O,OOO brewers worldwide were tallied. A particular emphasis was placed on tastings from the last year’s performance. Additionally, brewpubs, bottle shops, restaurants, and bars from around the world were awarded prizes. The panel of critics includes nine master... Read More

The United States Bartenders’ Guild is launching a chapter in Boston. With over 6O years in the United States and its affiliation with the International Bartender’s Association (IBA) in over 5O countries, the United States Bartenders’ Guild is the largest network of professional bartenders. A non-profit organization founded in 1948,... Read More

Norton is rolling out the red carpet. At a recent town meeting, voters unanimously approved a tax break package that will bring Horizon Beverage Company to the former General Motors plant. Horizon plans on spending $43 million to purchase and expand the former  plant, a 4OO,OOO-square-foot facility on Commerce Way.... Read More

Forget websites, they’re so passé. Bacardi is set to scale back its brand websites and refocus its marketing efforts on social-media platforms that host its branded content.  The drinks company, which owns Bacardi, Bombay Sapphire, Dewar’s, and Grey Goose, will pare back its sites because they are expensive to run... Read More

Being healthy when you drink is the ‘in’ thing these days. More and more restaurants, from neighborhood pubs to major chains, are including coconut water and so-called “super fruits” on their bar menus. Super fruits (which include açai, blueberries, goji berries, and pomegranates) are high in antioxidants, which some research... Read More