At Press Time

Sean Combs, aka P. Diddy, has been crowned the wealthiest artist in hip-hop, with a fortune of $475 million and he can thank his investment in Cîroc vodka for helping to put him there. The versatile rapper/entrepreneur beat Jay-Z, who has an estimated wealth of $45O million, to claim the... 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

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

TIPS has a new, more modern look. Health Communications, Inc., provider of the TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) Program, has released version 3.O of its On-Premise program. This new updated version introduces an improved way of addressing the concerns of servers of alcohol across the nation. The changes include all-new... Read More

Surely the Apocalypse is near. How else do you explain Scotch whisky being packaged in, gasp, cans? But it’s true. Sir Edwin’s tinned whisky is actually on sale in the Caribbean and South America. But the Scotch Whisky Association may try to ban the cans for breaking rules on labeling.... Read More

Is Connecticut finally getting into the Sunday sales game? It is one the few remaining states to ban Sunday sales of spirits, beer and wine, and that’s been a boon for the border towns in Massachusetts. But that may change if State Rep. Kathy Tallarita, a Democrat from Enfield’s 58th... 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