At Press Time

L. Knife & Son Companies based in Kingston has been honored with the 2O1O Craft Beer Distributor Recognition Award. Now in its fourth year, the award recognizes a beer distributor who goes above and beyond in its efforts to market, promote and sell craft beer. The National Beer Wholesalers Association... Read More

Innovative home brewers from Georgia and Illinois triumphed over more than 7OO competitors to win this year’s Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest-Category 23. Jim Koch and the brewers of Samuel Adams beers encouraged this year’s entrants to incorporate unusual and unique ingredients into their recipes. Georgia resident Richard Roper... Read More

To repeal or not to repeal the state’s 6.25% sales tax on alcohol – that is the question Massachusetts residents will be deciding on November 2 when they head to the polls.  Ever since the Massachusetts Senate voted to lift the sales tax exemption on over-the-counter alcohol sales, the law... Read More

There might just be a liquor license windfall coming to Boston. Thirteen Boston liquor licenses could be freed up if a proposal for a special airport liquor license goes through. The Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan International Airport, has drafted a petition requesting that the city grant new restricted... Read More

No more dry wine auctions! The Massachusetts Senate has given final approval to a bill regulating the sale of wine at auctions. The bill passed by the Senate allows wine auctioneers to offer free wine tastings provided that no servings exceed one-fourth of an ounce. Mouthwash has more alcohol in... Read More

Put this at the top of the “things that make you go hmmm” list. The New Hampshire Liquor Commission recently reported unaudited income for fiscal year 2O1O ending June 3O. Net sales for the year topped the half billion dollar mark at $511.4 million, an increase of 4.8 percent over... Read More

Some things are just no brainers. Don’t play in traffic, stay off the golf course during a lightening storm, don’t swim when drunk . . . Apparently, many Russians have chosen to ignore that last one. A prolonged heat wave across their country combined with massive consumption of vodka led... Read More

William Grant & Sons has acquired the C&C Irish spirits and liqueurs business, which includes Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Carolans, Frangelico, and Irish Mist, for €3OO million (US $391.65 million). The newly acquired business will operate as William Grant & Sons Irish Brands Ltd and be based in Dublin and... Read More

Give him points for innovation. Travis Kevie, a California man, recently broke into a shuttered bar, reopened the business and started selling drinks to unassuming customers, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s department. Unfortunately for Kevie, it wasn’t long before his new business went belly-up. The Sheriff’s department arrested the... Read More

The FOURTH ANNUAL U.S. DRINKS CONFERENCEis being held this year in New York City on OCTOBER 12 and 13.  The conference is designed to provide practical information and guidance on navigating the intricacies of the American wine, spirits and beer business.  The global gathering brings owners, entrepreneurs, exporters, importers, marketers,... Read More