At Press Time

BROWN-FORMAN has reached an agreement to sell its Southern Comfort and Tuaca trademarks to Sazerac for $543.5 million. Brown-Forman Chief Executive Officer Paul Varga said the decision to sell these brands reflects the company’s evolving portfolio strategy and a continuation of its efforts to focus resources on its highest strategic... Read More

WELL, THIS IS A SHOCKER . . . New research from Oxford University has found that regularly going to your local pub makes you happier, healthier and more sociable.  Previous research has shown that face-to-face meetings are vital to maintaining friendships, but the beneficial role that pubs have in this... Read More

FEELING PARTICULARLY flush and looking to blow some cash?  For consumers with a spare £26,366 (US $38,54O) burning a hole in their pockets, Rolls-Royce has created a limited edition custom-made cocktail hamper.  The luxury car maker created just 15 of the kits, which take eight weeks to make.  Each one... Read More

HUMANS AREN’T THE only ones who enjoy their libations. From fruit flies to elephants, many creatures enjoy a cocktail now and then. Or, even a bender. Their source? Fermenting fruit. Elephants in southern Africa often binge on the naturally fermenting fruit of the marula tree and stagger away afterward. Howler... Read More

CONGRATULATIONS to Boston’s own Latitude Beverage Company! Their flagship brand, 9O+ Cellars Wine, has again been recognized as one of the fastest growing import wine labels by impact’s 2O14 “Hot Prospects” list. This is their third consecutive year on the list, landing at the top for the first time with... Read More

IF THERE WAS ever a place where a parent might need a drink . . . In an effort to win over Millennials, Chuck E. Cheese’s is adding new options to its menu that includes beer and wine.  The chain is trying to appeal specifically to “younger mothers” because the... Read More

YOU MAY or may not be interested in how many calories your Crown Royal cocktail has, but soon that information will be available for your reading pleasure on the back of the box. Drinks company Diageo has begun shipping cases of Crown Royal that include macro-nutritional information on the product,... Read More

THE SAZERAC COMPANY has purchased Michael Collins Irish Whiskey from Eagle Sellers’ Rep for an undisclosed sum. The purchase, which was finalized in October, includes global trademark rights for production, bottling and distribution. The whiskey is named in honor of Michael “The Big Fellow” Collins, a leader in the fight... Read More

COULD THE CLASSIC Gin & Tonic soon be an endangered species? Juniper plants, the predominant botanical used in gin, are being “killed off” by a deadly disease in Scotland, a new report has warned. Amateur conservationist group Plantlife has released a “citizen science” study showing that Scottish juniper is in... Read More

IT’S NOT just bourbon that America is enamored with. Bourbon’s spicy cousin, rye whiskey, is making a roaring comeback according to new data from the Distilled Spirits Council. Since 2OO9, rye whiskey volumes have grown 536% from 88,OOO 9-liter cases to over a half million cases in 2O14. In value... Read More