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The Board of Directors for DISCUS has elected DAN LEESE, Hotaling & Co. President & CEO, as chair of the national trade association. Leese brings to the role of chair more than 40 years in the beverage alcohol industry. Prior to joining Hotaling & Co., he served as CEO and... Read More

THE UNITED STATES BARTENDERS’ GUILD (USBG) Presents World Class Sponsored By Diageo crowned JONATHAN STANYARD of Seattle, Washington as the 2024 U.S. Bartender of the Year in its twelfth season. Hosted in Denver, Colorado, Stanyard was named champion following three days and five bartending challenges and craft cocktail showmanship. The... Read More

HARVEY R. CHAPLIN, 95 Harvey R. Chaplin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits passed away on June 9 at the age 95. He also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shaw-Ross International Importers, Inc. and served on the WSWA Board of Directors for... Read More

John Franzia, the co-founder of one of the largest wine companies in the world, died peacefully in his Modesto home on March 25. His legacy focused on high-quality wines at an affordable rate for buyers. In 1973, John co-founded Bronco Wine Co. with his cousins, Fred T. and Joseph S. Franzia,... Read More

AGATHE BOINOT has been appointed cellar master of D’Ussé Cognac which is co-owned by Bacardi and Jay-Z. She will take over for Michel Casavecchia’s following his recent retirement. The appointment makes her the youngest woman to hold the cellar master position of the major houses in Cognac. Boinot is the... Read More

The drinks company has appointed JOHN ALVARADO as U.S. Chief Brands Officer. In a career spanning more than 25 years, Alvarado has held senior brand marketing roles at Keurig, Dr. Pepper and Constellation Brands where he contributed to 44 consecutive quarters of growth and developed a portfolio of brands based... Read More

The Scotch whisky maker has appointed JAMES SAXON as its new whisky-making director. Saxon first joined Compass Box in 2019 as whisky maker. He will take over the position from JOHN GLASER, founder of Compass Box, who departed the company in April but will remain a stakeholder. Saxon has created a... Read More

DAVE BURWICK will retire as President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors after six years at the helm of the brewer. MICHAEL SPILLANE will assume the President and CEO role effective upon Burwick’s retirement. Spillane is currently the lead director of The Boston Beer Company and... Read More

JOHN GLASER, the founder and whiskey maker of Compass Box, will step down from the Scotch whisky company after 23 years. Launched in 2000 by Glaser, the Scotch whisky blending house is known for its focus on “reinventing” the category. Glaser will depart from his executive role in May while... Read More

JEAN-ETIENNE GOURGUES, the chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, has been appointed as chair of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) council. Each chair is appointed for two years and heads the council, which comprises 16 representatives from SWA member companies. The council meets four times a year to support the... Read More