Sazerac Acquires Dirty Shirley
Sazerac has acquired Dirty Shirley, the ready-to-drink (RTD) vodka-spiked take on the classic Shirley Temple, the company announced Thursday.
Ferron Salniker
Spirits Editor
Ferron Salniker is the Spirits Editor, guiding our coverage of the spirits and RTD cocktail space. She reports for BevNET.com and Brewbound.com on everything from new subcategories in established liquor types to the growth of the craft spirits business.
Posts by Ferron Salniker
Carbliss Bets Big on the Tallboy with New Malt-Based Line
Carbliss, the Wisconsin-based ready-to-drink (RTD) vodka-based cocktail that has become one of the fastest-growing brands in its category, is rolling out a malt-based tallboy across seven Midwestern states.
Uncle Nearest Bankruptcy Case Dismissed; Receivership Continues
The legal battle over Uncle Nearest has taken another dramatic turn: Founder Fawn Weaver's attempt to use bankruptcy court to wrest control of the bourbon brand from a court-appointed receiver lasted less than 48 hours before a judge threw the petition out.
Uncle Nearest Seeks Chapter 11 Amid Receivership Fight, Founder Sues Lender (UPDATED)
The founder of Uncle Nearest has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after the troubled bourbon company defaulted on more than $100 million in loans and went into receivership.
How Mission Craft Cocktails Went From 2K To 80K Cases In One Year
Mission Craft Cocktails, the Southern California brand built on bar-strength ready-to-serve and drink (RTS/RTD) cocktails made with premium ingredients, went from selling roughly 2,000 cases in 2024 to over 81,000 in 2025. But that growth was only achieved by a high tolerance for risk, said the founders.
New RTDs From Lucky One, On The Rocks, Saint Spritz and More
From Gallo’s spiked lemonade getting a sweet tea makeover to Surfside taking on the spiked sports drink, this month’s ready-to-drink (RTD) releases lean hard into better-for-you credentials, nostalgia, and a whole lot of iced tea.
High-ABV, Spirits-Based RTD Margaritas Outpacing Competition
As new styles of spiked ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages continue to carve out a share of the spirits market, there’s one that has maintained its staying power: the margarita.
The Functional Ingredients Posting Triple-Digit Growth in Adult Non-Alc
Non-alcoholic (NA) wine, beer and spirits still account for less than 1% of total alcohol category sales – leaving a runway for brands that innovate with popular functional ingredients, according to a new report from market research firm NIQ.
Former SGWS Employees Face Trial For Pay-to-Play Scheme in California Grocery Chains
A federal grand jury has indicted five former senior executives at Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits (SGWS) – the largest alcohol distributor in the U.S. – along with a salesman from a major Napa Valley wine company, on charges stemming from an alleged bribery scheme that prosecutors say ran for nearly a decade and earned favors from California’s largest grocery retail chains.
As Judge Weighs Uncle Nearest’s Future, Founders Challenge Receiver’s Credibility
Uncle Nearest founders Fawn and Keith Weaver have made their final courtroom arguments to take back ownership of the troubled bourbon company after it defaulted on more than $100 million in loans and went into receivership.
RTDs Brighten an Otherwise Soft Bev-Alc February
Spirits-based ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) posted another blowout two-week period, up more than 30% in dollar sales, as brands such as Cutwater and Sun Cruiser continued to pull consumers away from former leaders, according to an analysis of NIQ data from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Distribution: Southside Hits Whole Foods; Oishii Sails Onto Carnival
This month’s distribution moves see gin-based ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail The Original Southside grab permanent shelf space at Whole Foods, a sake spritz making a multi-channel push, and a Mid-Atlantic tequila soda lock in a major partner.
Uncle Nearest Founder Admits $20M Transfer as Receivership Battle Intensifies
After a judge placed Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey under receivership for defaulting on nearly $108 million in loans, founder Fawn Weaver continues her courtroom fight to take back the troubled bourbon company.
As Private Label Spirits Come For Shelf Space, Some Distillers Get On Board
Private label products saw a banner year in 2025, with spirits ranking as one of the top growing categories. As some distillers aim to take advantage of the opportunity, will brands feel the squeeze?