Casa Azul Wins Trademark Case Against Clase Azul
A judge has ruled in favor of Casa Azul, the tequila company founded by beverage innovator Lance Collins, in a trademark trial against long standing tequila brand Clase Azul.
Spirit of Gallo Backs Mexico’s Condesa Gin to Boost Super Premium Portfolio
Spirit of Gallo is adding a new Mexican spirit to its portfolio by making a strategic investment in Mexico City’s Condesa Gin, which it will also import, the company announced today.
Spirits Distribution: Betty Booze, Sunshine Punch Go National; Play Hard Scores in IL
Our latest distribution roundup finds Sunshine Punch and Betty Booze signing on for national distribution with one of the big guys, Play Hard vodka seltzer expanding into a new state and stadium, Gay Water going west and Teremana Tequila going global.
Bourbon Giant Woodford Reserve Violated Labor Laws Ahead of Union Vote, Judge Rules
Woodford Reserve violated labor laws when it awarded pay raises and changed vacation policies a week ahead of workers holding a vote on whether or not to unionize, ruled a federal judge earlier this week.
State of BevAlc Report: Non-Alc Gaining Share of Sip, BevAlc Losing Displays
Fewer displays in BevAlc, notably in premixed cocktails, beer and cider, should be considered a warning sign for suppliers, according to a new report from Circana.
Data: Margarita Reigns; Cocktail Velocity Up 5%
America’s number one cocktail is… still number one. The margarita retained a fifth of all cocktail sales on-premise in the last quarter of 2023, followed in popularity by the martini and Moscow mule, according to new data released by CGA from NIQ.
Boisson Closing Retail Stores Amid ‘Restructuring,’ As Non-Alc Industry Looks for Answers
Leading adult non-alc (NA) retailer Boisson is shutting down retail outlets and is “restructuring,” according to the founder of one NA brand that was informed of the news by a former Boisson employee.
Becoming an Attractive Target: Four Keys to Securing Investment for Spirit Companies
What makes a spirit company a good target for acquisition? That’s the question a panel of experts answered at the DISCUS annual conference in San Diego earlier this month.
‘We’re Competing in All the Big Categories Now’: Six Questions with Melanie Batchelor, Managing Director at Campari America
If there’s one person who has had her hand in the transformation of aperitifs in the U.S., it’s Melanie Batchelor, who in her 12 years at Campari has built successful strategies for some of the bar world’s most iconic brands.
How Big Nose Kate Aims to Shake Up the Backbar With Women-Led Brand and Distiller
Melissa Heim can list a few reasons why Big Nose Kate, a whiskey brand named after an unsung historical female figure, offers something unique for the backbar.
Can Winemakers Find Sustainability in Spirits?
Recent sales data from the wine industry hasn’t been great, and some smaller wineries are looking to fix their problems by turning to spirits.
Spirits Distribution: Mom Water Hits New England; Heritage Grows with Beer Wholesalers
In this latest round of distribution news, we check in with new coconut vodka water, Mother's Milk and another fruit-infused vodka cocktail named after the same parent, Mom Water, as well as craft distillers Heritage Distilling and Frey Ranch, plus news from rum Coconut Cartel.
DISCUS: Industry Gears Up Against Anti-Alc Messaging, U.S. Spirits Slowdown
Fighting back against anti-alcohol messaging and rediscovering industry optimism following a year of flat spirit sales were two of the major themes at the annual Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) conference in San Diego this week.
NielsenIQ: BevAlc Sales Growth ‘Broadly’ Decelerates
Total BevAlc sales growth decelerated modestly in the two-week period ended February 24, reflecting accelerated volume declines and slightly stronger average pricing growth, according to Goldman Sachs Equity Research’s latest analysis of NielsenIQ data.