NIQ: RTDs Reach $10B, Spirits and FMBs Drive Growth

Ready-to-drink and serve products have surpassed $10 billion dollar sales in off-premise channels in the latest 52 weeks ending July 8, representing a 7% increase compared to the previous period, according to an NIQ report released on Wednesday.

New RTD Spirits: Summer Sips From J. Rieger & Co., Seagram’s and RIKI

With summer in full swing, many ready-to-drink cocktail makers are releasing sun-inspired sips. In this gallery, former bachelorette JoJo Fletcher enters the beverage space with an Amalfi Coast-inspired beverage, J. Rieger & Co. Distillery launches an “Electric” new line and Sunshine Punch seeks to evoke a sense of nostalgia.

How The Bourbon Industry is Coping with a White Oak Barrel Shortage

The current national farm bill, a once-every-five-year piece of legislation that includes a hodgepodge of agricultural and nutrition policy, is set to expire at the end of September. Jason Meyer, executive director of the White Oak Initiative (WOI), is hoping the legislators working on the new bill are bourbon drinkers.

LVMH: Cognac Sales Continue to Drop in First Half of 2023

Revenue from the spirits and cognac segment of LVMH fell by 11% in the first half of 2023 as Hennessy Cognac sales suffered from weak U.S. demand, according to the company’s half-year revenue earnings report released yesterday.

Tales of the Cocktail Guide: Agave, No/Lo, and DEI

The world’s leading cocktail conference, Tales of the Cocktail, kicks off this week in New Orleans, gathering thousands of bar professionals and spirit reps from across the globe.

Will A Lawsuit In Tennessee Spark A Crackdown on Online Liquor Sales?

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti last week filed a lawsuit against six online liquor retailers accused of illegally selling liquor from out-of-state, an aggressive move that suggests retailers and brands may be facing greater scrutiny about how they ship products.

As Major Brands Waver, Gay Water Aims for Authenticity

Growing up, Spencer Hoddeson said he mostly heard the term “gay” in a negative context. Now, he wants to destigmatize the word and create representation in spaces that traditionally don’t have LGBTQ-owned products, one Gay Water at a time.