Star Power: What Makes Celebrity Booze Brands Fly or Fail

From actors to musicians to the world’s richest man, high profile figures have built their own category within the alcohol industry: celebrity spirits. But as celebrity-owned or endorsed brands become the norm, what makes them succeed or fail?

Summer Arrives with 6 New RTD Cocktails

Although summer solstice is still a ways away, the season has unofficially arrived in the form of seven new ready-to-drink cocktails and mocktails. In this gallery, we highlight the first-ever canned cocktail lines from Kraken Rum and New Amsterdam Vodka and several modern twists on classic drinks from Uncle Tim’s.

NielsenIQ Acquires On-Premise Data Firm CGA

Two of the biggest names in beverage-alcohol data are joining forces. Global data giant NielsenIQ announced today it has acquired on-premise data firm CGA, in which it initially invested in 2009. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

10 New RTD Cocktails to Sip in the Sunshine

As the sun finally emerges from behind the clouds, ready-to-drink cocktail makers are rolling out new products to sip in the sunshine. Check out this gallery for two new canned cocktails from Post Meridiem, a line of desert waters from Madre Mezcal and new product formats from Red Lady and Corsair Distillery.

Profile: Beverage Investor Cælum Capital Limited Seeks Founders Ready to Scale-Up

After over two decades, CompassBox has earned a name for itself through frequent releases of blended malts and a campaign aimed at encouraging transparency in whisky spirits. That’s the exact kind of innovation and passion Manesh Rungta, the founder and managing partner of Cælum Capital Limited, is looking for.

A Drink With Your Sand Wedge? RTD Cocktails Aim for the Golf Links

Like sweatpants and sourdough, golf gained an unexpected burst of popularity during the pandemic, earning droves of players looking for an outdoors oasis and socially distant entertainment. Another leisure activity that saw pandemic growth: ready-to-drink cocktails. Now the two are combining.

Summer Arrives Early With 12 New Whiskey Releases

In this gallery, we highlight a sprinkling of notable new releases for this summer, including a single-barrel series that pays homage to Red Sox legend David Ortiz, the launch of Country Crock’s first-ever spirit and the debut of Westward’s Elements series that is inspired by the beauty of Northwest.

Vermont Passes Bill to Lower Taxes and Widen Access to Spirits-Based RTDs

Vermont lawmakers have advanced a bill to lower taxes on and grant wider market access to spirits-based, ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails. If signed by Gov. Phil Scott, the bill (H.730) will go into effect July 1. It would lower state excise tax on spirits-based RTDs from $7.68 per gallon to $1.10 gallon.

Searching for Sustainability in the Organic Spirits Business

When Phillips Distilling Co launched Prairie Organic Spirits in 2008, organic was an emerging trend, according to Meghan Murray, director of commercial marketing. Over a decade later, that mostly still holds true.

Not-So-Suddenly, Sotol Makes Inroads

With both tequila’s and mezcal’s growth rates soaring, the agave spirits category could surpass vodka in a number of years, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. While not an agave spirit, another new product from Mexico is starting to build an audience: Sotol.

6 New Memorial Day-Ready RTD Cocktails

With Memorial Day just around the corner, many brands are launching new ready-to-drink cocktails for your celebration. In this gallery, we highlight some of the notable new releases from the past month, including new formats from Onda and Spritz Society and fresh flavor releases from Monaco Cocktails and Cardinal Spirits. We also highlight House of Love, a new collection of cocktails and mocktails created by Svedka in partnership with RuPaul.