Ten intriguing trends set to shake up alcohol in 2025
Savory serves, protein cocktails and ‘brothtails’… what are some of the coolest and craziest trends emerging in beverage alcohol?
Premium indulgence
Constellation Brands sells Svedka vodka to Sazerac
Constellation Brands is divesting the vodka brand as part of its efforts to focus on higher end wine and spirits.
Trump’s proposed tariffs – and how they could affect the spirits industry
Tequila and Canadian whisky could be affected by the next round of tariffs
Sweet indulgence: 7 hot chocolate trends
Hot chocolate is all about beautiful presentations and luxury serves: but there's more to this indulgent treat than meets the eye...
How to build a beverage brand: Campari America on creating global icons
Campari America Managing Director Melanie Batchelor's vision has been instrumental in building the strategy for some of the world's most iconic spirits brands, including SKYY Vodka, Campari, Aperol, Grand Marnier and Espolon Tequila. What are her top...
LVMH invests in luxury alcohol-free wine, French Bloom
Moët Hennessy – the wines and spirits division of LVMH – has acquired a minority stake in premium alcohol-free sparkling wine brand, French Bloom.
Johnnie Walker debuts world’s lightest whisky bottle
The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra bottle comes in at just 180g, rethinking all aspects of how the bottle is designed, made and transported. Could it inspire change across the industry?
Top trends in beverage alcohol
What are the top trends driving the global beverage alcohol market forward - and how can we expect the industry to evolve?
News
Scotch whisky secures protected status in Brazil
Scotch whisky has secured Geographical Indication (GI) in Brazil, protection that could be worth £25m to the industry over the next five years.
Spirits packaging innovation: Standout designs of 2024
Sleek, sophisticated and stylish: We take a look at some of the standout spirits packaging launches of the year so far.
Flavors drive canned cocktail purchases
What shapes consumers’ decisions when it comes to buying canned cocktails? Flavor is by far the biggest factor - but what else drives purchases?
Diageo’s Latin America hangover hits FY24 results
Latin American consumers are trading down away from premium spirits: a market shift that continues to hit Diageo’s sales in the region.
Reach for the stars: Starward launches colourful packaging range to put ‘modern’ Australian whiskey on the map
Australian spirits distillery Starward has launched a range of whiskies with brightly-coloured packaging to distinguish its ‘modern’ products from traditional scotch and carve out a place for itself in the liquor market.
Luxury slowdown: LVMH's champagne sales struggle
LVMH’s champagne sales were down in H1 2024, representing a wider struggle across the champagne sector.
Tequila cocktail trends
It’s not just about margaritas. National Tequila Day (July 24) puts the spotlight on the huge variety of cocktails now embracing the trending spirit.
Increasingly informed consumers demand better quality, more ethical coffee – Allpress Espresso
New Zealand-headquartered Allpress Espresso says that as consumers become better informed about various components of coffee, they are demanding higher quality products and an ethical supply chain.
The top five flavor trends for summer 2024
Ready for a spicy tamarind mangorita? Or excited about a parmesan espresso martini? Diageo highlights the top flavor trends it’s watching this summer.
Introducing 'mezquila': Tequila & mezcal blend pushes forward agave innovation
Santo Mezquila – a first-of-its-kind tequila and mezcal blend – is launching across the US, Canada and Japan. Founders Sammy Hagar (a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer) and Guy Fieri (an internationally renowned chef) believe the blend ties in perfectly with...
What is fonio? The grain set to become the superstar of sustainable brewing
A global collaboration of brewers – including Brooklyn Brewery, Carlsberg and Guinness – is showcasing the ancient West African grain fonio. What’s so special about the grain – and how can it transform brewing for the better?
Constellation Brands acquires California winery Sea Smoke
Constellation Brands says the acquisition of the Pinot Noir specialist further enhances its focus on higher-end wines.
PepsiCo expands bubly brand with new flavor-forward bubly burst
On a trajectory to become one of PepsiCo’s next billion-dollar brands, bubly has been making a splash as a fun-loving sparkling water brand. New launch bubly burst is set to expand the brand’s appeal by tapping into a market of consumers looking for...
Champagne Telmont releases bottles in ‘193,000 shades of green'
Champagne Telmont will release 193,000 bottles in shades ranging from green to cinnamon this year, as part of its journey to improve sustainability.
Brown‑Forman launches distribution business in Italy
Brown‑Forman Corporation has announced its plan to distribute its own brands in Italy, starting from May 1, 2025.
Madri Excepcional boosts Molson Coors’ premium push
Molson Coors has big plans for Madri Excepcional: a Spanish-style lager that’s growing fast in the UK and will now launch in North America. Meanwhile, the company is updating the Blue Moon brand to help it reach its potential; as well as debuting further...
Scotland set to raise Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol
The Scottish government plans to increase the Minimum Unit Price (MUP) for alcohol by 15p per unit to 65p this year
Gin ‘fingerprinting’ could help futureproof the category
A new technique that takes a chemical fingerprint of gin in seconds could hold 'huge potential' for the industry: allowing producers to create better and more consistent gins; enable regulators to detect fraudulent products; and even help create a...
Scotch whisky industry highlights economic impact
Over the last five years, Scotch whisky has remained resilient against challenges such as retaliatory tariffs, a global pandemic and knock-on economic pressures, says the Scotch Whisky Association, in a new economic impact report.
How to build alcohol-free brands: Spirits of Virtue shares its secrets to success
Creating a great alcohol-free product is one thing: growing and scaling that into a successful business is another thing entirely. In the last five years, Spirits of Virtue has perfected a range of products; expanded to 16 countries including the US (a...
New tech and more data: Diageo's action plan for Latin America
Diageo’s first half results for fiscal 24 were dragged down by a 23% drop in Latin America sales. What happened – and how will the company shift its strategy moving forward?
‘As many tools as possible’: Danone North America hopes oil-based seaweed product could be a greener option for methane inhibition
The dairy major is supporting a new study into the efficacy of a red seaweed oil extract that could be less carbon-intensive to produce whilst also capable of reducing enteric methane by up to 80%.
From Horchata latte to Snickers coffee: Keurig Dr Pepper's flavored coffee strategy
Collaborations with Snickers, Twix and Milky Way have helped Keurig Dr Pepper find a winning strategy for flavored coffee: combining its expertise in coffee with imaginative flavors and the brand equity of some of America's best-loved indulgent brands.
Diageo becomes sole owner of DeLeón tequila after settlement of disputes with Diddy
Diageo and Sean 'Diddy' Combs have agreed to resolve all disputes over DeLeón tequila and Ciroc vodka: with Diageo taking on sole ownership of the DeLeón tequila brand.
Constellation Brands sets out strategy to tackle wine challenges in 2024
Beer is booming for Constellation Brands: but the picture is less rosy when it comes to its wine and spirits division. The company is confident, however, in its strategy to focus on the luxury and premium segments.
Chobani enters RTD coffee category with $900m acquisition of La Colombe
Greek yogurt powerhouse Chobani says the acquisition of coffee roaster La Colombe furthers its ‘evolution into a diversified next-generation food and beverage company’.
Campari Group set to acquire Courvoisier from Beam Suntory: ‘Cognac remains one of the spirits industry’s most successful categories’
Campari Group has entered into exclusive negotiations with Beam Suntory to acquire premium cognac Courvoisier.
White Claw launches electrolyte-enhanced 0% Alcohol: ‘It’s a fundamentally new kind of drink for every kind of adult drinker that could only come from White Claw’
Hard seltzer pioneer White Claw is launching White Claw 0% Alcohol in the US in January: ‘a radically new beverage’ that is designed to combine White Claw flavors with hydrating electrolytes while replicating the complexity of alcohol.
Rhum Barbancourt: How a spirits brand weathers trials
Haitian rum brand Rhum Barbancourt has a long history on the island. Despite being set back by 2010’s earthquake, and in spite of the political instability that Haiti contests with currently, it is still expanding, taking its wares to the UK through a...
Festive drink trends: Tradition meets tequila and tropical twists
What drinks trends can we expect for the upcoming festive season? Experts share what they’re looking out for in the UK.
Guest article
Uncorking the dark side: How wine brands are embracing the allure of the macabre
We love Halloween and the 'spooky season'. And up-and-coming wine brands are using our obsession with all things spooky to stand out from the crowd with their compelling brand stories and sinister tales. Rowena Curlewis, CEO of drinks design specialist...
Diageo sells Windsor Global whisky
Diageo has signed and completed the sale of Windsor Global, a subsidiary of Diageo which owns the Windsor business and associated intellectual property, to Korean company PT W Co., Ltd.
From cocktails to calvados casks: How St-Rémy is keeping brandy booming
St-Rémy – a proudly French brandy that’s enjoying global success – has revealed its latest limited edition: St-Rémy Finished in Calvados Casks. And this latest launch represents exactly what the House stands for: an intriguing blend of tradition and...
Hydration heroes: How the next generation of sports drink brands are setting themselves apart
Against a backdrop of big-name sports drinks brands, how is the next generation of sports drinks finding a sweet spot in the booming market?
RTD alcohol category to hit $40bn by 2027
The RTD alcohol category is expected to grow by +12% in volume between 2022 and 2027, hitting $40bn by 2027 across 10 key markets, according to new data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. As the category matures, premiumization will be a key driver moving...
Absolut Vodka & Sprite RTD cocktail to launch in 2024
The Coca-Cola Company and Pernod Ricard are teaming up to launch Absolut Vodka & Sprite as a ready-to-drink pre-mixed cocktail in 2024.
Louis Dreyfus Company inaugurates instant coffee facility in Vietnam
Louis Dreyfus Company and Instanta have inaugurated ILD Coffee Vietnam, a joint venture freeze-dried instant coffee facility located in Binh Duong province, Vietnam, with annual production capacity of 5,600 metric tons of instant coffee.
The appeal of Japanese drinks to consumers in the UK and North America
Japanese drinks such as matcha and sake are being brought to ‘Western’ countries such as the UK and North American countries. Japanese sake is mostly drunk in restaurants the UK, although an event in Kensington, London stressed that it can be more...
Beating the dram: ‘New World’ NZ whiskey brand Pokeno banks on flavour innovation to boost appeal with younger consumers overseas
New Zealand’s Pokeno Whiskey believes that rising demand from younger consumers seeking new and unique flavours in their whiskey will help to drive its latest offering in markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong.
Rapid rise: Rare packaging and government support driving ongoing Japanese whiskey growth
Exclusive and limited-edition packaging designs coupled with ongoing government support have been cited as two key factors behind the rapid and relentless growth of the Japanese whiskey sector.
Scotland looks to increase the minimum unit price of alcohol
The Scottish government wants to increase the Minimum Unit Price (MUP) of alcohol by 15 pence per unit to 65 pence: launching a consultation into the proposals this week.
Heineken acquires stake in Ellie Goulding’s RTD brand
Heineken UK has acquired a ‘significant’ minority stake in Served, the ready-to-drink brand co-owned by Ellie Goulding.