The Buffalo Trace Single Oak barrel 80 starts at 125 proof and comes from the bottom half of a tree with 13 rings per inch. It was aged in a concrete storeroom, and the average wood grain staves were seasoned for 12 months.
"Our focus has always been on building and scaling brands that stand out in their category and resonate with consumers," said Phil Rosse, CEO, The Mark Anthony Group of Companies. "Long Drink has already established strong momentum and a clear point of difference in the RTD space, and we see a meaningful opportunity to build on that success by expanding its reach and bringing it to more consumers."
Sukari Spirits positions itself as an originator and innovator of all-natural, ultra-premium spirits, with a focus on clean formulations and elevated drinking rituals.
Diageo's dividend situation has deteriorated sharply, with a rebased interim payout of $0.20 per share and a new policy establishing a minimum annual floor of $0.50, indicating a focus on debt reduction over income.
I was like, 'Well can I just call every pub in Ireland and conversationally ask them with AI?,' Cortland told Fortune. 'I pulled the thread, and I just kept pulling the thread, and here we are.'
Within roughly the past six months alone, Swiftly expanded its alcohol rebate programs from about 11,000 stores to more than 33,000 stores in 44 states. Swiftly had built an alcohol cashback product in 2023 but scaled it through the acquisition of alcohol promotions platform BYBE in 2024.
Owners across the country report that fewer guests are ordering cocktails, and that missing bar revenue is squeezing margins that were already razor thin. The slowdown is hitting neighborhood joints and big casual-dining chains alike. Chefs and operators from New York to Los Angeles say alcohol sales, long the highest-margin part of the check, have slipped enough to force changes in hours, menus and staffing.
As a professional bartender with years of behind-the-bar experience, I've tasted, mixed, and served my fair share of spirits - from obscure craft distilleries to globally recognized icons. Over time, I've noticed a recurring pattern: certain brands achieve fame, hype, or luxury pricing that their actual liquid rarely justifies. That's what I mean by "overrated." For the purposes of this article, an overrated brand is one that is sought-after, valued, or frequently discussed, yet, in terms of aroma, flavor, or overall drinking experience, fails to live up to its popularity, demand, or price point.
It's easy to be a little snobby about celebrity-owned liquor brands. These famous people usually compete with little knowledge compared to distilleries with decades, or even centuries, of experience. The reality is that some of them are quite impressive, especially with some notable bourbon brands. Others, however, lack any type of quality. They seemingly exist on the back of their celebrity-backing and significant marketing. I'm here to root out these brands and explain why it's best to avoid them.
One trend I'd happily see fade away in 2026 is the obsession with overly complicated, garnish-heavy cocktails that prioritize spectacle over balance. There's nothing wrong with a drink that looks beautiful, but when the garnish becomes the entire point of the drink, it often means the cocktail itself is an afterthought.
Following what was a period of high sales and rapid expansion, the market is contracting for a number of reasons. Alcohol consumption has declined in recent years, for one thing, but international response to U.S. tariffs has also hit bourbon sales hard, with exports of the liquor dropping significantly in 2025. Many icons of American whiskey have been affected, with Brown-Forman - parent company to Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, and Old Forester, among others - laying off a significant portion of its workforce.
Vodka has long been associated with late nights and crowded clubs, but Absolut is betting its next growth moment will happen earlier in the day. The spirits giant recently partnered with Tabasco to launch a spicy vodka designed with brunch cocktails in mind - a move that reflects a broader shift in how and when Americans are drinking. Absolut's Tabasco-infused vodka leans hard into meeting that moment for early drinkers.
The U.S. spirits landscape has evolved far beyond the recognition of simply being the birthplace of bourbon. In recent years, we've seen a transformation in both the quality and individuality that the country's craft distilleries have been able to produce. While previous decades were dominated by the big-name distilleries, far more awards are going to craft distillers who have mastered the art of producing high-quality whiskeys, rums, gins, and more.
Generally, the pour of liquor in your glass is up to the discretion and recipe of the mixologist. In Utah, however, bartenders are required to use a special calibrated device to ensure that a pour of liquor comes out at exactly 1.5 ounces. They are quite serious about this, mandating that all bottles use these devices, and that the devices themselves have a margin of error of less than one sixteenth of an ounce for a one-ounce pour - or about a third of a teaspoon.
In 2025, Cider sales performed well at plus 2%, led by top brand Angry Orchard (plus 3.6%). For the 52 weeks ending Dec. 28. 2025, hard cider sales reached $502 million in total U.S. multi-outlets, grocery, drug, mass merchandisers, convenience, military, and select club and dollar retailers, according to Circana data. Of the brands, eight of the Top 10 showcased growth.
