Beyond Beer

Advocating for the federal government to untangle distilled spirits from tariff policy was the major theme at the annual Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) conference in Washington, D.C., last week.

In the latest edition of A Round With … – a weekly Q&A with industry leaders exclusively for Insiders – Tilray Brands North America president Ty Gilmore talked with Brewbound’s sibling publication BevNET about how the company intends to leverage its scale to go deep in hemp-derived delta-9 drinks and how it is navigating the evolving regulatory landscape for hemp products in the U.S.

A year and a half after its sale to Tilray Brands, energy seltzer brand HiBall is returning to retail with a launch in Whole Foods Market stores this spring.

After more than a decade of investing in emerging spirits and adult non-alc brands, Diageo confirmed earlier this month that its venture arm Distill Ventures will cease bringing new brands into its portfolio. What does the wind-down signal for the spirits group and does it say something about the larger spirits industry?

The origin story of Oregon-based 2 Towns Ciderhouse is very similar to the humble beginnings of many craft brewers: childhood friends with a passion for the craft, and a basement. 15 years later, founders Aaron Sarnoff-Wood and Lee Larsen have grown the company to be the second largest cider brand in grocery nationwide.

As tariff talks continue to expand, suppliers say they are losing purchase orders, facing the possibility of consumers trading down, and quickly assessing how to position their portfolios.

More Minute Maid Spiked ready-to-drink (RTD) options are on the way from Coca-Cola’s “firewalled” bev-alc subsidiary, Red Tree Beverages.

PepsiCo announced this morning it has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Poppi for $1.95 billion, officially bringing the CSD giant into the next gen functional soda set.

Adult beverage consumers can now party like Willie Nelson. The country music star and his wellness enterprise partner Long Play, Inc. have partnered with California-based bev-alc maker JuneShine Brands to launch Willie’s Remedy+, a non-alcoholic (NA), intoxicating hemp-based “social tonic.”

Dealing with droughts is part of life in California, but an extension to the state’s self-imposed ban on hemp-derived THC drinks looks set to further stress an already reeling industry. Prior to their scheduled expiration this month, California’s Department of Public Health extended a six-month ban on “intoxicating hemp products” imposed in September for another three months. Now set to expire on June 24, the emergency measure can be readopted only one more time, according to California law.

Diageo will cease bringing new brands into its Distill Ventures accelerator program for startup drink entrepreneurs, a Diageo spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.

SipMARGS, a ready-to-drink (RTD) sparkling margarita brand has revamped its liquid and landed $3 million from new investors, including powerhouse social media influencer Alix Earle.

Crystal Light Vodka Refreshers are rolling out to 10 states this month. A collaboration between Kraft Heinz and Harpoon maker Barrel One Collective, the 3.8% ABV vodka-based seltzer has 77 calories per 12 oz. serving, making it “the lowest-calorie ready-to-drink [RTD] cocktail on the market,” according to a press release.

Sisterhood is powerful, especially for Kelly Gasnik and Jill Burns, founders of Austin Cocktails. The sisters started the spirits-based ready-to-drink cocktail brand in 2012, helping to spearhead the current wave of canned cocktails.