Beyond Beer

From the screen to the cooler, actors Tom Holland and Robert Downey, Jr. are bringing their respective beverage startups together for a limited edition collaboration: BERO Coffee Draught and Happy Eternal Hoptimist ground coffee.

Following a record-high for U.S. spirits exports in 2024, exports fell 9% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025, driven by ongoing trade tensions, according to a new report released today by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

The court-appointed receiver for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey says the embattled whiskey company still holds “significant value,” but will need to clarify incomplete financial records and its capitalization table, and shed non-core assets before evaluating future offers for investment.

How does an ready-to-drink (RTD) brand that was built on the beach translate to other seasons? Surfside, Stateside Vodka’s hard iced tea and lemonade canned cocktail brand, is betting big on sports this fall.

Sazerac is acquiring Texas-based Western Son Vodka and Distillery, the company announced today.

Spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) is one of the more fragmented segments in bev-alc, but independent brands with discipline and an eye for the right occasion can still break through, according to Gustavo Aguirre, vice president of brand innovation at private equity firm InvestBev.

In its 157-year history, Martinelli’s has become a staple in many U.S. households; from its squat 10 oz. apple juices that fit conveniently into kids’ lunch boxes, to its green sparkling cider bottles that allow consumers of all ages to toast and celebrate without booze.

Sazerac Company has partnered with Molson Coors-aligned wholesaler Andrews Distributing on three new ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages in Texas, adding a regional portfolio to the spirit company’s expanding RTD business.

Growth is slowing down for spirits-based RTDs, but gains in the on-premise and emerging flavor categories hint at opportunities, according to bev-alc consulting and data firm 3 Tier Beverages.

Ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) remain one of the hottest segments in bev-alc, seemingly avoiding the quick rise and fall of the former new kid in town, hard seltzer (for now). Even the previously formidable flavored malt beverage (FMB) segment is starting to see the impact of consumers moving away to the more premium, typically spirits-based offerings.

Hemp-derived THC seltzer brand Delta Beverages recently unveiled a new visual identity and a marketing campaign that seek to “humanize” the brand while eliminating the stigma often associated with cannabis use.

Are THC-infused beverages the next stage of evolution for craft distillers? The leaders of one Milwaukee distillery believe so.

Sazerac is facing legal heat again for selling malt-based versions of Fireball and Parrot Bay that allegedly misled consumers who believed they were spirits-based products.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka has struck a deal to acquire a majority stake in LALO Tequila, a fast-growing tequila brand often dubbed the “Tito’s of tequila.”