Liquor Industry News

Liquor Industry News 04-20-26

Franklin Liquors

Liquor Industry News

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

By: Mark C Lenzi

CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*

04-20-2026

Liquor Industry Week In Review

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

This Weeks Highlights:

New Products

I Have Seen The Liquor Store Of The Future

The New Official Wine Consumption Guidelines

Who Really Pays for Tariffs?

How Technology Is Transforming No- and Low-Alcohol Wine

From non-traditional yeasts to nano-membrane filtration, a wave of innovation is helping winemakers rebuild what’s lost when alcohol is removed from wine

https://daily.sevenfifty.com/how-technology-is-transforming-no-and-low-alcohol-wine/

What to Know About Pechuga — the Mezcal Distilled With Poultry

Distilled with poultry, this celebratory spirit tells deeply personal stories of tradition and place.

https://www.foodandwine.com/what-is-pechuga-mezcal-11934660

The How of Wine
How to find an earth-friendly wine

https://www.idahopress.com/community/life/the-how-of-wine-how-to-find-an-earth-friendly-wine/article_00637f0e-1d08-45c7-b681-aabc89f862d3.html

Yes, You Can Drink Wine When You Fly — If You Know What to Order

Sommeliers share pro tips around alcohol content, food pairings, and hydration when enjoying wine before and during flights.

https://www.foodandwine.com/drinking-wine-when-you-fly-11936556

Scotch up as most spirits drop in control states

Sales of Scotch in US monopoly states rebounded last month, driven by New Hampshire, according to data from the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA).

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/03/scotch-up-as-most-spirits-drop-in-control-states/

Jefferson’s Bourbon takes ocean aging to cruise ships

Pernod Ricard-owned Jefferson’s Bourbon has partnered with Holland America Line to age its whiskey on the high seas.

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/03/jeffersons-bourbon-takes-ocean-ageing-to-cruise-ships/

Consumers Reject Expensive Restaurant Wines

High wine prices in US restaurants are turning off diners, and so are the types of wine on offer.

https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/03/consumers-reject-expensive-restaurant-wines

Kansas City is split on if mini liquor bottle ban would reduce crime.

What research says

https://www.swoknews.com/ap/national/kansas-city-is-split-on-if-mini-liquor-bottle-ban-would-reduce-crime-what-research/article_821f36bb-62df-5a30-a5b8-55ae430648cf.html

A Guide to Germany’s New Wine Classification System

Germany’s updated wine law—which is mandatory from the 2026 vintage—introduces PDOs, PGIs, and stricter regional control, but understanding the new hierarchy won’t necessarily be easier

https://daily.sevenfifty.com/a-guide-to-germanys-new-wine-classification-system/

Is Your Wine a Brand or a Label? Here’s One Way to Find Out For Yourself.

There are well over a million different wines on shelves and lists. Which would be missed if they disappeared? Artificial Intelligence could help to provide that answer.

https://robertejoseph.substack.com/p/is-your-wine-a-brand-or-a-label-heres?utm_medium=newsletter

New Mikes

Mark Anthony Brands has launched Mike’s Dirty Lemonade, a new non-carbonated offshoot of the Mike’s Hard Lemonade brand. The new malt-based drinks are inspired by the “dirty soda” trend—in which extra flavors are added to a soft drink—and come in at 4.5% abv in four flavors: Dirty Lemon Secret, Dirty Cherry Brew, Very Berry Grape, and Pineapple Haze. The new releases will be promoted with the “Made with Real Character” campaign featuring a trio of anthropomorphic lemons with attitude. Along with Mike’s, Mark Anthony Brands also markets malt-based heavyweights like White Claw and Cayman Jack, among others.

American Airlines cabin crew allegedly served fake fizz on flight

A flight attendant reportedly mixed still Chardonnay wine with carbonated water to “make” sparkling wine after the airline ran out of bottles of fizz.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/03/american-airlines-cabin-crew-allegedly-served-fake-fizz-on-flight/

MGP actions ‘poorly handled’ but not fraud, rules judge

A court has dismissed a lawsuit brought against MGP Ingredients by investors who claimed the company had misled them about the business’ health.

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/03/mgp-actions-poorly-handled-but-not-fraud-rules-judge/

Pinot, Chardonnay, Voltis? Champagne Experiments with New Grape

The new grape variety is mildew resistant, meaning growers can dramatically reduce sprays

https://www.winespectator.com/articles/champagne-experiments-with-new-grape

Angel’s Envy Is Releasing Its First Age-Stated Rye — and a Cask-Strength Bourbon Built on a ‘Solera-Inspired Process’

Fewer than 1,500 bottles of the bourbon will be released internationally, while the rye will be available exclusively in the U.S.

https://www.foodandwine.com/angels-envy-10-year-cask-strength-rye-and-cask-strength-bourbon-2026-11937350

IS “ESTATE BOTTLED” AN INDICATOR OF QUALITY?

Yes. But not as much as people often assume.

https://foodandwineaesthetics.com/2026/03/31/is-estate-bottled-an-indicator-of-quality/

Trade war meets tradition: Canadian Jews confront a Manischewitz-free Passover

The ban on American booze, which came in response to the country’s tariffs, has “created a meaningful opening” for Israeli wineries in Canada, according to a wine executive.

https://www.jta.org/2026/03/31/global/trade-war-meets-tradition-canadian-jews-confront-a-manischewitz-free-passover

FACEBLOCK: META’S UNEXPECTED CRACKDOWN ON ALCOHOL CONTENT

In January 2026, hundreds of thousands of businesses received the unwelcome news that Facebook would no longer be recommending their pages

https://full-pour.com/facebook-alcohol-page-suspension/

US whiskey exports to EU plunge 35% in 2025

Exports of US spirits declined by 3.8% last year, driven by a double-digit drop for American whiskey in Europe, Canada and Japan

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/04/us-whiskey-exports-to-eu-plunge-35-in-2025/

The best (of the worst) industry April Fool’s jokes 2026

It’s the one day of the year when journalists everywhere read every press release twice – and still don’t trust it. To save you the guesswork, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best drinks industry pranks that have been doing the rounds this April Fool’s Day

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/04/the-best-of-the-worst-industry-april-fools-jokes-2026/

Green River cuts head distiller role

Aaron Harris, who was head distiller at Owensboro-based Green River Distilling, has left the Kentucky-based American whiskey company.

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/04/green-river-cuts-head-distiller-role/

Goodbye cork taint – hello, halo taint

It’s not just corks that can make a wine smell musty. Newly minted MW Kathleen Van den Berghe explores haloanisoles in wine.

https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/goodbye-cork-taint-hello-halo-taint

The Surprisingly Heavy History of Easter Beer—Plus, 7 Styles to Try

For many of us, spring brings lighter and brighter flavors into our glasses and onto our plates.

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/beer/easter-beer-traditions/

What to Drink Next If You Love Booker’s

If you love barrel-proof bourbon, there is a vast range of bottles to explore.

https://www.unicornauctions.com/unicorn-review/what-to-drink-next-bookers

New RTD

Harvest Hill Beverage Company has extended spirits-based RTD SunnyD Vodka Seltzerwith a new “Purple” flavor. The 4.5% abv limited time offering is lightly carbonated and calls back to a pitcher of “purple stuff” seen in a 1990s SunnyD commercial. The release carries a suggested price of $10 a 4-pack and will be supported by social activations and influencer marketing asking “What does Purple taste like to you?”

Infographic: Who Really Pays for Tariffs?

These Scholars Tracked a Bottle of Wine To Find Out.

https://reason.com/2026/04/02/infographic-who-really-pays-for-tariffs-these-scholars-tracked-a-bottle-of-wine-to-find-out/

After the Craft Beer Gold Rush

Now that the release lines have died down and the hazy bros have moved on, craft beer culture in America is different—but that’s not such a bad thing.

https://punchdrink.com/articles/craft-beer-gold-rush-breweries-2026/

Michter’s Legacy Series 2026 Is Here — and It’s as Experimental as Ever

This year’s Shenk’s features caramel malted barley, while Bomberger’s draws on Chinquapin and Hungarian oak to shape its profile.

https://www.foodandwine.com/michters-legacy-series-shenks-bombergers-2026-11941655

Increased Wine Sales – with PET Bottles?

Practical packaging that is also sustainable is becoming an increas-ingly strong sales argument.

https://whattheythink.com/news/129841-increased-wine-sales-pet-bottles/

Who’s Afraid of 100% American Wine?

A simple standard is facing serious resistance. The real question is: who benefits from keeping it that way?

https://cawg.substack.com/p/whos-afraid-of-100-american-wine

Wine Filtering Wands And Stir Sticks

Are These Things Legitimate?

https://porchdrinking.com/wine-filtering-wands-and-stir-sticks-are-these-things-legitimate/

The Off-Dry Riesling Reboot No One Saw Coming

An array of factors contributes to off-dry Riesling’s contemporary reboot.

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/basics/grapes-101/off-dry-rieslings/

The Reason Americans Have Stopped Drinking Out

And what it signals for the restaurant trade elsewhere

https://www.drinksinsider.com/p/the-reason-americans-have-stopped

Who benefits from wine shipping limits? Not states, not producers, not consumers.

Ninety years on, the rules states built beneath the 21st Amendment are costing them money, costing producers markets, and costing consumers choice. The authority to change them has always been there.

https://stevenunlimited.substack.com/p/who-benefits-from-wine-shipping-limits

Buffalo Trace Just Released 2 New Experimental Whiskeys — Including a 15-Year Bourbon for $47

The releases reflect two distinct approaches the distillery has explored in recent years.

https://www.foodandwine.com/buffalo-trace-single-oak-rye-bourbon-and-buffalo-trace-experimental-collection-low-entry-proof-wheated-bourbon-11942950

So you chose the wine because of the cool label

Love! Do this next.

https://cellarnotes.substack.com/p/so-you-chose-the-wine-because-of?utm_medium=newsletter

The New Official Wine Consumption Guidelines

Ten Recommendations Concerning Wine Consumption

https://tomwark.substack.com/p/the-new-official-wine-consumption-guidelines?utm_medium=newsletter

Maximalist Bars Are Offering Guests a Much-Needed Escape from Reality

A Bold Rebuke of Minimalism

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/maximalist-bar-interiors/

Tannins from oak barrels that flavor wine are ‘fingerprinted’ by researchers

Complex tastes in wine come from both grape skins and wood during aging; new study uses AI to identify compounds responsible for flavors and mouthfeel

https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/tannins-oak-barrels-flavor-wine-are-fingerprinted-researchers

What makes a great site for Trentino Pinot Grigio?

Even in Italy, Pinot Grigio is far from homogenous. In the best sites of Trentino, producers like Mezzacorona are showing how the variety can match easy-drinking charm with “elegant sapidity”.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/04/what-makes-a-great-site-for-trentino-pinot-grigio/

MGP halts production at Kentucky distilleries

US firm MGP Ingredients will pause operations at Kentucky distilleries Limestone Branch and Lux Row Distillers as whiskey demand drops, impacting 33 jobs.

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/04/mgp-halts-production-at-kentucky-distilleries/

Deep Eddy Vodka to shut brand home

Heaven Hill Brands will close its Deep Eddy Vodka visitor centre in Dripping Springs, Texas, this summer after investing millions into its expansion.

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/04/deep-eddy-vodka-to-shut-second-distillery-and-tasting-room/

Kentucky Bourbon Trail hits 2.7m visits in 2025

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail matched its visitation numbers from 2024 after welcoming 2.7 million whiskey fans last year

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/04/kentucky-bourbon-trail-hits-2-7m-visits-in-2025/

The 30 Best Red Blends for 2026

Red blends aren’t a new concept — they’ve existed in regions like Bordeaux and the Southern Rhône for centuries — but it’s certainly a category that continues to evolve.

https://vinepair.com/buy-this-booze/best-red-blends-2026/

How Dogfish Head Finally Found Growth Again — With the Grateful Dead

Dogfish Head became a top-20 craft brewery in America in 2010, but in 2019, sales growth stopped and started trending downward the following year due to heightened competition in an increasingly localized, IPA-crazed market.

https://vinepair.com/articles/dogfish-head-grateful-dead-growth/

Scientists Call for Urgent Action on Glyphosate, Citing Strong Links to Cancer

Newer research is now “so strong that no additional delays in regulation of glyphosate can be justified.” Guest article by Carey Gillam of The New Lede, reprinted with permission. .

https://organicwineuncorked.substack.com/p/scientists-call-for-urgent-action

Does Your Drink Choice Matter? A New Study Finds Moderate Wine Drinkers Live Longer

Researchers found that light-to-moderate wine drinkers had lower mortality rates than both abstainers and beer and spirits drinkers

https://www.winespectator.com/articles/new-study-finds-moderate-wine-drinkers-live-longer

What’s Next for the Wine Importer Who Took Down the Trump Tariffs at the Supreme Court?

The tariffs were deemed illegal: the billions of dollars that were collected now have to be returned

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/podcasts/wine-enthusiast-podcast/victor-schwartz-supreme-court/

I Have Seen The Liquor Store Of The Future

The first thing you see is that there is no product on shelves, except for one example of each item

https://www.thechalkreport.com/post/i-have-seen-the-liquor-store-of-the-future

Sazerac to debut its first Tennessee whiskey

Nearly a decade after buying its first Tennessee site, Buffalo Trace owner Sazerac has revealed the name of the distillery, which is set to launch its first whiskey this summer.

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/04/sazerac-to-debut-its-first-tennessee-whiskey/

New JD and Coke

Brown-Forman has released a new Zero Sugar variety 6-pack for its Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola spirits-based RTD. The new pack contains two cans each of Jack & Coca-Cola Zero, Jack & Coca-Cola Cherry Zero, and Jack & Coca-Cola Vanilla Zero, all at 5% abv and 100 calories per can. The new variety pack is now available nationwide for a suggested price of $17 a 6-pack. Last year, Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola was up 6% to 739,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.

Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston Launch Dos Hombres Tequila, Starting With a $40 Blanco and $50 Reposado

Produced in Amatitán, Jalisco, the tequilas are the work of maestro tequilero Julio Cova at Tequilera Tap Distillery.

https://www.foodandwine.com/dos-hombres-tequila-blanco-reposado-11945782

This Popular Airline Will Soon Let You Ship a Case of Wine for Free

Passengers flying out of wine country on the airline will be able to check a case of wine for free starting April 24

https://people.com/southwest-airlines-will-soon-let-you-ship-a-case-of-wine-for-free-11945510

US Wine – Don’t Look Now

With the US wine trade being battered, California wine legend Randall Grahm shares some thoughts on the current state of play.

https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/04/us-wine-dont-look-now

US wineries lose USD 357 million after Canada banned American wine

One year after Canadian provinces began removing US wines from store shelves in retaliation for Mr Trump’s tariffs, new data underline how the bans and “Buy Canadian” campaigns triggered a collapse in US wine exports. Full-year 2025 trade data from the Wine Institute shows that exports to Canada fell 78 percent year-on-year, driving a USD 357 million decline in value.

https://brauwelt.com/en/international-report/the-americas/649212-us-wineries-lose-usd-357-million-after-canada-banned-american-wine

More than a quarter of beer sommeliers are women

The number of female beer sommeliers has grown, with more than 25% of accredited beer sommeliers now being women. Could the sector be showing signs of diversifying? db finds out.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/04/more-than-a-quarter-of-beer-sommeliers-are-women/

US appeals court declares 158-year-old home distilling ban unconstitutional

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of ‌Appeals in New Orleans ruled in favor of the nonprofit Hobby Distillers Association and four of its 1,300 members

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-appeals-court-declares-158-year-old-home-distilling-ban-unconstitutional-2026-04-10/

Boston Beer Facing $175.5M Judgment for Breach of Contract Claims

Boston Beer may have to pay $175.5 million to Ardagh Metal Packaging for claims that it failed to fulfill the terms of a beer-can purchase contract.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/boston-beer-facing-175-5m-judgment-for-breach-of-contract-claims-09622a15