liquor Industry News

Liquor Industry News 10-19-26

Franklin Liquors

Liquor Industry News

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

By: Mark C Lenzi

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

10-19-2026

Liquor Industry News

New Products

The Human Cost of Cheap Wine

For the love of wine, have a glass

11 Popular Dark Beers Ranked Worst To Best

The Living Vineyard

How Shepherds, Six-Legged Shielders, and Sky Patrols Reclaimed the Land

https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/the-living-vineyard

Oktoberfest Is Going Nonalcoholic This Year

As demand for NA beer grows, breweries are giving one of fall’s biggest beer traditions, Oktoberfest, an alcohol-free makeover with new versions of classic märzen.

https://www.foodandwine.com/nonalcoholic-oktoberfest-octoberfest-beer-12138841

10 Red Bordeaux That Prove Great Bottles Don’t Have to Cost a Fortune

There’s never been a better time to buy Bordeaux.

https://www.foodandwine.com/affordable-bordeaux-red-wines-12134872

Hue cares?

Cornell study says wine color isn’t the whole picture

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1145505

9 Great Places to Retire if You Love Wine and Vineyards

These nine retirement destinations range from vineyard-rich regions to cities with easy access to nearby wineries and wine trails.
https://www.investopedia.com/9-great-places-to-retire-if-you-love-wine-and-vineyards-12140077

11 Popular Dark Beers Ranked Worst To Best

Organizing beers by color is akin to describing spirits as “smooth” — to connoisseurs, the designations are near-meaningless,

https://www.mashed.com/2266125/popular-dark-beers-ranked-worst-to-best

Can Scotch whisky shake off its old-fashioned image?

The fusty image of Scotch whisky has to change to meet the demands of potential new consumers. Here’s how brands are endeavoring to entice the next generation of drinkers.

Can Scotch whisky shake off its old-fashioned image?

What Does It Take to Make Bourbon Ice Cream? We Followed the Process From Barrel to Pint

To make Bourbon Ball ice cream, Graeter’s selects a barrel from New Riff that must be dumped, proofed, bottled, and routed through Ohio’s liquor-control system.

https://www.foodandwine.com/how-is-graeters-bourbon-ball-ice-cream-made-12134697

The Pantry Staple That Makes Cheap Beer Taste 10X Better

Cheap beer is a cherished beverage for those who frequent dive bars, saloons, lounges, and their neighborhood bar down the street.

https://www.tastingtable.com/2264442/pantry-staple-cheap-beer-better-salt

How world whisky is winning repeat purchases

Countries such as India, France, Australia, and Asian nations are growing their whisky offerings. But what exactly is drawing drinkers back for repeat purchases?

How world whisky is winning repeat purchases

How this electric blue wine broke the internet

Wineries have long-since scratched their heads over how to win round the wayward, increasingly sober Gen Z, but the answer may lie with an electric-blue bottle reminiscent of a fruity vape flavour. This is Echo Falls Blue Raspberry, which went viral and sold out before its official release. “It launched us back into the conversation,” its brand manager tells db.

How this electric blue wine broke the internet

Has natural wine stolen organic’s thunder?

Natural wine has captured the imagination of younger drinkers in a way organic wine has struggled to match. After 40 years championing organic viticulture, Vintage Roots co-founders Lance Pigott and Neil Palmer tell the drinks business why they think one movement has proved easier to sell than the other.

Has natural wine stolen organic’s thunder?

We Asked 11 Bartenders: What’s the Best Rye for Beginners?

Unlike the approachable sweet vanilla and caramel flavors of corn-based bourbon, rye whiskey’s unique base delivers a distinct spice note that might turn off some first-timers

https://vinepair.com/articles/wa-bartenders-best-rye-whiskey-for-beginners-2026

The Man Behind Two Buck Chuck Said No Wine Should Cost More Than $10. He Was Half Right.

The most hated man in American wine asked why an $80 bottle is worth forty times a $2 one. The research answers him, and so does his own guilty plea

https://thepolishedpalate.substack.com/p/fred-franzia-two-buck-chuck-wine-pricing

Can You Know What a Wine Tastes Like From the Label? Here’s What the Design Might Tell You

From minimalist typography to playful illustrations, a wine label can hint at everything from style and occasion to the producer’s philosophy.

https://www.foodandwine.com/wine-bottle-label-design-12145592

How to Prevent Humidity From Damaging Your Wine Cellar

Taking care to ensure good environmental conditions is an absolute must if maintaining a pristine collection of banked vintages is to be expected, since care, patience, and investment of money must all be considered.

How to Prevent Humidity From Damaging Your Wine Cellar

The One Question to Ask a Sommelier That Reveals If a Restaurant Actually Cares

A bookseller-style question that gets past the label jargon.

https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/the-one-question-to-ask-a-sommelier

Adapting, Judging, and Unlearning Wine on the Wonderful World of Wine Podcast

One of those chats has just been made available, a somewhat lengthy chat that I was invited to have on The Wonderful World of Wine podcast, hosted by Mark Lenzi and Kim Simone.

https://www.1winedude.com/adapting-judging-and-unlearning-wine-on-the-wonderful-world-of-wine-podcast

China’s wine imports continue to slide

China imported 11% less wine by volume in the first half of 2026 as the country’s long-term decline in imported wine consumption continued. However, the value of shipments edged higher as the market shifted away from cheaper wines towards more selective purchasing.

China’s wine imports continue to slide

The Best Wines to Serve at a Wedding

According to Industry Pros

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/basics/how-to-serve/best-wines-for-a-wedding

What is Biodynamic Wine Anyway?

The wine buzzword we’ve been hearing people talk about most lately is biodynamic.

https://verovino.com/vero-blog/what-is-biodynamic-wine-and-farming

Trump just banned Canadian booze — but there’s a big catch

At a high level, the Trump order bans Canadian alcohol imports under a certain size but allows for bulk shipments.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/29/economy/trump-just-banned-canadian-booze-heres-what-you-need-to-know

What US winemakers don’t have to tell UK consumers

A UK-US wine agreement formally published by the British Government on 30 September has laid bare the extent to which winemaking techniques can remain invisible to consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.

What US winemakers don’t have to tell UK consumers

King of Kentucky Single Barrel Is Back With a 14-Year-Old Bourbon Starting at 125 Proof

Only 99 barrels made the cut this year, with bottles arriving this fall at a suggested price of $399.

https://www.foodandwine.com/king-of-kentucky-single-barrel-bourbon-14-year-2026-12149559

What Happens to Your Body After 30 Alcohol-Free Days of Sober October?

Doctors say some changes can emerge within days, while others build gradually throughout the month — and beyond.

https://www.foodandwine.com/health-benefits-of-not-drinking-for-a-month-12134696

Diageo wins ‘100% agave’ Tequila lawsuit

Diageo has secured a significant court victory over allegations that its Don Julio and Casamigos tequilas were falsely marketed as “100% agave”. A New York federal judge dismissed the lawsuit after finding that the plaintiffs had failed to provide sufficient evidence of widespread adulteration.

Diageo wins ‘100% agave’ Tequila lawsuit

How Do You Make a Tequila Smooth?

Four master distillers explain why smooth tequila is made, not fixed.

https://www.tequilareport.com/p/how-do-you-make-a-tequila-smooth

Taylor Swift Pours a Darker Glass in Her Newest Wine-Filled Music Video

The self-proclaimed white-wine fan trades Sancerre for brooding reds in a visually striking new release

https://www.winespectator.com/articles/taylor-swift-pours-a-darker-glass-in-wine-filled-music-video

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Taint

Smoke taint is primarily a problem in red grapes, although it can affect whites as well.

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Taint

Machines Are Replacing This Centuries-Old Sparkling Wine Tradition

Riddling takes a month by hand and 7 days by machine. Some winemakers aren’t ready to let it go.

https://www.foodandwine.com/traditional-hand-riddling-may-disappear-12153168

What’s Really in That Bold Red Wine? And What Really Caused Your Hangover?

The inside dirt on Mega Purple and other wine additives, from one of Dallas’ top sommeliers.

https://www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2026/10/red-wine-sulfites-hangover-mega-purple

Introducing the Old Vine Registry Seal

With the exception of a few regions in Spain (Priorat, Rioja, Ribera del Duero) and in Greece, the term “old vines” isn’t officially regulated or defined anywhere.

https://www.vinography.com/2026/10/introducing-the-old-vine-registry-seal

3 of the best wineries in Napa Valley to visit

From wine caves to mountaintop vineyards, these Napa Valley wineries pair memorable wine tastings with beautiful scenery and unique experiences

https://qz.com/best-wineries-napa-valley-readers-digest#3-of-the-best-wineries-in-napa-valley-to-visit

What’s In Your Glass? Napa Winery Launches Ingredient Labels

Napa’s Honig Vineyard and Winery is providing this information on its bottles, and hopes other vintners will follow suit

https://www.winespectator.com/articles/napa-winery-launches-ingredient-labels

For the love of wine, have a glass

The wine industry in California and around the world is suffering, and I find it heartbreaking that something so deeply human–one of the oldest threads running through civilization–is struggling to survive.

https://www.post-journal.com/news/local-news/2026/10/for-the-love-of-wine-have-a-glass

The Simple Trick To Chill Wine Quickly—And No, It’s Not The Freezer

Chill a bottle in as little as 15 minutes.

https://www.southernliving.com/the-simple-trick-to-chill-wine-quickly-11970979

There are rules that distinguish sparkling wine from Champagne

French law, recognized by over 130 countries including the EU, dictates the terms.

https://www.morningbrew.com/stories/the-rules-that-make-champagne-champagne

One Of America’s Most Beloved Beers Is Also The Worst Tasting Overall

The blue and white packaging has become nearly ubiquitous among U.S. tailgate and college football panoramas.

https://www.tastingtable.com/2270071/worst-american-beer-beloved-brand

Our Favorite Cheap Beer Brand Of All Time Was Also The Favorite Of Miners

The golden color scheme of Coors Banquet is only appropriate considering the fact it originated in Golden, Colorado.

https://www.thetakeout.com/2271454/favorite-cheap-beer-brand-coors-banquet-beer

Why becoming a beer sommelier requires ‘passion and discipline’

The Beer Sommelier accreditation, which recognizes advanced expertise in beer styles, brewing processes, sensory evaluation, food pairings, and beer service, continues to grow. db reports.

Why becoming a beer sommelier requires ‘passion and discipline’

Engineers to study whisky making in space

A joint Scottish-Japanese project to study whisky making in space may pave the way for a new generation of medicines.

Engineers to study whisky making in space

The Hands-Down Best Cheap Beer Isn’t Pabst Blue Ribbon Or Miller Lite

Cheap beer isn’t just an affordable option for college kids or a part of your local dive bar experience.

https://www.tastingtable.com/2271663/best-cheap-beer-miller-high-life

This $25 Bottle Is the World’s Best Bourbon, According to the 2026 International Wine and Spirits Competition

The bottled-in-bond bourbon earned 98 points and a Gold Outstanding medal, beating out bottles that cost hundreds of dollars more.

https://www.foodandwine.com/old-bardstown-bottled-in-bond-worlds-best-bourbon-international-wine-and-spirits-competition-2026-12154267

Future proof: Buffalo Trace Distillery

Following the completion of its billion-dollar expansion, Buffalo Trace Distillery is more set than ever to meet the needs of consumers.

Future proof: Buffalo Trace Distillery

Maker’s Mark Just Released Its First Bourbon Made With Japanese Mizunara Oak

Maker’s Mark is experimenting with one of the whiskey world’s most coveted oaks — but getting a bottle comes with a catch.

https://www.foodandwine.com/makers-mark-expedition-01-world-wood-collection-12159649

What’s The Difference Between Red Wine And Rosé?

For the average wine drinker who’s unscrewing a bottle at the end of a long week, the differences between rosé and red wine boil down to a few pinky-red shades.

https://www.mashed.com/2271940/difference-between-red-wine-rose-explained

The Human Cost of Cheap Wine

Why Social Equity is the Real Test of Sustainability

https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/the-human-cost-of-cheap-wine

US craft distiller numbers continue to tumble

The number of craft distillers in the US fell by 6.6% in the 12 months to August 2026, while volume and value sales declined for the third year in a row.

US craft distiller numbers continue to tumble

Tequila School: How to Buy, Taste, and Talk About Tequila

Fourteen answers to the questions most drinkers stop asking too soon.

https://www.tequilareport.com/p/tequila-school-how-to-buy-taste-and-talk-about-tequila

The 30 Best Rye Whiskeys to Drink in 2026

Every year, with every new list of the best rye whiskeys, every booze writer out there tries to convince you that this (this!) is finally rye’s time to shine again.

https://vinepair.com/buy-this-booze/best-rye-whiskeys-2026

Low-Alcohol Wine Is the New Way to Drink in Moderation

Winemakers are borrowing techniques from the nonalcoholic wine world to make lower-calorie, lower-ABV bottles that still deliver excellent flavor and texture.

https://www.foodandwine.com/great-low-alcohol-wine-12161298

Why Wild Turkey’s New $300 Russell’s Reserve Bourbon Tastes Like a Rye

The secret to its unusually spicy, earthy profile comes down to where the barrels spent more than a decade aging.

https://www.foodandwine.com/russells-reserve-single-rickhouse-camp-nelson-d-12159662

This 104-Proof Limited-Release Is the Best American Whiskey of 2026, According to the International Wine & Spirits Competition

The $140 blend combines aged bourbon and rye, but its unusual finishing process helps explain its near-perfect score.

https://www.foodandwine.com/bardstown-bourbon-company-lochs-of-jura-barrel-finish-best-american-whiskey-international-wine-and-spirits-competition-2026-12161157

Has alcohol really doubled the number of cancer deaths in the US?

The International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research has challenged the findings of a study that suggests alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the US doubled between 1990 and 2023. Sarah Neish reports.

Has alcohol really doubled the number of cancer deaths in the US?

AI learns to detect wine faults before humans can

Moët Hennessy, Analog Devices and UC Davis have demonstrated an AI-powered system capable of identifying the chemical signatures associated with a potential wine fault before it would traditionally be detected. The technology could eventually be used to detect vine disease and problems associated with wildfires.

AI learns to detect wine faults before humans can

A French Appellation has Died. Who Cares?

Last month, France lost one of its hundreds of appellations. The first of how many?

https://robertejoseph.substack.com/p/a-french-appellation-has-died-who

10 Bottles From Mexico to Try Beyond Tequila and Mezcal

Given the country’s sheer diversity of creative influences, it’s no surprise that the world has become increasingly fascinated by what Mexico is pouring.

https://vinepair.com/articles/mexican-spirits-to-try-beyond-tequila-mezcal

English distillers challenge whisky GI

Two producers have appealed against the new English whisky GI, claiming they shouldn’t need copper stills to make single malt.

English distillers challenge whisky GI

People Still Want Wine at Their Gatherings—but Gathering Is the Challenge

According to a new survey, people still want wine on the table. It’s just a matter of finding the time (and budget) to gather.

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/industry-news/come-over-october-survey

Crown Royal takes world’s strongest-performing spirit title

Diageo’s Crown Royal whisky has been named the strongest-performing spirit globally, while three Tequila brands grew the fastest in a ranking of the 50 most valuable spirits brands.

Crown Royal takes world’s strongest-performing spirit title

Offering alcohol-free beer on tap boosts pub choices while keeping revenues intact, new study shows

Simple changes to pub environments can encourage drinkers to choose alcohol-free options without harming profits, according to new research from the University of York.

https://phys.org/news/2026-10-alcohol-free-beer-boosts-pub.html