What the Numbers Really Say About Gin in the U.S. Market
While overall gin volume sales continue to decline, premium-and-above brands are growing, revealing a category in transition rather than retreat
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Resurrecting the Three-Chamber Still—and the Flavor of Pre-Prohibition Whiskey
Though costly and labor-intensive, the nearly extinct three-chamber still is being revived by tradition-obsessed distillers chasing the character of pre-Prohibition American whiskey
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Soju and Shōchū Are Paving the Way for Asian Spirits in the U.S. Market
As consumer interest grows, soju, shōchū, and baijiu are following distinct paths in the U.S. market, signaling that Asian spirits are evolving beyond a single trend
5 Reasons Bartenders Are Embracing Root Vegetables
Root vegetables are becoming valuable tools behind the bar, offering natural sweetness, richer texture, longer-lasting ingredients, and new opportunities for food pairing
Is Sotol the Next Breakout Mexican Spirit in the U.S.?
Tequila and mezcal have paved the way for another Mexican spirit to grow in the United States, and sotol is indeed on the rise—but just how big can it really get?
The Rise of Olive Oil Behind the Bar
With the right variety and technique, olive oil can bring both texture and flavor to spirit-forward drinks, and bartenders across the country are experimenting with its possibilities
6 Spirits Industry and Cocktail Trends to Watch in 2026
Cocktails lean toward “ready-to-eat,” the gin category gets a leg up from Gen Z, and a sustainability-minded zeitgeist pushes waste-based spirits from novelty to mainstream
Meet the Next Generation of Japanese Whisky Producers
Japanese whisky, long dominated by two players, has seen an influx of new producers in recent years—and now a few standout brands are reaching maturity and garnering acclaim
Searching for Terroir in Tequila—Beyond the Highlands and Lowlands
If the agave cultivation and production process is approached with care, each tequila-producing state and subregion—even a single rancho—has the potential to demonstrate a unique sense of place
Can Non-Mexican Agave Spirits Go Mainstream?
Domestically produced agave spirits currently comprise a tiny percentage of the U.S. market, but as the category grows, producers are betting there’s room on the shelf
5 Cocktail and Spirits Industry Trends to Watch in 2025
Between greater scrutiny of celebrity spirits and the looming threat of a trade war, these are the trends and issues the industry will be talking about in the year ahead
How New Japanese Whisky Regulations Will Impact the U.S. Market
Stricter production standards for Japanese whisky are already shaking up the category, from established brands reclassifying SKUs as world whisky to a new influx of Japanese whiskies arriving stateside
How the Conflict in Additive-Free Tequila Is Hurting Small Brands
There is a dispute in the tequila industry over the right to certify and label tequila as additive free—but the small brands producing it are bearing the brunt of the fallout
What Will Be the Next ‘Bartender’s Ketchup’?
Bartenders share the qualities of a must-have cocktail modifiers and speculate on which ones will reach the top shelf
5 Cocktail and Spirits Industry Trends to Watch in 2024
Non-alcoholic beverages meet the mainstream, Gen Z arrives on the scene, and coffee cocktails move beyond the Espresso Martini
Does Premium Whiskey Need a Box?
Secondary packaging signifies a bottle’s collectable status in the premium whiskey market, but, now that sustainability is top of mind, consumers are shifting their priorities
What’s Driving the Growth of Calvados in the U.S. Market?
As Americans’ love for apples coincides with a rising appreciation for brown spirits, Calvados finds a new home in the U.S. market
The New Generation Fueling Arak’s U.S. Growth
The Levantine spirit arak is finding inroads in the U.S. market thanks to the work of passionate producers and importers
Could This Be the Year of Pisco?
5 Spirits and Cocktail Trends to Watch in 2023
The spirits industry is evolving to meet shifting consumer demands and a changing world. Here are the trends that will shape the year to come
Our Top Spirits Stories of 2022
From complications of agave spirits’ massive growth to the evolving category of ready-to-drink cocktails, these are the spirits stories that resonated most this past year
Why Some Producers No Longer Call Their Spirits Mezcal
A cumbersome certification process and growing consumer awareness have prompted more mezcal distillers to embrace the agave spirits label instead.
Meet the New Breed of Independent American Whiskey Bottlers
These U.S. producers are adapting a Scottish practice to make whiskeys by blending barrels from select craft distillers
American Single Malt Whiskey’s Long Fight for Official Recognition
With the TTB’s new standards of identity poised for approval, is it finally American single malt’s time to shine?
Do Pink Spirits Really Drive Sales?
Driven by continued growth of rosé wine, as well as visual appeal in the glass and on social media, the color pink has spread its way across clear spirit categories
Is It Time To Pay Attention to English Whisky?
English whisky, a previously nonexistent category, is growing fast with a flurry of new brands soon to arrive on U.S. shores
