VinePair

Today on the VinePair Podcast: Why Are Spirits Brands Bypassing Bartenders for Somms? Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the curious case of spirits brands and even prestige publications turning to sommeliers in lieu of bartenders for site visits, trips, and expert commentary. Is there actually some logic in looking beyond the traditional framework of "top bartenders at top bars" when you're either looking to make inroads in the on-premise or just get some good, audience-friendly commentary? 🔊 Apple: https://lnkd.in/eSX9nQmf 🔊 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eQvFkyNp 📺 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eMS38sAk Watch a preview 👇

Today on VinePair's The Buildout Podcast: Bar Goto When Kenta Goto left Pegu Club to open his own place on the Lower East Side, he was stepping into unfamiliar territory. He knew how to run a great bar program — but building a business from the ground up was something else entirely. So he did what came naturally: he studied. Kenta read everything he could about owning and operating a business, and that preparation paid off. From day one, Bar Goto clicked, eventually growing into one of the city’s most beloved bars and expanding with a second location in Brooklyn. On this episode of The Buildout, Kenta sits down with Adam to talk about taking the leap from star bartender to owner, what he learned while preparing to open, and how Bar Goto became a lasting New York success. 🔊 Apple: https://lnkd.in/eqExWsfc 🔊 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e7nMmugk 📺 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eFd8bkqw Watch a preview 👇

Filed some quick analysis for VinePair about the latest bev-alc M&A, which has some unlikely crossover between my beer-industry and East End Richmond beats. (Scroll to "VP Pro Take" halfway down.) 🔗 Link in the comments.

The Whiskey Glut Won’t Lower Prices, but It Will Mean Older, Better Bottles Whiskey has an oversupply problem. In both bourbon and Scotch, stocks are way up, consumption is flat to down, and many producers are responding by slowing or pausing production, temporarily closing distilleries, and, in some cases, laying off staff. The surplus can be seen on retail shelves, which are packed with more whiskeys than ever — and bottles staying put longer than they were just a couple of years ago. The usual supply-and-demand dynamics suggest that whiskey producers should be aiming to stimulate sales by lowering prices. That would be great news for consumers. But the reality is not as straightforward as just slashing the number on the shelf. Whether and when retail prices of whiskey decrease depends on a number of factors, some of which are well outside the control of the distiller or bottler. Read Susannah Skiver Barton's latest for VP Pro: https://lnkd.in/eHatXBjj

Today on the VinePair Podcast: What Can Bev Alc Learn From Fast Food? Adam Teeter, Joanna Sciarrino, and Zachary Geballe chat about how drinks companies and brands would be wise to learn some of the lessons that the fast food and fast-casual restaurant industries have been learning of late: how you need to keep listening to your core consumers, how your executives can be powerful tools or impediments in your marketing aims, and how pricing is ultra-critical to making your business work. 🔊 Apple: https://lnkd.in/eMWqxEav 🔊 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e2CUb9qC 📺 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eSirTxvf Watch a preview 👇

👑 White Claw’s Parent Co. Bought Finnish Long Drink Because Flavor Is King 👑 🍊 In my column this week at VinePair, I went deeper on Mark Anthony Brands’ acquisition of The Finnish Long Drink, which comes just weeks after Molson Coors bought Atomic Brands, the parent company of gas-station hitter Monaco. Unlike the latter spirits-based RTD deal, this one is such an obvious move it almost makes me angry. 🔗 Link in the comments.

🚨 Report: Sazerac Offered $15 Billion to Buy Brown-Forman Sazerac reportedly offered around $15 billion to buy Brown-Forman. The offer comes after news of discussions for a potential deal between French spirits producer Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman, followed by rumors that Sazerac also approached the Louisville, Ky.-based whiskey giant. Brown-Forman’s shares are trading at $29.57 at the time of publication. Sazerac offered to buy Brown-Forman for $32 a share, the Wall Street Journal reports: https://lnkd.in/er_jHKia

Today on VinePair's The Buildout Podcast: Cure When Cure opened, Neal Bodenheimer had a simple goal: create a great neighborhood bar. He did that—and then some. Over the years, Cure has grown into one of the country’s most celebrated drinking destinations, a New Orleans modern classic, and a must-visit for anyone in search of an exceptional Sazerac. On this episode of The Buildout, Neal joins Adam Teeter to share the story behind Cure, why he returned to New Orleans to open it, and how the bar became an institution far beyond its neighborhood. 🔊 Apple: https://lnkd.in/ePEhDbbn 🔊 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eN8FE3PA 📺 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/emYmyzjc Watch a preview 👇

🍺📉 These Are the Top 50 Craft Breweries of 2025 The number of craft breweries in the U.S. contracted for the second year in a row in 2025 with a 2.9-percent year-over-year decrease, according to the Brewers Association’s (BA) annual production report for the craft industry. Total production in the craft industry dipped by 5.1 percent last year, a less drastic drop than beer’s overall 5.7-percent decrease in volume. Craft’s less dramatic dip in volume than the entire category helped it lift its market share by 0.1 percent. Independently, 60 percent of all U.S. craft breweries reported declines in volume, 39 percent reported growth, and 1 percent reported no change. See the Top 50: https://lnkd.in/ea3G3kSg

Today on the VinePair Podcast: Is Brown-Forman For Sale? To Whom? With rumors swirling that Kentucky spirits company Brown-Forman might be for sale, and with both French giant Pernod Ricard and fellow Kentucky company Sazerac Company both said to be in talks, Adam Teeter, Joanna Sciarrino, and Zachary Geballe discuss the timing and particularities of this potential acquisition. Does either company have a clear roadmap to get whiskey giant Jack Daniels back on track? Are there other brands in the Brown-Forman portfolio that could be driving this move? Does a publicly traded company or a privately held one make more sense here? 🔊 Apple: https://lnkd.in/etfgmNQA 🔊 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/evSPDdjq 📺 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eVysqXGy Watch a preview 👇