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- news
Sazerac Invests in Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila
818 Tequila, founded by Kendall Jenner, has received an investment from Sazerac, a partnership that will also loop the trendy tequila brand into the Louisville, Ky.-based spirits producer’s sales and distribution network. Sazerac announced the deal today in a press release that did not disclose the terms of the transaction. Jenner started 818 Tequila — which is owned by Calabasas Beverages — in 2021, and it experienced rapid growth right off the bat. Within the first seven months of business, 818 had sales of 136,000 cases. The article Sazerac Invests in Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila appeared first on VinePair .
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RNDC to Sell Off Oregon and Washington Markets to Columbia Distributing, With More Moves to Come
After Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) withdrew from California in 2025 and sold off twelve of its markets to Reyes Beverage Group (RBG) earlier this year, the shakeout is set to continue. RNDC — once the second-largest wine and spirits distributor in the U.S. — plans to hand over the majority of its operations to multiple competitors, including Martignetti Companies and Columbia Distributing, Shanken News Daily reports. The article RNDC to Sell Off Oregon and Washington Markets to Columbia Distributing, With More Moves to Come appeared first on VinePair .
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These Are the 50 Best Bars in North America (2026)
North America’s top bartenders were posting selfies and pictures of their suitcases from airports across the continent this weekend while cocktail enthusiasts watched from their phones. Those industry pros were en route to Vancouver, Canada, to attend this year’s awards ceremony for the North America’s 50 Best Bars. New York City’s Sip & Guzzle took the No. 1 spot, jumping up from last year’s No. 5 ranking. Behind it are Bar Mauro (No. 2) in Mexico City and Bar Snack (No. 3) in NYC. Bar Snack is the highest-ranking new entry on the list. The article These Are the 50 Best Bars in North America (2026) appeared first on VinePair .
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Four Roses Releases Second Iteration of Its 100-Proof Single Barrel Collection
Four Roses Bourbon is releasing the second iteration of its Single Barrel Collection consisting of three, 100-proof whiskeys ranging from 7 to 9 years in age. The collection offers a trio of distinct flavor profiles geared toward different taste preferences. Each single-barrel expression comes with a suggested retail price of $49.99, and the nationwide rollout will begin in May. The bottles’ names — OESQ, OESF, and OBSK — are codes that refer to their respective recipes. The article Four Roses Releases Second Iteration of Its 100-Proof Single Barrel Collection appeared first on VinePair .
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Archaeologists Discover Ancient Beer Receipts From 4,000 Years Ago
Cracking open a cold one is a common post-work ritual across many cultures today, but archaeologists discovered the practice dates back at least 4,000 years. The National Museum of Denmark has been home to a robust collection of tablets inscribed in now-extinct languages from early Middle Eastern civilizations for over a century, but archaeologists there, along with colleagues from the University of Copenhagen, only recently began to research them. The scholars deciphered a list of kings, administrative documents, and magic spells written in cuneiform — the tablet-writing system that ancient cultures in Iraq and Syria adopted around 5,200 years ago. The article Archaeologists Discover Ancient Beer Receipts From 4,000 Years Ago appeared first on VinePair .
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Firestone Walker and Duvel USA to Acquire Stone Brewing From Sapporo
Firestone Walker and Duvel Moortgat USA have agreed to acquire the Stone Brewing brand from Sapporo USA for an undisclosed amount, Brewbound reports. The transaction is slated to finalize within the second quarter of the fiscal year. California-based craft brewery Firestone Walker — in which Duvel USA acquired a majority stake in 2015 and continues to operate independently — will assume ownership of the Stone Brewing brand in California, Texas, and other western U.S. markets, along with overseeing national accounts. Duvel USA will handle Stone’s distribution east of the Rocky Mountains, according to Brewbound. The article Firestone Walker and Duvel USA to Acquire Stone Brewing From Sapporo appeared first on VinePair .
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Busch Light Returns Cult ‘Bapple’ Beer, Teases New Pickle Flavor
“Bapple,” the portmanteau of ‘Busch’ and ‘apple,’ is returning to the drinking lexicon as Busch Light is bringing its beloved apple-flavored lager back to retail shelves. Busch Light Apple — or, as fans call it, “Bapple” — will hit stores this month in limited quantities, parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) announced Monday. There’s also potential for a new pickle-flavored lager to join Busch’s portfolio of limited-edition beers. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s (TTB) Certification/Exemption of Label/Bottle Approval (COLA) registry shows a label approval from April 6 for Busch Light Pickle, which is classified as a malt-flavored beverage. The article Busch Light Returns Cult ‘Bapple’ Beer, Teases New Pickle Flavor appeared first on VinePair .
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Buffalo Trace Releases Eagle Rare 30, the Brand’s Oldest Bourbon Yet
Buffalo Trace Distillery is releasing Eagle Rare 30, the product line’s oldest bourbon yet. Bottled at 101 proof in a 750-milliliter decanter, the ultra-mature whiskey will roll out in limited quantities to retailers, bars, and restaurants beginning in May with a suggested retail price of $12,500, the distillery announced in a release. A Bonhams auction, opening on April 24 and closing May 8, will kick off Eagle Rare 30’s release and offer up the first two publicly available bottles of the new whiskey. The worldwide rollout will then begin through parent company Sazerac’s distribution network. The article Buffalo Trace Releases Eagle Rare 30, the Brand’s Oldest Bourbon Yet appeared first on VinePair .
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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. Brown-Forman’s stock has climbed 25 percent since the initial reports of its discussions with Pernod. Its shares were down just over 2 percent this morning before word of the Sazerac offer was published. The article Report: Sazerac Offered $15 Billion to Buy Brown-Forman appeared first on VinePair .
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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. The BA recorded 9,578 operating craft breweries last year. The number of microbreweries showed the largest decline with a 4.4-percent drop. Taprooms and brewpubs trailed behind with 2.7 and 2.5 percent decreases, respectively. In its annual craft brewing industry production report, the BA documents the craft segment’s total output by volume, number of breweries, market share, and workforce size. The article These Are the Top 50 Craft Breweries of 2025 appeared first on VinePair .
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White Claw Maker Mark Anthony Group to Acquire The Finnish Long Drink
The Mark Anthony Group of Companies has agreed to acquire The Finnish Long Drink, a canned, gin-based sparkling cocktail. Terms of the transaction, which was announced today and is set to finalize in coming weeks, are undisclosed. Mark Anthony, which owns popular ready-to-drink brands like White Claw Hard Seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade, will acquire The Finnish Long Drink as the brand comes off a year with near-20 percent growth in volume and sales of 3.3 million 9-liter case equivalents, according to Shanken News Daily’s Impact Databank. The article White Claw Maker Mark Anthony Group to Acquire The Finnish Long Drink appeared first on VinePair .
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Reports Suggest Sazerac in Talks With Brown-Forman Following Rumors of Pernod Merger
Weeks after news broke of discussions between Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman about a potential deal, Sazerac is allegedly throwing its hat in the ring. The Kentucky-based spirits producer Sazerac approached Jack Daniel’s maker Brown-Forman about a deal, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to the Wall Street Journal. Brown-Forman shares spiked following the news of Sazerac’s interest and are up by over 11 percent at the time of publication. A similar jump occurred after reports last month revealed its talks with French spirits supplier Pernod Ricard. The article Reports Suggest Sazerac in Talks With Brown-Forman Following Rumors of Pernod Merger appeared first on VinePair .
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Mapped: How Much a Pint of Beer Costs Across All 50 U.S. States in 2026
As on-premise booze sales grow, prices at bars and restaurants increase to match that rising demand. The median price for beer at bars and restaurants in the U.S. is now $6.52, a 1.9 percent year-over-year markup from 2025, according to data collected by Toast. Costs in individual states are following the upward trend. Hawaii records the highest median price for a pint of beer out of all 50 states in 2026 at $8.00. Trailing behind it are New York at $7.97 and California at $7.96. The article Mapped: How Much a Pint of Beer Costs Across All 50 U.S. States in 2026 appeared first on VinePair .
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Coca-Cola to Replace Pepsi Across Marriott Hotels Worldwide, Ending 34-Year Partnership
The Coca-Cola Company will replace PepsiCo as the beverage provider for Marriott International, following an agreement between the beverage giant and massive hotel chain, Atlanta News First reports. The deal will exchange all Pepsi products for its direct competitor’s beverages in all of Marriott’s lobby bars, mini-markets, and mini-fridges worldwide. The swap upends Pepsi’s 34-year deal with Marriott, which operates over 9,700 properties in 143 countries. Pepsi ousted Coca-Cola as the hotel chain’s beverage supplier in 1992, following Coke’s refusal to pay up to $100 million in loans to Marriott. The article Coca-Cola to Replace Pepsi Across Marriott Hotels Worldwide, Ending 34-Year Partnership appeared first on VinePair .
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New Report: NYC Is the First Major City to Cross $9 Threshold for a Pint of Beer
The median price for a pint of beer in Manhattan has climbed to $9.16, making it the first and only major city in the U.S. to surpass the $9 mark, according to data collected by Toast. The national median inched up 1.9 percent year-over-year to $6.52, per the report. Costs inflated most drastically in Philadelphia, Nashville, and Washington, D.C., with a 3 percent or more hike in each zone. Boston came in as the second-most expensive city for beer, where the most frequent price is creeping toward the $9 threshold at $8.69. The article New Report: NYC Is the First Major City to Cross $9 Threshold for a Pint of Beer appeared first on VinePair .
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Buffalo Trace Releases Two New Whiskeys — Single Oak Rye Bourbon and Low Entry Proof Wheated Bourbon
Buffalo Trace has announced the release of two new bourbons as part of two collections in its lineup, according to recent reporting. The distillery is cementing its 27-year-long Single Oak Project as a permanent product line with the debut of Single Oak Rye Bourbon. It is simultaneously releasing Low Entry Proof Wheated Bourbon as part of its Experimental Collection. The highly limited rollout for both newcomers will begin this month. The article Buffalo Trace Releases Two New Whiskeys — Single Oak Rye Bourbon and Low Entry Proof Wheated Bourbon appeared first on VinePair .
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Gallo Finalizes Acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon From Kirin Holdings
Megawatt wine, beer, and spirits producer E&J Gallo Winery announced today that it completed its acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon from Japan beverage conglomerate Kirin Holdings. Neither party disclosed the terms of the transaction. The completion comes roughly two months after Gallo agreed to acquire the premium bourbon brand for up to $775 million dollars. Kirin began shopping Four Roses around for $1 billion in October. UBS Investment Bank and Jefferies advised Kirin and Gallo, respectively, to finalize the sale. The article Gallo Finalizes Acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon From Kirin Holdings appeared first on VinePair .
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U.S. Spirits Exports Slid 3.8 Percent in 2025 Amid Ongoing Tariff Battle
Revenue from U.S. spirits exports dipped by 3.8 percent in 2025, a much gentler drop than the 26 percent plummet experienced by the wine and beer categories. Exports of American spirits raked in $2.37 billion last year according to the 2025 American Spirits Exports report from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). Ongoing international trade battles, particularly in key markets across Canada and the European Union, account for much of the dip, DISCUS says in a press release about the report. The article U.S. Spirits Exports Slid 3.8 Percent in 2025 Amid Ongoing Tariff Battle appeared first on VinePair .
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With ‘High Voltage,’ Shock Top Follows Voodoo Ranger up the ABV Ladder
Now that a slew of popular craft beer brands, including Voodoo Ranger and Dogfish Head, have put out high-ABV new releases, Shock Top wants in. The brand debuted High Voltage, which comes in at 9.6 percent ABV, in Southern California markets today, making this new offering the brewery’s product with the highest alcohol content yet. The beer will reach shelves nationwide beginning in May. The article With ‘High Voltage,’ Shock Top Follows Voodoo Ranger up the ABV Ladder appeared first on VinePair .
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1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Breaks Record for Most Expensive Bottle of Wine Sold at Auction
A bottle of 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) sold for a record-smashing $812,500 at Acker’s annual La Paulée Auction this weekend. The auction raked in $25 million in total sales from bottles produced by additional famed Burgundian estates like Domaine Dujac, Leflaive, Coche-Dury, and others, and set an additional, 459 unspecified world records related to pricing, according to a press release. The near-$1 million sale bested the previous world record set at a Sotheby’s auction in 2018 when a different bottle of 1945 DRC went for $558,000, solidifying the cuvée as the current most-prized bottle for wine collectors. The article 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Breaks Record for Most Expensive Bottle of Wine Sold at Auction appeared first on VinePair .
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Costco’s ‘Got That Dog’ in New Bourbon With Iconic $1.50 Hot Dog on the Label
On Friday, Costco customers shopping in the alcohol aisles found themselves face to face with a frankfurter. Last week, Costco added to its shelves a new bourbon called “I Got That Dog in Me,” bearing a label with the chain’s famous $1.50 hot dog and soda combo. Now, Costco loyalists are vying to guzzle the viral glizzy in bourbon form: Since the product’s unannounced release, redditors have been flaunting their prized purchases to the r/Costco_alcohol, r/Costco, and r/whiskey forums. The article Costco’s ‘Got That Dog’ in New Bourbon With Iconic $1.50 Hot Dog on the Label appeared first on VinePair .
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Reports: Pernod Ricard Held Acquisition, Merger Talks with Brown Forman
UPDATE 3/27/26: Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman confirmed the discussions about a potential deal between the two entities in separate releases late yesterday. Both refer to the “potential business combination” as a “merger of equals.” Pernod and Brown-Forman both say they will release no further communications until they reach an agreement. We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. Pernod Ricard is in talks to merge with or acquire Brown-Forman. The article Reports: Pernod Ricard Held Acquisition, Merger Talks with Brown Forman appeared first on VinePair .
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New Report Ranks Most Popular Spirits Brands for Shots on American Menus
As the affordability crisis encroaches into alcohol sales, shots, with their high ABV and relatively cheap cost, look appealing to some Americans. From February 2025 to 2026, Jameson and Fireball were the most common brands listed on shots menus at independent bars and restaurants across the U.S. according to a new report from the research company Ground Signal. Patron, Jagermeister, and Don Julio round out the top five spirits most popular for shots. The survey included menus from chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and Top Golf as a secondary data set combined with the independent brands. The article New Report Ranks Most Popular Spirits Brands for Shots on American Menus appeared first on VinePair .
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Buffalo Trace Releases Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat, an Experimental Bourbon With an Unlikely Grain
Buffalo Trace is expanding its Daniel Weller line of experimental wheated bourbons with Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat. The release is just the second edition in the line, which debuted in 2023 with Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat. Spelt Wheat’s rollout will be limited with a suggested retail price of $549.99. The distillery opted to work with spelt — an ancient grain typically relegated to bread and beer production — because of its nutty yet smooth flavor profile, according to a press release. The choice in wheat is an extension of the Weller bourbon tradition: The Daniel Weller line honors W.L. The article Buffalo Trace Releases Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat, an Experimental Bourbon With an Unlikely Grain appeared first on VinePair .