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- news
The States That Tax Beer the Most (2026)
In the U.S., taxes account for a higher percentage of the cost of beer than ingredients, labor, and other materials combined. It’s a result of levies collected by several parties. A federal excise tax ranges from $0.11 to $0.58 per gallon of fermented malt beverages based on production, quantity and brewery location. Each state and Washington D.C. also imposes individual excise taxes on beer, and, from there, municipal-level levies and retail sales taxes drive the price up. The article The States That Tax Beer the Most (2026) appeared first on VinePair .
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The Glendronach Releases Limited-Edition 56-Year-Old Whisky to Commemorate Bicentennial
The Glendronach is debuting a 56-year-old Scotch whisky, the brand’s oldest expression yet, to celebrate the insider distillery’s bicentennial anniversary. With just 12 bottles allocated to the U.S. market and only 200 available worldwide, the brand is tailoring the ultrapremium release toward collectors and connoisseurs, as demonstrated by the suggested retail price of $49,000, according to a press release announcing the rollout. The 56-year age statement is more than a random choice: The Glendronach distilled the whisky in 1968, a year that produced a vintage known among devotees as the “Holy Grail” for the producer, the announcement says. The article The Glendronach Releases Limited-Edition 56-Year-Old Whisky to Commemorate Bicentennial appeared first on VinePair .
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Uncle Nearest Dispute Escalates as Judge Dismisses Co-Founder’s Bankruptcy Case; Lender Fight Continues
UPDATE 3/19/26: After an expedited hearing this morning, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne H. Bauknight granted the motion to dismiss brought by receiver Phillip Young. According to court documents, Bauknight ruled that Uncle Nearest co-founder Fawn Weaver was not authorized to file bankruptcy petitions while under the control of a receiver. The court stated that by filing the Chapter 11 petition earlier this week, Weaver violated U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr.’s order that put the receivership in place, which only permitted her to market and manage the Uncle Nearest brand. As a result, the receivership under Young remains intact. The article Uncle Nearest Dispute Escalates as Judge Dismisses Co-Founder’s Bankruptcy Case; Lender Fight Continues appeared first on VinePair .
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Elijah Craig Releases First 15-Year-Old Single-Barrel Bourbon at 108 Proof
Elijah Craig is adding to its single barrel expressions with a 15-year-old bourbon, the brand announced today. The release comes in at 108 proof, or 54 percent ABV, making it the second-highest in the current lineup behind the 124.2 proof Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. With its higher-proof option, the brand wants to cater to consumers with complex, robust palates, according to the release. The article Elijah Craig Releases First 15-Year-Old Single-Barrel Bourbon at 108 Proof appeared first on VinePair .
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UK Energy Secretary Urges Pubs to Serve Warmer Beer to Fight Rising Electricity Costs
Across the pond, the UK secretary of state for energy security and net zero, Ed Miliband, has launched a government-funded tool aimed at reducing energy costs for hospitality businesses. The application’s advice? Pub owners should disable refrigerators overnight and monitor ovens. Registration for the energy and carbon reduction tool opened today, sparking a wave of backlash from business owners across the UK. “To be told to turn the lights off overnight really is groundbreaking stuff,” pub owner Andy Lennox sarcastically tells The Telegraph. The article UK Energy Secretary Urges Pubs to Serve Warmer Beer to Fight Rising Electricity Costs appeared first on VinePair .
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‘Catastrophic’: U.S. Exports Drop by $357 Million After Canada’s Wine Ban
Canada’s multiple-province ban on American products caused a $357 million deficit for the U.S. wine industry. The prohibition, which started after President Trump enacted his controversial, far-reaching tariffs, prompted the value of U.S. wine exports to Canada to plummet from $460 million in 2024 to $103 million in 2025, according to a new report from Wine Institute. The shift marks a 78 percent drop in U.S. wine exports to Canada, according to the report, which summarized data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The ban also accounts for 81 percent of all losses for global U.S. wine exports last year. The article ‘Catastrophic’: U.S. Exports Drop by $357 Million After Canada’s Wine Ban appeared first on VinePair .
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New Study Finds Consumers Associate Whiskey, Tequila, and Wine With Distinct Moods
Consumers associate different types of alcohol with distinct buzzwords, according to a new study out of the University of Evansville in Indiana. Most respondents linked “party” to tequila; “sophisticated,” “chill,” and “intellectual” to wine; and “masculine” to whiskey. The findings confirm that the longstanding connections between alcohol types and mindsets are learned behavior, not feelings based on their physiological effects. “These findings show that alcohol can function as a ‘symbolic cue,’” writes Logan Pant, the study’s author and an assistant professor of marketing, in The Conversation. The article New Study Finds Consumers Associate Whiskey, Tequila, and Wine With Distinct Moods appeared first on VinePair .
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Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Company and Maplewood Brewery Merge Amid Craft Consolidation Wave
Half Acre Beer Company and Maplewood Brewery & Distillery, two of Chicago’s largest craft breweries, are set to merge into a new beverage company, the businesses announced on Tuesday. Both breweries will operate independently at their respective taprooms, but the joint venture will consolidate their behind-the-scenes business operations to form an unnamed, “premier Chicago beverage company,” per the release. The merger comes after a wave of shutterings in the Windy City’s craft beer scene. Five breweries, including Casa Humilde, have closed or announced closures in just the last six weeks. The article Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Company and Maplewood Brewery Merge Amid Craft Consolidation Wave appeared first on VinePair .
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Expanding Middle-Tier Mega-Deal, RNDC Says Reyes Will Buy Five More Markets
The biggest news in the beverage-alcohol industry’s middle tier is getting bigger: Reyes Beverage Group (RBG) will acquire five additional markets from its rival, Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC). VinePair has reviewed internal communications from the latter wholesaler describing the purchase, which is an expansion and revision of the previously announced exchange. “As you know, we have been in discussions with Reyes about their potential acquisition of some of our markets, including Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.,” wrote Marc Sachs, the chief executive officer of RNDC, in a Friday morning memo. The article Expanding Middle-Tier Mega-Deal, RNDC Says Reyes Will Buy Five More Markets appeared first on VinePair .
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Four Loko Owner Considering Sale of Infamous Party Beverage
Packaged in massive 24-ounce tallboys decorated with vibrant camouflage packaging, Four Loko is one of the most notorious party beverages of all time. And it could soon be up for grabs. According to Reuters, Four Loko’s parent company, Chicago-based Phusion Projects — which also owns Mamitas, Basico Tequila, Pirate Water, and Earthquake — is currently exploring a sale of the brand that could see it valued at approximately $400 million. Three sources close to the matter reported that the company is working with JPMorgan on the deal, though the investment bank declined Reuters’ request for comment. The article Four Loko Owner Considering Sale of Infamous Party Beverage appeared first on VinePair .
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These Are the 25 Largest Wine Suppliers in the U.S. (2026)
E&J Gallo Winery continued to lead the list of the largest wine suppliers in the U.S. in 2025, underscoring the Gallo portfolio’s reach to all types of consumers, data from a WineBusiness report shows. Gallo, which owns established producers like Orin Swift Cellars and Louis M. Martini as well as Gen Z-geared brands like Whiny Baby, sold 90 million cases of wine last year. The Wine Group was ranked second with 43 million cases sold. The article These Are the 25 Largest Wine Suppliers in the U.S. (2026) appeared first on VinePair .
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Heaven Hill’s 2026 Heritage Collection Release Is the Series’ Oldest Bourbon Yet
Heaven Hill Distillery is debuting a limited-edition, 22-year-old bourbon as the 2026 edition of the Heritage Collection, marking the oldest release in the brand’s annual series. Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is now available in limited quantities across the U.S. and in select international markets, the distillery announced today. This year’s Heritage Collection release, which fans await each spring, features the distillery’s traditional bourbon mashbill comprised of 78 percent corn, 10 percent rye, and 12 percent malted barley. The article Heaven Hill’s 2026 Heritage Collection Release Is the Series’ Oldest Bourbon Yet appeared first on VinePair .
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Analysis: Tilray Brands Buys Brewdog for $44M — a Dramatic Fall From Its $2B+ Peak Valuation
Tilray Brands, Inc. acquired BrewDog for £33 million, or $44 million, a sum representing a massive drop from the Scottish craft brewery’s peak $2.7 billion valuation. Tilray, a New York-based consumer packaged goods company producing cannabis and beverage products, assumes ownership of the global brand, UK brewing operations, and 11 brewpubs around the UK and Ireland. BrewDog began eyeing potential buyers when it hired the consulting firm AlixPartners to oversee its sale last month. The purchase comes after a string of losses for the brand, which had made strides as a leading craft brewery after its 2007 founding. The article Analysis: Tilray Brands Buys Brewdog for $44M — a Dramatic Fall From Its $2B+ Peak Valuation appeared first on VinePair .