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- news
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 .
- news
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 .
- news
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 .
- news
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 .
- news
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 .