[BND] Kane's Beverage News Daily

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Bev/Al Gets a Labor Day Weekend Sales Bump, But it Will Be Gone With the Wind

In the week ended Sept. 5, Total Alcohol saw a remarkable recovery in dollar sales, up 5,1% to $2.2 billion. NIQ says. But sales during the four weeks ended Sept. 5 of $8.4 billion were down 3.7% from a year earlier and case volume of 166 million was off 5.6% from a year earlier. We'd like to say the weekly result is the start of a major turnaround for the industry, but a look at individual categories shows lingering headwinds clouding the road to recovery. But NIQ notes the latest performance

Sazerac Acquires UK Vodka Brand

Sazerac, one of the leading and fastest-growing spirits companies in the world, said it completed its acquisition of Au Vodka, a UK-based vodka and ready-to-drink (RTD) brand. The deal was first announced as a binding agreement and has now closed following customary completion conditions. Terms of the transaction will not be disclosed. Sazerac's growth has been driven by a long-term approach to building brands, strategic acquisitions and sustained investment. From its roots in New Orleans, La.,

Veritas Legacy Partners Closes Acquisition of Veritas Vineyard & Winery

Veritas Legacy Partners said it closed on the acquisition of Veritas Vineyard & Winery, one of Virginia’s premier wine and vino-tourism destinations. The closing follows the transaction agreement announced earlier this year and marks a seamless transition into the winery’s next era of growth and stewardship. VLP was formed by Charlottesville, Va., entrepreneurs Architect Kurt Wassenaar and veteran real estate investor Eric Trebour. Veritas Legacy Partners was established to honor and expand the

Feds to Provide Calif. $4M to Help Fight Glassywinged Sharpshooter

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $4 million in emergency funding to address the growing threat posed by the invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) in California, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) announced. This funding will allow the CDFA to expand trace-forward investigations, increase inspections, destroy infested materials, and strengthen trapping and visual surveys at high-risk locations associated with recent GWSS-infested plant shipments. The Animal and Plant Healt

Original Pickle Shot Aligns with Southern Glazer's in 24 States

The Original Pickle Shot® (“TOPS”), the brand that created the pickle- flavored spirits category, has aligned with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s) in 24 U.S. markets and will soon be available in select Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) locations in the military channel, further strengthening its distribution as the brand continues its rapid growth across the United States. The Southern Glazer’s alignment includes Alabama, California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, M

Big Easy Whiskey Names Carlos Quinonez National Brand Ambassador

Big Easy Whiskey has named New Orleans hospitality and beverage industry veteran Carlos Quinonez as National Brand Ambassador and Market Manager, strengthening the brand's team as it prepares to expand into new markets later this year. Quinonez's appointment comes as Big Easy Whiskey prepares for continued growth in Q4, including launches in Tennessee through distribution partnerships with DET Beverage in Nashville and Athens Distributing Company in Knoxville and Chattanooga. The expansion will

House of Suntory's Haku Vodka Introduces First Campaign

The House of Suntory unveils "Made to Shine," Haku Japanese Craft Vodka's first brand campaign, and introduces internationally acclaimed musician, songwriter and actor Rina Sawayama as global brand ambassador. The campaign celebrates individuality and ingenuity, encouraging people to look beyond the familiar, challenge expectations and find their own way to shine. The campaign draws inspiration from Haku's name, meaning "white" in Japanese and evoking jyunpaku, a sense of purity and brilliance.

Captain Morgan Tours U.S. Football

Captain Morgan is hitting the road with the "Captain While You Can" Tailgate Tour, bringing the Captain—and his ship—to football towns across the country. At every stop, the Captain will lead the crew, rally hometown pride and spark the spontaneity that makes game day unforgettable, turning each tailgate into a celebration of the traditions and unexpected moments that make football culture uniquely local. This season, the Captain and his crew are raising a Captain & cola at stops along the way

Hope Family Intros Wine-in-Box for 'Troublemaker' Red, White Blends

Hope Family Wines said it introduced a 1.5 liter boxed version of its Troublemaker Red Wine and Troublemaker White Wine. The boxed version is a line extension for the regular bottled versions that are available across the country in various retail locations. The box version is produced exclusively for a major national U.S. retailer. Sourced from select vineyards in Paso Robles and neighboring AVAs on California’s Central Coast, Troublemaker is known for using an eclectic range of grape varieti

Judd's Hill Winery Another Victim of Continued Downturn in Wine Consumption

Judd's Hill Winery is winding down its winery operations and will not longer produce custom wines or operate a winery facility. "The continued downturn in wine consumption and sales has made it no longer pssible for us to continue operating," the winery said in a letter to at least some of the winery's vendors. At least one grape supplier received a notice that, “After months of pursuing every available financial solution, we are very sorry to share that we are unable to satisfy the outstandin

US Shoppers Ask if a Lower-Priced Product Will Do Job as Well as Premium

US marketplace is increasingly defined by two distinct consumer behaviors: shoppers willing to pay more for products they believe are worth it, and shoppers actively seeking lower-cost alternatives. As a result, growth is concentrating at the premium and value ends of the market, creating what NIQ and World Data Lab describe as a “barbell” market as consumers gravitate toward products that deliver exceptional value or justify a higher price point. The findings build on NIQ’s recent global resea

Jack Daniel's Debuts Tennessee Blackberry mixed with Lemonade as New RtD

Jack Daniel’s announced the debut of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry mixed with Lemonade, bringing the fan-favorite cocktail to the ready-to-drink (RTD) category for the first time in a convenient four-pack. “When we launched Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry last summer, fans quickly fell in love with its signature cocktail of Tennessee Blackberry and refreshing lemonade,” said Mary Beth O’Mara, Jack Daniel’s RTD Brand Director. “After seeing the response, we knew it was the cocktail that

Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Inducts 7

The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® today welcomed its 24th class of inductees, celebrating their lasting contributions to Kentucky’s Bourbon industry and its worldwide legacy. A record number of more than 300 industry leaders, legends and luminaries gathered in Louisville to honor the newest members of the prestigious Hall of Fame. Inductees include two pioneering scientists and distillers who helped shape modern Bourbon production, two Brown-Forman leaders who built Kentucky whiskey into

Despite Unprecedent Early Harvest, Champagne Sees 'Exceptional Quality' Wines

The 2026 growing season will be remembered as one of the most atypical in Champagne's history: severe spring frosts of historic intensity, an exceptionally early flowering period, and five heatwave episodes during the summer. Ripening progressed at an exceptional pace. The traditional harvest ban was announced on August 12, while the first vineyards had already begun picking as early as August 6. From August 17 onwards, harvesting became widespread across the region, around 14 days earlier than

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Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. – Joel