Good Morning and Happy Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Trump's Tariffs Are Working as Planned on Wine

Presdient Trump's tariff regime, which celebrates its first anniversary April 1, had as a major objective to shift producton of all sorts back to the U.S from overseas. That certainly is what's happening in the wine trade. 

American Whiskey 'Not in Structural Decline,' But Needs Stable Policy: Bilello

Since "Liberation Day," when President Trump began imposing tariffs on a global basis, American whiskey producers have continued to navigate a difficult landscape marked by trade friction, retaliatory pressures, market uncertainty, and uneven conditions in key export markets, said Michael Bilello, President/CEO, American Whiskey Association.. 

John O'Keeffe to Lead Diageo North America as Sally Grimes Steps Down

John O'Keeffe has been named CEO of Diageo North America. The Diageo veteran succeeds Sally Grimes, who said on LinkedIn that she will be dedicating her time "to leading The Noah John Grimes Family Foundation"

Reyes Hires Breakthru Beverage Vet Brian Albenze to Manage Markets It's Acquiring

Reyes Beverage Group said it hired Brian Albenze to oversee the markets it is acquiring from Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC): Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington DC. 

De-alc tech can help fix smoke taint

Spinning cone column (SCC) distillation is a leading technology used for creating no- and low-alcohol wine products. Now, researchers at Adelaide University in Australia have found that when combined with the use of activated carbon – a method traditionally used to remove impurities from wine – SCC distillation better mitigated smoke taint

Knob Creek Debuts Blender's Edition

James B. Beam Distilling Co., home of The Small Batch Bourbon Collection, introduces Knob Creek Blender's Edition, a new series of limited-edition whiskeys celebrating one of the most skilled and nuanced crafts in whiskey making: blending. 

Four Peaks Brewing Marks 30 Years of Craft Beer and Legacy of Kilt Lifter

Four Peaks Brewing is celebrating 30 years of brewing in Arizona by raising a pint to the beer that helped put the brewery on the map: Kilt Lifter. First brewed in the early days of the company, Kilt Lifter has grown from a small-batch experiment into one of the most

Montanya Rum Enters Texas, Launching in DFW and Houston via Texas Spirits

Crafted at 8,888 feet in Crested Butte, Colo., using pristine Rocky Mountain snowmelt and Louisiana-grown sugarcane, Montanya Rum is being positioned as "American Mountain Rum," a move Owner and Master Distiller Megan Campbell says "reflects both its terroir and philosophy: rum that celebrates effort, achievement, and

Fever-Tree Expands Pineapple Ginger Beer and Mojito Mix Availability

Fever-Tree Pineapple Ginger Beer and Mojito will be expanding distribution this Spring nationwide, with Pineapple Ginger Beer expanding into Albertsons and Kroger, and Classic Mojito Mix growing availability nationwide in early summer. The expansion comes as 38% of U.S. consumers associate tropical flavors like pineapple with cocktails and rum-forward

Consumer Expectations Continue to Slip

Consumer confidence was a little firmer than expected Tuesday (3/31), but the expectations number dipped and with broadening weakness being seen in the jobs market, households remain wary, James Knightley, Chief International Economist, US, at ING said.

Here's 50 of North America's Best Bars

Not the 50 best, but those ranked 50-100. The 50 best will be revealed later. The list was determined by votes cast by more than 300 independent cocktail experts, renowned bartenders, educators and drinks writers from across the region. *

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