[BND] Your Breakfast Briefing

Good Morning and Happy Monday, May 4, 2026.

Behind the Scenes on Lifting the Whiskey Tariffs

We caught up with Chris Swonger, president/ceo of the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., and asked him about the role DISCUS played in President Trump's announcement that he was lifting the10% tariff on whiskey from the United Kingdom. You can watch the unedited interview here. Key points include:

• Swonger worked closely for more than a year with Amb. Mark Kent, the president of the Scotch Whisky Association.
• There had been ongoing discussions. But "you never know the exact timing when something like this might happen. We were really excited when the announcement came on Truth Social."
• It's obvious the King and President Trump have a unique and special relationship.
• "I was in Scotland last August visiting a distillery with Amb. Kent when President Trump was visiting his Turnberry golf course. That generated a lot of media which caught his attention. The First Minister of Scotland has been very involved."
• The economic ties between the U.S. and UK are deep. In terms of cooperage alone, barrels valued at more than $300 million barrels are shipped annually from the U.S to Scotland.
• The lifting of tariffs doesn't apply to gin or other distilled spirits – yet. "Our efforts won't let is. Our aspiration is for zero-for-zeero. We want Canada reset, too. The announcement was good news, and for the U.S. hospitality industry as well.
• King Charles's invitation to the President for a second state visit does showcase the bond between the U.S. and UK. The announcement reaffirmed the bond between the two nations played a real and critical role.

No THC Relief in House-Passed Farm Bill

Bipartisan amendments to either regulate hemp-derived THC products or delay the impending federal ban on hemp-derived cannabinoid products were either withdrawn or not allowed to advance as the House passed the Farm Bill.

Becle Reports Net Plunged 67% in Q1, as Volume Slid 24% in North America

Becle, the parent of Jose Cuervo, reports net profit in the first quarter plunged 66.5% (44.2% organic) as net sales fell 23.1%. Shipped volume declined 13.4% to 4.3 million cases, impacted by the U.S. distributor transition.

Ste. Michelle Names David Richardson CEO, Heller Chief Commercial Officer

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates named David Richardson Chief Executive Officer and promoted Dan Heller to Chief Commercial Officer. 

Groundstar Vineyard & Estate Acquires Historic Williams Ranch

Groundstar Vineyard & Estate, founded by Chiara Shannon and Joseph Brent, said it acquired the historic Williams Ranch, a 247.02-acre property located at 7630 W. Highway 246 in the Sta. Rita Hills corridor. Terms weren't disclosed.

Lemmons Family Vineyards Acquires Cuda Ridge Wines

Lemmons Family Vineyards, owners of the historic Concannon Vineyard, said it acquired Cuda Ridge Wines, a respected Livermore Valley boutique winery known for its small-lot, award-winning Bordeaux-style wines. Terms weren't disclosed.

SGWS to Rep Holladay, McCormick Distilling

Wine & Spirits will serve as the distributor for the Holladay Distillery and McCormick Distilling Co.'s portfolios across several states: Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Texas.

SGWS Expands Distribution of J. Lohr Wines

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits said it will now distributed J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in five additional markets, adding Florida, Kentucky, Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington to the existing 12-market footprint that includes Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

New: Stitzel Reserve 31-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey

Stitzel-Weller Distillery released Stitzel Reserve 31-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey, the second expression in the Stitzel Reserve collection and a rare, distillery-exclusive bourbon defined by exceptional age, intensity, and depth. The highly limited release is available exclusively on-site at Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville for $3,000 per 750mL bottle, with a limit of one bottle per person.

Manufacturing Expanded in April

The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in April for the fourth straight month following a 10-month period of contraction, registering 52.7 percent, the same reading as March, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

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