On Tuesday, Tequila Ocho announced that it will release two new bottlings as a part of its range of barrel select vintage tequilas, both in collaboration with iconic Kentucky bourbon distillery Old Fitzgerald. The powerhouse beverage brands teamed up to craft two 2023 vintages of Tequila Ocho Añejo Barrel Select Old Fitzgerald that will roll out to retailers simultaneously. The tequilas were produced from fields overseen by the Camarena family, featuring two microclimates that produce agaves with distinct flavor profiles. The article Tequila Ocho Announces New Añejo Expression, Aged in Rare Ol ..read more

On Tuesday, Kentucky’s Jim Beam unveiled a new take on its beloved flagship bourbon: Jim Beam Pineapple. The release is the latest addition to the brand’s portfolio of flavored spirits. Crafted by infusing Jim Beam’s Kentucky straight bourbon with pineapple liqueur, the expression is said to deliver notes of tangy pineapple with undercurrents of caramel and oak. The brand first ventured into the flavored spirits space in 2009 with the debut of its black cherry liqueur Jim Beam Red Stag, and has since added six other expressions to its flavored spirits portfolio. The article Jim Beam Releases I ..read more

Bottles of Yellow Tail will look a little different this summer. After it launched in 2001, Yellow Tail quickly garnered a following for its wide range of options and budget-friendly price sticker. The label didn’t hurt either, with bright colors and an illustrated kangaroo standing out among the sea of bland wine labels that lined store shelves in the early aughts. The Yellow Tail kangaroo’s popularity kicked off a new category of wines with small animals on the label. The “critter wine” phenomenon ended up defining an entire era of Australian wine. The article Can a Kangaroo Glow-Up Save Yel ..read more

The tariff fiasco between the European Union (EU) and the Trump administration is heating up. In a Thursday post on Truth Social, Trump threatened to hit all wines and other alcoholic imports from Europe with a 200 percent tariff if the EU follows through with its recently proposed 50 percent tax on American whiskey. “The European Union, one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States, has just put a nasty 50% Tariff on Whisky,” the post reads. The article President Trump Lashes Ba ..read more

On March 12, The European Union (EU) announced that it plans to implement a 50 percent tariff on American whiskey in response to the Trump administration’s global levy on all steel and aluminum imports. The retaliatory measure is set to go into effect on April 1, and will target multiple American products including whiskey, motorcycles, and motorboats. This back-and-forth is the continuation of a similar tariff saga that took place during Trump’s first term in 2018, when he imposed 25 percent and 10 percent tariffs on European steel and aluminium, respectively. The article EU Responds to Trump ..read more

It’s no secret that tipping culture has exploded in the U.S. following Covid-era closures. What was once a practice relegated to servers, bartenders, hairdressers, and other service industry professionals has expanded to convenience stores, self-checkouts, and even the doctor’s office. While these costs were once intended to help businesses alleviate financial strain from the months they spent closed, they have lingered for almost five years now. And if you’re feeling exhausted, you’re not alone. The article Is Tipping ‘Out of Control’? Two New Surveys Reveal Americans’ Changing Attitudes appe ..read more

Not many tangible goods can ease the pain of the Trump administration’s impending tariffs, but Canada’s oldest brewery offered its customers a large-format antidote. On Friday, Moosehead Breweries released the Presidential Pack: a massive wooden crate filled with 1,461 cans of the brand’s flagship lager. That’s one can for every day of President Trump’s term. ”If the start of 2025 has taught us anything, it’s that it will take determination to weather four years of political uncertainty,” director of marketing at Moosehead Breweries Karen Grigg said in a press release. The article Moosehead Br ..read more

With their playful energy and cheery demeanor, winery dogs are a trip highlight for many visiting wine country. And for the folks at Flambeaux Wine in Sonoma, their furry friend was such an integral part of the experience that they were willing to shell out some serious cash to keep the magic alive. Stella, Flambeaux’s fluffy white Maremma Sheepdog, is considered an icon of the community among locals and tourists alike. She holds an important role at the winery, guarding the grapes and keeping pests out. The article This California Winery Spent $50,000 Cloning its Vineyard Dog appeared first o ..read more

Constellation Brands may soon sell off its wine portfolio, according to a March 4 report from Wine Business. Though the beverage giant refused to comment on the claims, multiple signs suggest there’s likely some truth behind the rumors. It’s reported that the Rochester, N.Y.-based company is in negotiations to sell its full lineup of wine brands, splitting them between Delicato Family Wines and Duckhorn, which was recently acquired by private equity firm Butterfly Equity. The article Constellation Reportedly Exiting Wine Business in the Face of Tariffs on Its Mexican Beer Mega-Brands appeared ..read more

The battle between tequila’s regulatory body and third-party organizations dedicated to transparency in agave spirits continues to escalate. On Tuesday, the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) filed a lawsuit against the Additive Free Alliance (AFA) and S2F Online, Inc. (S2F) in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Jacksonville. The article Tequila Regulator CRT Files Lawsuit Against the Additive Free Alliance, Escalating Ongoing Clash appeared first on VinePair ..read more