This episode of the “VinePair Podcast” is sponsored by Tequila El Mexicano. Founded by one of Tequila’s most storied families, this traditionally made, additive-free tequila is an expression not just of the Bañuelos family’s collective knowledge, but of the Jaliscan highlands themselves. Try the Blanco, Blanco 90, or Reposado to discover their life’s work. You can visit ElMexicanoUS.com to find Tequila El Mexicano near you or order online to experience three generations of tequila ...| VinePair
While not everyone loves playing — or even watching — golf, most everyone can agree it’s always nice to spend a day out on the course with a few friends and a few drinks. But what does a typical round entail out on the fairway? Some might reach for classics like the Moscow Mule or a Bloody Mary, but the sport has developed a very specific drinking culture with a set of niche cocktails that are well suited for a long day on the links.| VinePair
The Scotch whisky market boomed in 2021 and 2022. But following a period of substantial growth, 2024 proved to be a difficult year for the industry. According to The Spirits Business, Scotch exports dropped by 18 percent in the first half of 2024 when compared to the same period the year before. Bumps in domestic taxes and tightening regulations, pressure on consumer spending, and instabilities in the global trade market have put constraints on producers and customers alike. The lattermost is...| VinePair
Vodka has long been the spirit of choice in the U.S. More recently, though, trending categories like tequila and bourbon have been on its tail, drawing attention from the neutral spirit. But despite challenges in the U.S., many brands have retained global success. The Spirits Business recently published its annual Brand Champions Report, revealing a ranking of the best-selling vodka brands in the world. The data revealed that vodka’s overall volume sales from 2023 to 2024 were relatively fl...| VinePair
For the past decade, tequila has been on an absolute tear in the United States. In 2017, there were just six brands selling over 1 million cases per year in the U.S. Last year, there were over a dozen. But according to new data from The Spirits Business (TSB), agave spirits sales could be slowing down. While tequila is still growing in the U.S. — it was one of only two spirits categories to improve in the U.S. in 2024 — its margin of growth last year was much smaller than in years past.| VinePair
In the mainstream perception of blended Scotch, there’s Johnnie Walker, and then there’s everything else. The Diageo-owned giant can feel omnipresent in both liquor stores and bars, with visibility boosted by recent special editions and entertainment crossovers. (The “White Walker” “Game of Thrones” collab seemed too fitting to not exist.) And while the whisky world has grown both wider and deeper in recent decades, Johnnie Walker remains the best-selling Scotch, with roughly 22.1...| VinePair
A gathering place for travelers and locals alike, a good hotel bar offers a quiet reprieve in what is typically a rather luxurious environment for patrons to relax after a long day. And while some hotel bars might simply offer just that, others, like those on properties that have been around for a while, might offer a bit of history, too. Some of these hotel bars have continuously pushed the envelope of cocktail creation, whether by creating now world-famous cocktails or perfecting jaw-droppi...| VinePair
The collapse of Republic National Distributing Company’s California division at the beginning of this month is the biggest story in the booze business, for reasons I’ve reported at length here and elsewhere. But amid the epic, multibillion-dollar disintegration of the country’s second-largest distributor, another story about a different beverage-alcohol firm that was mismanaged into insolvency in the Golden State hit a dubious milestone. It’s been a year since a consumer-packaged-good...| VinePair
This episode of “Wine 101” is sponsored by Rioja. Rioja is celebrating its 100th anniversary. And with this celebration comes the recognition of history: taking lessons from the past and embracing innovation. Variety: utilizing grapes that have been in the soils of the Ebro Valley for centuries. And quality: attention to detail and developing wines that have made Rioja one of the top wine producing regions in the world. This is a celebration that honors all that came before and all that...| VinePair
The day after Christmas is typically a super-slow time for breaking news, especially in beer. Man drinks nine spiced Christmas ales! Tune in at 11 to hear about his hangover cure — leftover ham! But on Dec. 26, a tantalizing post appeared on the BeerAdvocate forum. During a recent shopping trip, a North Carolina beer drinker found a 6-pack of Newcastle Brown Ale, an easygoing British classic bearing an iconic blue star on its label. Lagunitas Brewing, the U.S. subsidiary of Newcastle’s pa...| VinePair
We all know the name, the look, the bubbly bliss of Veuve Clicquot Champagne. It’s the kind of luxury that’s hard to miss: a deep green bottle belted in solaire yellow, regal and poised and full of effervescent joy. Once you pop it, a glass full of sparkle. But we all know Veuve Clicquot for another reason (and not just because life’s precious moments often demand an exquisite glass of bubbly).| VinePair
Earlier this week, I broke the news here at VinePair that Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) plans to “withdraw” from California — like, the entire state — at the beginning of September. The second-largest wine and spirits distributor in the country has been collapsing in the Golden State for years, but its death spiral had tightened considerably since the top of 2025, when major brands began heading for the warehouse door more or less monthly. Now, it’s throwing in the t...| VinePair
Memorial Day Weekend is almost upon us, and many will celebrate the official start of summer with a lively outdoor barbecue. But as temperatures rise (particularly in the warmer areas of the United States), taking charge of the grill during an al fresco summer party is no small feat, and the grill maestro must be rewarded with refreshing beverages. At the same time, grilled and smoked dishes should be paired with drinks that highlight their savory, charred, and juicy characteristics, so cooko...| VinePair
Brewers often find new ways to repackage old ideas, especially in regard to lagers. But none are as successful as Coors Banquet — here's why.| VinePair
