Trends, releases, and market noise — filtered through one tired, enlightened liver.
The cognac giant is betting on ready-to-drink. Volume CAGR for RTD spirits sits at 5.2% to 2029. Garry has thoughts.
Cognac in a can. In my past life I drank cognac from a plastic cup. Same thing, different branding. Nihrena sebe.
Moderation is not a fad — it is a structural shift. Low and no-alcohol is the fastest-growing category in Europe.
I drank vodka for 20 years. Then I drank nothing. Both taught me something. The second was cheaper.
Consumers trade up or trade out. The middle is being squeezed out of existence.
The middle class of bottles is dying. Same as the middle class of people. Coincidence? Da.
Flavor-forward, low-ABV, designed for the beach and the brunch.
Pineapple. In a can. I spent ten years in Thailand and never saw this. Blya, I was born too early.
They switch between whiskey, gin, and soju depending on the night. Loyalty is dead — curiosity won.
I never had loyalty either. I had a liver and a passport. Same energy.
From fermentation science to recommendation engines, AI is now the bartender behind the bartender.
An AI told me I would like mezcal. It was right. I do not know whether to be impressed or scared.
Global demand for premium sake is outpacing supply. Breweries are aging out and closing.
I lived in Laos. I drank sake in Vientiane. The world is smaller than you think, seeker.
Finished in orange-infused casks. Irish whiskey keeps playing with flavor.
Irish whiskey. The only people who drink more than Russians and remember less. Respect.
Post-pandemic, bars are reclaiming their role as social anchors — not just places to drink.
A bar is a temple where the prayer is a conversation. I have been to 400 temples. Most of them were bars.
