Hazy IPAs, single malts, and the craft drinking revolution.
The craft spirits industry faces a historic contraction as closures outpace openings for the first time, with volume falling 8% in the latest annual report. Meanwhile, October releases highlight a focus on single-cask American single malts and experimental cask finishes, while the non-alcoholic beer category continues its meteoric rise as a mandatory menu item.
Copperworks Distilling celebrates Craft Malt Month with a limited-release American single malt whiskey, while a Canada-US spirits trade war reshapes the industry landscape. Scottish whisky news includes a new Highlands distillery approval and production pause at an established Lowlands producer.
This week: the 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival wrap-up highlights standout craft whiskeys from nearly 70 distilleries, while major bourbon houses roll out new limited editions including only the second Booker's rye ever. Esquire publishes its best-of-2026 spirits roundup, and Whisky Advocate reports line revamps and new RTD launches.
This week's highlights include Copperworks Distilling's first-ever rye-cask American single malt debuting for Craft Malt Month, with $10 from every bottle supporting craft maltsters. Beverage launches from The Macallan, MadTree, and others are adding to a busy fall release season, and the craft N/A IPA trend continues gaining ground. Meanwhile, a Pittsburgh-area whiskey venture backed by former FEW Spirits head distiller Erin Lee is taking shape.
The craft spirits industry saw significant activity this week, headlined by the revival plans for the historic Killarney Distillery in Ireland and a comprehensive roundup of new global spirit launches. In the US market, recent reports highlight a strategic shift among distillers toward hospitality expansions and innovative cask finishes amidst market recalibration.
The craft spirits landscape saw significant activity this week with Virginia Distillery Co. expanding its "Brewer’s Coalition" collaboration series and a new wave of independent whiskey bottlings from the ImpEx Collection. Industry trends continue to solidify around non-alcoholic options becoming a mandatory category for bars, while distribution giants like Gulf Distributing make strategic hires to grow their spirits divisions.
Bourbon Heritage Month concludes with a surge in new American whiskey releases, highlighted by Stillman’s debut of a 10-year bourbon and single malt. Meanwhile, the industry faces headwinds as a celebrity-backed distillery enters Chapter 7 liquidation, underscoring the economic pressures impacting smaller producers.
The spirits market sees notable July releases from established distilleries including Bib & Tucker, Glenfarclas, and Old Forester, while the broader beverage landscape reflects growing consumer demand for non-alcoholic options and a resurgence in classic lager styles. Meanwhile, functional drinks and ready-to-drink cocktails continue expanding shelves alongside premium spirit launches.
Colorado's Rick Thomas Distillery announces its first malt whiskey release this week, marking a significant milestone for the state's craft spirits scene. Meanwhile, BH James Distillers launches Spirit 76, a line of flavored Kentucky bourbons celebrating America's semiquincentennial with four distinct expressions now hitting shelves.
Whiskey dominates July releases with 10 limited-edition bottles celebrating the US 250th anniversary, while craft brewers shift away from hazy IPAs toward balanced, clearer styles. New releases from Monkey Shoulder, Jack Daniel's, and Old Pulteney mark the month's spirit highlights.
Whisky auctions hit a June peak with Yamazaki leading sales, while Barrell Craft Spirits launches a patriotic bourbon for the nation's 250th anniversary. Meanwhile, craft breweries report a pivot away from hype toward consistency as industry fundamentals stabilize heading into summer.
Spring whiskey releases take center stage this week, with eleven innovative bottles showcasing extra-aged expressions and experimental finishes. Brewpubs emerge as craft's bright spot with the smallest volume decline in 2025, while microbreweries struggle against crowded retail shelves. A fresh wave of spirits launches from major producers keeps the category energized heading into summer.
Horse Soldier Distillery opens this July Fourth weekend, a Las Vegas distillery launches its inaugural Bourbon Week, and top spirits makers continue pushing Formula One-inspired whiskies and premium releases into May's market. The whiskey sector shows robust demand, with global valuations accelerating toward $345.7 billion by 2035, while premium closures and sustainability packaging drive industry growth.
The ADI International Spirits Competition 2026 delivered a major upset this week, with craft distillers from Missouri, Massachusetts, and Michigan shutting out Kentucky in the bourbon category. Meanwhile, VinePair polled eight brewers on which craft beer style they consider officially dead in 2026, revealing a broad consensus around slushie sours and pastry extremes. Whisky Advocate also rounded up several noteworthy spirits news items, including a Pappy Van Winkle sweepstakes and the launch of Bhatka Spirits' bourbon-armagnac blend.
Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing Co. are set to open a massive 40,000-square-foot entertainment venue in Myrtle Beach on May 20, combining moonshine and craft beer under one roof. Industry watchers are also tracking the explosion of April spirits launches — from 100% agave tequilas to canned cocktails — alongside fresh trend data showing brewers calling time on "slushie sours" and other hyper-sweet styles. Beer market analysts confirm volumes remain under pressure worldwide, with premiumization and no-alcohol segments picking up the slack.
The week of May 4–8, 2026 brought a fresh wave of whisky releases headlined by Dewar's U.S. Open Champion's Edition and Little Book Chapter 10, while Global Drinks Intel rounded up a slate of new spirits launches from Edinburgh Gin to limited expressions. On the beer front, InsideHook published its definitive May whiskey guide and Nashville Scene served up rapid-fire reviews of five new whiskeys hitting shelves now.
This week's highlights include a bumper crop of new American whiskey releases — featuring the oldest Eagle Rare ever produced and a new creation from legendary distiller Chip Tate — alongside a new round of global spirits launches. Meanwhile, Canada's craft distillers are doubling down on direct sales and local experiences as they navigate a turbulent 2026 market, and European craft spirits face compounding pressures from geopolitical uncertainty and shifting consumer behavior.
This week in craft beer and spirits: Austin's local brewery scene drops a space-themed hoppy lager just in time for late April, the Denver International Spirits Competition reveals its top whiskey winners for 2026, and a new brewery-distillery announces plans to open in East Palestine, Ohio's historic train depot. Meanwhile, the industry continues to grapple with a post-correction landscape as low-ABV and non-alcoholic offerings gain ground.
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