Craft Beer & Spirits — 2026-05-23
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.
Craft Beer & Spirits — 2026-05-23
New Releases
Bhatka Spirits America250 Blend Whisky Advocate's May 22 roundup spotlights Bhatka Spirits, which has released a blend combining bourbon and armagnac — a transatlantic pairing timed to the America250 celebration. The release joins a signed bottle Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15-Year-Old sweepstakes tied to qualifying purchases.
ADI 2026 Barrel-Finished Whiskey Winners The ADI International Spirits Competition handed out medals to eight barrel-finished whiskeys this week, with tequila barrels, Amarone staves, and cider casks all producing winners — demonstrating that adventurous finishing continues to drive innovation in American craft spirits.
Tasting Notes
ADI 2026 Top Bourbon Winners: A Kentucky Shutout Five craft distillers from Missouri, Massachusetts, and Michigan earned the top honors in the ADI International Spirits Competition 2026, with every winning bourbon earning unanimous 90+ scores in blind tasting. The results underscore a recurring theme in recent competition cycles: world-class bourbon is no longer the exclusive province of the Bluegrass State. The Whiskey Wash's coverage notes that these five producers stood apart for consistency and balance — all evaluated without knowledge of origin.
Industry Watch
Brewers Sound Off: Which Craft Beer Style Is "Officially Dead" in 2026? VinePair asked eight working brewers the uncomfortable question, and the answers converged fast. The "slushie sour" was the most frequently named casualty — described by one brewer as having "exhausted consumers' palates" with thick, viscous textures and adjunct-heavy flavors. Milkshake IPAs and pastry stouts also drew multiple votes. Notably, the black IPA appeared on the list for one brewer, who said his brewery is actively trying to revive it with a planned August release. The broader message: the era of extreme, sugar-forward styles is fading as drinkers gravitate toward balance and drinkability.
Four Distilleries to Watch in 2026 GreatDrams published a watch list this week flagging four distilleries the publication expects to make significant noise through the rest of the year. The piece reflects a broader trend of global attention shifting toward emerging craft producers operating outside traditional whisky regions.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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