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The tequila industry faces mounting regulatory and legal challenges with Mexico's Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) restricting additive-free marketing claims while high-profile lawsuits are questioning major brands' "100% agave" labeling practices. These developments are reshaping how producers operate in an increasingly transparency-focused market.

The Park Street Insider Podcast welcomes back Billy Erickson, sales and marketing manager at Tequila Fortaleza and member of the brand's founding family, to examine these industry dynamics from a craft producer's perspective. Fortaleza, a premium family-owned brand with strong bartender loyalty and on-premise presence, offers unique insights into navigating regulatory restrictions while maintaining traditional production methods.

From CRT policy conflicts and class action litigation to tariff impacts and premiumization trends, we explore how these converging forces are affecting both established brands and craft producers. The conversation also covers some unexpected operational challenges—including literal product theft—that highlight the unique realities facing today's tequila industry. Whether you're tracking regulatory developments, assessing transparency trends, or understanding market shifts, this episode provides critical insights into the tequila category's evolving landscape.

Featured Guests:

Billy Erickson, Sales & Marketing Manager, Tequila Fortaleza

Mentioned in this episode:

Tequila Fortaleza

Consejo Regulador del Tequila

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Tasting competitions have become a convergence point for top suppliers and emerging challenger brands to showcase the key innovations driving the spirits market. Submission data provides early signals of emerging consumer trends months before they appear in retail sales reports. As such, the judging rooms of premier competitions have become an unexpected window into where the market is heading.

The Park Street Insider Podcast welcomes Amanda Blue, President of the Tasting Alliance, which oversees eight of the industry's most prestigious spirits competitions. The Tasting Alliance's data reveals surprising developments in both traditional and entirely new market segments, thanks to its high growth in submissions across diverse categories.

This episode examines the top trends emerging from the results and entrants in tasting competitions over the last year, from breakthrough innovations redefining established categories to unexpected regional producers outperforming legacy brands. Whether you're tracking market opportunities or anticipating consumer preferences, this episode delivers the competitive intelligence you need to stay ahead of rapidly evolving spirits trends.

Featured Guests:

Amanda Blue, President, Tasting Alliance

Mentioned in this episode:

The Tasting Alliance

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The global trade and tariff landscape is constantly evolving, making it imperative for beverage-alcohol brands to stay in step with the latest updates on U.S. policy.  What began earlier in the year as focused measures on Canada, Mexico, and China has expanded into a comprehensive global tariff strategy with far-reaching implications for the beverage alcohol industry.

The Park Street Insider Podcast welcomes back Alison Leavitt, Managing Director of the Wine and Spirits Shippers Association (WSSA), examining how the U.S. administration's broader trade policies have reshaped the spirits, wine, and beer markets since March. This follow-up episode analyzes the global expansion of tariff measures, explores how international trading partners have responded, and assesses the real-world impact on beverage alcohol businesses navigating this new reality

From supply chain disruptions to pricing pressures and strategic pivots, we break down the key developments that have emerged over the summer and what they mean for industry stakeholders. Whether you're managing import costs, adjusting distribution strategies, or planning for continued uncertainty, this episode provides the critical intelligence you need to stay ahead of the evolving tariff landscape.

Featured Guests:

Alison Leavitt, Managing Director, Wine and Spirits Shippers Association (WSSA)

Mentioned in this episode:

WSSA

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In 2025, the moderation movement has evolved from a niche wellness trend into a defining force reshaping the entire drinks industry, embraced by global spirits suppliers like Diageo. As consumers increasingly prioritize quality over quantity and seek meaningful experiences in emerging "fourth spaces" beyond home, work, and traditional social venues, luxury spirits brands are discovering that moderation doesn't mean diminished demand—it means elevated expectations.

In this episode, Claire Warner, the Head of Advocacy at Diageo, explores how one of the world's largest spirits companies is navigating this paradigm shift. We'll examine how the moderation trend is redefining luxury consumption, uncover the role of fourth spaces in creating new occasions for premium spirits, and discuss the strategic implications for brands looking to thrive in an era where mindful drinking meets sophisticated taste. Claire shares Diageo's insights on how moderation is becoming the new luxury, and what this means for the future of the spirits industry.

Featured Guests:
Claire Warner, Head of Advocacy, Diageo

Mentioned in the Episode:

Diageo

Seedlip

IWSR

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In 2025, the spirits distribution landscape has become increasingly competitive, with traditional powerhouses like RNDC, Breakthru, and Winebow facing new market pressures while brands struggle to secure distribution partnerships in an oversaturated environment. As distributors become more selective about their portfolios, the brands that are successfully breaking through the noise are taking fundamentally different approaches to partnerships and market positioning.

In this episode of the Park Street Insider Podcast, Emmett Strack sits down with some of the country's top distributors to uncover how they view the current state of the industry and what brands need to do differently to attract their attention. We'll explore the key conditions driving distributor-supplier collaboration, reveal what successful brands are doing to stand out in this constrained environment, and share practical strategies for maximizing distribution partnerships to drive real growth in today's challenging market.

Featured Guests:
Melissa Linehan, RNDC Region President – Northeast, Republic National Distributing Company 

John Oliver, Sr. Director, Business Development, Breakthru Beverage Group

Monique Huston, VP Spirits Portfolio, Winebow Fine Wine + Spirits

Mentioned in the Episode:

Republic National Distributing Company

Breakthru Beverage Group

Winebow Fine Wines + Spirits

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How can emerging spirits brands thrive even when economic conditions get tough? Smart financial strategy makes all the difference. In this episode, Brian Rosen, Chairman of InvestBev, shares his proven playbook for building resilient beverage brands that can weather any storm. Drawing from his extensive experience guiding brands through various market cycles, Rosen reveals the essential capital planning framework that separates thriving companies from those that merely survive.

Despite current economic headwinds creating tighter lending and increased competition, the alcohol beverage industry remains remarkably resilient, consistently outperforming other consumer sectors during downturns. Rosen unveils his strategic approach to funding and considers the essential moves brands can make to navigate headwinds. You'll hear the overlooked strategies that enable ambitious beverage entrepreneurs to turn challenging market conditions into competitive advantages.

Featured Guests:
Brian Rosen, CEO, InvestBev Group LLC

Mentioned in the Episode:

InvestBev

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In 2025, major spirits suppliers like Tito's and Brown-Forman have made strategic pivots to beer distributors, accelerating a trend that's been reshaping alcohol distribution for years. This cross-category distribution model has become increasingly attractive for beverage alcohol suppliers of all sizes, but what's driving this industry-wide shift, and what does it mean for the future of spirits distribution?

In this episode of The Park Street Insider Podcast, we're joined by Ken Aufiero, Director of Spirits at United States Beverage, to explore the market dynamics behind the rise in spirits-to-beer distributor partnerships. Aufiero shares actionable insights on attracting distributor interest, maximizing existing distributor relationships, and identifies the specific categories and price tiers that distributors are prioritizing in today's market.

Featured Guests:

Ken Aufiero, Director of Spirits, United States Beverage

Mentioned in the Episode:

United States Beverage

Reyes Beverage Group

Sazerac Company

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How did 818 Tequila rise above being "just another celebrity spirit brand'? Beyond Kendall Jenner's star power, the brand's success stems from deep industry expertise. In this episode, David Yan Gonzalez, Director of Tequila Operations at 818, shares his proven framework for building premium spirits brands. 

Drawing from decades of experience crafting successful tequila brands, Gonzalez unveils his three-pillar approach to authentic brand building. Find out his critical tangible elements required before launching—from liquid development to market positioning—plus the overlooked intangible factors that separate million-dollar spirits brands from failures.

Featured Guests:
David Yan Gonzalez, Director, Tequila Operations, 818 Tequila / Calabasas Beverage Company

Mentioned in the Episode:

818 Tequila

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Bars, restaurants, and venues form the foundation of drinking culture. However, the factors driving spending and visitation within the on-premise sector have evolved significantly due to COVID disruptions, economic pressures, and shifting category dynamics.

In this episode, we're examining what's happening inside bars and restaurants in 2025. Matthew Crompton, Vice President of CGA by Nielsen IQ for On Premise in the Americas, brings his expertise to this conversation.

Our discussion covers several critical areas: current on-premise visitation trends, consumer price sensitivities in bars, and the spirits categories gaining traction. We also explore effective strategies for spirits brands to capitalize on on-premise trends and strengthen their position within this channel.

Featured Guests:

Matt Crompton, Vice President: Americas, CGA by Nielsen IQ

Mentioned in the Episode:

CGA by Nielsen IQ

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When Vincent Hanna and his co-founders, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, launched Brother’s Bond Bourbon, they didn’t just introduce another celebrity whiskey—they found a new way to build a modern whiskey brand based on passion and authenticity. In the process, Brother's Bond has become one of the fastest-growing premium bourbon brands while building the largest social media following in the spirits industry. Find out how Hanna's career in beverage alcohol and a keen eye for market trends helped Brother's Bond establish itself as a respected player in the competitive American whiskey market. 

In this episode, co-founder Vincent Hanna joins the podcast to talk about how he leveraged industry expertise and authentic storytelling to transform Brother's Bond from an ambitious concept into a bourbon phenomenon embraced by whiskey enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. This in-depth conversation explores the brand's distinctive approach to bourbon craftsmanship, the evolving dynamics of the American whiskey category, and how Brother's Bond harnessed its massive social media presence to build genuine connections with consumers.

Featured Guests:

Vincent Hanna, CEO & Co-founder, Brother’s Bond Distilling

Mentioned in the Episode:

Brother's Bond Bourbon

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