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Kevin Keenan, co-founder of Glendalough Distillery, has played a pivotal role in introducing authentic Irish craft spirits to American consumers at a critical juncture in the category's evolution. Glendalough distinguished itself as a trailblazer, helping to expand the category beyond traditional players and introducing American drinkers to a new generation of innovative Irish distillers before its sale to the Mark Anthony Group in 2019.

On this episode of the Park Street Insider Podcast, Kevin Keenan sits down with Andres Correa to share the story behind Glendalough's rise and its role in shaping the modern Irish whiskey landscape in America. Discover how Keenan and his team built a distinctive brand rooted in Irish heritage and wild botanicals, navigated the complexities of breaking into the competitive U.S. spirits market, and carved out a unique position in the fastest-growing Irish whiskey category.

Keenan shares his best brand-building advice, from crafting an authentic brand identity that resonates with consumers to forming strategic distribution partnerships that drive sustainable growth. Whether you're an emerging brand founder or an industry veteran, this conversation offers invaluable insights into what it takes to build a spirits brand with lasting impact.

Featured Guests:

Kevin Keenan, Co-founder, Glendalough Distillery

Mentioned in this episode:

Glendalough Distillery

Cobblestone Brands

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Julien Hémard, CEO of Pernod Ricard Northern Europe, oversees operations for the world's second-largest spirits company, home to iconic brands including Absolut Vodka, Jameson Irish Whiskey, and The Glenlivet. Managing a diverse portfolio across multiple markets, Hémard's unique position, balancing heritage craftsmanship with emerging consumer trends, provides rare insight into industry transformation.

In this Expert Talks episode, we shine a spotlight on Hémard's presentation at Bar Convent Berlin in 2025, where he addresses six critical questions that define the industry's present and future. Whether you're an industry professional, aspiring entrepreneur, or fascinated by the business of beverages, Hemard offers listeners an executive-level perspective on where the industry is headed and what it takes to succeed.

Featured Guests:

Julien Hémard, CEO Pernod Ricard Northern Europe, Pernod Ricard Deutschland GmbH

Mentioned in this episode:

Pernod Ricard

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In 2025, navigating beverage distribution has become one of the most critical challenges facing drinks entrepreneurs. From the end of Prohibition to today's consolidated three-tier system, the distribution landscape has fundamentally shaped which brands scale and which stall — yet many suppliers still don't fully understand how the second tier actually works or where it's headed next.

In this special collaboration episode, Park Street Insider host Emmett Strack teams up with Business of Drinks co-hosts Erica Duecy and Scott Rosenbaum to decode the distribution tier for beverage alcohol brands. Together, we break down the past, present, and future of distribution in the U.S. — explaining the nuts and bolts of the three-tier system, revealing the different distributor types and partnership models available to suppliers, and identifying the key dynamics that will define the next decade of the industry. We'll explore what brands need to know to successfully navigate this complex landscape and share the strategies that separate those who break through from those who get left behind. 

Featured Guests:

 Erica Duecy, Founder and Co-host, Business of Drinks

Scott Rosenbaum, Co-host, Business of Drinks

Mentioned in this episode:

The Business of Drinks

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The RTD category has already experienced massive momentum, yet there's still significant room for growth as new brands and products continue entering the market. Gen Z is driving much of this expansion—but what does their enthusiasm for RTDs reveal about this generation's values, purchasing habits, and consumption behaviors? 

On this episode of the Park Street Insider Podcast, host Emmett Strack sits down with Ruby Honerkamp and Rob Minucci, Co-Founders of Talkhouse Encore, a spirits-based canned seltzer rooted in the legacy of Stephen Talkhouse, the iconic Long Island music venue. What started as a way to extend a family's 50-year entertainment legacy during the pandemic has evolved into a brand achieving over 101% year-over-year sales growth—without the massive marketing budgets of their larger competitors.

Honerkamp and Minucci share exclusive findings from their Gen Z research, revealing unexpected insights about how this generation discovers, purchases, and consumes alcohol. They also break down how brands can leverage alternative distribution strategies to achieve sustainable growth. 

Featured Guests:

Ruby Honerkamp, Co-Founder, Talkhouse Encore
Robert Minucci, Co-Founder, Talkhouse Encore

Mentioned in this episode:

Talkhouse Encore

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Back in 2018, when The Original Pickle Shot co-founder John King first launched his brand, pickle-flavored spirits were only just emerging. Fast-forward six years, and what started as a niche experiment has exploded into a booming category—with King's brand leading the charge. The Original Pickle Shot has not only survived the influx of competitors but thrived, earning recognition on Impact Databank's prestigious Hot Prospects list.

On this episode of the Park Street Insider Podcast, John King sits down with Andres Correa to reveal the blueprint behind his remarkable success. Discover how King built a high-growth spirits brand from scratch without a single investor, pioneered an entirely new category, and stayed ahead as the market became increasingly crowded.

King shares his strategies for protecting intellectual property in a competitive landscape, leveraging influencer marketing to capture Gen Z's attention, and what it really takes to build a modern spirits brand in today's market.

Featured Guests:

John King, Co-Founder & President, The Original Pickle Shot

Mentioned in this episode:

The Original Pickle Shot

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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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