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The Park Street Insider Podcast is a spirit industry-focused podcast dedicated to bringing you closer to the key brands, topics, and trends driving the drinks business. We host the spirits category's most influential leaders and entrepreneurs to uncover the business strategies, stories, and brand-building tips behind some of the biggest brands in the industry. Whether you're interested in Agave spirits, whiskey, read-to-drink, low & no, or any other category, our hosts will bring you closer to the heart of what's happening in each.
In each episode, hosts Emmett Strack and Andres Correa speak to spirits industry thought leaders to discuss the moves that shaped their careers, how they built some of the brands we all know and love, and some of the tools they can’t live without. They'll also zero in on the hottest subjects taking hold of beverage alcohol, keeping listeners up to date on the trends shaping spirits.
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96 Episodes
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Send a text As on-premise venues navigate an increasingly fragmented spirits landscape, the relationship between brands and bars has reached a critical inflection point. This Expert Talk features Chris Maffeo, the Founder of MAFFEO DRINKS, to examine why most brand-bar partnerships fail before they begin, and how misaligned incentives, from listing fees that deliver no ROI to guest shifts where brand managers never appear, erode trust on both sides. Chris explore's the disconnect between boar...
Send us a text When a 175-year-old Italian heritage brand decides to double down on the American market, the playbook isn't always obvious. But Christopher Watt, CEO of Branca USA, has cracked the code, delivering a 5% volume increase for Fernet-Branca, an explosive 91% growth for Borghetti coffee liqueur, and helping Carpano Antica Formula become the number-one sweet vermouth by value in U.S. retail. In an industry where heritage brands often struggle to stay relevant, Watt has proven that l...
Send us a text Amidst a volatile economic landscape marked by significant job losses in the hospitality sector, the alignment between spirits brands and on-premise venues has never been more critical. In this episode, we join Brown-Forman Advocacy Director Nidal Ramini to unpack the "Hospitality Algorithm," a strategic framework that helps suppliers and entrepreneurs understand the operational mindset of successful bars. We explore how Ramini evolves Danny Meyer’s "Enlightened Hospitality" i...
Send us a text In 2025, the beverage alcohol sector saw significant evolution across its regulatory, distribution, and investment landscapes. In this comprehensive Year in Review, Park Street Insider hosts Emmett Strack and Andres Correa sit down to analyze the year’s defining moments through three key lenses: top industry news, emerging market trends, and major M&A activity. In this episode, we review the headlines that mattered most, including the implications of RNDC's exit from Califo...
Send us a text The spirits industry has fundamentally changed. While brands once viewed bars as non-negotiable, many of today's most successful brands have achieved success through a targeted approach at retail and e-commerce. Yet the on-premise isn't just surviving, it's evolving into a channel where brands need to be more strategic than ever. On this episode of the Park Street Insider Podcast, we explore why understanding cocktail culture remains essential for achieving brand success. With ...
Send us a text 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 Insid...
Send us a text 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 ...
Send us a text 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 Bu...
Send us a text 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...
Send us a text 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 Po...
Send us a text 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 th...
Send us a text 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 Allia...
Send us a text 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 Sh...
Send us a text 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 episo...
Send a text 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 episod...
Send a text 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. De...
Send a text 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 A...
Send us a text 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 ta...
Send us a text 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 disc...
Send us a text 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 ...
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