On & Off

Today’s consumers are no longer choosing between comforting classic flavors and adventurous exotic tastes; they’re demanding both. To learn about some of the trends and flavors driving change in the beverage industry, and the operational challenges in delivering on them, we talk with Jason Valentine, chief strategy officer at the beverage automation platform provider Botrista.  This episode is sponsored by National Retail Solutions.

01-23

19:25

How much alcohol does Gen Z actually drink? And what exactly are they drinking? Will these trends maintain long term, or will they shift as Gen Z consumers get older? For answers to these critical industry questions, we interviewed Nick White, the research lead for the consumer research platform Attest.

01-06

18:45

In this episode, Kyle and Melissa switch their usual roles: Kyle discusses wine while Melissa talks whiskey. Can Kyle pronounce a single French word correctly? Will Melissa stomach an Old Fashioned? Tune in as the editors take turns pretending to be the other person as they dish on recent NY tasting events they attended, Kyle reviewing the 2024 Beaujolais Nouveau while Melissa drinks whiskey cocktails with Milam and Greene and Ammunition Whiskey, meeting Kelly Reilly of Yellowstone fame.

12-18

27:32

Hosts Melissa and Kyle talk about recent press trips and alcohol events, digging into major liquor store trends in the Midwest, Madeira wine, higher-proofed Irish whiskey, vintage-dated rum, cocktails made with beer AND/OR wine, and more. Then towards the end, Kyle shares work travel stories about New England sarcasm performing poorly in the Midwest, and why you shouldn't eat fettuccine alfredo on the open ocean.

11-08

30:02

The world of alcohol shipping and ecommerce continues to evolve rapidly, settling into a new era in our post-Covid world. What's the current state of these two industries and their legal challenges? And what's next? For answers, we interviewed Jaci Flug, partner in the Hospitality, Alcohol, and Leisure Industry Group at Greenspoon Marder LLP, and previously general counsel and senior vice president at Drizly.

10-04

25:25

What's the current state of the U.S. whiskey industry? For answers, we interviewed Marty Holland, store manager of The Party Source, a 65,000-square-foot independent beverage alcohol retailer in Bellevue, KY. The Party Source remains on the cutting edge of whiskey retail, including opening a new bar in the store that helps generate sales elsewhere in the business. Marty also discusses some of the other spirits trends he sees at the bar.

09-12

26:03

In this episode, we talk with the founders of Fierce & Kind, a values-driven spirits company that puts supporting LGBTQ+ and other underserved communities (incarcerated individuals, female entrepreneurs) at the heart of its business model. Fierce & Kind donates 25% of all profits through its equity foundation to these important causes. Founders Cyndi Smith and Basem Harb discuss this way of doing business, and why it's important to the communities served, the broader consumer base, and the company itself.

08-29

21:54

What's up with THC beverages? What do folks like to drink the most on cruise ships? Hosts Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz discuss drink trends from their summer travels, including the 2024 Beverage Alcohol Retailer Conference, and Melissa's recent press trip aboard Princess Cruises in the Mediterranean.

08-13

16:26

Our guest for this episode is Master Sommelier Nick Hetzel, who is one of the founders of Wineaux, a new wine market and bar in southwest Las Vegas. Nick weighs in on popular wine styles, wine education, pairings and creating an experience for guests, as well as the challenges with operating an on- and off-premise wine business.

06-20

26:51

How much growth is left for Ready-to-Drink beverages? What does cannabis descheduling mean for the alcohol industry? Was Sazerac smart to purchase BuzzBallz? We discuss all this and more in this episode, with Bridget Albert, senior director of external communications for the distributor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.

05-23

36:20

Melissa and Kyle talk with Marina Velez, research director for our sister company, The Beverage Information Group. The discussion centers on the top alcohol trends among the 2024 Growth Brands Spirits and Wine winners. What helped lead these brands that sold and grew the most in the past year?

05-07

26:44

In this episode we talk about natural wines with Steve Charters, Master of Wine and professor at the School of Wine & Spirits Business in Dijon, France. Steve shares his thoughts on the lack of a uniform definition of natural wines, why the style has become more significant in recent years and how it appeals to the new generations of wine drinkers.

04-08

20:09

In this episode we talk with Maxwell Reis, beverage director of Mirate restaurant and bar in Los Feliz, CA. Mirate boasts an agave spirits-led program that shines a spotlight on Mexican producers. Max shares insight from travels to Mexico, his commitment to showcasing authentic, sustainably sourced spirits, how he makes exotic spirits approachable and “edu-tains” guests, and his predictions for the next hot agave spirits.

03-27

26:05

In our first podcast devoted to gin, we talk with Brendan Bartley, the head bartender and beverage director at the renowned speakeasy Bathtub Gin and the creator of Botanery Barn Distilling’s new Revivalist Garden Gin. We discuss the challenges in getting people to overcome their apprehension about gin, the new and different gin styles, brands and botanicals and why this year could finally be the spirit’s time to break out.

03-12

22:35

Have you noticed that the prices on the bottles of American whiskey that you love continue to tick up, up, up? It's hard to miss it. How much longer can that go on? For answers, in this episode, we speak with Maggie Kimberl, Content Editor, American Whiskey Magazine. Maggie also discusses several other top whiskey trends in 2024.