SB’s most-read stories in June
From one spirit threatening to take the limelight from Tequila, to the brands that have already hit the big time, our most-read stories of June have it all.
While job losses were threatened by one drinks giant last month, another has saved hundreds by selling its Italian operations, proving its not all doom and gloom in the spirits industry right now.
Meanwhile The Spirits Business team traded in pints of cheap wine for delicious whiskey cocktails at Beyoncé’s world tour at the start of the month, before taking a visit to the Scottish Highlands at the end to try a few drams of one distillery’s oldest expression to date – both of which made it into the top 10 most-read stories in June. But what else made the cut? Keep reading to find out.
Whiskey House of Kentucky faces $1.65m debt
Pay your contractors is the lesson to be learned from our 10th most-read story from June, as Whiskey House of Kentucky found itself staring down the barrel of a US$1.65 million legal claim filed by Bardstown-based Buzick Construction last month.
The construction company claimed that the whiskey maker has failed to pay US$1,653,648.79 for labour, materials, equipment and supplies for the construction of its new distillery located on a 176-acre campus in the TJ Patterson Industrial Park in Hardin County, Kentucky, and therefore filed a lien (a right to keep possession of a property until a debt is paid) on 28 May 2025 in Hardin County court.
Is this the next Tequila?
We’re always looking for the next big thing, and last month, we shone a light on one spirit that is looking to take Tequila’s crown.
Often labelled India’s ‘best-kept secret’, Feni is a distilled spirit originating from the Indian state of Goa. It is typically made from fermented cashew apples or coconut sap, and has been distilled for generations along the Konkan coast. Now, it is starting to get its time in the spotlight thanks to London’s ‘first’ creative drinks lab and studio Room Two, which is placing Feni – described as an ‘untapped category’ – at the heart of the modern cocktail conversation. Should Tequila be quaking in its boots? Time will tell.
SirDavis and Beyoncé go on tour
Did you get tickets to the hottest tour in town this summer? The Spirits Business did, and it gave us the chance to see the important role being played by Beyoncé’s American whiskey SirDavis.
SirDavis is the official spirit of the Cowboy Carter tour, which will draw to an end on 26 July, which means there are only a few opportunities left to see Queen B herself sip a dram of SirDavis whiskey on stage.
Readbreast 15 ups the proof for anniversary edition
Big birthdays should always be marked with something special, which is why Redbreast 15 Year Old upped its ABV in honour of the its 20th anniversary.
Redbreast 15 Year Old was first introduced in 2005 as a one-off bottling, but now, 20 years later, the brand is releasing a limited edition 56.3% ABV cask strength version, matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon and oloroso Sherry-seasoned casks. Master blender Dave McCabe said: “Bottling it at natural cask strength allows the whiskey to fully showcase its complexity and vibrancy. Selecting 15 casks for this expression was a meaningful choice, connecting the whiskey’s age to its creation story.”
Pernod to axe jobs in restructuring plans
Restructuring is on the cards for Pernod Ricard, but that means curtains for a portion of its staff – although just how many jobs are at risk is yet to be confirmed.
According to a report by Reuters last month, the Paris-headquartered Martell owner has announced plans internally to group its business into two divisions, Gold and Crystal.
When asked for clarification, The Spirits Business received a statement that did not confirm the move to two divisions or how many jobs would be affected, but said: “At Pernod Ricard, we work on an ongoing basis to adapt our organisation and ways of working to the fast-evolving business environment. That is why we have announced to all our employees an internal project aimed to create a more agile and simplified organisation aligned with our strategic objectives and the current evolution of our business.”
Glenfarclas unveils 70YO single malt
Showcasing more than 70 years of maturation and expertise, Glenfarclas revealed its oldest single malt whisky to date last month, which was distilled on 20 November 1953 and aged in a single first-fill Sherry cask, before being overseen by six distillery managers over the course of 70 years in the distillery’s dunnage warehouses.
At 70 years old the whisky is the oldest release from the distillery. It has been released as part of the Glenfarclas Warehouse Series, and is presented in the distillery’s distinctive red-coloured warehouse box. SB got the chance to try it on a visit to the distillery last month, which you can read about here.
Jobs at risk as RNDC exits California
The news story that shook California last month also became our ‘big story’ for the July issue of The Spirits Business magazine, so its no surprise to see this one taking fourth place in our list of most-read stories for the month.
The long and short of it is that Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) will close shop out west after losing major producers Tito’s and Brown-Forman in California. Interim CEO Bob Hendrickson issued a preliminary statement that said as of 1 September, the business would be withdrawing from the west-coast state, with many of the jobs there to be affected.
Diageo inks deal to offload Italian operations
Reaching the podium of June’s most-read stories is the news that Diageo has agreed to sell its Italian operations to NewPrinces to ‘optimise its global production network’, saving hundreds of jobs – finally some positive news.
Diageo said the move aligned with its ‘ongoing commitment to optimising its global production network to better serve its markets’, and the deal with NewPrinces maintains the production site’s current workers and a fixed-term service agreement will be in place once the transaction is completed to enable a smooth transition.
Taste for Antique: Buffalo Trace Distillery
A spotlight on Bourbon maker Buffalo Trace Distillery certainly caught the attention of our readership in June, making it the second most-read story of the month.
This particular story focused on the distillery’s award-winning Weller Antique 107, which was first introduced as the seven-year-old Original 107 in the 1970s, and has become a cult favourite among whiskey enthusiasts. With an ABV of 53.5%, the non-age-statement expression is thought to be a blend of whiskeys aged between six and eight years, resulting in a balanced and complex flavour profile on the palate.
The Brand Champions 2025 report
Full disclosure: June’s most-read list was actually made up of our biggest-selling Brand Champions round-ups published throughout the month, but we thought that might actually be a bit ‘samey’, especially when taking the top spot in the list is the full 2025 Brand Champions report, which encapsulates all of that data into one free supplement magazine.
The Spirits Business editorial team spent much of the year’s second quarter collecting data from the world’s spirits brands that sell more than one million cases annually, including those that are edging closer to the coveted mark. Once the data was compiled, the team carefully trawled through the figures to analyse the developments, which are detailed throughout the report (and in those round-ups we talked about).
For each major category, a Brand Champion was chosen. These titles are given to brands not only due to impressive sales results, but after considering their marketing endeavours, new product developments, and consistency in previous years.
Read The Brand Champions 2025 in full and for free here.
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