Business of Drinks

Episode 100 is a milestone moment for Business of Drinks — and instead of looking backward, we’re doing what this show has always done best: Looking ahead.In this special episode, Erica Duecy, Scott Rosenbaum, and Caroline Lamb break down the biggest drinks trends shaping 2026, using a meta-analysis of 16 leading industry trend reports. The goal isn’t hype, it’s pattern recognition. We’re pressure-testing what’s structural, what’s actionable, and what actually matters for founders, operators, and drinks leaders navigating a complex market.Across the first 100 episodes, one pattern has held true: Trends only matter if they translate into execution. This conversation applies that lens to what’s coming next.Here’s a preview of what’s to come:🔶 Third spaces are evolving.Bars, cafes, and beverage-led venues are becoming modern community hubs — earlier, lighter, and more intentional. Drinks aren’t the point; they’re the facilitator. As digital life accelerates, in-person connection is becoming a growth driver.🔶 Zero-proof is moving to the center of the menu.The “mocktail section” is officially outdated. Non-alcoholic options are now core to menu design, driving inclusion, incremental occasions, and revenue. These drinks are not replacing alcohol, but expanding the total addressable audience.🔶 Better-for-you becomes a growth engine.Lower sugar, lower alcohol, and functional benefits are no longer niche. From NA wine surpassing $100M in U.S. retail sales to better-for-you wines topping $250M, these products are pulling consumers into the category, not pushing them out.🔶 Smart caffeination replaces energy extremes.Matcha, yerba mate, hojicha, and tea-forward formats are redefining caffeine as a tool for focus, calm, and ritual. They expand daytime drinking occasions with or without alcohol.🔶 Premium faces a reality check.Consumers still want premium, but only when it delivers meaning. Emotional connection, storytelling, and experience now justify price, while “drinkflation” without value hits resistance.🔶 Showmanship and sensory experience rise.Texture, garnish-as-snack, flavored ice, and immersive storytelling are redefining drinks as multi-sensory experiences. Great liquid alone is no longer enough.This episode is both a thank you to the Business of Drinks community and a field guide for what’s next. One hundred episodes in, the mission remains the same: Cut through the noise, learn from what’s working, and help the drinks industry grow smarter, faster.For the latest updates, follow us:Business of Drinks:YouTubeLinkedInInstagram @bizofdrinksErica Duecy, co-host: Erica Duecy is founder and co-host of Business of Drinks and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She runs the consultancy and advisory arm of Business of Drinks and has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.LinkedInInstagram @ericaduecyScott Rosenbaum, co-host: Scott Rosenbaum is co-host of Business of Drinks and a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Most recently, he was the Portfolio Development Director at Distill Ventures. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor.LinkedInCaroline Lamb, contributor: Caroline is a producer and on-air contributor at Business of Drinks and a key account sales and marketing specialist at AHD Vintners, a Michigan-based importer and distributor.LinkedInInstagram @borkalineIf you enjoyed today’s conversation, follow Business of Drinks wherever you’re listening, and don’t forget to rate and review us. Your support helps us reach new listeners passionate about the drinks industry. Thank you!

Nihilo is a rare creative agency in beverage that treats branding as a business discipline, not a design exercise.In this sponsored episode of Business of Drinks, co-founders Margaret Kerr-Jarrett and Emunah Winer join us to unpack their newly released 2026 New Rules Report and what it reveals about how the most effective drinks brands are actually being built right now.The New Rules Report is the centerpiece of this conversation. Based on deep discussions with founders, operators, and investors across beverage alcohol and non-alc, it offers a practical framework for understanding how brand, distribution, fundraising, and operating choices intersect. This isn’t a list of trends or a lookbook. It’s an operating lens for founders navigating saturation, slower capital, and changing consumer behavior.In the episode, Margaret and Emunah explain why “looking good” is now table stakes, not a growth strategy — and why clarity of perspective matters more than polish. They share why many brands are intentionally simplifying their stories instead of over-educating consumers, how packaging and distribution choices function as brand strategy, and why real-world, IRL activation is once again becoming a primary growth lever.They also break down several of the core “rules” from the 2026 report, including why one strong idea beats a complicated narrative, how contrarian positioning can unlock whitespace when categories crowd, and why profitability, production decisions, and funding paths quietly shape brand meaning just as much as marketing does.If you’re a drinks founder, operator, or investor trying to understand how brands are winning in a noisy, capital-constrained environment — and how to apply those lessons to your own business — this episode offers a grounded, strategic playbook.To access the 2026 New Rules Report, visit www.newrulesbev.com.For the latest updates, follow us:Business of Drinks:YouTubeLinkedInInstagram @bizofdrinksErica Duecy, co-host: Erica Duecy is founder and co-host of Business of Drinks and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She runs the consultancy and advisory arm of Business of Drinks and has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.LinkedInInstagram @ericaduecyScott Rosenbaum, co-host: Scott Rosenbaum is co-host of Business of Drinks and a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Most recently, he was the Portfolio Development Director at Distill Ventures. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor.LinkedInCaroline Lamb, contributor: Caroline is a producer and on-air contributor at Business of Drinks and a key account sales and marketing specialist at AHD Vintners, a Michigan-based importer and distributor.LinkedInInstagram @borkalineIf you enjoyed today’s conversation, follow Business of Drinks wherever you’re listening, and don’t forget to rate and review us. Your support helps us reach new listeners passionate about the drinks industry. Thank you!

Wölffer Estate Vineyard is an example of a legacy winery that has managed to stay culturally relevant and financially healthy through one of the most challenging periods in wine.The Hamptons-based, family-owned winery now produces roughly 250,000 cases annually and finished 2025 up single digits in both dollar sales and volume, outperforming much of the broader category. In this episode, CEO Max Rohn explains how Wölffer evolved from a local estate into a nationally recognized lifestyle brand — without outside capital, without chasing volume, and without abandoning quality.Key takeaways for drinks founders:🔶 Build around how people actually live and drinkWölffer anchored its growth to occasion and lifestyle, not demographics. That strategy helped Summer in a Bottle become the #3 luxury rosé in the U.S., alongside Whispering Angel and Miraval, even as the rosé category cooled overall.🔶 Scarcity and discipline can be strategic advantagesRather than scaling as fast as demand allowed, Wölffer grew slowly and organically, constrained by vineyard supply and intentional distribution. That restraint protected brand equity and supported strong velocity at shelf.🔶 Expansion works when it fits real occasionsWölffer’s portfolio now spans traditional wine, cider, low-ABV, and non-alcoholic — but every extension connects back to the same brand DNA. Its non-alcoholic Spring in a Bottle is now the #1 luxury NA wine in the U.S., growing roughly 100% year over year with category-leading dollars per store.🔶 Profitability first, alwaysWith no outside investors, Wölffer focused on margin discipline, conservative production, and testing new ideas in small runs — sometimes just a few hundred cases — before scaling.🔶 Experiences drive the brand flywheelWölffer’s Hamptons estate draws about 150,000 visitors annually, turning direct-to-consumer traffic into long-term brand loyalty that fuels off-premise and national growth.This episode offers a playbook for wine and beverage alcohol leaders navigating today’s market: Stay focused on velocity over volume, build brands that mean something beyond the bottle, and grow in ways that reinforce — rather than dilute — what made you relevant in the first place. Listen in for more insights.Don’t miss our next episode, dropping on January 21.For the latest updates, follow us:Business of Drinks:YouTubeLinkedInInstagram @bizofdrinksErica Duecy, co-host: Erica Duecy is founder and co-host of Business of Drinks and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She runs the consultancy and advisory arm of Business of Drinks and has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.LinkedInInstagram @ericaduecyScott Rosenbaum, co-host: Scott Rosenbaum is co-host of Business of Drinks and a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Most recently, he was the Portfolio Development Director at Distill Ventures. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor.LinkedInCaroline Lamb, contributor: Caroline is a producer and on-air contributor at Business of Drinks and a key account sales and marketing specialist at AHD Vintners, a Michigan-based importer and distributor.LinkedInInstagram @borkalineIf you enjoyed today’s conversation, follow Business of Drinks wherever you’re listening, and don’t forget to rate and review us. Your support helps us reach new listeners passionate about the drinks industry. Thank you!

Raising capital for a drinks brand has fundamentally changed — and Mike Solow is on the front lines of that shift.In this episode of Business of Drinks, we sit down with Mike Solow, Co-Founder & Partner at 99 Proof Partners and Cask Strength, to unpack what founders actually need to know about fundraising right now — from equity vs. debt, to diligence, to investor expectations that most founders underestimate.99 Proof is a boutique investment firm making early- and mid-stage investments in beverage alcohol, typically writing $500K–$1M checks across equity, debt, and real-estate-backed structures. Cask Strength, their venture-debt arm, focuses on flexible capital solutions — from barrel-backed lending to expansion and production financing — designed to fuel growth without choking a business’s runway.Mike breaks down why equity capital has become harder to raise, why venture debt is gaining traction, and how valuation resets and shorter hold periods are reshaping the market. He explains what 99 Proof looks for in founders — experience, clarity, grit, and creativity — and why most founders still aren’t prepared for today’s diligence environment.We also get highly tactical: What makes a deck an automatic “yes” or “no,” why messy storytelling and lack of polish kill opportunities instantly, and how 99 Proof’s publicly shared 40-plus-item diligence checklist is meant to help founders raise smarter capital — even if they never work with 99 Proof.Mike shares real examples from the portfolio, including why brands like Archer Roose stood out early, how category overlap actually works in portfolio construction, and why “five-year exits” are increasingly unrealistic for most brands today.The big takeaway: This is a tougher moment — but a healthier one. The correction is rewarding disciplined operators, clear communicators, and founders who understand how capital really works.If you’re raising money, restructuring capital, or planning your next growth phase, this episode is required listening.Don’t miss our next episode, dropping on January 14.For the latest updates, follow us:Business of Drinks:YouTubeLinkedInInstagram @bizofdrinksErica Duecy, co-host: Erica Duecy is founder and co-host of Business of Drinks and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She runs the consultancy and advisory arm of Business of Drinks and has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.LinkedInInstagram @ericaduecyScott Rosenbaum, co-host: Scott Rosenbaum is co-host of Business of Drinks and a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Most recently, he was the Portfolio Development Director at Distill Ventures. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor.LinkedInCaroline Lamb, contributor: Caroline is a producer and on-air contributor at Business of Drinks and a key account sales and marketing specialist at AHD Vintners, a Michigan-based importer and distributor.LinkedInInstagram @borkalineIf you enjoyed today’s conversation, follow Business of Drinks wherever you’re listening, and don’t forget to rate and review us. Your support helps us reach new listeners passionate about the drinks industry. Thank you!

This was a year of contradictions in drinks. Structural headwinds collided with real momentum — and the brands that grew weren’t following old rules. They were aligning with how people actually drink, shop, and spend today.In this special year-end episode, Erica Duecy, Scott Rosenbaum, and Caroline Lamb break down the biggest forces reshaping the drinks industry — across alcohol, non-alc, functional, and THC — and what they signal for growth heading into 2026.🔶 Functional is now foundational Functional beverages — from prebiotic sodas and adaptogenic spirits to THC drinks — moved firmly into the mainstream. It’s now a $9B+ category growing at double-digit rates. Brands winning here aren’t just selling benefits; they’re anchoring products to rituals, occasions, and repeatable habits.🔶 THC beverages hit an inflection point Low-dose THC drinks crossed a legitimacy threshold, with major retailers and alcohol distributors testing the category. Regulatory uncertainty remains, but consumer demand is clear — and early movers are scaling at real volume.🔶 Wine isn’t broken — demand is shifting While total wine declined, several segments outperformed: White blends, alternative whites, premium rosé, non-alcoholic wine, and innovative formats like cans. The common thread is accessibility, clarity, and occasion-fit — not prestige or tradition.🔶 Gen Z is drinking — just differently Roughly 70% of legal-age Gen Z consumers in the U.S. drank alcohol in the past six months, bringing them in line with older generations. What’s changed is how they drink: Flavor-first, value-driven, and highly occasion-specific — with easy switching between alcohol and non-alc.🔶 Economic pressure is the biggest headwind Trade-downs, format shifts, and tighter budgets shaped every category. Premium still works, but only when tied to intentional consumption: fewer drinks, better quality.🔶 Culture matters again Savory and umami flavors gained traction in cocktails, while nostalgia-driven branding resonated across categories. Comfort, familiarity, and emotional connection beat novelty.Why listen? Because the brands winning in 2025 didn’t chase hype — they aligned with real consumer behavior. This episode delivers a clear, data-driven look at where growth is actually happening, and what drinks brands need to rethink going into 2026.Don’t miss our next episode, dropping on January 7.For the latest updates, follow us:Business of Drinks:YouTubeLinkedInInstagram @bizofdrinksErica Duecy, co-host: Erica Duecy is founder and co-host of Business of Drinks and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She runs the consultancy and advisory arm of Business of Drinks and has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.LinkedInInstagram @ericaduecyScott Rosenbaum, co-host: Scott Rosenbaum is co-host of Business of Drinks and a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Most recently, he was the Portfolio Development Director at Distill Ventures. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor.LinkedInCaroline Lamb, contributor: Caroline is a producer and on-air contributor at Business of Drinks and a key account sales and marketing specialist at AHD Vintners, a Michigan-based importer and distributor.LinkedInInstagram @borkalineSPONSOR: SWIG Partners is exclusively offering $100 off their supplier-distributor matchmaking fee when you mention the Business of Drinks podcast, or inquire via this link: ⁠https://www.swigpartners.com/businessofdrinksIf you enjoyed today’s conversation, follow Business of Drinks wherever you’re listening, and don’t forget to rate and review us. Your support helps us reach new listeners passionate about the drinks industry. Thank you!