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☆ Urris: Irish moonshine and the village that declared itself an outlaw republic
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Yolanda Evans | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Back in the 19th century, however, this county was at the center of an illegal trade in poitín – or Irish moonshine. Inishowen in particular was such a hive of illegal activity that the area was jokingly referred to as the Urris Poitín Republic. Fed up with the heavy fines, the people of Urris declared themselves the independent nation of the “Urris Republic of Poitín” and sealed themselves in by collapsing the pass in 1812, McLaughlin-Doherty explains. The townspeople were able to be self-sufficient because of their farmlands and fishing, thus allowing the Urris Republic of Poitín to last for three years before the coup was ended in 1815. The Catholic Church, a stronghold in Ireland, was instrumental in the eventual curbing of illegal poitín production.

Persons: there’s, Malin, –, uisce, Innis Murray, Martin Hegarty, Jennifer McLaughlin, Doherty, “, Urris, McLaughlin, Poitín, ”, Pat Doherty, poitín, Clara Molden, Aengus King, Pádraic Ó Griallais, Poitin, Ó Griallais Organizations: CNN, Donegal, distillers, Irish Ancestral Tours, Research, “, Catholic, Camera, Drinks, Micil Distillery, Revenue, Department, Agriculture Locations: Inishowen, Ireland’s, There’s, Clonmany, Lenan, poitín, Republic, Ireland, Sligo, Urris, Poitín Republic, Poitín, Urris Republic, Republic of Urris, Ireland’s Shannon, Dublin, Drinks Ireland, Galway, “, Britain

On Tuesday, industry leaders reassembled with a bipartisan group of Kentucky leaders to toast the bourbon sector's record growth. Kentucky's bourbon industry pumps $9 billion into the Bluegrass State's economy each year, creating more jobs and attracting more tourists than ever before, according to a study released Tuesday. Kentucky distillers produce 95% of the global bourbon supply, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association. Producers had a record inventory of 12.6 million bourbon barrels aging in warehouses at the start of 2023, it said. Bourbon tourism has flourished, with attendance surpassing 2.5 million visitors last year along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, which showcases smaller distilleries.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Bill Samuels Jr, Maker's Mark, Samuels, “, ”, David Osborne, Eric Gregory, ” Samuels Organizations: Kentucky Capitol, Democratic, Kentucky distillers, Kentucky Distillers ' Association, Maker's, statehouse, distillers, Producers, Bourbon, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Distillers, Republican, Bluegrass State, Capitol, Ivy League Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, Kentucky

[1/5] Taiko Nakamura samples whisky barreled in the year he founded at his distillery in Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan October 25, 2023. The explosion of craft whisky in Japan follows a boom and bust in the industry. Last week, Sotheby's offered what it claimed was the most valuable collection of Japanese whisky at auction, headlined by a 52-year old bottle that sold for 300,000 pounds ($373,830). Suntory, Japan's biggest and best-known whisky maker, recently invested 10 billion yen ($67 million) to upgrade its distilleries, including its Yamazaki site. "I believe we need to put all our effort into making Japanese whisky that lives up to the quality of the Japanese whiskies made by our predecessors," he said.

Persons: Rocky Swift, Suntory's, Taiko Nakamura, Long, whiskies, Sotheby's, Shinji Fukuyo, Casey Wahl, Kamui, Shizuoka's Nakamura, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Suntory, trailblazer, Nikka, Asahi Group, Japan's, Japanese distillers, Diageo, IJW Whiskey, Nikkei, Thomson Locations: Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Yamazaki, Scotland, Hong Kong, Japanese, Komasa Kanosuke, Kentucky, Hokkaido, American, Rishiri

Consumers started spending more on high-quality spirits during the pandemic shutdowns, which spurred a rise in premium beverage products, said Erlinda A. Doherty, an agave spirits expert and consultant. Both are proprietary spirits under Mexican laws, which are recognized in U.S. trade agreements. While he didn’t comment specifically on California’s foray into agave spirits, he said he believes Mexico can respond to the growing demand. The state legislature enacted a law last year requiring “California agave spirits” be made solely with plants grown in the state and without additives. He said those making agave spirits have a deep appreciation for Mexican tequila.

Persons: — Leo Ortega, Ortega, ” Ortega, Doherty, ” Doherty, “, ” Alfonso Mojica Navarro, ”, Henry Tarmy, “ We’ve, we’ve, Craig Reynolds, Davis, Stuart Woolf, Woolf, Lisa, ” Woolf Organizations: distillers, California —, Mexican Chamber, Tequila Industry, Ventura Spirits, California Agave, University of California Locations: Calif, Southern California, Mexico, California, United States, U.S, France, Jalisco, Texas, Arizona, Northern California, Central, Davis

☆ France and EU to spend $215 million shoring up struggling wine producers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Paris CNN —The French government and the European Union will spend 200 million euros ($215 million) to help the country’s wine producers, who are struggling to cope with falling prices and waning demand. High demand for the voluntary buyback program, which was announced in June, prompted authorities to stretch its budget to $200 million, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement Friday. France was, as of 2020, the world’s second-biggest wine producer and its biggest wine exporter. EU wine exports from January to April this year are also 8.5% lower than last. The French government is also encouraging wine growers to look to alternative crops to cope with climate change and changing market forces.

Persons: rosés Organizations: Paris CNN, European Union, French Ministry of Agriculture, distillers, Agriculture Ministry Locations: France, Europe, EU, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal

☆ How to Create the Perfect Nonalcoholic Home Bar
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Oliver Strand | Monica Khemsurov | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It’s no secret that nonalcoholic cocktails are suddenly ubiquitous. Whereas until a few years ago, nondrinkers had to make do with cranberry-splashed club soda, now seemingly every noteworthy bar offers a phony Negroni or a margarita-inspired mocktail. Today, the best bitter aperitifs (the term for nonalcoholic alternatives to spirits like Campari and Aperol) have all the complexity and layered flavors of their boozy counterparts. — Oliver StrandVideo Credit Credit... For our 2023 Summer Entertaining Issue , T stops by dinner parties from Ibiza to Long Island — and shares recipes for the best warm-weather snacks and spritzes. - Host Gift Guide: What T’s editors and contributors are bringing to thank their hosts this summer, including surreal serving spoons and cozy quilts.

Persons: nondrinkers, margarita, ”, Stacey Swenson, Nicholas Bodkins, They’re, —, — Oliver, Yann Nury Organizations: Boisson, distillers, Video Credit Locations: Manhattan, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Ibiza, Long, French, Amsterdam

☆ Australia's United Malt agrees $1 billion takeover offer from France's InVivo
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 3 (Reuters) - Australian malt producer United Malt Group Ltd (UMG.AX) said on Monday it had agreed to a A$1.5 billion ($999 million) takeover offer from Malteries Soufflet, a branch of French agribusiness InVivo. The A$5 per share offer represents a 45.3% premium to United Malt's closing price of A$3.44 on March 24, before the offer was first disclosed. United Malt is the world's fourth-largest commercial maltster, producing bulk malt for brewers, craft brewers, distillers and food companies. The deal requires approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) as well as United Malt's shareholders to vote in support the transaction, among other regulatory requirements. United Malt's board has unanimously recommended that its shareholders vote in favor of the proposal.

Persons: Malteries, Thierry Blandinieres, Graham Bradley, InVivo, Harish Sridharan, Lisa Shumaker, Nick Zieminski, Jamie Freed Organizations: United Malt Group, Reuters, distillers, Foreign Investment, Board, United, United Malt, Thomson Locations: Australia, Canada, United States, Britain, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, Bengaluru

☆ One of the world's oldest spirits is making a comeback
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The anise-flavored liquor is one of the oldest spirits in the world. He noted that it’s still common for Middle Eastern restaurants to stock European wines rather than traditional spirits like arak. He was experimenting to refine the production of al-kohl, a traditional form of eyeliner, according to Arak Muaddi, a Palestinian craft distillery. Nader Muaddi, the founder of Arak Muaddi, explained that producing arak starts with creating wine. The Middle East has “a very rich history of making wine and spirits, and it’s about time that we share it with the world,” Muaddi went on.

Persons: you’ve, –, Jason Bajalia, Jordan’s, ”, Terra, ” Bajalia, Bajalia, “, we’re, ’ ”, Jabir ibn Hayyan, kohl, Nader Muaddi, ” Muaddi, Muaddi, Lewin Muaddi, Arak “, May Matta, she’s, Matta, Arak Farid, Jess Abi Khalil, Frederick, Arak, it’s, “ I’ve Organizations: CNN, Terra, Terra Sancta, distillers, Lewin Historians, Jordan Locations: Arak, Terra Sancta, arak, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Palestinian, arak . Arak, The, American, Pennsylvania, of Israel, artisinal, France, Germany, Austria, Amman, “

☆ Australia's United Malt shares soar on near $1 bln offer from France's InVivo
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The A$5 per-share non-binding offer represents a 45.3% premium to the United Malt stock's last close of A$3.44. Shares in United Malt soared to A$4.64 in their biggest intraday percentage jump ever when they returned to trading. Trading in United Malt shares was halted on Monday. United Malt is the world's fourth largest commercial maltster, producing bulk malt for brewers, craft brewers, distillers and food companies. United Malt has appointed Macquarie Capital as its financial adviser for the deal.

Bulk exports including corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and sorghum totaled 146 million tonnes, down 6% from 2021. The average exported cost of U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat all hit new records in 2022 as a result. CHINAU.S. agricultural and related exports to China in 2022 reached a record $40.85 billion, up 14% from the prior high set last year. U.S. corn exports to China last year were down 14% by volume from 2021’s high, and forward bookings are relatively very light. U.S. beef exports to China hit a record 244,000 tonnes in 2022, up 28% on the year and worth $2.16 billion, surpassing pork’s $1.36 billion.

☆ Diageo to Buy Premium Rum Brand Don Papa
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Joseph Hoppe | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Diageo and other distillers have sought to nudge the rum category upmarket as drinkers show a propensity to pay for pricier booze. Diageo PLC has agreed to buy Don Papa Rum, a high-end dark rum from the Philippines, in a deal worth up to about $473 million, as the liquor giant bids to move further upmarket. The owner of Johnnie Walker whisky and Tanqueray gin will pay 260 million euros, equivalent to $281 million, upfront for Don Papa, with a further potential consideration of up to €177.5 million through to 2028 subject to performance.

☆ Liquor Brands Bet Thrifty Drinkers Will Keep Making At-Home Cocktails
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Joshua Kirby | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Many Americans took to mixing cocktails at home during the pandemic, boosting liquor sales. Now, with inflation squeezing disposable incomes, big distillers are betting on another round of home drinking as consumers economize. Historically, around 80% of all U.S. alcoholic drinks sales were for home drinking, according to IWSR, a drinks market-research firm. That level rose to 90% during the pandemic, and sales at bars aren’t likely to return to pre-Covid levels for another four to five years, IWSR says.

☆ He Made Custom Furniture—and Now He Makes Whiskey
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Julie Halpert | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Stephen Paul started experimenting at making whiskey just for himself and his wife in Arizona. In 2011, he and his daughter launched their company, Whiskey Del Bac by Hamilton Distillers. It was an unusual road that Stephen Paul followed on his way to becoming a maker of whiskey. Mr. Paul, a native of southern Arizona, experienced his first career change at the age of 30 when he gave up teaching environmental science and entered architecture school. At the time, he was mainly interested in the historic architecture of the Sonoran Desert region.

☆ Investors Lose Taste for Pricey Chinese Liquor as Xi Renews ‘Common Prosperity’ Call
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Weilun Soon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A production line at the Kweichow Moutai factory in the town of Maotai in Guizhou province, China. Chinese President Xi Jinping has a vision to distribute wealth more equally across the country. Investors are sobering up to what that could mean for the companies that make the nation’s beloved fiery booze. Mr. Xi recently doubled down on his plans for “common prosperity” during China’s weeklong Communist Party congress in October. Investors are worried that this could portend an industry crackdown, or simply be bad for the future sales of luxury baijiu distillers and companies that sell expensive goods to wealthy people.

☆ Jim Beam is plotting a $400 million expansion to ramp up bourbon production
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Jim Beam plans to ramp up bourbon production at its largest Kentucky distillery to meet growing global demand in a more than $400 million expansion to be powered by renewable energy. The project will increase capacity by 50% at the Beam plant in Boston, Kentucky, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the same percentage, Beam Suntory said Wednesday. Beam also is “fully leveraging” its capacity at its distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, where it produces Jim Beam, Basil Hayden, Knob Creek and Legent brands. Beam Suntory, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan, isn’t the first maker of bourbon to go green. Kentucky is home to 95% of the world’s bourbon production, the association said.

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