All articles by Richard Woodard

Unaged Spirits Commentator

The Lakes Distillery needed Nyetimber deal to fund ambitions

The surprise announcement that English sparkling wine specialist Nyetimber wants to acquire The Lakes Distillery may not have had scribes…
Rejoice as Diageo reopens Port Ellen but closures could soon haunt spirits industry

There’s a lot of romance attached to the whisky business, and I’m not sure the events of last week will…
Brown-Forman highlights the uncertainty swirling around US spirits

Corporate results announcements, particularly in difficult times, are awash with euphemism and circumlocution. This year’s buzzwords, from London to Paris…
Why brand owners must be agile as Tequila matures

It would be hard to argue against the contention that Tequila has been the greatest success story of the spirits…
Sainte Marguerite en Provence safe at Pernod despite wine-portfolio divestment chatter

Peninsula Paris hotel in the 16th arrondissement is a truly impressive venue for a launch event; its walls breathe history.…

How Diageo’s H1 results highlight lingering effects of Covid-19

On 30 January 2020, the WHO declared a global health emergency after thousands of people in China became infected with…
Why Corona Cero, Michelob Ultra make sense as focus of AB InBev’s Olympic partnership

As Paris prepares to host this summer’s Olympic Games, things have changed just a bit since the last time sport’s…
Why Campari can revitalise Courvoisier

My first and enduring memory of Courvoisier – beyond the sight of the dramatic façade of the Cognac house’s château…
Success will be a marathon, not a sprint, for Pernod’s first China-made whisky

Here’s a trivia question to throw into the mix if things go a bit quiet over Christmas dinner this year.…
Slowing Tequila and resurgent vodka frame outlook for unaged spirits in 2024

There are any number of fascinating trends affecting the world of unaged spirits as 2023 draws to a close –…