Well, that didn’t take long. Just a couple of weeks after Diageo CEO Sir Dave Lewis bemoaned the company’s underrepresentation in the lower price brackets of the US spirits market, here’s Johnnie Walker Red Soul, a £25-a-bottle ($33) “more accessible Scotch for non-whisky drinkers”.
Spirits’ struggles mean more cautious majors – and harder task for startups
With trading tough, major distillers have become more cautious and are narrowing their focus – and the challenges facing startups are only mounting.
Richard Woodard March 13 2026


