Liquor Industry News 01-01-26
Exploring all things wine with you!
The following is a summary of the stories featured in the LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 01-01-26 collection:
- Understanding "Still-Strength" Spirits: An exploration of what "still-strength" means for curious drinkers. These spirits are bottled directly at the proof they leave the still, without being diluted with water, offering a more intense and pure expression of the production process.
- Champagne Industry Challenges: While New Year’s Eve sparked the typical surge in Champagne sales, the industry is currently facing significant headwinds. These include ongoing labor abuse allegations in French vineyards and the looming threat of international tariffs.
- The 100 Best Whiskeys of 2025: A year-end retrospective ranking the top whiskeys tasted throughout 2025. The list serves as a guide for enthusiasts looking for the "best of the best" as the new year begins.
- Ranking the 100 Best Bourbons of 2025: A specific focus on Bourbon, highlighting the top 100 bottles of the year. The report notes that the whiskey industry faced "existential challenges" in 2025, including trade uncertainty and shifting consumer trends.
- Orange Wine Fatigue: For those tired of the skin-fermented "orange wine" trend, experts and sommeliers suggest exploring alternative styles of wine that offer similar complexity without being part of the specific orange wine category.
- Global New Year’s Drinks: A cultural look at 10 alcoholic beverages from around the world that are traditionally used for New Year’s toasts, along with travel advice on accepting drinks in different international settings.
CSW,CSS,CWAS,FWS,IWS,SWS,IWM
Mark C Lenzi CSW,CSS,CWAS,FWS,IWS,SWS,IWM owner of Franklin Liquors, is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Spirits( CSS) by the Society of Wine Educators. The first in MA to hold a California Wine Appellation Specialist (CWAS) title from the San Francisco Wine School. French Wine Scholar(FWS)/instructor, Spanish Wine Scholar (SWS) and Italian Wine Scholar (IWS) by the Wine Scholar Guild. Italian Wine Specialist (IWS) by the North American Sommelier Association. Oregon Wine Expert (OWE) by the Napa Valley Wine Academy, Italian Wine Maestro (IWM) Vinitaly International (First USA Class), AFNA™ Wine Certified. Whiskey Diploma Journeyman Whiskey Taster from Whiskey University
Franklin Liquors is a family-owned vintage 1978. https://www.franklinliquors.com/
Founder of the Franklin Wine Club https://www.meetup.com/franklin-wine-club/
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