August 25th, 2025: Bourbon struggles and trends, plus other news
InvestBev opinion on Bourbon, Trump’s tariffs, plans for Bacanora, Mackmyra’s owner passed away, harvest in Cognac, French Antilles’ rum export quotas and more…
The Spirits Post is an international press review about the spirits industry brought to you by Eugenia Torelli, an Italian spirits journalist and judge. It provides you with an independent selection of news and content about spirits from all over the world.
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Happy Monday everyone!
Here is what I found this morning on the news.
Bourbon’s current struggles explained by InvestBev
Chicago-based private equity firm InvestBev spoke to Global Drinks Intel about today’s concerns regarding the alcohol market and bourbon barrel assets. According to the firm, the current environment for bourbon is mirroring the category’s downward trends in the 1980s.
Article by Henry Mathieu on Global Drinks Intel:
Bourbon’s current struggles ‘mirror historical cycles’ – InvestBev
How Donald Trump’s tariff could impact the US economy
An exclusive feature by Emma Rumney for Reuters provides a general overview of the effects of Trump’s tariffs on the US national trade system and consumers.
Rumney delves into a point-by-point analysis produced for WSWA by New York economic research firm John Dunham & Associates. This article highlights the impact on categories like Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey and Polish vodka, as well as the estimated sales loss for wholesalers.
You can read it here:
Exclusive: How US alcohol tariffs may hurt some businesses, hike prices for Americans
CIAD to back state authorities to improve bacanora production
The Secretaría de Economía y Turismo for the state of Sonora has signed a collaboration agreement with the Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo (CIAD) to promote the certification, professionalisation and standardisation of Bacanora.
The agreement aims to strengthen the production of this artisanal beverage through scientific, technological, humanistic and innovation processes that seek to guarantee product quality and increase competitiveness in national and international markets.
You can read the article on the mexican online newspaper Entorno Informativo (no author mantioned):
Autoridades estatales y el CIAD impulsarán certificación del bacanora
A quick remind: Sonora state has recently presented an official request for the extension of the current appellation. You can read the news in our August 9th press review:
Sweden
Lennart Hero, Mackmyra’s owner, has passed away. What happens to the distillery now?
Things have been relatively quiet for Mackmyra after its bankruptcy in August 2024. However, the main owner, Lennart Hero, passed away on 5 July 2025, and his death has been kept private out of respect for his family. I came across this news in an article by Henrik Aflodal, published on 1 August on the Swedish newspaper The Spirits News. I thought you might be interested in reading to learn more about the distillery’s situation (Google Translator helps):
Anora Group partners with Gotlands Ginfabrik
Nordic wine and spirits company Anora Group has announced a new distribution partnership with Swedish gin producer Gotlands Ginfabrik.
Article by Shivam Mishra on Just-Drinks here:
Anora strikes Sweden distribution tie-up with Gotlands Ginfabrik
Cognac is expecting a low yield harvest due to the summer heat
The harvest in the Cognac region is set to start early this year, with low quantities and yield expected after a scorching summer. The harvest could begin in the first half of September, up to three weeks ahead of schedule.
Perhaps this isn’t such a bad thing, considering the current trade slowdown and other difficulties.
Article by Thomas Brunet on Charent Libre:
Dans le vignoble du cognac, les vendanges s’annoncent précoces et la récolte médiocre
French Antilles rum export quotas for 2026 and 2027 campaigns
The French Government has issued its order regarding the distribution of rum export quotas to France between departments and distilleries in its overseas territories. The document was actually issued one month and a half ago, on June 16th, and will be effective starting from January 1st 2026. I had missed this news, but I came across it in an article by Julien Sartre on France-Antilles Martinique:
Exportations de rhum : les équilibres du contingent sont maintenus
I found the official document for you in case you want to have a look at it:
And here you can find some more information about how France regulates rum exports from its overseas territories to the mainland:
Something to read
High-proof American whiskey on the rise
Given our discussion on Bourbon, I thought you might also be interested in an article about consumption trends. Carissa Chesanek reports on high-proof American whiskey for the UK publication Decanter:
That’s all for today! Have a great start of the week, I’ll see you on Wednesday ;)