January 2, 2026: The last news of 2025 and something more to start the new year
Jim Beam, whisky in Alberta, tequila recognised in the UAE, mezcal domestic market, cachaça, taxes in Reunion, no-low, The Spirits Post in 2026 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. If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe here to receive it directly in your inbox:
Hello and a very Happy New Year to you all!
The turn of the year is traditionally a time for reflection—a moment to weigh up the highs and lows of the past twelve months and set a strategic roadmap for the next.
As regular readers will know, I prefer a pragmatic approach. This isn’t the place for life philosophy; there is plenty of that elsewhere on Substack and across the web if that’s what you’re looking for. Instead, I’m sticking to what you need most: the facts. I’ll dive straight into the news now, but I have taken a moment at the end of this post to reflect on how this blog—and my work here—might evolve in 2026. If you’re interested in the “behind-the-scenes,” just keep scrolling.
Now, back to the headlines. I’ve rounded up the most significant stories from the final weeks of 2025, from Jim Beam’s production pause to Tequila’s new recognition in the UAE.
Let’s get started.
Jim Beam halts production at flagship distillery
The Suntory Global Spirits-owned Bourbon producer, Jim Beam, has decided to suspend production for this year at its primary facility in Kentucky. The announcement, made before Christmas, marks a significant pause for the brand.
You can read the news by Osmond Chia for the BBC:
Bourbon maker Jim Beam halts production at main distillery for a year
Canada
Alberta seeks official definition for its whisky
The provincial government of Alberta is currently consulting with distillers and industry associations to establish a formal identity for the category. The move is seen as a strategic bid to protect the brand and foster growth within the sector.
Article by Stephen Tipper in The Calgary Herald:
What is Alberta whisky? Province consulting with producers to define it in bid to grow industry
Mexico
Tequila DO is now recognised in the United Arab Emirates
The Consejo Regulador del Tequila A.C. (CRT) has announced that the United Arab Emirates have become the 58th country to recognise Tequila Denomination of Origin (DO). This grants the CRT exclusive rights for certification, analysis, and quality control within the UAE. According to the association, exports of 40% ABV tequila to the country exceeded one million litres in 2024, with 2025 showing similarly strong figures.
Read more details in Alejandra Liera’s article for El Imparcial:
Taxes and premiumisation: Mezcal struggles at home despite export success
According to data from the Mezcal Regulatory Council (Comercam), the volume of mezcal sold internationally is now 2.6 times greater than that sold within Mexico. This shift is largely attributed to a combination of progressive premiumisation and an exceptionally high tax burden, which accounts for between 53% and 75% of the final retail price.
Article by El Imparcial Oaxaca (no author mentioned):
El mezcal enfrenta su mayor “resaca”: impuestos, exportación y caída del consumo local
Brazil
Minas Gerais invests in new laboratory to safeguard cachaça quality
The Instituto Mineiro de Agropecuária (IMA) is set to invest nearly R$2 million into a new laboratory facility. Funded by the State Fund for Consumer Protection (FEPDC), the laboratory aims to expedite the analysis of alcoholic beverages, ensuring quality standards while mitigating the risks of fraud and contamination.
(The articles comes from a press release by the IMA, but I’m not able to find it on their website)
Reunion, France
Reunion rum producers hit by 42% tax hike
Authorities in the Reunion Region have voted for a substantial rise in excise duties for rum. The new measure brings the total increase to 42%, which translates to an additional cost of nearly €8 per litre.
Full details can be found in Zinfos 974, which has been tracking the story:
Hausse de 42 % de la taxe régionale : “Le rhum réunionnais est le plus taxé d’Outre-mer”
No & Low
No-alcohol ‘spirits’ set for double-digit growth
The no-alcohol sector remains a bright spot in the industry. According to the IWSR, alcohol-free alternatives to spirits grew by 13% in volume during 2024. The category is projected to see a further 10% increase in 2025 and 9% in 2026.
You will find some more details about the scenario in Nicola Carruthers’s article for The Spirits Business:
Something to read (and to make you smile)
Nature’s party animals: Three creatures known to enjoy a tipple
From Caribbean vervet monkeys to fruit flies and cedar waxwings, humans aren’t the only ones who occasionally overindulge in the wild. An entertaining feature in The Indian Express explores these boozy behaviours.
However, eagle-eyed readers will likely notice the rather questionable stock photo the author chose to represent the fruit fly. It’s a classic case of “cringe” picture selection that might make you chuckle for the wrong reasons!
Form your own opinion here:
That’s all for today.
Why the Spirits Post exists
A look back at our first eight months
I launched The Spirits Post last April because I felt there was a gap in the market for specific, actionable news for the spirits industry—particularly at a time when the sector was already navigating a volatile international landscape and shifting consumer habits.
For two years prior, I had been curating these insights as the managing editor for a specialist spirits publication in Italy. Unfortunately, I was forced to stop that work due to a series of significant unpaid invoices (a financial struggle I’m still navigating today). However, because I believe that in turbulent times the only way for professionals to stay afloat is to stay informed, I decided to turn my personal daily press review into this public blog.
The response has proven that this something the industry needed. In just eight months, our community has grown from zero to nearly one hundred subscribers across several countries—entirely through word of mouth, without any social media promotion.
Searching for significant news, summarising it in English (which, as you know, is not my mother tongue), and publishing several times a week is an immense amount of work. Seeing this community grow and hearing your insights in my inbox is my biggest reward. Thank you for following.
If you have colleagues or friends who would find these updates valuable, please do invite them to join us by forwarding or sharing the publication:
What to expect from The Spirits Post in 2026
My own career is evolving, and I’ll be taking on more significant roles in consumer-oriented publications soon (I look forward to sharing more on that in the coming months). This means The Spirits Post will remain my primary channel for industry-focused news.
As my schedule allows, I hope to introduce more original articles, exclusive interviews, and bespoke content. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this—please do share your feedback in the comments.
I’m not interested in “big numbers” for the sake of it; I care about the quality of this community. You are proving that quality matters.
I wish you all a fantastic and prosperous 2026!
Eugenia