June 2, 2026: Updates about RTDs and other news
RTDs in US control states and in the UK, Bruichladdich and West Highland Gin's new RTD ranges, the EU new packaging regulations, high-ester rums 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 everyone!
While I am currently trying to balance my work-life commitments (today is a national holiday in Italy, and being on a business trip certainly doesn’t make that any easier), I have managed to select some interesting pieces of news for you.
Today’s press review starts with the world of RTDs and ends with some “funky” esters. Can you guess what the final reading is about?
Ready-to-drink
Cocktails and RTDs continue to rise in US control states
According to the latest report from the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (Nabca), the cocktail category grew by 34.7% in volume and 33.1% in value across 18 control jurisdictions in April, compared to the same month in 2025. This is notable because the Nabca’s research includes RTDs in this category, helping us track their market performance more effectively.
Looking at other categories, cachaça is the second-largest (after cocktails), with volumes up 15.3% and values up 19.9%—though it is worth noting this comes from a much smaller segment. Tequila is slowing down (+0.2% in volume), while Scotch recorded the largest volume drop (-9.8%).
You can find more details in Nicola Carruthers’s article in The Spirits Business (please, keep my explanation in mind while reading the title):
Note: I have yet to find this data on the Nabca’s official website, but it may be published here in the coming days: Nabca news and media.
Context: For those wondering what “control jurisdictions” are, there are 17 control states and three jurisdictions in the United States where the government plays a direct, hands-on role in the sale and distribution of alcohol. This is where the Nabca collects its data. You can find more information here: Nabca control state directory and info.
RTDs are soaring in the UK too
According to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s (Wsta) new Sip 2 report, RTD sales generated £704 million in the UK off-trade last year. The category grew by 12% year-on-year in volume and 17% in value. One of the primary drivers for this growth appears to be the rising cost-of-living pressure, which is pushing consumers to seek more affordable ways to maintain their drinking habits.
You can read Rupert Hohwieler’s article in The Spirits Business here:
Buichladdich dives into RTDs
The Rémy Cointreau-owned Bruichladdich brand is launching a canned cocktail range in partnership with Whitebox. The collection will include a Dry Martini and a White Negroni made with The Botanist gin, a Whisky Sour made with the distillery’s Classic Laddie, and a Penicillin made with the heavily peated Port Charlotte whisky.
The cans will be available for £6 each from the Bruichladdich distillery, or £20 for a four-pack via its website. The initial release is limited to 5,000 cans per recipe.
News by Lauren Bowes in The Spirits Business:
West Highland Gin enters RTD’s
Loch Lomond made a similar announcement a few days earlier, extending its West Highlands Spirits portfolio into the RTD sector.
More details in Jessica Broadbent’s article in Global Drinks Intel:
How to target the RTD opportunity, by IWSR
The International Wine and Spirits Research (Iwsr) features an article in Global Drinks Intel about how spirits brands can approach the RTD category. Yes, there is an element of self-promotion here, but sponsors don’t always produce poor content. I particularly value IWSR partner content, as it often offers significant data and perspectives on market and consumer behaviour. I will leave this for your reading:
Too big to ignore – How spirits brand owners should target the RTD opportunity – Category Intel
Packaging
F&B companies urge the EU PPWR to be delayed
August 12 is the deadline for the implementation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which impact several industries, including spirits.
Here are some older statements and articles about this topic:
Spirits Europe - spiritsEUROPE welcomes the publication of the European Commission’s proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
Nicola Carruthers, The Spirits Business - EU packaging rules could ‘standardise’ spirits bottles
Now, 138 F&B companies—including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Burger King, Kraft Heinz, Heineken, and Mondelēz—have signed a leaked letter addressed to the European Commission urging the deadline to be delayed.
More details in Packaging Insights:
PPWR’s August deadline under pressure as leaked industry letter draws NGO backlash
You can find for more information about the PPWR on the EU official website, here: Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
Something to read
How (funky) high-ester rums are made
Matt Pietrek guides us through the world of high-ester rum with two articles on his website, RumWonk. The first introduces flavours, organic compounds, and yeasts used in the industry. I should warn you: this is strictly for the geeks! But if you want to go deep into the subject, I strongly recommend reading it:
You can also find this other article recalled along the text:
That is all for today, I’ll see you later this week for another selection of news.
And a very happy Republic Day to all my Italian subscribers!
Cheers 🥃