LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This June, Louisville-based distiller Michter's will be releasing its 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye.

"At tastings, we occasionally encounter bourbon drinkers who are reluctant to taste rye because of past experiences," observed Michter's President Joseph J. Magliocco. "We explain that Michter's makes Kentucky style rye that is different from many other American ryes. More often than not, those bourbon drinkers discover that they really enjoy our rye."

"We make a Kentucky style rye that has more corn and malted barley in its mashbill than many other ryes. The result is a well balanced rye whiskey that has a rich sweetness and a flavor complexity that complement its spice notes," said Michter's Master Distiller Dan McKee.

Rye whiskey has been a focus for Michter's for over a quarter of a century. According to Michter's Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, the whiskey's cooperage and aging are crucial to ensuring the quality and character of Michter's 10 Year Rye. Wilson explained, "A critical component of aging Michter's 10 Year Rye is creating a barrel that is going to accentuate the beauty and elegance of a Kentucky style rye after aging for over 10 years. This whiskey possesses a balance of complexity and refinement driven through baking spice, citrus, and floral characteristics, all of which are bolstered by the sweetness and maturity of the oak."

A 92.8 proof (46.4% alcohol by volume) spirit, Michter's 10 Year Rye is a single barrel whiskey, and it has a suggested retail price of $210 in the U.S.

In October 2025, Michter's became the first whiskey to be named in three consecutive years The World's Most Admired Whiskey by an international academy of voters convened by UK-based Drinks International. Michter's has a rich and long legacy of offering traditional American whiskeys of uncompromising quality. With each of its limited production offerings aged to its peak maturity, Michter's highly acclaimed portfolio includes bourbon, rye, sour mash whiskey, and American whiskey. For more information about Michter's, please visit michters.com

WINDSOR, ON, May 25, 2026 /CNW/ - Today, J.P. Wiser's is proud to announce the launch of the Master Blender Series, a new collection released annually which celebrates the pinnacle of blending innovation, with the inaugural Master Blender Series 2026 Release now available as a distillery exclusive. The expression reframes blending as the ultimate mark of expertise and creativity, challenging the long-standing misconception that blending is a compromise in quality, and coincides with the celebration of Master Blender Dr. Don Livermore's 30th anniversary at the historic Hiram Walker Distillery.

As one of the world's few Master Blenders with a PhD in wood science and a background in microbiology, Dr. Don Livermore has spent three decades pushing the boundaries of Canadian whisky. The Master Blender Series 2026 Release draws inspiration from his academic roots, mirroring the foundations of his renowned Dissertation whisky. It utilizes an identical grain composition of rye and corn and a dual-distillation approach in both column and pot stills, the very method that earned him his PhD.

"In my 30 years at the Hiram Walker distillery, I've had the opportunity to work on a number of high-quality J.P. Wiser's Canadian whiskies," says Master Blender Dr. Don Livermore. "By returning to the foundations of my original 'Dissertation' blend, I wanted to take the scientific roots of rye, corn, and dual-distillation, and push them into exciting new territory to create the Master Blender Series."

While rooted in tradition, Dr. Don has advanced this blend into new territory by layering a global character through a sophisticated multi-cask finishing process. Bottled at 46.1% abv, this intricate harmony of wood and spirit yields a deeply complex, velvety profile featuring notes of succulent Bosc pear, indulgent dark chocolate, and the warm, artisanal spice of rye sourdough. The whisky was finished in a unique combination of:

• Black Sea Oak
• Once-used Speyside Malt Barrels
• Port Casks
• Heavily Charred White Oak

"The Master Blender Series is about showcasing the incredible complexity that true blending expertise can achieve," says Maura Cowan, VP of Marketing. "By introducing a global character through unique cask finishes like Black Sea Oak and Speyside barrels, this inaugural release shows exactly how J.P. Wiser's continues to redefine the Canadian whisky landscape. It is a true testament to the artistry and innovation behind Canadian whisky."

This release is a true distillery exclusive available only through jpwisers.com for $89.95. With only 1,500 bottles produced, the Master Blender Series 2026 Release offers enthusiasts a chance to own a piece of Dr. Don Livermore's 30-year legacy and is a testament to the innovation redefining the Canadian whisky landscape. Get yours today!

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. beverage alcohol industry remains in a continued contraction across core spirits and wine, according to first quarter SipSource^® data from Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA). Cumulative inflation now including rising gas prices, tight inventories and consumer trade-down behavior continue to pressure all three tiers, although March 2026 provided a modest sign of improvement—particularly for wine revenue and on-premise channels—partially influenced by calendar timing and one additional shipping day compared to Q1 2025.

"The current environment reflects tighter portfolio management, ongoing SKU rationalization and more value-oriented consumer behavior," said SipSource analyst Danny Brager. "At the same time, spirits-based ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) remain a bright spot—but in an increasingly crowded segment where innovation, positioning and disciplined execution matter more than ever," he continued.

Core spirits closed Q1 down -4.4% in volume and -5.7% in revenue on a 12-month basis, while wine closed the quarter down -8.3% in volume and -5.3% in revenue. The data also points to premiumization pressure in key categories: spirits are de-premiumizing across price tiers and several key segments, such as Tequila, with pressure in the $50+ range. While table wine's volume decline continues to fall faster than its revenue trend, the higher end price tiers are only performing "relatively" better than the lower end but still not growing, and significant discounting is still apparent at the higher end, raising fresh questions about the strength of premiumization in wine.

"SipSource gives the industry a clear picture of where pressure is persistent, where trends may be stabilizing, and where pockets of growth are emerging across categories, channels and price tiers," said Eric Schmidt, WSWA's Director of SipSource.

Spirits-based RTDs continue to significantly outperform broader beverage alcohol trends. The segment now represents a meaningful and growing share of the alcohol landscape, but with more than 750 spirits-based prepared cocktail brands in an increasingly crowded category, competition is intensifying as suppliers chase sustained consumer demand.

Distribution and Channel Trends

Points of distribution (POD) continued to decline in Q1, though the pace moderated from earlier periods. PODs were down -3.2% in the most recent period, compared with a peak decline of -5.0% back in 2025, reflecting continued SKU rationalization and inventory adjustment across retail and on-premise accounts. Total accounts remain down -0.5%.

Combined wine and spirits on-premise volume declined -3.0%, continuing to outperform off-premise, which declined -7.4%. Despite higher rates of inflation "away from home" compared to "at home," on-premise trends have improved gradually over the past year, while off-premise softness has remained more persistent.

Spirits: Value-Oriented Purchasing Continues

Total spirits ended Q1 down -5.1% in volume and -5.9% in revenue. The 130-basis-point gap between core spirits volume (-4.4%) and revenue (-5.7%) represents the widest spread recorded in SipSource data and underscores continued consumer movement toward lower-priced products. The $50–$99.99 tier declined -8.8%, while the $100-plus tier declined -9.3%.

Tequila and agave spirits, which expanded from 9.4% to 13.3% of core spirits volume over the past six years, declined -3.0% in volume and -6.6% in revenue in Q1. One year ago, luxury tequila revenue trends were growing at +4.2%.

Wine: Revenue Trends Improve Modestly While Volume Remains Soft

Wine revenue trends improved 80 basis points from the end of 2025, closing March at -5.3%, while volume remained down -8.3%. The sub-$5.00 tier, which represents 22.2% of all wine volume, declined -19.1%.

Wine segments posting positive revenue growth included wine-based cocktails (+11.8%), Prosecco (+6.1%), Champagne (+2.0%), Sauvignon Blanc (+1.1%), and Sake (+1.3%)

On-premise wine revenue declined -2.3%, compared with -6.0% in off-premise channels.

RTDs Continue to Outperform Broader Beverage Alcohol Trends

Spirits-based RTDs increased +30% on dollars and now account for 28% of total spirits volume in the off-premise channel. Wine-based RTDs increased close to +14%, while malt-based RTD—still the largest segment of RTD dollars—continued to decline, according to NIQ.

VANCOUVER, BC, May 20, 2026 — Parq Casino is gearing up to welcome the Soccer World to the West Coast by adding special food and drink features to the roster at the Downtown Vancouver destination (39 Smithe St.) starting in June.

Centrally located across the street from the world-class action that will unfold at BC Place as Vancouver plays host to soccer teams and fans from across the globe, Parq is playing it forward with special incentives for fans of the beautiful game throughout the tournament.

The official action kicks off on Sat., June 13 when BC Place hosts the opening of the event with Australia facing Turkiye at 9 pm, with six more matches set to steal the sports spotlight in the city including Canada vs. Qatar (Thurs., June 18 at 3 pm); New Zealand vs. Egypt (Sun., June 21 at 6 pm); Canada vs. Switzerland (Weds., June 24 at noon); and New Zealand vs. Belgium (Fri., June 26 at 8 pm); as well as two more playoff matches on Thurs., July 2 at 8 pm (round of 32, opponents TBD) & Tues., July 7 at 1 pm (round of 16, opponents TBD).

The full lineup of soccer-friendly features and events that will take centre field at Parq Casino throughout the tournament include:

PARQ CASINO

Fans can watch all the games taking place live in Vancouver and in cities across North America on the 50-foot screen at the Level 3 Sportsbook Lounge, vie for Canadian team jersey giveaways during every match featuring the national team, groove to a live DJ spinning tracks for three hours following all the matches at BC Place and strike a pose in front of an Instagrammable photo wall. Guests can also quench their thirst at a Beer Garden by the escalators and enjoy daily Happy Hour from 2 to 6 p.m. with $6 drink features on tap. 

D/6 LOUNGE

The chic lounge and place to see and be seen offers plenty of opportunities for high-energy soccer viewing where every match unfolds in an electric atmosphere. Catch all the action on its Level Six rooftop patio or settle into the luxe outdoor lounge, fully transformed with big screen viewing and immersive soccer-inspired decor inside and out.

Fans can also sink their teeth into game-day food and drink favourites like the popular King River Wagyu Burger with caramelized onions, aged cheddar, black truffle dressing, and triple-cooked fries and pair each bite perfectly with a wide selection of hand-crafted cocktails and fully stocked lineup of local craft and import beer. Guests can also book a hidden private room at D/6 to host elevated sports bashes and celebrations during the tournament by clicking here.

THE VICTOR

As its motto says: ‘To The Victor Belong the Spoils’. To that end, the city’s favourite steakhouse gives fans a chance to soak up the action in a setting that matches each exciting moment in a lounge that delivers an elevated take on the viewing experience anchored by a bold, steak-forward experience. From expertly grilled cuts to ultra-premium selections paired with a bounty of fresh catches from the Pacific Northwest as well as sushi and a raw bar, The Victor is where the game meets the craft of dining.

Visitors and locals alike can indulge in The Victor’s signature sushi and premium cuts, all thoughtfully crafted and best paired with a glass of Champagne as the action of each exciting game unfolds in a refined setting where guests can cheer on their team and experience every big play and celebrate all the heart-stopping goals. The Victor also offers a private room with a striking backdrop with state-of-the-art audio and visual capabilities that can be booked for intimate and exclusive game-day gatherings by enquiring here.

HONEY SALT

Fans of the beautiful game can gather and celebrate every play during a spirited, Canadian soccer-themed experience in the comfort of Honey Salt’s dining room or on its expanded streetside patio where they can share in the energy of the crowds as they pass by before and after each big match at BC Place.

Settle in and enjoy Honey Salt menu favourites like its signature Biloxi Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich layered with creamy slaw and Durkee’s dressing alongside a lineup of game-day bites made for sharing and celebrating with fans, friends and family alike and a drink menu that includes a refreshing feature Sangria as well as smooth Canadian whiskies, hand-crafted cocktails and local craft beer.

To keep the celebrations going throughout the tournament, both home and away games, Honey Salt will also offer daily brunch service from June 12 to July 7, giving fans and visitors another opportunity to gather before heading to the matches and festivities downtown.

RESERVATIONS

To reserve tables at Parq Casino’s D/6 Lounge, Honey Salt or The Victor, click here.