Douglas Taylor

📶 UK Independent Drinks Sector in 2024: SEVEN takeaways from a CGA and Duppy Share report    Independent Beverage brands are increasingly optimistic about the future despite ongoing trading challenges, according to an exclusive new survey from The Duppy Share in association with CGA by NIQ.     273 UK indie drinks brands answers an in depth survey... heres what we learned (see comments) 👇  

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Let's raise a glass to Rum! 🥃 For two years in a row, Rum has been crowned the #1 category in Great Britain's On Trade channel, overtaking Whisky. There is still a need for education on the Rum category as it is slightly more complex than the white/gold/dark classification. From Origin to Raw Material (sugar cane juice/molasses), Fermentation to Distillation (column/pot still), Aging (where, how long, in which barrels/woods)to Blending, and Tasting Notes to Usage Guidance - educating about the nuances of Rum will allow consumers to make informed choices and elevate their drinking experience. This is the rum brands’ role together with trade partners. #rum #rhum #ron #ontrade #cocktails #craftspirits Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d3ntUkks

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Good explanation of CM in case you missed it.

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Spirits | Alcoholic Beverages | Distilleries - UK registered distillery numbers explode post-COVID In 2023, the number of registered distilleries in the UK grew to 387, up 42.7% compared with pre-COVID levels. This was up 8.7% from the 356 distilleries reported in 2022. Last year saw 48 new distilleries registered in the UK alone (up 20% from 2022) while Scotland – the home of the UK’s biggest drinks export, Scotch whisky – saw three registrations last year (eight in 2022) #spirits #whisky #alcoholicbeverages #Scotchwhisky #whiskies #distilleries #distillery

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'The Discovery Sessions' is a range of conversations about the drinks industry with people from the drinks industry. It's not about grape types, peat levels or tasting notes - but the challenges of growing a brand, breaking consumer misconceptions and using a little psychology along the way too. Our latest conversation is with Ollie Horton who set up Lanzarote Wine Tours and Shop. His passion of the island is evident and he's honest about the challenges of convincing people about the quality of the product when they may have previously dismissed it as a holiday drink. Have a read about what Ollie has to say, and keep an eye out for our next Discovery Session. https://lnkd.in/eKB6Cn3A #DrinksMarketing #Marketing #WineMarketing #ConsumerPerception

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WineGB’s Roadmap: Cultivating Success Under Nicola Bates. We chat with her on 'Building a sustainable future for British winemaking'. Nicola Bates, the CEO of WineGB, brings a wealth of leadership experience and a fresh perspective to the UK’s wine industry. With a background that spans policy advocacy, strategic growth, and championing diversity, Nicola is poised to lead WineGB into an exciting new phase. As the first female CEO of the organization, her tenure begins at a time of remarkable expansion for the English and Welsh wine sector, with production and sales climbing to unprecedented heights. In this interview, Nicola shares her vision, the strategies underpinning WineGB’s newly launched three-year plan, and how she aims to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. Here are the questions she answers: 1) Nicola, as the CEO of WineGB, can you share your initial vision and key priorities for the organization in the coming years? 2) In your previous role at the Portman Group, you were instrumental in driving significant policy changes. What are the key policy and regulatory matters within the UK wine industry that are your primary focus right now? 3) You've been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion throughout your career. How do you see yourself incorporating these values within WineGB and the wider UK wine industry? As the first female CEO of WineGB, how do you view the role of women in the wine industry, and what initiatives might you pursue to support and empower more women to enter and thrive in this field? 4) The launch of the £1.5m 'Future Winemakers' Scheme aims to boost the UK wine industry. What are your thoughts on this initiative, and how do you see it shaping the future of UK winemaking? How will WineGB support this initiative and ensure its success? 5) Could you tell us about any programs to encourage and champion sustainable practices within the UK wine industry? 6) Looking at the current trends and challenges within the UK wine sector, what do you see as the most significant opportunities for growth and innovation in the next decade? ....more....here. Click on the below link.

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A nice article in The New Wine Review about the new #scotch #whisky distilleries that you need to know about including our own Isle of Raasay Distillery well worth a read: https://lnkd.in/e9-4B5bJ

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Different types of gin🍸 It’s worth noting that new types of gin are regularly introduced to the market as distillers continue to innovate and push the boundaries of flavor. Below, we highlight some of the most popular gins more detailed. 1️⃣ London Dry Gin: Known for its crisp, juniper-forward profile, it contains no artificial flavors or sweeteners, making it the perfect choice for a classic G&T. 2️⃣ Plymouth Gin: Exclusively crafted in Plymouth, England, offers a slightly earthier and less dry profile than London Dry Gin, with a gentler touch of juniper—ideal for a smooth martini. 3️⃣ Old Tom Gin: This is your pick if you enjoy a touch of sweetness. A favorite from the 18th century, its subtly sugary profile shines in classic cocktails like the Tom Collins. 4️⃣ Genever: The ancestor of gin, boasts a malty, rich character reminiscent of a whisky-gin hybrid. A must-try for those who enjoy bold, complex flavors. So, next time you reach for gin, remember—there’s more to it than just London Dry. Explore these types and elevate your cocktail game! 🍸✨ #sonalholland #masterofwine #gin #ginlovers #ginenthusiasts #cocktails #ginandtonic #barmenu #gins 

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An insightful look into the top spirits merchants in the UK, showcasing their premium selections and their influence on the evolving spirits market. If you take your spirits seriously, then it only helps that you find like minded people who are ready to help you out. From helping you pick a bottle that suits your taste to letting you in on all the new and upcoming brands in the market, an exemplary spirits merchant would go above and beyond to ensure that you are satisfied with your purchase. Listed below are some of the UK’s top notch merchants that you ought to know about in order to make just the right decisions when it comes to spirits.

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In the competitive world of drinks retailing, London still remains arguably the most important shop window for any wine, beer or spirits to make their mark. As the saying goes - if you can make it big in London (or the UK), you can make it big anywhere. Yes, there are more profits and margins to be had in other markets and the duty and pricing pressures makes the UK a difficult place to be, but when it comes to attracting the best drinks buyers, sommeliers, retailers, wine writers, Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers then London and the UK still sets the pace. Which is why the London Wine, London Beer and London Spirits Competitions have become such an important opportunity for brands and producers to have their products assessed by some of the most important and influential buyers in the world. The entry process for the 2025 awards is well underway with early bird pricing about to finish on November 30. Here’s what the awards can offer you. The Buyer Richard Siddle London Competitions

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The UK beverages industry needs the time and space to grow. The upcoming budget will be a pivotal moment for how we approach the future of the sector and shape the priorities of Encirc. It’s time to work together for a more sustainable future in our industry. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association is calling for a freeze on alcohol duty in the UK and the need to work with the government is clear to me and a hot topic at our recent Partnership Day. It is vital discussions between the beverages sector and policy makers are taken onboard and considered in all future changes: https://lnkd.in/e3xtAWvc #BeveragesIndustry #Beverages #VividVision

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Roll up, roll up – who want’s to pay to play? I’ve been having a chat with Harpers Wine & Spirit Magazine about the economics of the great British booze market. The UK spirits market, to many global producers, is one they want to be part of. It’s not the biggest by any means, nor is it the most fruitful – but there is an air of prestige about it. And yet many independent producers trying to break into the UK market, will struggle or worse, fail miserably. It’s a tough nut to crack but by understanding the nuances of the market, you’ll be better equipped to tackle the challenge – and hopefully reap a bit of great British success. https://lnkd.in/e9Fr3qGd

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It's official. We have more stars than Gordon Ramsay 😎 With the awarding of seven new Great Taste Stars this week, Tom Savano Cocktails is now the company with the most stars awarded in a single year, and the most Great Taste Stars of any cocktail company, with a grand total of Eighteen - one more than the total number of Michelin stars Gordon Ramsay's restaurants have received 😉 But what else do I have in common with Gordon Ramsay? To start with, I'm a huge fan of his. Whenever life calls for me to whip together a fine dish, my first port of call is to look up a Ramsay Recipe from the internet. When it comes to quality and taste, he's hard to fault. Looking at his approach, and why I admire him so much, we both share these qualities 😤 A relentless obsession with perfection, and the highest quality product. Not the cheapest or the easiest to make, but unquestionably the best 📚 A belief that complex, exciting layers of taste are what makes great products, but the way to achieve this is not being too fancy, just perfecting the basics and executing them WELL 🔥 A passion for the food and drink we create 🥇 A ruthless desire to be the best, with no compromises for mediocrity 👊 A belief in ourselves and our vision, and not deterred by naysayers, critics, or the opinion of every man and his dog ❌ I'll say it again. NO compromises. With every drink I've ever mixed, I've had a ruthless attitude that second place isn't good enough, and if the cocktail didn't taste as good as one of the world's best bars, I wouldn't release it. I've spent thousands of hours in the kitchen, obsessively iterating recipes, trying new routes, researching flavour trends, discovering what other food and drink artists are creating, and learning cocktails inside out, so that I can create authentic flavours and cocktail profiles that simply can't be replicated. One of our biggest innovations is our citrus, which is perennially a difficult flavour to create in a pre-mixed drink with any sort of authenticity or freshness. Rather than accept the solutions on the market at the time, I invented something of my own. The first ever lime juice that tasted like it had just been squeezed, with 18 months shelf life. More on this in a future post... But today, I'm happy to celebrate being the most awarded cocktail brand, and to have one more thing in common with - in my humble opinion - the world's greatest chef. So what do you think Gordon Ramsay, shall we celebrate with some Hot Honey Margaritas in the sunshine? 🌶 🍸 ☀ #awardwinning #food #drink #rtd #cocktail #cocktails #awards #brand #entrepreneur #startup #business

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