All articles by Richard Woodard

Unaged Spirits Commentator

Waterford Distillery’s thwarted ambition highlights spirits industry’s choppy waters

As 2024 draws to a close, the pressures facing the global beverage alcohol industry have become painfully familiar: geopolitical tensions,…
The headaches facing aged spirits brands as industry enters 2025

On Friday, CNBC investment pundit and former hedge fund manager Jim Cramer turned his gaze – briefly – on beverage…
Gin’s search for growth, the strength of no-alcohol, RTDs’ need for clarity – unaged spirits in 2025

A year ago, there was a feeling that – for all the obvious challenges confronting the global spirits market –…
Too few wine companies are co-operating in face of climate crisis

This year could be one to remember – but for all the wrong reasons. I’m not – despite the imminent…
The spectre of ‘Tariff Man’ Trump looms over the alcohol industry

The modern world – the modern business world in particular – hates uncertainty. As I write this, the US presidential…

Why history could inform aftermath of The Famous Grouse sale

There’s been a lot of chat in whisky circles about anniversaries this year and no wonder. You can hardly move…
If US whiskey glut does emerge, major distillers will be fine – but small may suffer

There’s one question on media visits to cask warehouses and wine maturation cellars that gets asked with predictable regularity but…
Pernod’s portfolio decluttering at last takes in wine

There’s a rather fetching image on the ‘Brand Homes’ landing page of Pernod Ricard’s website, featuring the rippling roofline of…
Why Cognac should shine spotlight on smaller producers

History can sometimes take curious and serendipitous turns. In 1870, Emile Fillioux secured his place in the annals of Cognac…
Why Brown-Forman remains work in progress

Have we reached the bottom? The persistent challenges around distributor inventories and consumer demand in the US continue to cloud…