- 27 minutes 49 secondsGen Z & Millennials: Inside the Modern Spirits Consumer— Part 1
Every spirits brand today is chasing the same elusive prize: two generations who don't drink the way the ones before them did, and who are quietly rewriting the rules of when, why, and what they reach for. Few people are tracking that shift more closely than Dave Williams and Erica Duecy. Dave, President of BUMP Williams Consulting, has spent a decade turning beverage-alcohol data into strategy for suppliers, distributors, and retailers navigating a changing consumer base. Erica, founder of Business of Drinks and host of the podcast of the same name, has built her career translating consumer behavior into brand strategy for some of the best-known names in wine and spirits.
In this episode, recorded live at Bar Convent Brooklyn as Part 1 of our two-part series "Cracking the Generational Code," Dave and Erica break down what's actually driving Gen Z and Millennial spirits consumption, from why nearly half of Gen Z abstains entirely yet still drinks spirits as often as Millennials do, to why Millennials, now the industry's highest-value buyer, are still being marketed as "young drinkers." We explore how moderation is reshaping loyalty rather than ending it, why wellness has become a purchase filter even for alcohol, how RTDs are winning by removing friction from the decision, and why the sale is often won or lost long before a shopper ever reaches the shelf.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market.
Featured Guests:
Dave Williams, President, BUMP Williams Consulting
Erica Duecy, Founder, Business of Drinks
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Follow us for more industry insights on5 August 2026, 9:00 am - 19 minutes 44 secondsJack Daniel's Master Distiller: How Do You Innovate in a Changing Market?
In 2026, American whiskey isn't riding the wave it was five years ago, and every major producer knows it. For a brand the size of Jack Daniel's, that shift raises a harder question: how do you keep innovating when the whole world already thinks it knows you? Success at that scale can actually work against you; when everyone's already tried the whiskey, it's easy to get stuck on mute.
In this episode of the Park Street Insider Podcast, Chris Fletcher, Master Distiller at Jack Daniel's, takes the stage for a talk recorded live at the Park Street University stage in Brooklyn. He breaks down how Jack Daniel's has built its innovation strategy around protecting Old No. 7 while still carving out new space, from small-batch distillery-only experiments, to the record-setting proof of the Coy Hill single barrel releases, to reviving age-stated whiskeys Jack Daniel himself sold over a century ago. From the double-edged sword of brand recognition to what real transparency looks like on the production floor, this one is packed with insight into how an American icon stays ahead of a changing market.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market.
Featured Guests:
Chris Fletcher, Master Distiller, Jack Daniel's
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Follow us for more industry insights on15 July 2026, 9:00 am - 43 minutes 50 secondsHow Spirits Brands Win Distributor Attention in 2026
In 2026, the spirits distribution tier is in the middle of one of its most dramatic realignments in decades. RNDC, once the nation's second largest distributor, has shed or transformed more than 35 markets nationally. Reyes is rising. Beer distributors are claiming more share. And for independent brands trying to secure distribution in the middle of all of it, the rules of engagement have changed. The brands breaking through are earning it before they ever walk in the door.
In this episode of the Park Street Insider Podcast, Emmett Strack sits down with representatives from Skurnik Wine and Spirits, T. Edward Wine and Spirits, Allied Beverage Group, and Revival Spirits for a live roundtable recorded at BCB Brooklyn. Together, they break down what's driving the consolidation, where the real opportunities are hiding inside of it, and what brands need to do differently to earn and keep distributor attention in 2026. From pitching for the first time to setting goals that don't blow up a partnership, this one is packed with straight talk and practical advice.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market.
Featured Guests:
Adam Schuman, Spirits Portfolio Director & Head of Innovation, Skurnik Wines & Spirits
Sara Harmelin, VP, Portfolio Development, Allied Beverage Group
Emily Wynbrandt, Spirits Portfolio Manager, T. Edward Wines and Spirits
Lloyd Sobel, Managing Partner, Revival Spirits
Mentioned in the Episode:
T. Edward Wines & Spirits
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Follow us for more industry insights on1 July 2026, 9:00 am - 33 minutes 23 secondsJoey Angelo, Co-Founder of SipsMARGS, on Building a Brand That Caught Sazerac's Eye — What It Takes
Not every RTD brand gets acquired by one of the world's biggest spirits companies. Fewer still land Alix Earle as an investor along the way. Joey Angelo, co-founder of SipsMARGS and Su Casa Mezcal, did both, and the path there ran through 15 years inside the distribution tier, watching thousands of brands succeed and fail before building one himself.
In this episode, Joey walks us through what it actually took to launch a premium canned margarita during a pandemic, earn distributor buy-in when the RTD category was still unproven, and build a brand compelling enough to attract Alix Earle organically and close a deal with Sazerac. We get into the white space he identified in the RTD market, why celebrity partnerships live or die on the product underneath them, the route-to-market discipline that kept SipsMARGS focused, and what he learned about timing and patience when a major acquirer comes calling.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market
Featured Guests:
Joey Angelo, Founder & CEO, Su Casa Mezcal & sipMARGS
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Follow us for more industry insights on24 June 2026, 2:00 pm - 19 minutes 34 secondsDiageo's Essential Bar & Consumer Trends Every Brand Needs to Know in 2026— Expert Talks
Bar trends don't wait for brands to catch up, and in 2026, the gap between brands that understand what's driving consumer behavior and those that don't is only widening. In this episode, Tom Cavanagh, Advocacy Manager at Diageo, breaks down the flavor trends, category shifts, and on-premise dynamics set to define bars this year. From the martini's striking resurgence and tequila's continued climb against a down market, to the texture-forward and bitter-led flavor profiles gaining serious traction with today's drinkers, Tom covers the shifts that should be on every brand's radar.
But Tom's talk goes beyond trend-spotting. He makes a direct, data-backed case for why brand advocacy is the most powerful lever brands have for driving sales, and the numbers behind a single bartender's influence on consumer choice might surprise you. If you want to understand which trends are reshaping bars right now, and why the brands investing in real human relationships are the ones winning at the register, this is the episode to hear.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. marketFeatured Guests:
Tom Cavanagh, Advocacy Manager, Diageo
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Follow us for more industry insights on3 June 2026, 9:00 am - 45 minutes 59 secondsWhat the World's Top Bartenders Want: How Brands Can Land Placements and Win the On-Premise in 2026
Landing a placement at a top bar program doesn't happen by chance. It's the result of trust, timing, and understanding what the people behind the bar actually need from a brand partner. Recorded live at Bar Convent London, this fireside chat brings together Nidal Ramini, Advocacy Director for the EAA Division at Brown-Forman, Emanuele Mensah, Director of Liquid Nation, Giulia Cuccurullo, Head Bartender at Artesian at the Langham London, and Pietro Collina, Group Beverage Director at the Thesleff Group. A panel with deep roots in some of the world's most celebrated bar programs.
Together, they unpack what brands consistently get wrong when approaching bars, why one-off activations rarely move the needle, and what a relationship worth investing in actually looks like from the operator's side of the table. From navigating the realities of an increasingly selective consumer to understanding how beverage directors and head bartenders think about menu building and brand partnerships, this conversation offers a candid, practical playbook for any founder or brand team looking to build real traction in the on-premise channel.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market.
Featured Guests:
Nidal Ramini, Advocacy Director - EAA Division, Brown Forman
Emanuele Mensah, Director, LiquidNation
Giulia Cuccurullo, Head Bartender, Artesian, the Langham London
Pietro Collina, Group Beverage Director, Thesleff GroupMentioned in this episode:
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Follow us for more industry insights on20 May 2026, 11:00 am - 16 minutes 16 seconds2026 Spirits Market: Category Shifts, Flavor Trends & What They Mean for Your Brand— Expert Talks
The 2026 alcohol market is bumpy, but for brands paying attention to the right signals, the opportunities are real. In this episode, Giuseppe Gallo, Founder and CEO of Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto and Savoia Americano, delivers a data-driven talk on the category and flavor shifts quietly reshaping what consumers reach for on the shelf and at the bar.
He gets specific about the category and flavor shifts, gaining the most momentum with the new generation of drinkers, and why the brands catching on early are the ones best positioned to win. But he also goes beyond trends, tackling the harder strategic questions around distribution, sustainability, and what it actually takes to build a brand that lasts.
He also breaks down how the M&A strategies of major beverage giants have fundamentally shifted in the last 24 months, and what that means for independent brands navigating a crowded market. If you're trying to understand where the new generation of drinkers is heading, and how to position your brand to meet them there, this episode is the place to start.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market.
Featured Guest:
Giuseppe Gallo, Founder & CEO, Italspirits - ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto & SAVOIA Aperitivo
Watch on YouTube:
The Key Trends in the 2026 Alcohol Market
Mentioned in this episode:
Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
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Follow us for more industry insights on22 April 2026, 9:00 am - 33 minutes 36 secondsAI in Spirits: The Tools and Strategies Every Brand Needs to Know— Expert Talks
AI is reshaping the spirits industry, and for founders willing to embrace it, the opportunity is real. In this episode, recorded through Park Street University's AI for Spirits Marketing series, Justin Noland, Vice President of Digital Experience for Treasury Wine Estates, and Antonia Fattizzi, Founder and President of Cork and Tin, get specific about where AI can immediately win back hours in your week, from condensing long email chains and preparing for vendor meetings to analyzing social media ROI without an agency.
Then they go deeper, sharing practical frameworks for weaving AI into your brand's day-to-day. They'll give you an idea of how to write prompts that actually work using Justin's 'Brilliant Intern' framework, and how to structure your website so that tools like ChatGPT and Gemini start citing your brand as the authoritative source for spirits recommendations. If you've been curious about AI but unsure where to start, this episode makes the case for why it might be the most powerful marketing tool your brand isn't using yet.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market.
Featured Guest:
Antonia Fattizzi, Founder and President of Cork and Tin
Justin Noland, Vice President of Digital Experience for Treasury Wine Estates
Watch on YouTube:
AI for Spirits Marketing Pt. I: The Great Equalizer for Craft Beverage Brands
AI for Spirits Marketing Pt. II: Putting AI Into Practice for Small Brands
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Follow us for more industry insights on8 April 2026, 9:00 am - 18 minutes 1 secondFormer Campari CEO's 6 Steps for Spirits Brand Expansion— Expert Talks
Building a spirits brand in one market is hard. Building one across multiple continents, at the highest level of the industry, is a different game entirely, and few people have played it better than Matteo Fantacchiotti. A 25-year veteran of the drinks industry with senior leadership stints at Diageo and Carlsberg, Matteo briefly took the helm as CEO of Campari Group before turning his attention to a new challenge: becoming Partner and Chairman of the Board at Cygnet Distillery, where he's applying everything he's learned to building a super-premium gin brand from scratch.
In this episode, recorded live at Bar Convent Berlin, Matteo shares his six-pillar blueprint for luxury spirits brand expansion: from building sustainable brand value and prioritizing the right markets, to why the smartest brands think in cities rather than countries. We explore the hard truths around funding and resource allocation, the people decisions that make or break international growth, and why the best advice he can give any brand looking to expand is to go fewer places, and go much deeper.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market.
Featured Guest:
Matteo Fantacchiotti, Partner and Chairman of the Board, Cygnet Distillery
Watch on YouTube:
The 6 Pillars of Luxury Spirits Brand Expansion
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Follow us for more industry insights on25 March 2026, 9:00 am - 40 minutes 59 secondsFormer Pernod Ricard Chief Whiskey Officer Kaveh Zamanian on Building a Bourbon Brand— What It Takes
Not many people can say they've founded a bourbon distillery and run one of the world's largest whiskey programs. Kaveh Zamanian isn't most people. A prolific whiskey brand founder and former Chief Whiskey Officer at Pernod Ricard, Kaveh built Rabbit Hole Distillery from a creative vision into a brand compelling enough to catch the eye of one of the world's biggest spirits companies, and when Pernod Ricard came calling, he didn't just take the deal, he took the wheel, going on to lead their whiskey program at the highest level.
In this episode, Kaveh reveals what it really takes to build a bourbon brand with a creative mindset: from the founding principles behind Rabbit Hole Distillery, to the realities of being acquired by a global spirits giant, to how he architected a portfolio strategy that balanced heritage and innovation. We explore the surprising link between whiskey and human psychology, his approach to brand building that goes beyond the liquid in the bottle, and the leadership lessons learned from running one of the industry's most storied whiskey programs.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market.
Featured Guest:
Kaveh Zamanian, Founder, Rabbit Hole, Mary Dowling, and Mash & Mallow Whiskey Companies
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Follow us for more industry insights on11 March 2026, 9:00 am - 16 minutes 40 secondsHow to Launch a Beverage Alcohol Brand: A Data-Driven Framework— Expert Talks
Before you invest in liquid, labels, or a launch strategy, the most important question any founder can ask is: does this brand actually have a viable path to market?
This Expert Talk features Felipe Gonzalez-Gordon, Partner and COO of Colangelo & Partners, delivering a data-driven framework for launching a spirit, wine, or RTD brand in today's saturated market, drawn from his presentation at Bar Convent Brooklyn 2025. Felipe walks through the financial and strategic groundwork that separates brands that scale from those that stall: how to size your addressable market realistically, how to model capital requirements, and how to allocate marketing spend without burning through runway prematurely. The episode also tackles brand positioning with precision, examining how founders can identify and defend a differentiated position on the shelf in a category where retailer fatigue and distributor consolidation make first impressions increasingly important.
Park Street Imports is the back-office and importing solution for alcoholic beverage brands launching and scaling in the U.S. market.
Featured Guests:Felipe Gonzalez-Gordon, Partner & COO, Colangelo & Partners
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Watch on YouTube:
How to Launch a Beverage Alcohol Brand: A Data-Driven Framework
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Follow us for more industry insights on25 February 2026, 10:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App