The Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), Washington, D.C., issued its research report analyzing the rapid growth of spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails and consumer RTD preferences.

Beam Suntory, Chicago, will invest more than $400 million to expand production at its Booker Noe distillery in Boston, Ky., which produces Jim Beam. This expansion will increase capacity by 50%, while reducing the distillery’s greenhouse gas emissions by the same percentage, through the use of anaerobic digestors that will produce renewable natural gas to power the facility, according to the company.

Armada, Mich.-based Blake’s Hard Cider (BHC) recently added American Apple to its portfolio of core hard ciders. The semi-sweet craft cider is an imperial style, the first of its kind at BHC.

BDSA, Louisville, Colo., announced an update of its cannabis market forecast, a five-year rolling global forecast by country, state, province, channel and category. The report projects annual global cannabis sales to grow from $30 billion in 2021 to $57 billion in 2026, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 13%. In the United States, cannabis sales will grow from $25 billion in 2021 to $42 billion in 2026, which will make up 75% of total global cannabis sales. 

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Dallas and Miami, unveiled the results of its 2022 Liquid Insights Tour, a coast-to-coast educational initiative designed to explore and identify the latest trends in cocktails and wine. Over the course of 111 days, Brian Masilionis, director of on-premise commercial strategy and national accounts for Southern Glazer’s, led a team of its mixologists to sample more than 400 drinks in 83 restaurants, bars and hotels, compiling their insights to discover emerging cocktail and wine trends across the United States.

Since launching its Pre-Accelerator Programme in July 2021, Distill Ventures (DV), an independent drinks accelerator devoted to building and scaling the drinks brands of the future, has invested its initial goal of $5 million to entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. Now, DV is announcing its aim to invest an additional $5 million in global funding committed by Diageo, DV’s sole funding partner, during the next year. 

Football is back, and Pepsi is proving to fans everywhere that football watching is #BetterWithPepsi with the debut of its latest innovation: the Pepsi 18 Week Pack, a tiny home that one grand-prize winner will have the chance to live in for all 18 weeks of the 2022 NFL season.

PACK EXPO International 2022 returns to Chicago with the tradeshow taking place Oct. 23-26 at McCormick Place.

Newton, Mass.-based Spindrift, the sparkling water and hard seltzer brand made with real squeezed fruit, announced the release of its first-ever seasonal offering: Spiced Apple Cider. Spindrift’s seasonal debut of Spiced Apple Cider is lighter and a more real-tasting version of the traditional fall flavor, it says

ROAR Organic, Bethlehem, Pa., shared it is heading into Q4 with a number of notable updates to finish out the year. With the latest SPINS data reporting ROAR Organic retail sales are up 87% year-to-date, the beverage brand continues to expand, including its recent national launch into Whole Foods Market, an upcoming launch into 95% of Kroger stores nationwide, increased availability in key retailer Albertsons/Safeway, and a new president in beverage veteran Bill Lange.