The study from AlixPartners includes lots of epic graphs, like the one seen here, which clearly explains everything…

Global Business-Advisory Firm AlixPartners conducted a poll of 1,000 consumers in February 2010 as part of a study to gauge the consumer market for fine beverages. The report isn’t encouraging, saying that about 20% of non-alcoholic beverage companies and 35% of alcoholic beverage companies are in danger of going under over the next two years. That isn’t good news for sure, though it seems to be something of a misleading statistic given the ambiguity of it. Continue Reading »

According to the recently released 2010 Liquor Handbook, the Beverage Information Group found that total spirits consumption rose 1.6 percent from 2009 to 2010. This gain marks the twelfth consecutive year of advances for the industry, although this rate of expansion has slowed.

“Due to the economic environment, we have seen a ‘trading down effect’ with more consumption in lower-priced tiers,” says Eric Schmidt, manager of information services for the Beverage Information Group, Norwalk, Conn. “As a result, we are seeing heavy price fighting and couponing taking place in order for suppliers to maintain growth and share.” Continue Reading »

David Stewart, Glenfiddich Malt Master, gives a few opening remarks at the Glenfiddich 50 Year Old Auction. (Photo credit: Matt Peyton/Getty Images)

It’s been a very good week for crazy-expensive liquors at auctions. A bottle of Glenfiddich 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch sold for $38,000 on Monday at a Christie’s auction to raise money for “Friends of Scotland”. This was the only bottle available for private purchase, with there only being three other bottles on the market at the Mardarin Oriental in New York, the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami, and the Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills.

Coincidentally, a bottle of 1788 Vieux Cognac was sold this week at auction in Paris for $36,935.