Welcome back to the BevNET spirits newsletter. Today we’re unpacking a report that shows bev-alc growth coming from smaller formats and moderation options, plus sensory and nostalgic drinks.

What insiders are reading: Instacart and GoPuff team up and Hoplark files for Chapter 7.   

Thanks for reading.

-BevNET spirits editor, Ferron Salniker

As global consumers moderate they’re seeking stronger value, smaller formats, nostalgia, and sensory experiences, according to a new report from Mintel. Here are some of the top trends in 2026. 

• In addition to RTDs, major spirits companies are looking at smaller formats to find growth. 

• With many 0% ABV spirits struggling to retain complex flavor, that leaves room for lower-proof options. 

• “Retro rejuvenation” is happening across the whole of food and drink, according to Mintel, with one-third of U.S. on-premise drinkers interested in drinks with nostalgic flavors.

• As our lives become increasingly virtual, experiences consumers have in the physical world need to deliver more. That means brands should leverage color, taste, texture, and as many sensory elements as possible. 

See the top trends

As many ready-to-drink (RTD) brands aim to expand shelf space, Straightaway Cocktails has invested in gate space instead. Three months into its Portland International Airport bar, the company is using the new space to interact with customers in different ways and trial drinks it otherwise wouldn’t be able to test at scale.

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Tomonotomo debuted as an agave spirit alternative made from semi-traditional methods just two years ago, but much has shifted in the adult non-alc (ANA) category since then.

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Intoxicating hemp beverages as they appear now may vanish from the market in mid-December. A looming federal ban was delayed a month, but the industry hasn’t slowed down amid the existential threat. BevNET and Nosh senior reporter Lukas Southard joins the Brewbound Podcast to give a pulse check on the market, alternatives that may be in play if a ban goes into effect and why some states may ignore the ban altogether.
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Sazerac has signed a binding agreement to acquire Berentzen-Gruppe AG, the German schnapps producer it was reportedly pursuing last week. The deal gives Sazerac a different approach to add international volume than its failed Brown-Forman pursuit.

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Nominate your RTD cocktails, NA spirits, or spirits brand for BevNET's 2026 Spirits Awards. The deadline to submit is November 20.

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Have a tip to share? Reach out to Ferron Salniker, spirits editor at fsalniker@bevnet.com

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