Drinks industry news and inside stories
Link Drinks, Whisky&Co, Nicholas James and the Glorified IOUs
Link Drinks, Whisky&Co, Nicholas James and the Glorified IOUs
Link Drinks, Whisky&Co, Nicholas James and the Glorified IOUs
17 August 2025
Tony Hetherington reported in This is Money that the picture does not look good for investors in Linc Drinks Ltd and Whisky&Co Ltd. Both were promoted by Nicholas James Finance Ltd, based in Canary Wharf, in London. But this firm had never been authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to sell investments to the general public.
Uncle Nearest Goes Into Receivership
Link Drinks, Whisky&Co, Nicholas James and the Glorified IOUs
Link Drinks, Whisky&Co, Nicholas James and the Glorified IOUs
14 August 2025
Lexington Herald-Leader reported that a federal judge ordered receivership for Uncle Nearest whiskey distillery. The Tennessee distillery Nearest Green will be taken out of the hands of founder Fawn Weaver and her husband, Keith after whiskey brand defaulted on more than $108 million in loans.
Whisky&Co Goes Into Liquidation
£37m Wine Investment Fraud - Imperial Wine & Spirits Ltd
£37m Wine Investment Fraud - Imperial Wine & Spirits Ltd
12 August 2025
£37m Wine Investment Fraud - Imperial Wine & Spirits Ltd
£37m Wine Investment Fraud - Imperial Wine & Spirits Ltd
£37m Wine Investment Fraud - Imperial Wine & Spirits Ltd
6 August 2025
Three people: Ben Cazaly, 42, Greg Assemakis, 39, and Dominic D’Sa, 45, were convicted of fraudulent trading relating to a complex wine fraud run by Imperial Wine & Spirits Merchant Ltd, previously Imperial Wines of London Ltd
The Story of Japanese Whisky
July 2025
The story of Japanese whisky: from modest origins to international acclaim. Japan House.
Uncle Nearest in $108m lawsuit following CFO fraud
Uncle Nearest in $108m lawsuit following CFO fraud
Uncle Nearest in $108m lawsuit following CFO fraud
28 July 2025
Uncle Nearest is facing a $108 million lawsuit from a lender. Nearest Green Distillery, Shelbhas, Tennessee opened in 2019, but Credit Mid-America said Uncle Nearest has failed to make multiple payments on its loans, which total more than $102 million. The complaint alleges the whiskey maker used proceeds of a loan to purchase a $2 million house on Martha's Vineyard, overstated inventory of whiskey barrels used as collateral by $21 million and sold off barrels to make payments to other lenders.
Uncle Nearest said that a former chief financial officer (CFO) was responsible for the fraud 'In other words, Defendants were, and are, victims of fraud — not perpetrators or conspirators.'
Counterfeit Vodka Warning
Uncle Nearest in $108m lawsuit following CFO fraud
Uncle Nearest in $108m lawsuit following CFO fraud
25 July 2025
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) issued a public health warning after counterfeit vodka was seized which confirmed the presence of the chemical isopropyl, which can be harmful if consumed.
Buffalo Trace Sues Impersonator
$99 Million Wine Fraud - Bordeaux Cellars
$99 Million Wine Fraud - Bordeaux Cellars
16 July 2025
Louisville Courier Journal reported that Sazerac Company, the parent company of Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, sued unknown defendants for operating social media accounts purporting to be owned by Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley to promote and sell the company's products.
$99 Million Wine Fraud - Bordeaux Cellars
$99 Million Wine Fraud - Bordeaux Cellars
$99 Million Wine Fraud - Bordeaux Cellars
11 July 2025
United Kingdom citizen, James Wellesley, was extradited to New York to face charges in $99 million wine fraud.
In 2022, Wellesley, along with his co-defendant Stephen Burton, was charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy in connection with a scheme perpetrated through Bordeaux Cellars, a company he and Burton operated.
Nephin Distillery in Legal Row
Nephin Distillery in Legal Row
Nephin Distillery in Legal Row
29 June 2025
The Irish Independent reported that a US backer is suing Irish whiskey maker Nephin after ‘silence’ over 'controversial cask programme'.
Pernod Ricard Retructure
Nephin Distillery in Legal Row
Nephin Distillery in Legal Row
18 June 2025
Reuters reported that Pernod Ricard is streamlining its business and restructuring with job cuts, as sales are hit by inflation and tariffs and a downturn in sales.
How To Be A Fraudster
Nephin Distillery in Legal Row
Karuizawa Distillers' New Furaliss Distillery
18 June 2025
A helpful infographic guide. Take this test to see if you are ready to defraud people for you own personal gain. How many did you answer 'yes' to?
Karuizawa Distillers' New Furaliss Distillery
Karuizawa Distillers' New Furaliss Distillery
Karuizawa Distillers' New Furaliss Distillery
9 June 2025
The Spirits Business reported that Karuizawa Distillers (no, not that one, the other one) has announced plans for its new Furaliss whisky distillery.
Arsenic Poisoning Detector Tool
Karuizawa Distillers' New Furaliss Distillery
Arsenic Poisoning Detector Tool
6 June 2025
The Guardian reported on a new tool to identify poisonous books. Arsenic was historically mixed with copper to create a vivid green for book covers.
Fantasist Fakes Scottish Tea
Jail for Wine Investment Fraudster
Jail for Wine Investment Fraudster
29 May 2025
STV News reported that conman Thomas Robinson (AKA Thomas O’Brien or Tam O’Braan) duped top hotels and growers out of £550,000 by selling fake Scottish tea.
Jail for Wine Investment Fraudster
Jail for Wine Investment Fraudster
Jail for Wine Investment Fraudster
22 May 2025
Chanel News Asia reported that a man who siphoned more than S$12.5 million of investor funds through fake wine investment schemes has gone to jail.
Eldric Ko went on the run in 2011 and only returned to Singapore last year.
88 Bamboo Apologises to Cask88
Jail for Wine Investment Fraudster
Dublin Liberties Distillery Closes
21 May 2025
Online spirits editorial 88 Bamboo was forced to issue a retraction and apology for an article published on 14 May titled 'Deception Distilled? The Unravelling Of A Whisky Cask Investment Scheme And Its Links To Dekantā' following direct engagement with Dekantā and its legal representatives.
Dublin Liberties Distillery Closes
Dublin Liberties Distillery Closes
Dublin Liberties Distillery Closes
16 May 2025
Irish Independent reported that Dublin Liberties Distillery announced that it is to close ('temporarily') after the majority owner, Quintessential Brands, ploughed millions of euro into the venture.
Moet Hennessy's Crisis
Dublin Liberties Distillery Closes
Moet Hennessy's Crisis
14 May 2025
The Financial Times reported on the Moët Hennessy’s crisis amid dubious deals, soaring prices and hubris when Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits empire owned by France’s LVMH, went from generating €1bn in cash in 2019 to burning through €1.5bn last year.
Fake Yellow Tail Wine
Dublin Liberties Distillery Closes
Moet Hennessy's Crisis
6 May 2025
The Drinks Business revealed that a criminal gang in Moldova produced up to 100,000 cases of counterfeit Yellow Tail. The brand strategically revamped its wine labels in March 2025.
UK India Trade Deal
Abolition of UK Spirits Duty Stamps
Abolition of UK Spirits Duty Stamps
6 May 2025
It was widely reported that the UK and India agreed a trade deal that will make it easier for UK brands to export whisky to India.
Abolition of UK Spirits Duty Stamps
Abolition of UK Spirits Duty Stamps
Abolition of UK Spirits Duty Stamps
3 May 2025
The Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations (known as WOWGR), introduced in 1999, was repealed, along with the end of UK spirits duty stamps.
Cask 88 Goes Bust
Abolition of UK Spirits Duty Stamps
Wine Fraud in Paris
2 May 2025
Felipe Schrieberg reported in Forbes that sister Scotch whisky cask investment entities Cask 88 and Braeburn Whisky - which are linked with the Edinburgh-based company Whisky Merchants Trading Ltd - have all but shut down, with the latter now put into administration.
Wine Fraud in Paris
Wine Fraud in Paris
Wine Fraud in Paris
2 May 2025
An undercover investigation by Le Parisien found that wine fraud is often encouraged by bosses looking to maximise their profits in Parisian cafes.
Cafes in tourist areas of Paris were caught covertly pouring cheap wine instead of the premium wines paid for by diners.
Noble & Co Q1 2025 Whisky Intelligence Report
Trouble Brewing at Killarney Brewing
17 April 2025
Anne Lucey reported in the Irish Examiner that Killarney Brewing and Distilling Company entered examinership aiming to save 100 jobs.
Whiskies stolen in Glenturret break-in
14 April 2025
Several bottles of single malt whisky worth thousands of pounds were stolen from Highlands-based distillery The Glenturret on 12 April.
50 Cent Vs Beam Suntory Latest
11 April 2025
Hot New Hip Hop reported that 50 Cent has been authorised to seize a property in Connecticut belonging to former Sire Spirits executive Mitchell Green, who owes the rapper $7 million following a conviction for fraud. 50 Cent first filed a complaint in February 2023 on behalf of Sire Spirits, which alleges that Beam Suntory wa
11 April 2025
Hot New Hip Hop reported that 50 Cent has been authorised to seize a property in Connecticut belonging to former Sire Spirits executive Mitchell Green, who owes the rapper $7 million following a conviction for fraud. 50 Cent first filed a complaint in February 2023 on behalf of Sire Spirits, which alleges that Beam Suntory was embezzling millions from his brand, and accepting kickbacks. According to the motion filed with the New York State Supreme Court, the Japanese beverage vendor overcharged Sire Spirits for liquor supplied, amounting to over $6 million.
21 Seeds Founders Sue Diageo Alleging Fraud
10 April 2025
The Spirits Business reported that the founders of flavoured Tequila brand 21 Seeds have sued the brand’s parent company Diageo for allegedly obscuring plans to develop a competing product with its stablemate Casamigos.
Westwood Whiskey Files for Bankruptcy
9 April 2025
American single malt Westward Whiskey filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure the business, after facing ‘significant liquidity challenges’.
In Search of The Negroni Grail
In Search of The Negroni Grail
In Search of The Negroni Grail
Chaos Day
In Search of The Negroni Grail
In Search of The Negroni Grail
The Cask Trader Spectrum
1 April 2025
The long await Wisgy Sport launched with The Cask Trader Spectrum
Boston Harbor Distillery Files for Bankruptcy
31 March 2025
Boston Harbor Distillery was founded in 2012 to make whole-grain whiskey and other inventive spirits. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection thirteen years later.
Majestic Buys Enotria&Coe
31 March 2025
It was widely reported, that the combination of Enotria & Co and Majestic will create an enlarged on-trade wine specialist supplier. Which is nice for everyone.
BBC Reports on Cask Fraud
27 March 2025
Carla Basu reported in the BBC on whisky barrel scams and how victims are being conned out of life savings.
RELATED TOPICS
1 April 2025
Barnardian Tour of Cask Investment Companies
18 December 2024
The strange case of the whisky that never was
8 November 2023
New Broadcast Restriction of Ads for Unregulated Investments
Trump Threatens 200% Tariffs
14 March 2025
Trump threatened a 200% tariff on EU 'wines, champagnes, and alcoholic products' in response to the EU's introduction of 50% import duty on US whiskey, which the EU brought in to respond to the US's 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium.
Whisky Investment Firm Tied to Wine Scam
Whisky Investment Firm Tied to Wine Scam
Whisky Investment Firm Tied to Wine Scam
13 March 2025
Guy Taylor reported in CityAM that the founder of whisky investment firm Hackstons is tied to notorious ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ wine scam. Bordeaux Fine Wines (BFW), which liquidators subsequently labelled a ponzi scheme, conned investors out of at least £9.3m by selling wine it did not actually own.
Chart Shows Covid-19 Alcohol Sales Spike
Whisky Investment Firm Tied to Wine Scam
Whisky Investment Firm Tied to Wine Scam
9 March 2025
The New York Times published 30 charts showing the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Chart 6 'Alcohol Sales' shows an unmistakable spike, when Americans hunkered down and bought a lot of alcohol, a billion dollars more, five years before. The chart shows that subsequent alcohol sales and prices reverted to the pre-pandemic trend.
Nant Distillery Cask Fraud Case
Whisky Investment Firm Tied to Wine Scam
29 January 2025
ABC News reported that the founder of Nant Distilling, Keith Batt, has appeared in court facing 736 charges for allegedly defrauding investors in a whisky investment scheme.
Court documents list 56 alleged victims of stealing and dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage, covering an alleged $586,680. Nant promised to buy
29 January 2025
ABC News reported that the founder of Nant Distilling, Keith Batt, has appeared in court facing 736 charges for allegedly defrauding investors in a whisky investment scheme.
Court documents list 56 alleged victims of stealing and dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage, covering an alleged $586,680. Nant promised to buy the barrels back from investors when they matured.
It is alleged that many barrels were not filled with whisky, and that whisky was taken from barrels.
Nant Distillery went into receivership in 2017.
'Glenglassaugh Distillery is Not Shutting Down'
28 January 2025
Spirits Business reported that Brown-Forman will mothball Scotch distillery Glenglassaugh, with production to be paused indefinitely and an unknown number of roles made redundant. Elizabeth Conway, director of external communications at Brown-Forman, commented: 'Glenglassaugh Distillery is not shutting down.
'We are implemen
28 January 2025
Spirits Business reported that Brown-Forman will mothball Scotch distillery Glenglassaugh, with production to be paused indefinitely and an unknown number of roles made redundant. Elizabeth Conway, director of external communications at Brown-Forman, commented: 'Glenglassaugh Distillery is not shutting down.
'We are implementing a shared production model with BenRiach, which will involve periods of production alongside occasional silent seasons, as has been the case traditionally. This allows us to optimise resources and expertise across both distilleries.
'This shared production model, and our ongoing demand planning process, resulted in a small number of redundancies.'
Brown‑Forman Announces Cooperage Closure
14 January 2025
Brown‑Forman announced plans to reduce its 5,400 worldwide workforce by 12%.
Brown‑Forman will close its Louisville-based Cooperage, staffed by 210 employees, by 25 April 2025 and will then source barrels from an external supplier instead.
India Investigates Diageo Bribe Claims
10 January 2025
Reuters reported that India's federal investigating agency has alleged that Diageo and Sequoia Capital made suspicious payments to a politician's firm in an attempt to attain favourable government decisions.
Diageo Closes Chase Distillery
10 January 2025
Drinks International reported that Diageo had completed the closure of its Chase Distillery in the west of England, moving the production of its gin and vodka to Scotland.
Alcohol and Cancer Risk
6 January 2025
The US Surgeon General published scientific evidence for the causal link between alcohol consumption and increased risk for at least seven different types of cancer, including breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, voice box, liver, mouth, and throat. The Advisory also helps to better inform the public of this relationshi
6 January 2025
The US Surgeon General published scientific evidence for the causal link between alcohol consumption and increased risk for at least seven different types of cancer, including breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, voice box, liver, mouth, and throat. The Advisory also helps to better inform the public of this relationship and offers key recommendations to reduce alcohol-related cancers.
Journal Archive
Wisgy Journal 2024
Wisgy Journal 2024
Wisgy Journal 2024
The inside whisky and spirits stories from 2024
Wisgy Journal 2023
Wisgy Journal 2024
Wisgy Journal 2024
The inside stories from 2023's press releases and industry news