About the Hosts
Looking for a niche podcast in the beverage alcohol industry? The Beverage Information Group Insider podcast looks at the U.S. and global alcohol industries, with a focus on retail trends and best practices. We speak with business leaders in retail, branding and marketing to keep a pulse on the state of the alcohol industry. Download or subscribe to our podcast to remain current in the business of booze.
Looking for a niche podcast in the beverage alcohol industry? The Beverage Information Group Insider podcast looks at the U.S. and global alcohol industries, with a focus on retail trends and best practices. We speak with business leaders in retail, branding and marketing to keep a pulse on the state of the alcohol industry. Download or subscribe to our podcast to remain current in the business of booze.

Thursday Oct 30, 2025
Thursday Oct 30, 2025
Thursday Oct 30, 2025
We’re joined by Dan Kleinman, Chief Brand Officer at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, to discuss one of the biggest trends in 2025: zebra striping, or swapping back and forth between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages while drinking. What generations are leading this behavior? What does it say about the future of nonalc vs. alc drinking?

Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
In this episode, we interview Sadr Amir, CEO of Downtown Spirits and Esquin Wine & Spirits in Seattle, Washington. These two off-premise brands remain at the forefront of industry trends. Amir discusses the importance of tech and date, experiences and events, the latest alcohol trends, and the scale and nature of the ongoing industry correction.

Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Ian Blessing and his wife Carly recently opened All The Bitter, a comprehensive zero-proof tasting lounge in Chico, CA. In this episode Ian shares the story of how they went from former French Laundry sommeliers to launching a cocktail bitters brand to opening the no-proof bar/bottle shop, along with some general NA trends and recommendations.

Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
In this episode, we’re joined by Quinton Jay, founder and owner of Bacchus Wine & Spirits, a Top 100 Retailer based in Millbrae, CA. Bacchus is a leader in the beverage alcohol retail industry in terms of using data and analytics to shape successful business strategies.

Monday Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
There’s a lot to love about rum, but many consumers don’t understand all that the storied cane spirit has to offer. We chat with rum expert Chase Lanier, beverage manager at The Bamboo Room Tiki Bar in Savannah, GA, about some of his favorite brands and styles, popular cocktails and what he’s been doing to get guests into the spirit.

Monday Jul 28, 2025
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Monday Jul 28, 2025
We interview the first government ganjier, Joe Audette, who's certified position is the legal cannabis equivalent of a sommelier. Audette is also Alcohol Retail Operations Manager for the City of Elk River, which is a control jurisdiction in Minnesota. He bridges the gap between legal alcohol and cannabis, representing the future of the THC industry. Tune in to hear his unique, insightful thoughts on the current state of legal cannabis! (We also hear briefly from Starr Sorheim, City of Elk River Senior Communications Coordinator.)

Monday Jun 30, 2025
Monday Jun 30, 2025
Monday Jun 30, 2025
The popularity of Asian culture, flavors and cuisine stands to boost interest in sake, but what exactly is this ancient Japanese beverage? How do you serve it and what do you pair it with? We pose these questions and more to “Sake Samurai” Tim Sullivan, the director of education for the Sake Studies Center at the American craft sake brewery Brooklyn Kura.

Monday Jun 16, 2025
Monday Jun 16, 2025
Monday Jun 16, 2025
In this episode we discuss The Good Pour, a Central Florida-based beverage alcohol retailer with philanthropy in the DNA of everything they do. Joining us is Carly Hollowell, VP of Marketing of The Good Pour, who also talks about how the retailer has succeeded on social media through savvy modern strategies.

Melissa Dowling is the editor of Cheers, the beverage business magazine for full-service restaurants and bars, which also includes the Cheers@Home digital consumer magazine and the Cheers Beverage Summit professional event. Founded in 1990, Cheers reaches more than 130,000 on-premise beverage professionals nationwide with each edition. Prior to joining Cheers in 2012, Melissa was the editor for business-to-business magazines targeting executives in the direct marketing, ecommerce and retail industries.

Kyle Swartz is editor of Beverage Dynamics, the nation’s only trade magazine dedicated to the off-premise alcohol industry. Prior to this position, he covered politics on the editorial board of a daily newspaper in Connecticut. His joke (which is also the truth) is that the politicians drove him to alcohol. Kyle resides in south-central Connecticut with his wife and 1-year-old daughter. His drinks of choice are craft beer and bourbon.