About the Hosts
On & Off
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.
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Episodes
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
Why aren't Millennials drinking wine? And why is wine consumption broadly declining? In this episode, Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz interview wine educator and author Marnie Old, who previously served as the director of wine studies for Manhattan’s French Culinary Institute. Marnie delves into the issues facing the wine industry, and what wine companies must do to win back consumers being lost to spirits and beer.
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Make yourself a Moscow Mule and download this episode to learn about all things vodka in 2021. What are the hottest trends in clear spirits? What's the latest from craft vodka? What cocktails are helping drive the category? How much does Co-host Kyle Swartz actually know about "Sex in the City"? All this and more in our latest episode.
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Monday Apr 26, 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic completely changed the alcohol industry with cocktails to-go, direct-to-consumer shipping and alcohol ecommerce. These and other pandemic challenges necessitated adaptation from beverage alcohol regulators, who stepped up with responsible alcohol practices tailored to our modern crisis. In this episode, we recall these challenges from 2020, and also look ahead for what's next in responsible alcohol practices in 2021. Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz interview Steve Schmidt, Sr. Vice President for Public Policy and Communication for the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA).
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz are joined by colleague Marina Velez, senior product manager, data & insights, for The Beverage Information & Insights Group. Velez talks about the dominant alcohol trends from the pandemic, and reflects on which trends she believes will continue with consumers even as Covid-19 recedes. Next the group discusses the rum category, whether it's growing or shrinking, plus the leading brands and cocktails. Velez even shares the backstory of her family's famous coquito recipe — a flavorful, boozy treat!
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
This podcast is all about pot. Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz discuss THC and CBD beverages, trends, and legalization with cannabis investor Carlton Fowler. Fowler is co-founder and managing partner at Goat Rodeo Capital, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in beverage alcohol, non-alcoholic drinks and cannabis-centric brands. Fowler and the editors dive into the rise of CBD/THC beverages, cannabis consumer trends, new production and packaging technologies and the future of federal legalization.
Wednesday Jan 27, 2021
Wednesday Jan 27, 2021
What's more American than Kentucky spirits? The boom in brown spirits has elevated the Bluegrass State to global prominence for it's incredible array of bourbons, ryes, whiskeys, cocktails and other spirits. In this episode, Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz explore how Kentucky spirits have grabbed national attention, by interviewing Louisville-based food and beverage writer Steve Coomes. Coomes is known throughout Kentucky and the wider world of whiskey as one of the industry's most knowledgable writers — including on country ham! Check out his work at SteveCoomes.com.
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
How important is sustainability in the alcohol industry? For a deep dive into this topic, Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz sit down with Nick Martin, Executive Director of the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable. BIER is a technical coalition of leading global beverage companies working together to advance environmental sustainability within the beverage sector.
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
Who doesn't deserve a glass of something great to drink this holiday season? Editor's Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz get into the festive spirit by picking out their favorite — and most unique — alcohol-related gifts for the 2020 season. This includes Kyle's picks for the two best values in whiskey from this past year. The editors also talk about holiday-themed cocktails, including the delicious and boozy Puerto Rican tradition of mixing up coquitos.
Melissa Dowling
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
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.