
Park Street Insider Podcast
The Park Street Insider Podcast is a spirit industry-focused podcast dedicated to bringing you closer to the key brands, topics, and trends driving the drinks business. We host the spirits category's most influential leaders and entrepreneurs to uncover the business strategies, stories, and brand-building tips behind some of the biggest brands in the industry. Whether you're interested in Agave spirits, whiskey, read-to-drink, low & no, or any other category, our hosts will bring you closer to the heart of what's happening in each. In each episode, hosts Emmett Strack and Andres Correa speak to spirits industry thought leaders to discuss the moves that shaped their careers, how they built some of the brands we all know and love, and some of the tools they can’t live without. They'll also zero in on the hottest subjects taking hold of beverage alcohol, keeping listeners up to date on the trends shaping spirits. Want to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1
Latest episodes

Apr 16, 2025 • 59min
Brother's Bond Bourbon CEO & Co-Founder Vincent Hanna— What it Takes
Send us a textWhen Vincent Hanna and his co-founders, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, launched Brother’s Bond Bourbon, they didn’t just introduce another celebrity whiskey—they found a new way to build a modern whiskey brand based on passion and authenticity. In the process, Brother's Bond has become one of the fastest-growing premium bourbon brands while building the largest social media following in the spirits industry. Find out how Hanna's career in beverage alcohol and a keen eye for market trends helped Brother's Bond establish itself as a respected player in the competitive American whiskey market. In this episode, co-founder Vincent Hanna joins the podcast to talk about how he leveraged industry expertise and authentic storytelling to transform Brother's Bond from an ambitious concept into a bourbon phenomenon embraced by whiskey enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. This in-depth conversation explores the brand's distinctive approach to bourbon craftsmanship, the evolving dynamics of the American whiskey category, and how Brother's Bond harnessed its massive social media presence to build genuine connections with consumers.Featured Guests:Vincent Hanna, CEO & Co-founder, Brother’s Bond DistillingMentioned in the Episode:Brother's Bond BourbonWant to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1Learn More About Park StreetSign up for our Daily Industry Newsletter.Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter.Check out Park Street's Guide to Getting Started in the U.S. MarketFollow us for more industry insights onLinkedIn FacebookTwitterInstagram

Apr 2, 2025 • 21min
Inside Spirits Innovation with Maurice Doyle & Morten Stengaard— Expert Talks
Send us a textIn today's spirits market, crowded with endless options, meaningful innovation has become essential for brands seeking to establish their identity amid evolving consumer tastes. Yet mere novelty rarely drives success in an industry where everyone claims to be doing something new. The most effective innovations—whether introducing distinctive flavor profiles, highlighting unique production methods, or unveiling striking packaging—connect authentically with drinkers' genuine interests and desires. The critical question remains: How can brands create innovations that genuinely resonate with consumers rather than simply adding to the noise?The Park Street Insider Podcast welcomes two innovative experts to the show: former Compass Box Whisky CEO Maurice Doyle and Bemakers Co-founder Morten Stengaard. First, Doyle will draw on his decades of experience leading marketing efforts for global portfolios and developing brands for Bacardi to help redefine what innovation should actually look like in the modern market. Then, Stengaard will deliver a case study with his key criteria for innovation when launching a new product in any category. Featured Guests:Maurice Doyle, CEO, Compass Box Morten Stengaard, Co-founder & CEO, Bemakers Connect with the Experts:Compass Box Whisky BemakersWant to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1Learn More About Park StreetSign up for our Daily Industry Newsletter.Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter.Check out Park Street's Guide to Getting Started in the U.S. MarketFollow us for more industry insights onLinkedIn FacebookTwitterInstagram

Mar 19, 2025 • 52min
Simon Ford on Growing Fords Gin from Startup to Brown-Forman Acquisition— What It Takes
Send us a textOver the 2010s, Fords Gin transformed from a bartender-driven startup to a cocktail culture staple, securing a key position in Brown-Forman's prestigious portfolio. Co-founder Simon Ford built his career immersed in the cocktail scene that his brand would later come to represent.In this episode of the Park Street Insider Podcast, Simon Ford discusses his journey working alongside major spirits industry brands before founding Fords Gin—a company now synonymous with premium gin. He reveals how he combined marketing expertise with his extensive bar world relationships to create a brand that caught Brown-Forman's attention, leading to a successful acquisition by one of America's top spirits portfolios.Featured Guests:Simon Ford, Co-Founder, Fords Gin Connect with Fords Gin:Fords GinBrown FormanSimon Ford on InstagramWant to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1Learn More About Park StreetSign up for our Daily Industry Newsletter.Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter.Check out Park Street's Guide to Getting Started in the U.S. MarketFollow us for more industry insights onLinkedIn FacebookTwitterInstagram

Mar 3, 2025 • 34min
Beverage Alcohol Tariffs in 2025: Where We Stand & What’s Ahead
Send us a textThis March, new U.S. tariffs targeting Canada, Mexico, and China are set to send shockwaves through the beverage alcohol industry. With wine, beer, and spirits brands bracing for major financial impact, how can businesses prepare?The Park Street Insider Podcast welcomes Alison Leavitt, Managing Director of the Wine and Spirits Shippers Association (WSSA), for an essential insider briefing on the changing tariff landscape. In this critical episode, Leavitt provides a clear breakdown of the new administration's aggressive trade approach, analyzes potential implementation scenarios and their business implications, and shares actionable mitigation strategies brands can implement.Featured Guests:Alison Leavitt, Managing Director, Wine and Spirits Shippers Association (WSSA)Mentioned in this episode:Want to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1Learn More About Park StreetSign up for our Daily Industry Newsletter.Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter.Check out Park Street's Guide to Getting Started in the U.S. MarketFollow us for more industry insights onLinkedIn FacebookTwitterInstagram

Feb 19, 2025 • 49min
What It Takes— Teremana Tequila CEO Richard Black
In this engaging discussion, Richard Black, CEO of Teremana Tequila, shares his remarkable journey in the spirits industry. He reveals how Teremana quickly became the fastest premium tequila brand to hit one million cases. Richard breaks down strategic adaptations during the pandemic, highlights the importance of quality, and discusses plans for global expansion focused on diverse markets. With insights on navigating agave supply challenges and the evolving tequila landscape, he showcases the brand's ambitious vision for future innovations.

Feb 5, 2025 • 38min
The Top Beverage Alcohol M&A Deals of 2024: Unpacking Investors Strategic Playbook
Send us a textFrom billion-dollar buyouts to strategic portfolio plays, beverage alcohol's dealmaking landscape tells a fascinating story of power, strategy, and evolution. While the post-pandemic M&A frenzy may have cooled, 2024's high-stakes transactions revealed how the industry's biggest players are placing their bets on the future of drinks.Join host Emmett Strack as he sits down with Ryan Lake, Managing Director of Arlington Capital Advisors, to decode the year's most consequential deals. Together, they'll unpack how industry heavyweights are repositioning for growth, why certain categories are attracting premium valuations, and what these moves signal about where the spirits business is headed. This conversation offers insights into the forces reshaping the beverage alcohol landscape in 2025 and beyond.Featured Guests:Ryan Lake, Managing Director, Arlington Capital Advisors Mentioned in this episode:Park Street's 2024 M&A ReportArlington Capital AdvisorsWant to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1Learn More About Park StreetSign up for our Daily Industry Newsletter.Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter.Check out Park Street's Guide to Getting Started in the U.S. MarketFollow us for more industry insights onLinkedIn FacebookTwitterInstagram

Jan 22, 2025 • 40min
What It Takes— Building a Category-Leading Brand with Seedlip’s Emma Wykes
Send us a textLaunching an unproven concept into an untapped market segment requires exceptional courage. For Emma Wykes and Seedlip, the vast potential they saw in the non-alcoholic spirits category transformed this calculated risk into a pioneering opportunity. Join host Andres Correa as he sits down with Emma Wykes, the former COO of Seedlip Drinks. As a figure who played a pivotal role in building the world's first non-alcoholic spirits brand that caught the attention of industry giant Diageo, Wykes's entrepreneurial journey serves as a prime case study of how founders can successfully build disruptive brands that last. Now a founding partner at Pollen Projects and CEO of Seasn Cocktail bitters, Emma brings her wealth of experience in the beverage industry to share invaluable insights on what it takes to launch and scale innovative drink concepts in today's competitive market.Featured Guests:Emma Wykes, Founding Partner of Pollen Projects & CEO of Seasn Mentioned in this episode:SeedlipDiageoPollen ProjectsSeasnWant to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1Learn More About Park StreetSign up for our Daily Industry Newsletter.Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter.Check out Park Street's Guide to Getting Started in the U.S. MarketFollow us for more industry insights onLinkedIn FacebookTwitterInstagram

Jan 8, 2025 • 36min
What's Trending— Additive-Free Tequila
Send us a textThe battle over "additive-free" tequila labeling has exposed a deep rift between tradition and transparency in Mexico's most iconic spirit. When Tequila Matchmaker's data revealed widespread additive use despite contrary claims, it didn't just challenge the CRT's regulatory authority – it forced a reckoning with consumer trust in an industry built on artisanal heritage.For many independent brands, an "additive-free" certification from The Additive Free Alliance became a cornerstone of marketing, symbolizing transparency and authenticity. But when Mexico's tequila regulator, the CRT, cracked down on these claims last September, it left brands and consumers questioning the future of transparency in tequila production. The Park Street Insider Podcast explores this controversy with industry journalist Clay Dillow, who joins Emmett Strack to examine the rise of additive-free tequila and the impact of the CRT's recently imposed restrictions on the category.Featured Guests:Clay Dillow, Contributing Writer at Fortune MagazineMentioned in this episode:Consejo Regulador del TequilaTequila MatchmakerThe Additive Free AllianceVinePairWant to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1Learn More About Park StreetSign up for our Daily Industry Newsletter.Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter.Check out Park Street's Guide to Getting Started in the U.S. MarketFollow us for more industry insights onLinkedIn FacebookTwitterInstagram

Dec 11, 2024 • 38min
What's Trending— Inside the EU and UK Spirits Markets
Send us a textThe Park Street Insider Podcast is ending the year with an exploration of the EU & UK alcohol markets. Europe leads the world in alcohol consumption, with eight of the top ten biggest alcohol-consuming countries being European. Despite its distribution makeup taking a different form than in the U.S. market, EU and UK distributors remain at the center of the spirits industry landscape. This episode offers a window into the current dynamics driving the EU and UK spirits markets through the eyes of key distributors. Emily Pennington sits down with a panel of experts at Bar Convent Berlin to cover the best paths for brands to succeed in this region. They'll start by providing listeners with a framework for understanding the EU market and move into breaking down the key categories and economic factors currently shaping the market landscape. Finally, they'll deliver best practices for brands looking to work with distributors in the EU and UK.Featured Guests:Chris Maffeo, Founder, Maffeo DrinksMichael Vachon, Co-Founder, Maverick DrinksSøren Hansen, Sales Director, BeMakersMentioned in this episode:Maffeo DrinksBeMakersMaverick DrinksWant to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1Learn More About Park StreetSign up for our Daily Industry Newsletter.Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter.Check out Park Street's Guide to Getting Started in the U.S. MarketFollow us for more industry insights onLinkedIn FacebookTwitterInstagram

Nov 13, 2024 • 48min
What's Trending— The Potential of Low & No Alcohol
Send us a textLow & No is one of beverage-alcohol's spotlight categories in 2024. Many projections indicate that the segment will continue to expand its influence in terms of shelf presence, case volumes, and overall consumer awareness. But while the category's forecast is bright, low & no represents only a marginal share of total beverage alcohol. In this episode, Emmett Strack sits down with industry veterans and low-and-no leaders to unpack the category's rise and trajectory in 2024 and beyond. The group will consider how the category became relevant, what the rise of low-and-no says about the modern consumer, and what major suppliers are doing to align with this trend. Featured Guests: Spiros Malandrakis, Global Head of Research - Alcoholic Drinks, Euromonitor InternationalCamille Vidal, Founder, La Maison WellnessRaphael Vollmar, CEO & CO Founder, Rheinland Distillers GmbHMentioned in this episode:Euromonitor InternationalLa Maison WellnessRheinland Distillers GmbHDiageoSeedlipWant to stay in the know about new episodes from the podcast? Fill out the form below: https://share.hsforms.com/1MEb-81x2TXi3f15qO_yEpA4tip1Learn More About Park StreetSign up for our Daily Industry Newsletter.Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter.Check out Park Street's Guide to Getting Started in the U.S. MarketFollow us for more industry insights onLinkedIn FacebookTwitterInstagram
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