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Insights & Trends
Featured article
Watch back the live panel discussion with Derek Brown on year-round marketing strategies for No & Low Alcoholic Drinks
topic
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No & Low
type
Panel Discussion
Read
Business Packs
Case Study
Starting at the first meeting and following through to its exit into Diageo, read about Seedlip & DV's journey together as we worked to create a new drinks category.
Whiskey
Seminar
Watch this digital seminar where we explore how to bring your whisky brand to life so it captures the attention of modern whisky consumers. Topics include brand identity, story and values through every consumer interaction.
Resource
We’ve been watching the popularity of non-alcoholic drinks grow over the last 3 years, and according to new research commissioned over the last 8 months, their time has finally come.
The 90-minute inaugural New World Whisky Summit took place is September 2020 and brought together experts from around the globe to discuss the exciting, dynamic New World whisky category. Moderated by whisky expert and journalist Becky Paskin, the panel explored this rapidly developing category, how it's defined and what the future looks like.
Whisky distilleries embrace sustainability with greener practices and carbon neutrality goals.
Diversity & Inclusion
The global tequila market will grow from $19.76 billion in 2022 to $30.06 billion in 2028, highlighting its rise as a popular and versatile spirit.
This 60 minute panel discussion offers out of the box ideas on how to advocate for Diversity Equity and Inclusion across your business from sourcing to employee training. A robust discussion with tips on how to approach DEI with authenticity.
The 90-minute session, moderated by whisky expert and journalist Becky Paskin, features a diverse, compelling roster of perspectives from whisky founders, brand marketers, and wholesalers.
Watch the second 60-minute instalment of our New World Whiskey 2023 summit series - hosted by Becky Paskin.
Watch back this insights-packed webinar with Derek Brown and an extraordinary panel of No & Low experts.
The final instalment in our latest webinar series explores the opportunities and challenges in building a sustainable company culture.
In this guide, we will detail the various costs associated with starting a spirits brand and outline how Distill Ventures can support you throughout this financial journey.
In the spirited world of alcoholic beverages, start-up accelerators play a significant role in guiding new brands through the maze of production, distribution, and marketing.
As the whisky landscape continues to evolve, the New World whisky segment stands out. This emerging category has a unique opportunity to blend time-honoured traditions of legacy regions like Scotland, America and Ireland with innovative production, flavours and marketing strategies
In the following blog, we’ll give you some tips and important data to get you started on building a powerful brand in the no- and low-alcohol industry.
Infographic
The non-alcoholic drinks industry has exploded over the last few years and even the global coronavirus pandemic has failed to halt its rise...
Short Film
Whisky drinkers - they're not who you think they are
What's driving innovation among whisky makers and distillers?
How have retailers responded to the challenges presented by Covid-19?
Let's work together to demystify whisky once and for all.
This simple and easy-to-use manual has been carefully designed to spark creative thoughts and encourage entrepreneurs to write, create, think and hone their stories by capturing the key elements of what makes a good narrative and by providing useful provocations and inspiration.
The drinks industry is challenging. Whoever is investing will want to be sure that you have built a strong business and a brilliant brand.
Whitepaper
We continue to explore how the emergence of sophisticated non alcoholic beverages are changing the landscape of the drinks industry.
In October 2017, we put on a series of three talks at Bar Convent Berlin - one of which was focused on helping entrepreneurs succeed in their home markets. We talked to four of Europe's most successful founders about how they've created pull and grown the local love in their cities and countries.
Advice, guidance and tips about starting a spirits business.
As the health and wellness trend continues, consumers look for ways to enjoy non-alcoholic products in similar ways and settings to alcoholic ones. In this video taken at BCB Brooklyn 2019, Portfolio Director, Heidi Dillon Otto, shares the results of a recent white paper that captures consumer and bartender sentiments surrounding the category.
Belsazar Vermouth was acquired by Diageo in March 2018, get the acceleration case study and see how we supported Max & Sebastian grow an amazing brand.
The non-alcoholic category is full of new entrepreneurs, new products and ever-expanding with trade and consumer interest growing monthly.
Presentation Deck
Dry January gets more popular every year, going from a UK-based tradition to a global phenomenon in a relatively short space of time. We took a look at headlines, social media trends and Google trends to compile a short wrap-up of this year's best activations.
Filmed in 2017 when the no & low sector was just starting to gain momentum, listen as influential voices from around the globe comment on the trends they were already spotting in their bars and restaurants and setting up brands to meet the growing consumer demand.
Showing the continuing rise of the no & low alcoholic category, this film produced in 2018 goes further in examining how the landscape in drinks has shifted towards more acceptance of no & low options.
Some of the most exciting areas of whisky innovation are coming from New World distilleries.
The 60-minute digital session, moderated by whisky expert and journalist Becky Paskin, features a diverse, compelling roster of perspectives from whisky founders, brand experts and marketters.
Through virtual tastings and online masterclasses, our living rooms have become our default space for whisky discovery, but as the pandemic recedes and the world returns to some semblance of normal, how will at-home consumption evolve?
Take a look at our top tips for starting up a drinks business and how you can secure funding for alcohol projects. Build your brand with Distill Ventures.
The 90-minute digital session, moderated by whisky expert and journalist Becky Paskin, features a panel of entrepreneurs in a bare-all discussion about what it takes to launch a new brand in today’s whisky landscape.
Ritual Zero Proof transformed the non-alcoholic drinks market when they launched in 2019. Now one of the largest non-alc players in the world, they’ve gone from strength to strength over the last twelve months.
This 90-minute virtual roundtable, hosted by Becky Paskin, journalist and founder of OurWhisky, features a panel of sustainability experts in a solution focused discussion about the innovative ways we can create a greener whisky industry.
Watch this 90-minute digital summit featuring a panel of whisky experts in a frank discussion about the importance of community building in the industry.
Watch this 60-minute online seminar featuring a panel of whisky influencers – or content creators – as they discuss topics including influencer marketing, the definition of a modern influencer, navigating platform guidelines and algorithms, paid partnerships, and much more.
Data Drop
Data & insight focussing on the growth of functional non alc drinks, category segmentation and how consumers are moderating consumption instead of abstaining
Watch our first digital summit featuring a panel of Non-Alc experts as they explore how shifting consumer behaviour is driving interest as well as what challenges exist in this fast-changing segment.
Watch this 60-minute panel of Non-Alc experts from the UK & US as they discuss the future role of Dry January and the evolution of consumer drinking trends.
Global data and insights on the reasons why consumers are increasingly attracted to no and low drinks.
Watch the first 60-minute instalment of our New World Whiskey 2023 summit series - hosted by Becky Paskin.
The diversity of options reflects differing circumstances and expectations, of both founders and funders.
Distill Ventures is a business accelerator, not a business incubator. That’s an important distinction - here’s the difference.
Our mission is to find the best and brightest entrepreneurs looking to shake up the drinks industry with a clear vision and a commitment to growing strong identities for their brands.
In the UK and US, no and low-alcohol drinks are replacing regular-strength beverages, particularly in social settings.
The first instalment in our latest webinar series focusing on sustainable solutions for sourcing and using raw materials in spirits-making.
The second instalment in our latest webinar series focuses on the latest innovations and challenges around packaging solutions in the spirits industry.
If you’ve got the determination, the energy and the commitment to bottle and share your own spirits, you can start a distillery. Here’s our guide on how to do it.
The success of your drinks business requires a well-balanced blend of great taste, colour and provenance of the liquid - and how well you set up and deliver your marketing.
Embarking on a journey in the drinks industry? Looking for the perfect partner to help your brand soar? Distill Ventures could be your ideal collaborator. Tuck into our guide on how to stand out among other applicants.
Filmed in 2017, listen to influential voices from around the globe from when Non-Alc was just starting to gain momentum.
Watch back the live panel discussion with Derek Brown on the distribution of Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Press
publication
Medium
Since her arrival at Distill Ventures North America in 2018, Heidi has been a catalyst for innovation. She led the creation of the first non-alcoholic drinks practice globally and more recently, the creation of Distill Ventures’ Pre-Accelerator, an early stage funding initiative designed to support entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds.
read
Drinks Intel
Distill Ventures receives Diversity/Gender Inclusion Achievement Award at Global Drinks Intel ESG Awards 2023
Axios
The duo has invested more than £245 million in over 35 drinks brands globally.
The Spirits Business
Drinks accelerator programme Distill Ventures has updated its branding, website and strategic vision to mark its 10-year anniversary.
Diageo-backed spirits accelerator Distill Ventures (DV) has promoted its North America managing director, Heidi Dillon, to chief executive.
New York Times
Heidi Dillon is on the vanguard of the fast-growing nonalcoholic-drinks sector and is reshaping how the male-dominated spirits industry perceives the shifting landscape.
The Buyer
Over the last 18 month Distill Ventures has extended its investment programme to support new start-up drinks brands, by starting a Pre Accelerator programme aimed at identifying and then backing new brand launches from entrepreneurs from marginalised communities.
Drinks International
In September, Diageo acquired Australian cold brew coffee liqueur brand Mr Black from accelerator programme, Distill Ventures. Drinks International caught up with Frank Lampen, chief executive and co-founder of Distill Ventures to talk about the purchase and what’s next for the programme.
Beverage Daily
Diageo has made a minority investment in The Oxford Artisan Distillery, an ultra-premium English rye whisky producer ‘seeking to revolutionize farming practices in the category’.
Nomunication
The Japanese whisky industry was rocked by last year’s surprise announcement of a minority stake acquisition of the Kanosuke Distillery by Diageo-funded Distill Ventures.
Forbes
Amidst espresso martini’s comeback, Diageo today announced the acquisition Mr Black, a premium cold brew liqueur out of Australia and the fastest-growing coffee liqueur in the United States.
Diageo
Diageo announces that it has acquired Mr Black, the Australian premium cold brew coffee liqueur.
Following successful first year of Pre-Accelerator, Distill Ventures strengthens team to scale programme into 2023
Movers and Shakers Podcast
Shilen Patel from Distill Ventures on what DV is looking for in potential investments, the future of the non-alc movement, and challenges facing food & beverage entrepreneurs
Komasa Kanosuke Distillery, a producer of ultra-premium single-malt whiskies based in Kagoshima, Japan, today announces that Diageo has made a minority investment in the company, through Distill Ventures, the independently operated and Diageo- backed drinks accelerator.
Distill Ventures has announced a slate of new global initiatives aimed at normalizing diversity within the drinks industry. The flagship initiative is a robust pre-accelerator program for spirits industry founders from underrepresented groups.
Distill Ventures
Distill Ventures welcomes new strategic hires, announces leadership promotions to bolster key global practice areas
PR News Wire
Ritual Zero Proof, the first spirit alternative distilled in America that echoes the taste and smell of spirits, today announced investment from global beverage alcohol leader Diageo via Distill Ventures.
The New York Times
While distillers around the globe imitate Scotch, Australians are innovating to create something distinctive.
BEVNET - Taste Radio
An interview with Shilen Patel, the co-founder of Distill Ventures (DV), a U.K.-based venture capital firm and accelerator that invests in disruptive distilled spirit companies and non-alcoholic beverage brands.
Bloomberg
Diageo Plc, the world’s largest distiller, has noticed that people are drinking less than they used to.
The Gaurdian
Group pays undisclosed sum for spice-based drink it describes as ‘game-changing’
Beernet
Distill Ventures, the Diageo-backed spirits accelerator program, was established in 2013. The company provides sales and marketing expertise to help smaller brands achieve greater scale.
The Drinks Business
Low and no-alcohol serves have become a major force in the drinks industry. But while beer, cider and spirits have taken off in this sector, wine is lagging behind. Edith Hancock discovers what is powering this revolution.
Frank Lampen, co-founder and CEO of Diageo-owned investment unit Distill Ventures, on the potential of the non-alcoholic space, category innovation and tackling the US market.
Time Magazine
New York City’s first permanent booze-free bar, and no one is drinking alcohol.
Consumers are “underserved” when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks options despite “strong demand”, according to a new report by Diageo’s Distill Ventures.
Just Drinks
New research from Diageo-backed accelerator firm Distill Ventures has outlined the continued economic potential for non-alcoholic drinks, as consumers demand more choice in the category.
Bon Appetit
People are drinking less and less as non-alcoholic beverages flood the market. Now the alcohol industry wants in.
The Chicago Tribune
The Whisky Wash
Running a distillery these days is an expensive business, there is no doubt.
SevenFiftyDaily
Tales of the Cocktail panelists discuss markets, costs, and current and future trends in the spirits-free space
Diageo is “constantly screening the world” to discover new categories and brands that could be added to its Reserve portfolio, according to the unit’s managing director.
The Grocer
With a record number of entrepreneurs now looking to build their own business in the sector a growing number of programs are offering access to expert advice, space and cash.
Diageo has acquired Belsazar to expand in the aperitif sector as consumers shift towards more casual occasions, seeing demand for lower ABV cocktails and an increase in long drinks.
Diageo has bought Berlin vermouth-maker Belsazar in the spirits giant's first acquisition from its Distill Ventures incubator programme.
The Economist
Innovation in non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks fits with health-conscious trends
Punch
A mini-temperance movement is brewing.
SevenFifthDaily
Big brands are investing more and more in small craft brands. Here’s how they’re doing it
Vinepair
Drink Magazine Asia
Spirits accelerator Distill Ventures uncorked a belly-full of business wisdom at this year’s Singapore Cocktail Festival with the help of three industry insiders.
Bevnet
Does the world need a non-alcoholic spirit? Shilen Patel thinks so.
Management Today
Diageo, John Lewis, BMW and Barclays are all turning to start-ups in a bid to stay ahead of the curve.
The Times
Diageo will invest £10m in Danish whisky brand Stauning through its Distill Ventures programme.
Difford's Guide
Distill Ventures is a 'spirits accelerator', the first of its kind in the world investing in global drinks brands
Distill Ventures, a spirits investment and mentoring scheme funded by Diageo, is set to launch in North America for the first time...
It's official: The biggest trend in bars are drinks without booze.
Events
Event type
In Person
The Club Soda Low, Light and Alcohol-Free Summit powerd by PB Creative, is a day of learning, support, and networking for the pioneering community of the world’s most exciting emerging low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks brands.
A live seminar held at Tales of the Cocktail Foundation 2024
An opportunity to network, mingle and celebrate with women of the whisky world
Discover the latest trends in the No- & Low-Alcohol movement with a brief presentation, followed by mingling and insightful discussions.
Online
An unmissable live seminar hosted by Derek Brown on navigating the distribution questions forming around Non-Alcoholic Spirits.
Join Derek Brown and his industry guest panel to explore the marketing potential for non-alc brands beyond seasonal moments of Dry Jan and Sober October.
Here's the latest press coverage on Distill Ventures - as seen in The New York Times, Forbes and The Spirits Business.
The very best experts from the drinks industry share their knowledge and perspectives on a wide range of topics, from sustainability to distribution.
Upcoming Distill Ventures events, both online and in the real world, join us for seminars, tastings and trade events.