Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What are the current market trends in premium spirits and alcoholic drinks according to recent industry research?
Members are actively tracking the **Mintel 'Attitudes Towards Premium Alcoholic Drinks – UK – 2024'** report, which has recently been released and is the current benchmark for understanding spirits market trends in the UK. Access notes: - The full Mintel report costs approximately £2,000, making it prohibitively expensive for most founders - Members recommend checking **local libraries** for free access to Mintel reports, though availability varies by location - Community members with access are sharing copies within the group to distribute knowledge This report is currently the most referenced source for premium drinks market insights within the community, though specific trend findings from the report were not detailed in the discussion excerpts provided.
How should spirits brands approach the mid-strength trend that's already established in beer and other categories?
The mid-strength beverage trend is proven in adjacent categories—Guinness released a mid-strength variant, and 2–3% beers are well-established in the US market—making it a replicable model for spirits brands. Members suggest that capturing this opportunity requires clear positioning and visual communication: - **Visual positioning** — Create side-by-side graphics comparing traditional vs. mid-strength spirit bottles to help consumers immediately understand the proposition and differentiation - **Proven reference points** — Use existing successful models (mid-strength beer category, Guinness's mid-strength release) as evidence that the category can work and as templates for execution The core challenge is education: consumers need to understand what mid-strength spirits are and why they'd choose them, so design and messaging should make this clear from the outset.