Liquor-articles 1905

In this article, we will discuss the 20 countries that export the most vodka. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global vodka market, the most popular vodka brand in the world, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the vodka market, and recent acquisitions in the vodka sector and go straight to 5 Countries that Export the Most Vodka.

One of the reasons vodka is so popular is its versatility. It can be mixed with almost anything to create cocktails and is very easy to infuse with different flavors. Moreover, as vodka does not require aging, it’s possible to produce large quantities of this highly sought-after spirit quite quickly. Both Poland and Russia claim to be the birthplace of vodka, but historians generally agree that it was first produced around 1400 AD in Northeastern Europe.

Vodka is one of the Most Consumed Alcohols in the World. As we discussed in our article – Top 20 Best Selling Vodka Brands in the World – the global vodka market was worth $25.98 billion in 2022 and it is predicted to rise to $40.25 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. This forecast is based on a report from Research and Markets.

Vodka-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages are seeing a surge in new product developments, which are expected to drive market growth. The all-natural flavored segment is predicted to experience the fastest growth rate, driven by an increase in demand for premium flavored vodka, particularly among millennials.

Smirnoff, the Best-Selling Vodka Brand in the World, sold an impressive 28.1 million 9-liter cases in 2022. The brand, founded in 1864, was the pioneer in using charcoal filtration in the distillation process.

In 1987, Smirnoff was bought by International Distillers and Vintners, and subsequently came under the ownership of Diageo plc (DEO). Despite its roots being in Moscow, Smirnoff is now manufactured in various countries such as the U.S., Canada, Italy, and more.

Diageo plc, which is also the owner of renowned vodka brands like Cîroc and Ketel One, is one of the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023.

The landscape of vodka consumption changed last year as the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed vodka into the international spotlight. This has predictably resulted in Western consumers, retailers, and governments opting to ban and boycott Russian vodkas.

Western vodka brands with Russian-like names, such as the top-selling Smirnoff, have been quick to clarify that they do not actually originate from Russia. Instead, Smirnoff is owned by the colossal alcohol company, Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO).

The enduring conflict has also negatively impacted sales of several Ukrainian vodka brands, possibly due to the power cuts and bombardments. A large number of these brands have seen a double-digit reduction in sales in 2022. Nonetheless, with Russian vodkas largely absent from global shelves, a number of erstwhile lesser-known Ukrainian brands are stepping up to fill their place.

Nemiroff, a well-liked Ukrainian vodka brand, had to cease operations at its primary distillery for a month due to the Russian invasion and experienced a remarkable 57.4% dip in sales in 2022. Despite this, the brand has shown resilience and is now seeing a revival this year, including a doubling of sales in the U.K.

In June, it was revealed that the Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) finalized a deal to sell its Finlandia vodka brand to Coca-Cola HBC AG for $220 million, with the sale officially closing in November. With around 2.6 million 9L cases sold in 2022, Finlandia was one of the best-selling brands in the portfolio of the Jack Daniel’s maker.

The popular vodka brand was acquired by Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) from Altia Corp. in multiple phases, obtaining full ownership in 2004. Its sale was described as another step in the company’s long-term strategic ambition to premiumise its portfolio through brand innovation, acquisition, and divestiture.

The Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) is placed among the Best Alcohol Stocks to Own According to Hedge Funds.

With that said, here are the Top Exporters of Vodka in 2023.

To collect data for this article, we have referred to the UN Comtrade Database, looking for the Highest Exporters of Vodka in the World. The following countries have been ranked by the total value of their vodka exports (HS Code 220860) in 2022.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $9.51 million

Vodka has been produced in Estonia since the late 1700’s and represents an important part of the local culture. This cultural orientation of the liquor changed to commerce with the introduction of a ferry service between Helsinki and Tallinn in 1968, and the so-called ‘vodka tourism’ began to appear. Today, approximately 15% of the total alcohol consumed in Finland is purchased in Tallinn area stores.

Viru Valge Vodka is the most popular vodka brand in Estonia and is known worldwide for its taste and excellent quality.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $11.85 million

Vodka in Australia is also following a trend seen in other markets around the world. Younger consumers aren’t interested in what their parents and grandparents drink, they’re moving away from dark spirits and opting instead for liquors that lend themselves to lighter, fresher cocktails.

Though The Land Down Under does not produce many big-name vodka products, its craft range is growing in popularity at home and abroad.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $14.91 million

Austria offers all the raw materials needed for the production of vodka, since potatoes and grain are available in abundance in the country, as well as pure spring water from the Austrian mountains. 

More than 30 distilleries produce vodka in Austria and some of the popular brands include Edelweiss, NEFT, and OVAL etc.

Austria ranks among the Top Vodka Drinking Countries in the World.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $20.36 million

Vodka was the most consumed spirit in Canada in 2021 and 61.1% of drinking-age Canadians indicated having had the beverage during the year. Created entirely from the water drawn from the icebergs in Newfoundland, the Iceberg Vodka brand holds considerable popularity within the country.

The United States serves as the largest market for Canadian vodka, being responsible for more than 80% of the total vodka exports from the country.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $20.92 million

Recent years have witnessed an extraordinary transformation in the UAE, which has morphed into a major international hub for trade, travel, and entertainment. With a cosmopolitan population and a flourishing tourism sector, the demand for premium spirits, particularly vodka, has shown significant growth.

The UAE exports most of its vodka to India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya. 

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $21.54 million

Lithuania’s best known alcoholic product is its vodka, which is understandable considering the country was once a part of the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union. There is a healthy domestic market for the popular spirit in the Baltic state, and a small number of brands are also exported. Lithuanian Vodka is a popular brand from the country. 

Lithuania is counted among the Top Alcohol Drinking Countries in the World. 

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $24.52 million

Spain is better known for its fine wines, but some high-quality vodkas are also now being produced in the sunny Southwestern European country. Although the Spanish offerings do not have a deep-rooted tradition like vodka from other countries, several brands have begun to experiment with flavors and innovative production techniques to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Handcrafted from unique Spanish tempranillo grapes, cereals, and pure water, R.I.P. is a pure, handcrafted 100% unfiltered vodka that fully captures the essence and unique taste of local raw materials.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $26.43 million

The port of Singapore is the second-busiest in the world, and considered the hub of entrepôt trade and a gateway to other Asian markets. The country imports a large amount of wine and spirits, which are then re-exported mainly to Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, China, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Singapore is the Country that Exports the Most Vodka in Asia.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $30.4 million

Belgium is known for its rich beer culture but the country has also developed into a top market for vodka, with the average Belgian consuming about 0.94 shots of the spirit every month.

OBEY is a premium vodka brand in the Western European country.

Belgium sits among Countries that Sell the Most Vodka.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $43.49 million

When Russia invaded Ukraine last year its vodkas were quickly removed from shelves around the world, giving an opportunity to rival Ukrainian brands to take their place. Changing their vodka-purchasing habits has been a popular way for Westerners to side with Ukraine in the ongoing war.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $68.47 million

Vodka is perhaps Finland’s national drink, with Finlandia being the best-known brand. The popular vodka is distributed in 135 countries worldwide and is widely associated with Finland on the international market.

The Nordic country exports most of its vodka to Moldova, India, and Russia. 

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $74.7 million

Although the UK is popular for its alluring whiskies, it has also emerged as one of the Top Vodka Exporting Countries recently. 

Vodka has long been a staple in the UK’s drinking culture, with its versatile and clean taste making it a go-to choice for cocktails and mixed drinks. Britain was the world’s leading importer of Russian vodka in 2020, but the war is forcing the Brits to change their habits. The Treasury described that its 35% tariff on the spirit is aimed to ‘cause maximum harm to Putin’s war machine’.

With over $9.5 billion of spirits exports last year, the UK ranks among the Top 10 Leading Countries in Exports of Hard Liquor.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $88.88 million

German vodka embodies the precision and care characteristic of German craftsmanship and is a burgeoning segment of the spirits market, gaining recognition for its quality and unique attributes.

Kleiner Feigling is a top vodka brand from the European nation.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $98.12 million

Latvia is home to one of the Highest Quality Vodka Brands in the World. Due to the geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Stolichnaya Vodka has officially changed its name to ‘Stoli’ outside of Russia. Stoli is produced in Latvia by the Luxembourg-based Stoli Group, controlled by the exiled Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler.

Altogether, more than 35 million bottles of Stoli are sold worldwide every year, with the biggest markets being the U.S., Canada, Chile, Austria, Greece, Israel, and Lebanon.

Total Vodka Exports in 2022: $121.87 million

Italy is among the countries where the best-selling vodka brand, Smirnoff, is produced and then distributed to 130 markets worldwide. Several locally produced vodka brands have also emerged in the Bel Paese recently, including Roberto Cavalli and VOGA. 

Italy is among the Countries that Export the Most Vodka in Europe.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries that Export the Most Vodka.

Suggested Articles:

US Alcohol Exports by Country: Top 15

16 Best Vodka Brands Under $30

Top 20 Wine Exporting Countries in the World

Disclosure: None. 20 Countries that Export the Most Vodka is originally published on Insider Monkey.

By Emma Specter

With Hanukkah already here and Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to truly buckle down and start making our lists, checking them twice, et cetera. As a holiday person, nothing brings me more joy than trying to find the perfect gifts for my loved ones. But there is one group (or rather, gender) that’s always stumped me in my present-picking: men.

I abhor gender essentialism as much as the next normal person, but unfortunately, it really has been my experience that men are hard to shop for (and of course, women be shopping). Somehow 99% of the women and nonbinary people in my life are a delight to purchase gifts for, while the men—cis and trans alike—remain a cipher. As a queer woman, I’m not used to spending much of my time trying to figure out what men want—and yet, every Chrismukkah I find myself pondering the same question: How do I captivate the whimsy of the men in my life without going bankrupt?

I was thrilled when I discovered whiskey stones, which seemed like the obvious solution. For years, every men’s magazine and website seemed to tout them as the ne plus ultra of gifts for men—modern and innovative yet macho-retro enough to make them feel like Hemingway. Imagine my disappointment then, when I learned that men don’t actually want whiskey stones. Actually, it’s possible that nobody does, regardless of their gender, as New Yorker writer Helen Rosner demonstrated in her 2019 gift guide: “I took a sip, frowned, waited five minutes, and sipped again. The tequila remained room temperature. I recalled the laws of thermodynamics, and realized the truth about whiskey stones: Despite their striking geometry, they are entirely pointless. I frowned again, and drank my glass of room-temperature tequila, which had rocks in it.”

Perplexed, I sought advice from the trusted men in my life – among them were my father, my partner (who wished to be known as a “transmasculine king”), and several friends who entertained my frantic “What do you want for Christmas?” queries – to tell me whether they even desired whiskey stones and if not, the gifts they truly coveted for Christmas. Here are their responses:

“What on earth is a whiskey stone?”

Actual wished gift: “I don’t want anything.”

“My favorite drink is a martini, though I do savor a whiskey with a well-chosen ice cube occasionally. However, I think I would misplace the whiskey stones somewhere in my home.”

Actually desired gift: Prada loafers

“I get the idea of whiskey stones, so as not to dilute the taste of what I’m drinking, but the name alone makes me think more of passing stones than using them to marginally improve my enjoyment of brown liquor. So no, I don’t need them.” 

Actually desired gift: Those Instagram-friendly tennis candles

“Admittedly not a big whiskey guy, but I have to say this would disappoint me as a gift. Whiskey stones have always felt like a comically gendered ‘safe’ thing.” 

Preferred gift option: “A spa day or a massage would be far more appealing than items that amplify my sophisticated drinking habits.”

“Purchasing these would most likely result in me causing some damage with them, and then consuming whiskey with an absence of the stones to assuage my remorse.”

Preferred gift option: Tickets for a Kylie Minogue concert in Vegas

Consequently, it appears the decision is unanimous: Men are not fond of whiskey stones, for various legitimate reasons. What will I find out next? That women don’t actually desire luxurious hand creams in their Christmas stockings? (Well, too bad, because I have acquired a surplus of high-quality hand cream and I intend to persistently recommend it to everyone, regardless of their gender. Happy holidays!)

A rum cake is a delightful, easy addition to any festive table. The sponge, spiked with rum, is baked in a Bundt pan and drizzled then brushed with a syrup also containing rum. This results in a cake so moist and rich that it requires neither glaze nor frosting. Enjoy it with a cup of coffee or as a perfect end to a celebration day. However, if you’re avoiding alcohol, ignore claims that all alcohol evaporates during the baking process. Spoiler — it doesn’t.

Alcohol usually acts as a carrier for the flavor a certain recipe requires, be it a delicious rum cake or a red wine sauce for steak. It also enhances the taste of other ingredients, like in a penne alla vodka, where vodka brings out the flavor of the tomatoes and tenderizes the meat. Alcohol is such a versatile ingredient with plenty of applications, but keep in mind, although a large portion of the alcohol does cook off, it’s never 100% gone.

Read more: 10 Of The Healthiest Beers You Can Drink

When cooking with booze, it’s impossible to fully evaporate all the alcohol from a dish or dessert. The remaining alcohol in the final product depends on several factors, primarily temperature and cooking duration, as well as your cooking dish’s surface area. Alcohol evaporates quicker at high temperatures, and more cooks off the longer the dish bakes. However, alcohol molecules will always bond with other molecules in the dish and stay put. Studies have shown even after prolonged cooking, a little alcohol will always remain in the dish.

It’s crucial to take into account the size of your cooking vessel when preparing rum cake. A larger pan or skillet provides greater surface area, thereby facilitating more oxygen contact, which leads to faster alcohol evaporation. You should consider the kind of ingredients used and what specific dish you are preparing. For instance, a rum syrup drizzle used to garnish a rum cake probably hasn’t been cooked long enough, or at the right temperatures, to evaporate significant alcohol amounts. On the contrary, the cake itself usually contains between half to a full cup of rum, which results in a cake that has roughly 5% alcohol content- equivalent to a bottle of beer!

While not all dishes may contain as much alcohol as rum cake, there could be several reasons for omitting alcohol from your dishes, including health, recovery, or religious reasons. But this doesn’t mean you should feel excluded from scrumptious boozy bakes. There exists plenty of ways to replace alcohol in a recipe that demands it, with the focus being on the flavor, rather than the alcohol. Endless options of achieving similar flavors without using alcohol abound, such as using various types of vinegars, herbs, spices, and syrups. Cooking and baking ingredient swaps can be an excellent way to achieve this.

To create a rum cake, consider using rum extracts and rum-flavored syrups or a blend of ingredients like white grape juice, molasses, and almond extract. Another option is seeking out non-alcoholic rum. You can find an array of non-alcoholic spirits that can replace their alcoholic equivalents. So go ahead, make your next rum cake alcohol-free, and don’t worry about the alcohol content in your future bakes.

For more, check out the original article on Daily Meal.

A rum cake is an easy, festive addition to any holiday table. The rum-spiked sponge is baked in a Bundt pan, and drizzled and brushed with a rum syrup. The result is a cake that’s so moist and rich that it doesn’t need a glaze or frosting. It goes perfectly with a cup of coffee, or to top off a day of celebrations. However, if you’re abstaining from alcohol, don’t believe people when they tell you all the alcohol bakes off during the cooking process. Spoiler alert — it doesn’t.

Typically, alcohol is merely a carrier for the flavor a particular recipe calls for, whether it’s a scrumptious rum cake or a red wine sauce for your steak. Alcohol also enhances the flavors of other ingredients, like in a penne alla vodka where the vodka makes the tomato stand out and tenderizes meat. It’s a versatile ingredient, and there are plenty of reasons to use it, but you should remember that while a significant amount of the alcohol does cook off, it’s never 100% gone.

Read more: 10 Of The Healthiest Beers You Can Drink

When cooking with booze, it’s impossible to cook or bake all the alcohol out of a dish or dessert, but how much remains in the final presentation depends on a few things, namely temperature and length of time spent cooking, as well as the surface area of your cooking dish. Alcohol evaporates faster at higher temperatures, and more alcohol cooks off the longer something bakes. No matter what, though, alcohol molecules will stick to molecules of other things in the dish and stay put. It has been shown that even cooking dishes for hours still leaves a small percentage of alcohol remaining in the dish.

Furthermore, it’s valuable to take into account your cooking vessel’s size when creating rum cake. The bigger the surface area, the more interaction with oxygen the dish gets, this makes the alcohol evaporate quicker in a larger pan or skillet. It’s also necessary to think about the ingredients you’re using and the dish you’re preparing. A rum syrup drizzle that tops off your rum cake probably won’t have cooked enough (or at the right temperature) to evaporate much alcohol. The cake itself, however, usually contains anywhere from a half to a full cup of rum, yielding a baked cake with around 5% alcohol (equivalent to a beer!).

Even though other dishes may not be as alcohol-rich as rum cake, there could be several reasons why you might want to substitute the alcohol in any dish you prepare. It could be due to health concerns, recovery, or religious beliefs, but you shouldn’t feel excluded from the world of alcohol-infused bakes. Many methods are available to substitute the alcohol in rum cake and other dishes that require alcohol, because it is the flavor that matters – the alcohol merely serves as the carrier. A variety of cooking and baking ingredient swaps provide similar flavors without the use of alcohol. These substitutes include different kinds of vinegars, herbs, spices, and syrups.

You can create a rum cake with rum extracts or rum-flavored syrups, or by using a mix of ingredients such as white grape juice, molasses, and almond extract. Alternatively, you can find non-alcoholic rum. A host of non-alcoholic spirits can replace their alcoholic equivalents so, make your next rum cake alcohol-free, and stop worrying about the alcohol content in your next baked product.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.

You may have seen the news about Frey Ranch Distillery’s debut American Single Malt Smoked Whiskey. Single malt whiskey is something of a novelty in the American whiskey scene and we were curious about why the distillery chose that route. To find out more, we talked to Colby Frey, Whiskey Farmer and co-founder of Frey Ranch Distillery.

“Kentucky Bourbon has been the darling of the American Whiskey category for years,” Frey told us. “And rightfully so, but distillers are experimenting more than ever and the grains they distill are central to that conversation and what’s pushing the category in new and exciting directions. Additionally, the American palate is expanding — and with greater access to more international whiskies — it makes sense that American distillers are looking to capitalize on those trends.” One particularly popular international version is Scottish whisky, which is known for using a single malt mash bill.

But it isn’t just marketing and hype. The craft whiskey boom is fueling a lot of experimentation with new and higher-quality products. As Frey put it, “I think people are pushing the envelope and experimenting with other types of grain to differentiate themselves in a crowded category. Craft distilleries, in particular, are willing to push the envelope vs. the traditional large distilleries who are more married to their traditional processes… The flavor profiles you can create with malted grains really opens up a world of options — and gets consumers excited.”

Read more: The 40 Absolute Best Cocktails That Feature Only 2 Ingredients

Although we can’t know for certain what the American take on single malts will look like, we can take some educated guesses. The first thing to keep in mind is that the idea of single malt is closely connected to Scottish whisky. Traditionally, a good portion of scotch was smoked with peat. Peat is a dense layer of organic material that sits in the upper layer of marshes and bogs. It’s a nonrenewable resource since it takes thousands of years to build up, meaning it will one day run out. Scotland has plans to eventually end the sale of peat to reduce the environmental impact and cut down on pollution, which will undoubtedly impact how scotch is made. America doesn’t have quite the same abundance of peat, but that didn’t stop Frey Ranch from smoking their single malt. Frey Ranch MacGyvered an old silo into a DIY smoker and used the organic debris from their farm to make a peat alternative. That’s American ingenuity for you.

Another difference that may seem inconsequential but which will have a huge impact on the product is climate. Scotland is cold and humid, while much of the United States is dry and hot (relatively speaking). When scotch is aged in the barrel, the humidity causes the alcohol to evaporate faster than the water, resulting in a lower-proof whiskey. With Americans’ love for high-proof whiskeys, American single malts may evolve to become a high-proof alternative to low-proof scotch.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

Rich, warming, and comforting, digging into a bowl of classic penne alla vodka is an especially cozy dinner option during the colder months. Aside from the booze in question, vodka sauce is essentially a pink sauce, meaning it contains both tomatoes and cream. But what separates this type from other pasta dishes is — of course — the alcohol, which intensifies the flavor of the other ingredients, creates a delicious aroma, and helps the tomatoes and cream blend together.

So with all these delicious qualities, why limit your vodka sauce usage to noodles? Another dish that will benefit just as much from this tasty topping is arguably the next-most popular meal where tomato sauce is used: pizza. Sure, pies with traditional tomato sauce are delicious, but this upgraded version will bring a cozy layer of creaminess. Plus, all the other ingredients in vodka sauce will give your pizza some additional flavor: diced onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. By making this sauce the star of the show, you won’t need many other ingredients to turn your pie into a tasty, next-level comfort food.

Read more: 44 Types Of Pasta And When You Should Be Using Them

Like we mentioned, pizza alla vodka doesn’t need much dressing up, so feel free to keep your toppings simple here. Mozzarella and basil are surefire winners, but stay away from covering the entire surface of the pizza with shredded cheese. Because this sauce is richer and creamier than most from the included cream and butter, smothering it with mozzarella may result in an overly greasy pie. Instead, dot your pizza with pieces of a ripped-apart mozzarella ball that have been patted dry with a paper towel, which will allow the sauce to shine through and remain the star of the show. In the same vein, you’ll want to use a little less sauce than you would with marinara to avoid an overly wet pizza — and to prevent excess liquid even more, strain your crushed tomatoes before you cook them with your vodka.

However, feel free to sprinkle on some parmesan once your dish emerges from the oven. And if you do want a little more substance on your pizza, sprinkle on sliced mushrooms, olives, or pepperoni, keeping in mind that the latter will add some extra oil. You can even add cooked penne noodles right into your vodka sauce before spooning the whole thing on your pie, if you want the best of both worlds. But whether you go light or heavy with your toppings, pizza alla vodka will give your classic pie a deliciously rich twist.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

Brown-Forman had the kind of year where it could really use a stiff drink.

The parent company of Jack Daniel’s reported that Old No. 7’s sales fell 1 percent in the first half of its fiscal year, as reported by CNN this week, a steep decline when compared with a 9 percent increase during the same time period last year. And overall whiskey sales at Brown-Forman, which makes many different spirits, dropped 2 percent year over year.

More from Robb Report

An Astounding Collection of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbons Hits the Auction Block This Weekend

Stranahan’s New Snowflake American Single Malt Whiskey Sold Out in Just 3 Hours

Bushmills Is Dropping 4 New Cask-Finished Irish Single Malt Whiskeys. Here’s Our First Taste.

Weakened demand “continues to reflect a normalization back to our more historical trends,” Lawson Whiting, the CEO of Brown-Forman, said during an earnings call. He’s seen “slowdown in consumer spending similar to the trends we’re seeing across total distilled spirits and other consumer packaged goods.”

Jack Daniel’s, one of the most well-known American whiskey brands, isn’t the only one faring poorly: Sales of Woodford Reserve dropped 3 percent and Old Forester plummeted 5 percent. In comparison, those premium brands saw a whopping 39 percent bump in last year’s earnings report, CNN noted. If there is any positive news here, it may be that Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple saw an eye-popping 50 percent increase in sales, demonstrating Americans’ interest in flavored whiskeys.

Brown-Forman has revised its net sales forecast for 2024 downwards due to the persistently declining trend. The firm, in an earnings release, has attributed this to ever-changing global macroeconomic conditions, which are fostering a tough operational environment that dampens the company’s outlook. Rising inflation and cost of living have precipitated a propensity among consumers to spend less on spirits. The price of Brown-Forman’s range of products has been increased due to the surge in raw materials cost, but customers may not continue to bear these higher prices.

Besides, a tariff due to commence next year will impose a 50 percent tax on American whiskey destined for the European Union. This is a punitive response to US tariffs on European steel and aluminum, causing apprehension among many in the industry regarding potential repercussions on their businesses.

Brown-Forman, as mentioned by Whiting during the conference, maintains active engagement with authorities on both sides of the Atlantic. The aim is to advocate a resolution that ensures long-term stability in the trade relationship between the US and the EU.

Yet, even in the absence of such tariff pressure, the American whiskey sector appears to be underperforming this year.

Best of Robb Report

Why a Heritage Turkey Is the Best Thanksgiving Bird—and How to Get One

9 Stellar West Coast Pinot Noirs to Drink Right Now

The 10 Best Wines to Pair With Steak, From Cabernet to Malbec

Sign up for Robb Report’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.

A rum cake is an easy, festive addition to any holiday table. The rum-spiked sponge is baked in a Bundt pan, and drizzled and brushed with a rum syrup. The result is a cake that’s so moist and rich that it doesn’t need a glaze or frosting. It goes perfectly with a cup of coffee, or to top off a day of celebrations. However, if you’re abstaining from alcohol, don’t believe people when they tell you all the alcohol bakes off during the cooking process. Spoiler alert — it doesn’t.

Typically, alcohol is merely a carrier for the flavor a particular recipe calls for, whether it’s a scrumptious rum cake or a red wine sauce for your steak. Alcohol also enhances the flavors of other ingredients, like in a penne alla vodka where the vodka makes the tomato stand out and tenderizes meat. It’s a versatile ingredient, and there are plenty of reasons to use it, but you should remember that while a significant amount of the alcohol does cook off, it’s never 100% gone.

Read more: 10 Of The Healthiest Beers You Can Drink

When cooking with booze, it’s impossible to cook or bake all the alcohol out of a dish or dessert, but how much remains in the final presentation depends on a few things, namely temperature and length of time spent cooking, as well as the surface area of your cooking dish. Alcohol evaporates faster at higher temperatures, and more alcohol cooks off the longer something bakes. No matter what, though, alcohol molecules will stick to molecules of other things in the dish and stay put. It has been shown that even cooking dishes for hours still leaves a small percentage of alcohol remaining in the dish.

Additionally, it’s important to consider the size of your cooking vessel when making rum cake. The larger the surface area, the more contact with oxygen the dish has, so the alcohol will evaporate more quickly in a larger pan or skillet. It’s important to also keep in mind what ingredients you use and what you’re making. A rum syrup drizzle to top your rum cake with, for example, will likely not have cooked nearly long enough (or at the appropriate temperature) to evaporate much alcohol. The cake itself, on the other hand, typically incorporates anywhere from a half to a full cup of rum, resulting in a baked cake with around 5% alcohol (the equivalent of a beer!).

While other dishes might not turn out as boozy as rum cake, there might be any number of reasons to substitute the alcohol in anything you cook. Whether it’s health-related, recovery, or religious, you don’t need to feel left out of the world of boozy bakes. There are many ways to replace the alcohol in rum cake and other recipes that call for alcohol because what you want to focus on is the flavor — the alcohol is just the carrier. There are myriad ways to get similar flavors without alcohol using

cooking and baking ingredient swaps

such as using various vinegars, herbs, spices, and syrups.

A rum cake can be made with rum extracts and rum-flavored syrups, or a combination of ingredients like white grape juice, molasses, and almond extract. Conversely, you can also hunt down non-alcoholic rum. There are plenty of

non-alcoholic spirits

that can take the place of their boozy counterparts, so make your next rum cake a booze-free one, and don’t fret about the alcohol content in your next bake.

Read the

original article on Daily Meal.

Rich, warming, and comforting, digging into a bowl of classic penne alla vodka is an especially cozy dinner option during the colder months. Aside from the booze in question, vodka sauce is essentially a pink sauce, meaning it contains both tomatoes and cream. But what separates this type from other pasta dishes is — of course — the alcohol, which intensifies the flavor of the other ingredients, creates a delicious aroma, and helps the tomatoes and cream blend together.

So with all these delicious qualities, why limit your vodka sauce usage to noodles? Another dish that will benefit just as much from this tasty topping is arguably the next-most popular meal where tomato sauce is used: pizza. Sure, pies with traditional tomato sauce are delicious, but this upgraded version will bring a cozy layer of creaminess. Plus, all the other ingredients in vodka sauce will give your pizza some additional flavor: diced onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. By making this sauce the star of the show, you won’t need many other ingredients to turn your pie into a tasty, next-level comfort food.

Read more: 44 Types Of Pasta And When You Should Be Using Them

Like we mentioned, pizza alla vodka doesn’t need much dressing up, so feel free to keep your toppings simple here. Mozzarella and basil are surefire winners, but stay away from covering the entire surface of the pizza with shredded cheese. Because this sauce is richer and creamier than most from the included cream and butter, smothering it with mozzarella may result in an overly greasy pie. Instead, dot your pizza with pieces of a ripped-apart mozzarella ball that have been patted dry with a paper towel, which will allow the sauce to shine through and remain the star of the show. In the same vein, you’ll want to use a little less sauce than you would with marinara to avoid an overly wet pizza — and to prevent excess liquid even more, strain your crushed tomatoes before you cook them with your vodka.

However, feel free to sprinkle on some parmesan once your dish emerges from the oven. And if you do want a little more substance on your pizza, sprinkle on sliced mushrooms, olives, or pepperoni, keeping in mind that the latter will add some extra oil. You can even add cooked penne noodles right into your vodka sauce before spooning the whole thing on your pie, if you want the best of both worlds. But whether you go light or heavy with your toppings, pizza alla vodka will give your classic pie a deliciously rich twist.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

What makes a great whiskey bar? The selection of brown stuff behind the bar, certainly. But there’s a bit more to it than just that. Any whiskey lover will tell you how important it is to truly appreciate what you’re drinking—and everyone has their own drinking rituals. Whether you sip single malt Scotch neat or prefer bourbon or rye shaken up in an ice-cold cocktail, each whiskey needs to be taken on its own terms, and treated with care. A great whiskey bar isn’t defined by how many rare bottles it stocks, but by how expertly it makes its particular whiskeys shine.

These bars vary widely in terms of their atmosphere and specialties. Some are refined cocktail dens, others punk-blaring dives. There are classic bourbon-swilling spots, as well as one exceptional, of-the-moment Japanese whisky-focused establishment, and everything in between. In other words, there’s something for every type of whiskey fan, whatever their budget and wherever they happen to be located across the U.S. (There’s even an option for those who demand delicious pizza with their booze.) The one common ingredient here is that they all share an intense passion for showcasing just how great whiskey can taste.

Related: 20 Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned, Tasted and Reviewed

With the help of whiskey experts, from bartenders to cocktail historians, we’ve selected the best whiskey bars in the country right now, below. But one stands out as the very best of the bunch: Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, DC, which should be on every whiskey drinker’s must-visit bucket list.

I’ve been writing about and editing coverage of spirits, cocktails, and drinking culture for over a decade. I’ve visited beloved bars, both high-end and hardcore dive, from New York City to Miami to Chicago to Portland, Oregon.

To assemble this list of the best whiskey bars, I consulted numerous experts from deep in the world of whiskey, including top bartenders, brand ambassadors, and historians. I researched bars, and relied on my own experiences in some venues to reach my judgments. Variety is the key here. There’s a mix of brand-new bars, long-running joints, places with food (and places for drinking and only drinking), and every major region is represented.

While selecting our top whiskey bars, we (myself and the Men’s Journal editors) and our experts first and foremost judged each bar by how fabulous a straight-up tipple of whiskey can be there. A certain ineffable appreciation for the whiskey being handled is also crucial. That means an astutely curated menu of available whiskeys, if not always a vast one—though a few have that. We also looked for top-notch service from meticulous and caring staff, creativity and execution in cocktails, smart design, and of course, all-important vibes.

If these are cocktail bars, they should be able to brilliantly execute both classic drinks (old fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac) and devise their own ingenious creations. But whatever the genre, the best whiskey bars must be all about whiskey—tasting it, mixing it, learning about it—and what makes us enjoy it so much.

Jack Rose Dining Saloon/Greg Powers

When discussing their favorite American whiskey spots, it’s not uncommon for aficionados to mention

Jack Rose Dining Saloon. This establishment is often spoken of with high regard, as it won the World’s Best Spirits Selection at

Tales of the Cocktail’s 2022 Spirited Awards. Located in the nation’s capital, Jack Rose Restaurants boasts a spectacular whiskey selection, with their website currently showing an impressive 2,687 bottles.

The expansive venue located in Dupont Circle neighborhood was established in 2011 by owner Bill Thomas. The main dining saloon features a concise, southern-inspired

food menu that complements their whiskey offerings. The diverse spaces in the restaurant like the open-air terrace, the balcony room, the cellar, and even a tiki bar caters to any mood. So whether you’re cozying up in the saloon by the extensive bottle display or opting for the rotating Only at Jack Rose three-whiskey flight, you’re ensured an unforgettable experience.

Courtesy Bourbons Bistro

Any conversation about the premier bourbon bar inevitably begins and concludes within the confines of Kentucky. Louisville, situated a stone’s throw away from Bourbon County, is home to countless excellent bourbon-focused establishments, notable among them is Bourbons Bistro, founded in 2005 alongside the resurgence of America’s modern appreciation for whiskey, is uniquely appealing. This distinguished winner of the 2023 Whisky Magazine Awards boasts a comprehensive list of bottles, ranging from the readily available Evan Williams Black Label to the highly sought-after Pappy Van Winkle 20-year, served alongside superior Southern cuisine like sumptuously spicy fried oysters with Parmesan grits.

For those who desire the combination of indulging in their choice whiskey with the convenience of carrying a bottle to enjoy later, Neat is the place to be. Having made its debut in 2021, Neat presents a sophisticated, modern take on the traditional bourbon bar. The cozy, warmly illuminated establishment features classic red leather stools, wooden-paneled walls, and a pressed-tin ceiling invoking a sense of nostalgia. Their collection of bourbons focuses on the unique and elusive, including offerings from out-of-operation distilleries. Enjoy a coveted pour of the National Distillers 1972 Old Grand Dad Swing, and then swing by the shop to secure a bottle of the Wild Turkey 12 Year for personal consumption or as a keepsake.

John Grondorf, owner of Los Angeles’s buzzy Tiny’s Hi-Dive, calls Johnny’s Saloon in nearby Orange County “a twisted Cheers with hundreds of bottles of whiskey and awesome pizza in a punk-rock-haunted-house environment.” Score a Michter’s Small Batch bourbon, along with the I Wanna Be Sedated pie (pepperoni, sausage, bell pepper, ricotta and pecorino romano cheese, garlic dust), and you will also find bliss.

There’s no shortage of Guinness-pouring taverns dotting the U.S., but if you’re after Ireland’s prime whiskeys, it doesn’t get more tantalizing than Traghaven, nestled in the quiet Hudson Valley town of Tivoli. The unassuming but lively pub happens to have the largest Irish whiskey selection stateside. Choose a pour from the 150-odd bottles, then dig into a “killer cottage pie,” says Cody Goldstein, founder of Muddling Memories, a hospitality group based in Brooklyn. “If that wasn’t enough to entice you to go, they do a live hootenanny on Fridays.”

Japanese whisky is currently in high demand due to its innovative, complex, and exciting flavors. Opened in 2022, Shinji’s is a cozy 26-seat bar adjacent to the Michelin-starred sushi restaurant Noda located in New York’s Flatiron district. If getting a reservation proves tricky, this bar offers the perfect opportunity to sample the city’s largest Japanese whisky selection while savoring a snack from the renowned kitchen. Options include tableside hand roll service, chips with Royal Osetra caviar, or a “sando” consisting of Wagyu beef sandwiched between decadent milk bread slices.

As Gardner Dunn, Suntory’s brand ambassador, notes, “Their commitment to omotenashi, a Japanese concept embodying anticipatory, high level hospitality, is one of the best in the country.” Dunn enjoys savoring the new seasonal offerings and recommends the Jackie Treehorn, a cocktail made with Hibiki Harmony.

The rock ‘n’ roll bar, Delilah’s, has been a beloved mainstay in Chicago since its establishment in 1993, well before whisky arrived on the connoisseurs’ radar. It remains the city’s most cheerfully unassuming location for tasting the prized Highland Park 18-year Scotch. The whiskey menu boasts over 1,000 bottles, and the jukebox often plays tracks from the Clash and the Replacements, perfect to enjoy while playing a game of Godzilla pinball.

The 2018 winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program, CURE has done a lot to put today’s leading-edge New Orleans cocktail scene on the map. This is the place to order an unexpectedly head-spinning contemporary concoction (put yourself in the hands of the next-level bartenders) or an elegant riff on a comforting classic like the Fancy Sazerac (Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye, Peychaud’s bitters, Nouvelle Orleans absinthe, lemon peel) in the handsome, minimalist space.

It doesn’t get much cooler than Canon, the heavily awarded self-described “whiskey and bitter emporium,” which boasts America’s largest spirit collection at 4,000-plus in a tiny, gorgeously appointed space in the Capitol Hill area. You’d do well to honor its design, equal parts colonial and contemporary, with something old and extraordinary like William Heavenhill Small Batch neat (nurse it ever so slowly) or thoughtfully remixed, like one of the house old fashioned riffs (sans ice, as originally intended). Definitely check out the adventurous food menu (e.g. tea-smoked duck breast, confit rabbit taquito) to round out the indulgence.

There’s pretty much no wrong way to enjoy whiskey (except, say, mixed with warm Sprite—please don’t do that). Most whiskey aficionados and bartenders will tell you to taste a whiskey neat in order to get its full flavor profile and complexity, and that’s a good way to start. After sniffing the whiskey in your glass, then taking a sip (a Glencairn glass is preferred but not necessary), you can always add a drop of water or a few cubes as you like. No judgment here.

Related: The Best Cheap Whiskey of 2023 for a Great Time on a Budget

Ordering an old fashioned will reliably test a bar’s cocktail-making abilities. A bad one is terrible, but an excellent one is sublime, revealing the nuances of the whiskey in it. From there, any amount of experimentation is fair game—this is drinking, after all, not heart surgery—as long as the results do the booze justice.