NEW YORK, May 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Seagram's 7 Crown Blended Whiskey is kicking off summer early with the launch of Seagram's 7 Crown Apple Pie, a delicious seasonal flavor from the iconic whiskey brand. Launching nationwide just as the season heats up, it's the ultimate companion for backyard barbecues, lake days, long weekends, and everything in between.

A fresh twist on an American classic, Seagram's 7 Crown Apple Pie blends the smooth, approachable character of Seagram's 7 Crown with notes of baked apple, warm spice and a hint of vanilla pie crust. The result? bold, nostalgic flavor that tastes like summer in a glass—perfect over ice or mixed into crowd-favorite cocktails at everything from Fourth of July celebrations to bonfire nights with the people you love.

"With Seagram's 7 Crown Apple Pie, we're bringing new energy to a flavor people already love," said Brand Director, Single Malts & Emerging Whiskies, Frank Dudley. "It's familiar, it's fun and it fits right into the kind of summer people wait all year for, whether you're carrying on traditions or making new ones."

At 70 proof, Seagram's 7 Crown Apple Pie is as versatile as it is flavorful — easy to enjoy on the rocks or in the brand's iconic serve, the 7&7:

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Seagram's 7 Crown Apple Pie

5 oz. 7UP^® Lemon-lime soda

Slice of lime

Directions:

1. Add Seagram's 7 Crown Apple Pie and 7UP^® soda to a highball glass with ice

2. Stir well

3. Garnish with lime slice

Rolling out nationwide this June, Seagram's 7 Crown Apple Pie is showing up in retail displays and behind bars across the country – spotlighting the iconic 7&7 made with 7UP^® all summer long. Available for a limited time at a suggested retail price of $11.99, visit Seagrams7.com to find a bottle near you and explore more summer-ready recipes.

Seagram's 7 Crown is an American blended whiskey aged in oak with a rich and casual history. No matter how you choose to celebrate this summer, Seagram's 7 Crown reminds you to always drink responsibly.

MONTREAL, May 12, 2026 /CNW/ - Great news for cocktail lovers: Sour Puss is finally back on Canadian shelves. Following November's highly publicized announcement about moving production to Canada, the iconic brand confirms today that its famous flavoured liqueurs are once again available in every province across the country, ensuring the brand's triumphant return to the national stage.

In November, news of its "made in Canada" return generated remarkable excitement nationwide, creating a wave of media coverage and a genuine sense of nostalgia among fans. This enthusiastic reception highlights Canadians' love for the brand, and their eagerness to see it back behind the bar, in cocktails, and at celebrations.

"We were truly touched by the response from the public! Sour Puss holds a special place in the local cocktail culture, and we're thrilled to put these products back into consumers' hands. The excitement across the country confirms just how strong the connection to the brand remains, and we're proud to see it reclaim its place nationwide." -- Rumi Jaffer, Sales Director, Phillips Distilling Company

Now Available Nationwide: Retail and On Premise

Sour Puss is now available coast to coast through provincial liquor boards and authorized retailers, with confirmed listings in every province. In addition to its strong retail presence, the brand is also making its highly anticipated return to bars, restaurants, and nightlife venues nationwide. From classic mixed drinks to vibrant new cocktail creations, Sour Puss is once again a staple both on shelves and behind the bar.

All signature flavors are back on shelves:

• Red (Raspberry)
• Green (Green Apple)
• Blue (Blue Tropical)
• Golden (Passionfruit Mango)

Next-Level Innovation: Introducing Sour Puss "Shocktails"

To celebrate this homecoming, the brand is doing more than just restocking the classics, with the launch of Sour Puss Shocktails. As the RTD (Ready-to-Drink) segment continues to outpace traditional spirits, Shocktails are designed to attract a new generation of Gen Z and Millennial consumers. Shocktails deliver wild flavour in a portable, party-ready 355mL slim can. The debut Raspberry Lemonade flavour is spirit-based, carbonated, and clocks in at 7% ABV, offering a convenient, party-ready option for consumers.

Sour Puss Shocktails have been rolling out across Canada since mid-March, with availability varying by location. They can be purchased individually or in convenient four-packs, ideal for enjoying at home or on the go.

NAPA, Calif., May 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Americans spent more on wine in 2025 than ever before — pushing total U.S. consumer spending on wine to more than $115 billion — but they also drank less of it, extending a multi‑year, structural decline in consumption that is forcing wineries to rethink how, where and what they sell.

According to the newly released 2026 BMO Wine Market Report, U.S. wine market value rose 3% in 2025, even as total market volume declined for another consecutive year. The data underscores a growing disconnect between price and demand, and highlights why wineries now face two parallel challenges: rebuilding consumer interest while also working through excess supply that continues to strain cash flow and liquidity across the industry.

At the same time, California – the backbone of U.S. wine production – is sending significantly less wine into the market. In less than a decade, wine entering the U.S. market from California has fallen by nearly 25%, reflecting vineyard pullbacks, a historically small harvest, and an industry adjusting to weaker demand rather than chasing growth at all costs.

"What we're seeing isn't a pause — it's a reset. Higher prices are keeping overall market value elevated, but they're masking a structural slide in consumption: fewer people are drinking wine, and they're doing it less often. At the same time, supply is shrinking, distribution is changing, and direct‑to‑consumer isn't growing the way it once did," said Adam Beak, Managing Director and Head of Wine & Spirits at BMO. "Wineries that succeed in this next phase will be the ones that adapt how they price, package, and go to market, rather than waiting for consumers to come back on their own."

"The wine industry is navigating a period of real adjustment. While higher prices have supported overall market value, many producers are facing ongoing pressure from softer demand, rising costs, and shifting distribution dynamics," said Tony Sciarrino, Head, BMO Commercial Bank, U.S. "As a commercial bank deeply embedded in the wine ecosystem, we're seeing firsthand how important it is for businesses to adapt thoughtfully to these changes in order to remain resilient and competitive."

Demand Pressure Is Rewriting the Playbook

The report finds that demand weakness is rippling across every route to market:

• Direct‑to‑consumer sales are under pressure. Winery shipments fell 15% in volume to 5.4 million cases, while shipment value declined 6% to $3.7 billion as shipping costs rise and consumers pull back on discretionary spending.
• Distribution is destabilizing. Nearly one quarter of wineries surveyed reported losing a primary distributor, accelerating a shift toward wineries doing more of their own selling and treating wholesalers increasingly as fulfillment partners rather than growth engines.
• Not all wine categories are moving in the same direction. In 2025, flavored wines grew 12% while sparkling wine volumes declined 3%, underscoring increasingly fragmented growth as traditional table wine continues to lose ground.

Despite these headwinds, wineries remain cautiously optimistic about the future. 71% of wineries surveyed expect the U.S. wine industry to stabilize or rebound within the next three years, with 38% believing a turnaround could come sooner – even as many acknowledge that the next phase of growth will look very different from the last.

A Deeper, Data‑Driven Look at a Market in Transition

The 2026 edition also reflects the expansion of BMO's Wine Partnership, with the addition of Baker Tilly – one of the wine industry's leading professional services firms. Baker Tilly joins existing partners WineBusiness Analytics and bw166, strengthening the breadth and depth of market data behind the report.

Together, the expanded partnership brings economic, operational, and survey-based insights into a single, comprehensive view of the U.S. wine market, at a time when demographic shifts, pricing pressure, distribution disruption, and changing consumer behavior are reshaping the industry.

The 2026 report frames the current moment as a reset with fewer wineries, less excess inventory, smaller harvests, and more experimentation with pricing, packaging and routes to market. Private‑label and retailer‑exclusive wines are expanding, club stores are gaining importance, and wineries are being forced to compete in a market with more beverage options and price sensitivity than ever before.

The 2026 BMO Wine Market Report is based on comprehensive economic data and a national survey of U.S. wineries conducted between January 26 and March 2, 2026, with results weighted to reflect wineries of all sizes, regions and price points.

The full report is available here.

CAROL STREAM, IL – March 30, 2026 – Cornelius, a global leader in beverage dispensing solutions, today announced the launch of ACSD (Automatic Crew-Serve Dispenser), a fully automated beverage system designed for quick service restaurant (QSR) drive-thru and counter operations.

The launch reflects industry momentum toward automation and standardized execution. As drive-thru traffic continues to drive QSR revenue, even seconds saved per order can deliver a meaningful financial impact.

Designed to streamline workflows, ACSD automates the entire beverage build sequence—from order receipt through cup drop, ice dispense, beverage pour, and staging—resulting in faster service, improved accuracy, and reduced crew workload. Built for national and regional brands, ACSD reduces time per serve by up to 34 seconds.

Solving a Growing Operational Strain

QSR operators continue to face labor shortages, margin pressure, and rising expectations for speed and consistency. While kitchens have evolved, many beverage stations remain highly manual, often creating bottlenecks during peak periods.

A Fully Automated Beverage Workflow

ACSD integrates directly with POS systems, eliminating manual input during normal operation.

Among ACSD’s capabilities:

• Drops the correct cup
• Fast, accurate ice dispense
• Pours selected beverages, including flavor shots
• Automatically tops off carbonated drinks
• Transports and stages drinks in clear, sequential positions

Built-in visual order identification reduces confusion and rework. The system supports up to 16 syrups from a single nozzle and offers automatic, semi-automatic, and manual modes for operational flexibility.

ACSD is designed to support crews—not replace them—by standardizing production, simplifying training, and enabling staff to focus on higher-value, guest-facing tasks.

Measurable Impact for Operators

In real-world use, ACSD has demonstrated up to 34 seconds faster drive-thru service, potentially delivering:

• 12+ additional cars per day during peak periods
• 12–18 month payback (depending on volume)
• Improved customer satisfaction
• Greater order accuracy

ACSD is built for scalability and ease of maintenance, sharing approximately 60% of its parts with existing Cornelius equipment and including a two-year parts and labor warranty. It is commercially available today, with pilots across multiple QSR brands.

Operator Validation

“ACSD didn’t replace our workflow—it supported it,” said Erick Von Merveldt, VP of Training and Innovation, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers. “What once required two crew members now takes one, with less effort. That extra capacity goes right back into supporting the kitchen and giving our guests the kind of service they expect.”

A Big Step Forward in QSR Automation

“ACSD represents a shift to fully orchestrated beverage automation,” said Zach Dresser, Director of Product Management for Cornelius. “It integrates with existing POS systems and delivers speed and consistency without requiring store redesign.”

ACSD is available for deployment beginning Q2 2026, with pilot and multi-unit rollout programs currently open.