Events

What happens when the world’s most prolific recipe creator turns her palate toward spirits? Join us for a spirited, high-energy session exploring the liquid evolution of Rachael Ray. In this conversation with DISCUS’s “chief home cook” Courtney Armour, Rachael breaks down how her instinct for balance, texture, and craveable flavor guided the development of Staple Gin, a “recipe-driven” spirit built with the same precision as a world-class dish. Rachael will share the inside story of her collaboration with Do Good Spirits in New York’s Catskill Mountains. Discover how unexpected elements like Castelvetrano olives, tarragon, bergamot, and extra virgin olive oil are layered to redefine what a gin can be. You’ll learn how botanicals, structure, and intensity serve as culinary ingredients to create a distinctive, award-winning profile. Next, the culinary icon examines the full potential of spirits at the table. This masterclass demonstrates the power of ‘recipe thinking,’ proving that a great spirit is ultimately a great recipe realized.

In an era of softening spirits demand, rising costs, and rapid shifts in consumer behavior, leading executives are rethinking how to build brands, manage portfolios, and allocate investment. This session brings together senior leaders from Moët Hennessy, Constellation Brands, Bacardi, Brown‑Forman, and leading market analysts to explore how volatility is reshaping strategy. The panel will examine premiumization, pricing, innovation, data‑driven decision making, and global market risk—and how CEOs are positioning their companies to protect margins while still investing for long‑term growth in spirits.

These dynamic panelists will share practical ways to increase spirits engagement, reinforce brand loyalty, and increase spirits sales in bars and restaurants. Learn how spirits suppliers’ successfully partner with hospitality groups to create innovative guest experiences through activations and cocktail menu strategies. Attendees will take away targeted strategies to elevate spirits programs, secure placements, activate bartender advocacy, and leverage data—essential for brand managers, sales teams, procurement leads, bar owners, and anyone shaping on-premise success.

Join the CEOs of major spirits associations from around the world for a roundtable discussion on the global tariff landscape, other discriminatory measures, and their impact on the spirits industry. The panel will explore the challenges and opportunities ahead, provide updates from each market, and discuss the coordinated efforts underway to restore fair and reciprocal trade in distilled spirits.

To survive and thrive for 500 years, spirits producers the world ‘round have balanced time-honored technique and innovation to create beverages people have enjoyed for centuries. To create and grow a global market now valued at $600 billion dollars required the teamwork of visionary pioneers and craft-centric producers. This panel discussion will include opinions and observations from a cross section of some of the legends and trailblazers in the industry.

That’s a wrap! The 2024 DISCUS Annual Conference and Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Connect! in San Diego was a sold-out success, providing a platform for over 700 participants to connect, share insights, and celebrate achievements, all while fostering collaboration and building a sense of community. DISCUS and Women of the Vine & Spirits packed all this into three days and loved the environment that encouraged networking, open communication, and the exchange of ideas—all crucial for the growth and success of our great industry. Thank you again to all who attended, and for those who didn’t make it, we look forward to shared success in the future!