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Featured article
An unmissable live seminar hosted by Derek Brown on navigating the distribution questions forming around Non-Alcoholic Spirits.
topic
Press
publication
Vogue
“Gone is the ’mocktail’ of old, in is the ‘non-alcoholic’ or ‘zero proof’ cocktail as a plethora of new brand founders introduces spirit-less beverage brands that allow for a wide range of flavor profiles, expanded occasions, and functionality.” Heidi Dillon, CEO of Distill Ventures
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Vine Pair
A milestone moment for Ritual Zero Proof, the #1 non-alc spirits brand in the US
Spirits Business
Founders David Crooch, Marcus Sakey and GG Sakey celebrate the successful acquisition of their top non-alc spirits brand by Diageo.
Diageo
Ritual Zero Proof has been acquired by Diageo. Since its launch in Chicago in 2019, Ritual has risen rapidly to become the #1 US non-alc spirits brand.
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.
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.
Forbes
It's official: The biggest trend in bars are drinks without booze.
Distill Ventures, a spirits investment and mentoring scheme funded by Diageo, is set to launch in North America for the first time...
Difford's Guide
Distill Ventures is a 'spirits accelerator', the first of its kind in the world investing in global drinks brands
Diageo will invest £10m in Danish whisky brand Stauning through its Distill Ventures programme.
The Times
Management Today
Diageo, John Lewis, BMW and Barclays are all turning to start-ups in a bid to stay ahead of the curve.
Bevnet
Does the world need a non-alcoholic spirit? Shilen Patel thinks so.
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.
The Drinks Business
Vinepair
SevenFifthDaily
Big brands are investing more and more in small craft brands. Here’s how they’re doing it
Punch
A mini-temperance movement is brewing.
The Economist
Innovation in non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks fits with health-conscious trends
Just Drinks
Diageo has bought Berlin vermouth-maker Belsazar in the spirits giant's first acquisition from its Distill Ventures incubator programme.
Beverage Daily
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.
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 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.
SevenFiftyDaily
Tales of the Cocktail panelists discuss markets, costs, and current and future trends in the spirits-free space
The Whisky Wash
Running a distillery these days is an expensive business, there is no doubt.
The Chicago Tribune
Bon Appetit
People are drinking less and less as non-alcoholic beverages flood the market. Now the alcohol industry wants in.
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.
Consumers are “underserved” when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks options despite “strong demand”, according to a new report by Diageo’s Distill Ventures.
Time Magazine
New York City’s first permanent booze-free bar, and no one is drinking alcohol.
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.
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.
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 Gaurdian
Group pays undisclosed sum for spice-based drink it describes as ‘game-changing’
Bloomberg
Diageo Plc, the world’s largest distiller, has noticed that people are drinking less than they used to.
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.
The New York Times
While distillers around the globe imitate Scotch, Australians are innovating to create something distinctive.
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.
Distill Ventures
Distill Ventures welcomes new strategic hires, announces leadership promotions to bolster key global practice areas
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.
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.
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
Following successful first year of Pre-Accelerator, Distill Ventures strengthens team to scale programme into 2023
Diageo announces that it has acquired Mr Black, the Australian premium cold brew coffee liqueur.
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.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
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.
Diageo-backed spirits accelerator Distill Ventures (DV) has promoted its North America managing director, Heidi Dillon, to chief executive.
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Event type
Online
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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.