Leaf n Grain Society: Cigar Pairing Headquarters
Focus on inspiring awareness and education of cigars, beverages, and food through pairings in our communities.
Cigar Review – Las Calaveras Décimo Aniversario Brand: Crowned Heads Vitola: Toro 6 x 52 Binder/Filler: Nicaraguan Wrapper: Ecuadorian…
Cigar Review: The Statesman Brand: Statesman Cigar Co Vitola: 5 3/8” x 52 Perfecto Filler: Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder:…
Cigar Accessory Review: Upallant Dual Flame Tabletop Lighter w/V-Cut Today, we’re reviewing the Upallant Dual Flame Tabletop Lighter with…
Cigar Review: Timeless TAA Limited Edition 2023 Brand: Ferio Tego Timeless Vitola: Toro Filler: Nicaragua Jalapa Wrapper: Nicaragua Estelí…
Cigar Review – Metallica S84 Shade to Black by Drew Estates Brand: Drew Estates Vitola: Robusto 5 x…
From Bottles to Brands: Diageo’s Next Chapter When Diageo announced in May 2025 that it would sell its Santa Vittoria d’Alba production facility to Italian food and beverage group Newlat Food—soon to rebrand as NewPrinces—the industry barely blinked. No ticker shock. No headlines screaming about a collapse. But dig deeper, and this move tells us a lot about where the global spirits market is headed—and what matters now more than ever: agility, premiumization, and the illusion of still being everywhere while actually owning far less ground. For Diageo, it wasn’t just about a plant. It was about a mindset shift. What Exactly Was Sold? Let’s set the record straight: Diageo didn’t sell any brands. Not a drop of Johnnie Walker, not a whisper of Baileys. The transaction centered around the manufacturing plant in northern Italy, which had previously been slated for closure in January 2025—affecting 350 jobs 1. Instead of pulling the plug entirely, Diageo inked an exclusivity deal with Newlat in May, offering the Italian company full control of the facility, a commitment to preserve all 349 jobs, and the rights to continue producing select ready-to-drink (RTD) and low/no-alcohol beverages that were previously manufactured at the site 2. So, what changed? Everything—and nothing. The Asset-Light Playbook To understand Diageo’s move, you have to step back from the vineyard and look at the entire estate. The Santa Vittoria plant sale is just one piece of a much broader strategic puzzle. In the past year alone, Diageo has: Exited its stake in Guinness Ghana to Castel Group for $81 million 3. Shut down the Chase Distillery in Herefordshire after just three years, citing brand overlap 4. Abandoned plans to sell Pimm’s, after failing to find a buyer that aligned with their premium portfolio vision 5. It’s textbook modern strategy: offload lower-performing,…
Black Label Trading Co. PRESS RELEASE May 13, 2025 — Black Label Trading Company is pleased to announce the second…
A New Constellation in the World of Cigars At Leaf n Grain, we pay close attention when tradition and…
Hiram & Solomon Cigars Unveils Limited Edition “High Twelve” Hiram & Solomon Cigars Unveils Limited Edition “High Twelve” to…
Fortaleza y Libre Cigars Unveils Exclusive Event Cigar: #GMFF To Be Launched at B&G’s Cigar Lounge in West Carrollton,…
Loch Lomond Named Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year 2024 Prestigious 2024 International Wine & Spirit Competition Loch Lomond…
Onyx Geometery: A F1 car kind of coffee The Story: This review has a long backstory to bring you up…
From Bottles to Brands: Diageo’s Next Chapter When Diageo announced in May 2025 that it would sell its Santa Vittoria…
Looking Behind the Barrel of a Barrel Pick Behind the Barrel: Cory McCord & Anthony Riccardi on Whiskey, Community, and…
Recipes & Cocktails
The Evolution of the Cocktail A Journey from Medicinal Elixirs to Modern Mixology The cocktail as we know it today…