Cunning Spirits Merchants

It's no secret that the whiskey market is volatile at the moment. For some, that means buying pauses on new, barreled inventory. For others, it means trying to unload existing barrels to free up cash for other purposes. However, this shift has only made the team at Cunning Spirits Merchants more bullish on the premium whiskey category. Are you looking to sell off extra barrels of bourbon, rye, and single malt in your inventory? We're buying. Are you looking to find rare or unique barrels of domestic or international whiskey at some of the best prices in the last 10 years? We can provide them, even if it's only a single barrel for your local bourbon group. Having a network of over 80 distilleries, brokers, and investment partners means that we can cast a wide net. Are you trying to figure out how to develop your product, navigate the TTB, and launch your brand? We've done this for hundreds of others and are happy to help. No matter which camp you're in, I'm here here to be a resource. Feel free to reach out with any questions. #cunningspiritsmerchants #bulkspirits #rarewhiskey #singlebarrel #spiritsindustry #spirits #liquor #privatebrand #cunningspirits

News from the spirits compliance front: The TTB (Tax & Trade Bureau) has revised the acceptable standards of fill for spirits producers in the US. The biggest change, in my opinion, is the addition of larger sizes, such as 3L and 3.75L containers. This will be an interesting innovation driver for a few reasons: 1) I've had to turn down a variety of projects over the years that pitched larger spirits products filled into interesting packages, such as mini barrels, for consumer purchase. These will now be back on the table for brands looking to stand out. 2) This will affect consumers who tend to purchase "handle" 1.75L bottles since they've historically been the largest option available. Major brands may very likely start to offer larger options over the next two years, which will also lead to pricing shifts in the larger volume bottles that are currently available. 3) Larger packaging options will be viewed as some as more environmentally friendly, since there's less overall packaging per total volume. What do you think about these changes? For my producer/distiller connections, has this affected your launch or sales plans for 2025? If you have any questions regarding TTB compliance or have any technical questions that Cunning Spirits Merchants can assist with answering, feel free to reach out. Cheers, https://lnkd.in/eWNqB-XJ. #TTB #spiritscompliance #beveragelaw #spiritsconsulting #cunningspiritsmerchants

As we all begin the new year, I'm pleased to share that Cunning Spirits Merchants will be expanding its operation in 2025. Over the past two years we've spent most of our time helping both new and existing brands find and develop the perfect whiskies, rums, brandies, vodkas, gins, tequilas, RTD's, and other bulk spirits to establish or grow their businesses. In doing so, we've identified consistent needs of industry members in areas such as product development/P.M.F, TTB & state compliance, go-to-market launch/sales strategy, sensory services, technology development, international logistics, contract operations/co-packing, M&A training, and holistic brand creation. Having spent the last decade developing, launching, and preparing brands for exit, I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to have learned so much from both the major success stories and the absolute train wrecks within the groups with which I've worked. Some data points and achievements from those last 10 years include: - 150+ market products developed across most major spirits categories - 200+ medals earned in blind-tasting competitions. Roughly half of which were gold or better (with over a dozen World’s Best/Best-In-Class awards for whiskey, rum, gin, brandy, vodka, tequila, liqueurs, RTD/RTS, flavored products, and more) - 4 patented and proprietary technologies developed and implemented - Multiple beverage development programs tested, launched, and scaled - Over a dozen celebrity partnerships established and fostered - Over $25M raised on new start-up brands from angel investors and private equity organizations - Bulk and branded product sold and shipped into 5 continents and over a dozen countries - Multiple facilities designed, permitted, and qualified - A wide variety of brand portfolios fully developed, launched, and commercialized It has always been my goal to create beverage brands and programs that bring quality, transparency, and innovation into the liquid, branding, and commercial sides of this business, so if you would like to discuss opportunities for partnerships and consulting services, please don't hesitate to reach out. Thank you to all of our industry partners and we look forward to working with you all on new ventures in 2025. Cheers, https://lnkd.in/egGisFpK #bulkspirits #spiritsconsulting #cunningspiritsmerchants #consulting #distillery #beverage #whiskey

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Nick Scarff , CEO and Co-Founder of Cunning Spirits Merchants, to share his expertise on how he approaches strategic partnerships, effective marketing strategies for spirits brands, and stays ahead of market trends in today’s competitive spirits industry. Check out the full interview on: International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show Nick’s insights have helped numerous brands elevate their offerings and create a unique position in an increasingly crowded market. As we look ahead to 2025 International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show (IBWSS), this event provides the perfect platform for professionals in the wine and spirits industry to gain valuable insights, discover emerging trends, and forge meaningful connections that can help elevate your brand. #IBWSS2025 #SpiritsIndustry #Innovation #StrategicPartnerships #SpiritsBrands #NickScarff #CunningSpirits #BulkWine #BulkSpirits #MarketTrends #DTC #SpiritsMarketing #BrandDevelopment #IndustryInsights

Pleased to share that Cunning Spirits Merchants will be exhibiting at the International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show in San Francisco next month. I look forward to catching up with a wide range of partners and colleagues and meeting the many new entrants to the industry. If you're searching for interesting opportunities to acquire or invest in rare casks and premium spirits for your business, let's talk. https://lnkd.in/eecSFMF4 #bulkspirits #whiskey #caskinvestment #cunningspiritsmerchants #IBWSS