England’s own Kentucky Bourbon, Never Say Die has expanded its collection with a new small-batch Bourbon.

Mezcal has become a spirits category for the cool kids. But so much sudden attention on the agave spirit leaves its producers, which are often small-scale operations, and the slow-growing agave crop, open to exploitation.

The UK’s on-trade and hospitality outlets are preferring to serve leading brands of gin and tonic as their house products instead of supporting local and small-batch counterparts, as market researcher Shepper finds. 

Portugal’s association of wine traders, Anceve, has called on the government for economic support as it warns rising costs have left many small- and medium-sized producers “on the verge of bankruptcy”.

The apple-based spirit’s newest incarnations are at odds with outdated consumer perceptions, but a new breed of producer is working to change this.