Welcome back from the holiday weekend. If you haven’t had a chance to do so yet, might we interest you in our 2014 edition of the Holiday Gift Guide? It’s full of solid recommendations covering some of the “best of the best” we’ve reviewed this year.

While the rest of the world is looking a bit grim for Diageo when it comes to spirits sales, America is a shining beacon welcoming cases of the brand’s finest with open arms and open minds. Even the orphans seem to be getting a little love. Sales are booming, and this is a good thing, as Diageo’s prized Chinese market is slipping drastically in profits. [The Economist]

It’s well known that the craft beer industry has been surging in recent years over in the States, with Big Brewers getting a bit antsy; scrambling to keep up and keep innovating to win drinkers back. Now the frenzy is heading to Europe, with more folks overseas discovering and turning to microbrewers for new experiences. [Financial Times]

Shanken runs a profile on how Bacardi plans to lure bourbon drinkers over to its brands via a new product line and new expression of an old favorite. [Shanken News Daily]

And finally today, a group of armed thieves hijacked and stole an estimated 2,500 cases of gin and whiskey in broad daylight last month. Police are currently working on the investigation with relatively minimal leads at this point. No doubt this stolen product is going into the exact same warehouse currently storing the missing Pappy Van Winkle from a year ago. [Independent]

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