We’ve had a feeling for some time now that drinking habits were changing. Wine collections are still growing, but bottles are spending a little longer in the cellar, and drinkers are searching for (and sipping) something a little stronger. Tequila has become the drink of choice on rooftop terraces, rare whiskies continue to command eye-watering auction prices, and discerning drinkers are increasingly turning their attention to premium spirits.
Now the numbers prove it.
This week, drinks analytics specialist IWSR announced that, for the first time since its records began in 1990, global spirits volumes have surpassed wine. It’s a milestone that reflects a broader shift in consumer tastes – and one that makes the launch of The World of Fine Spirits feel ever so serendipitously well timed.
The new digital publication, a sister title to The World of Fine Wine, has officially launched its website, positioning itself as the first platform dedicated exclusively to the world of ultra-premium spirits.
Since debuting as a newsletter in September 2025, The World of Fine Spirits has cultivated an audience of collectors, connoisseurs, and curious drinkers. The launch of the full website brings together interviews, columns, reviews, and long-form features under one digital roof, alongside an extensive library of tasting notes covering everything from Scotch and bourbon to cognac and tequila.
For editor Alex Martin, the publication was born from a gap in the market. “Whenever I wanted to learn more about a particular Scotch, bourbon, or cognac, I found the best coverage was usually on luxury lifestyle titles,” Martin tells Elite Traveler in an exclusive interview. “No specialist title spoke with the depth, authority, and clarity the informed drinker is actually looking for.”
That insight shaped the publication’s editorial vision. “The World of Fine Spirits is about the best: the best writers talking about the best drinks in the world, all for an audience for whom only the best will do,” says Martin.
The roster of writers reflects that ambition, with respected spirits journalists (and some familiar names to Elite Traveler readers) including Millie Milliken, Neil Ridley, Joel Harrison, and Brad Japhe contributing to the title. “When I first outlined the vision [to the writers] for The World of Fine Spirits,” explains Martin, “they immediately came back with ideas they had long wanted to explore but couldn’t find the right audience for.”
Along with the new site is also the launch of Tasting Notes, a searchable database of spirits reviewed using a 100-point scoring system that measures balance, character, and distinctiveness. Users can access the platform free of charge, gaining entry to concise reviews written by a tasting panel with more than 50 years of combined expertise.
The publication is also expanding beyond the written word. Later this summer, it will launch the first of two seasons of an original cocktail video series in partnership with one of the industry’s best-known personalities. In September, it will present the inaugural World’s Best Spirits List award at The Savoy as part of the World’s Best Wine List Awards, with organizers positioning the accolade as a future benchmark for excellence in spirits curation.
The World of Fine Spirits and The World of Fine Wine is published by Ascend Media, which also publishes Elite Traveler and Spear’s.
