Honestly, if you were looking for a quiet month in the world of hospitality, October 2025 was not it. Not even close. While most people were just getting used to the smell of pumpkin spice again, the bar world was undergoing a massive, somewhat frantic transformation that felt like a game of high-stakes musical chairs.
Huge.
The biggest bombshell of bar industry news october 2025 dropped right at the start of the month: the World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in Hong Kong. It wasn’t just about who won; it was about a seismic shift in where the power is. Bar Leone in Hong Kong took the top spot. That’s a big deal. Why? Because it’s the first time an Asian bar has ever been crowned No. 1. Opened by Lorenzo Antinori only back in June 2023, it proved that the "uncomplicated" cocktail—high-quality, no-nonsense, vibe-focused—is what people actually want right now.
The World’s 50 Best Bars: A New King in Hong Kong
For years, London and New York traded the trophy back and forth like a bored couple. But the 2025 list, revealed on October 8, told a different story. While Barcelona still showed up strong—with Sips and Paradiso sitting comfortably at No. 3 and No. 4—the U.S. struggled to break the top ten. New York’s Superbueno was the highest-ranking American spot at No. 12.
Think about that.
The city that practically invented the modern craft cocktail movement couldn't crack the top ten. It’s a wake-up call. Meanwhile, Sip & Guzzle in New York did manage to snag the "Best New Opening" award, so there’s a glimmer of hope for the Big Apple. But the energy has clearly migrated East.
Mergers, Sales, and the Four Roses Bombshell
While bartenders were celebrating in Hong Kong, the suits in the back offices were busy tearing up the floorboards. Kirin Holdings basically broke the internet (or at least the bourbon-obsessed part of it) by putting Four Roses Bourbon up for sale. They’re working with UBS to find a buyer, and everyone is wondering who has the billions required to snag such a crown jewel.
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It wasn't just them, though. Sazerac—the monster behind Buffalo Trace—quietly gobbled up Western Son Vodka from Texas. This is part of a larger trend we saw all through October: the big guys are "pruning" their portfolios. They’re ditching brands that don't fit and doubling down on what moves. Campari did the same, offloading Averna and Zedda Piras to Illva Saronno for about €100 million.
It's a weird time. On one hand, you have these massive acquisitions, but on the other, the "Craft Spirits Data Project" released in October showed that market volume for craft distillers actually dropped by 6.1%. People are spending money, sure—sales value hit $7.58 billion—but they’re drinking fewer bottles.
The Legal Chaos: Surfside vs. AB InBev
You can't talk about bar industry news october 2025 without mentioning the drama in the courts. Stateside Brands, the folks behind the massive RTD (Ready-to-Drink) hit Surfside, filed a massive trademark lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch InBev.
The claim?
That AB InBev’s new "Skimmers" brand looks way too much like Surfside’s blue-and-yellow "sun" aesthetic. Surfside grew by over 360% last year. They aren't about to let a giant like AB InBev slide in and confuse their customers. This lawsuit is a sign of the times: the RTD market is so crowded and lucrative that brands are ready to go to war over a shade of blue.
What’s Actually Happening on the Floor?
If you run a bar, you probably felt the "October Squeeze." In the UK and parts of North America, managed bar sales slipped by nearly 6%. People are heading home earlier. The "late-night" market is hurting because consumers are shifting their drinking to earlier in the day.
- Pubs are winning: In the UK, pubs outperformed restaurants and bars for the tenth month in a row.
- The "Ozempic Effect": This is a real thing people were talking about at the NALCP Conference in October. Between GLP-1 drugs and a general health craze, "functional beverages" are exploding. We’re talking about "magnesium mocktails" to help you sleep and seltzers infused with lion's mane for focus.
- Minimum Wage Hikes: In places like Ontario, Canada, the minimum wage jumped again on October 1. For a bar operating on a 3% margin, that’s a heart attack in a spreadsheet.
Legislation and Tax Breaks
There was some actually good news for importers, though. The TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) finalized a rule on October 29 that makes the tax refund system for foreign producers permanent. Basically, it locks in the reduced tax rates from the Craft Beverage Modernization Act. It’s the kind of boring-but-essential regulatory stability that keeps the lights on for boutique importers.
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In New York, the State Liquor Authority (SLA) also opened up licensing for "adult recreational" spots. If you want to open a virtual reality arcade or a high-end darts lounge and serve a proper Negroni, the path just got a whole lot easier.
Moving Forward: What This Means for You
October 2025 showed us that the "old ways" of running a bar—staying open until 4 AM and hoping people show up for a standard gin and tonic—are dying. The money is moving toward:
- Earlier Hours: If you aren't capturing the 5 PM to 9 PM crowd with high-margin small plates and creative pairings, you’re leaving cash on the table.
- Hyper-Local Stories: In Ontario, local wine sales jumped 78%. People want to know the person who made their drink.
- Low-ABV Sophistication: It's not enough to have a soda with a lime anymore. You need "mid-strength" options (around 20% ABV for spirits or 3.5% for beer) that feel premium but don't cause a hangover.
The bar industry isn't shrinking; it’s just evolving into something more intentional and, frankly, more complicated. If you're an operator, your best bet is to audit your menu for "dead weight" brands—just like the big guys are doing—and focus on high-margin, local stories that give people a reason to leave their couch before 8 PM.
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Check your supplier contracts now, especially if you’re carrying brands involved in the recent bankruptcies like A.M. Scott or Dented Brick. Diversifying your back bar isn't just a trend; this month proved it's a survival strategy.