It is with deep sadness that Global Drinks Intel has to report our CEO & Editor-in-Chief, Alexander Smith, has died.
Known to his friends as Al – or ‘Big Al’ to many in the drinks industry – he has been a mainstay of the beverage alcohol sector for over 20 years. Having joined IWSR in 1998, where he rose to become editor of the company’s Drinks Record publication, Al founded Global Drinks Intel in late 2018. The magazine – and website – has risen to become an industry-recognised B2B publication, thanks in no small part to Al’s unrivalled experience and industry knowledge, as well as his exuberant personality and tremendous company.
Widely acknowledged globally as one of the leading writers on beverage alcohol, Al was passionate about his craft and a ‘hack’ of the highest order: What many found to be a willful obstreperousness – an old journalists’ trick – served only to pull the best from an industry Al held so close to his heart.
Born in Manhattan in 1963, Al grew up in New York City, New Jersey and upstate New York, where some of his family still live. Aged 15, he came to the UK to attend boarding school in Herefordshire, where he fell in love with the sport of rugby.
After three years, Al returned to the US, reading economics and history at the University of Virginia, but such was his fondness for rugby that he came back to the UK in his late 20s, settling in London and playing for Wimbledon Rugby Club.
In recent years, Al had been battling a long illness. He died at home in west London yesterday with his wife, Charlotte, and three children, Olivia, Alex and William – of whom Al was immensely proud – by his side. They were joined by the family dog, West Highland Terrier Joey.
From everyone at Global Drinks Intel, our heartfelt condolences go out to his family in London and his mother, Maureen, sister Bronwyn and brother Michael in the US.
To Big Al: Rest in peace, buddy.
Al’s family have chosen ‘Fight Bladder Cancer’ as their charity for donations, which can be made here. Thank you.
