Curious how AI is changing the way alcohol brands do business online? From smarter product recommendations to personalized email campaigns and dynamic ads, this article breaks down how leading beverage alcohol brands are using AI to improve customer experience and boost e-commerce sales. Whether you’re running a craft distillery or scaling a global portfolio, you’ll find real-world examples and practical tools that make it easy to start using AI today. If you’re looking to modernize your marketing and connect with consumers in a more meaningful way, this is your go-to guide.
AI isn’t just for big tech anymore—it’s quickly becoming one of the most valuable tools in the alcohol industry, helping brands level up how they connect with customers and sell online. Whether you're a small craft distillery or a globally recognized name, AI is opening new doors when it comes to personalized shopping, creative campaigns, smarter ads, and more. In this guide, we're breaking down exactly how alcohol brands are using AI today—plus how you can start tapping into it yourself.
AI helps brands deliver the kind of shopping experience that feels like it was made just for you. It takes data—like your browsing habits, purchase history, and even how long you spend on a product page—and uses it to recommend products you're actually interested in.
How to try it: Platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce come with AI-driven tools that handle product recommendations and email segmentation out of the box. For smaller brands, Recomify is a plug-and-play option to personalize the storefront.
Real Example: E&J Gallo Winery uses AI to tailor wine suggestions based on individual shopping behaviors and preferences—essentially turning their online store into a smart sommelier.
Today’s AI chatbots aren’t just glorified FAQs—they’ve become an extension of your customer support team. These bots can guide shoppers through product discovery, answer common questions, process orders, and even help them find their new favorite bottle based on taste preferences.
How to try it: Tools like Tidio and Intercom are fast to set up and scale well with your brand as it grows. These platforms use natural language processing (NLP) to understand and respond to customer queries in real time. For larger or more complex needs, some brands are turning to custom-built AI support solutions.
Real Example: Diageo launched the “What’s Your Whisky” chatbot to help customers explore flavor profiles and match with whiskies that suit their preferences. It’s part product quiz, part shopping assistant, and all about delivering a more engaging, personalized experience. Plus, it reduces response times and helps streamline customer service—win-win.
AI can help brands create personalized marketing campaigns by analyzing customer data and predicting the best time to send emails, SMS messages, or targeted ads. This results in higher engagement and conversion rates.
Here’s what it can do:
How to try it: For smaller brands, Mailchimp and Klaviyo are easy to get started with and come packed with smart automation features. Larger teams or fast-growing brands may benefit from deeper tools like HubSpot or Marketo, which offer advanced analytics and campaign customization.
Real Example: Pernod Ricard built a Digital Accelerator to test and scale AI tools across their global marketing team. With predictive analytics and behavioral targeting, they’ve streamlined how and when they connect with different consumer segments—creating a more relevant, personalized experience at every touchpoint. More on their strategy here.
AI can speed up creative production without sacrificing quality. From generating ad copy and social captions to designing graphics, these tools are built to make content that connects.
How to try it: Smaller brands can use AI tools like Canva or Crello, which provide AI-powered design templates and customization options. Large brands may opt for more sophisticated AI design platforms, such as Adobe Sensei, which uses machine learning to generate tailored designs at scale.
Real Example: Absolut Vodka used AI to develop dynamic creative content across global markets. The brand's AI systems generated real-time ad variations tailored to specific locations, consumer behaviors, and device usage. This personalized creative approach enhanced campaign efficiency and helped Absolut deliver more relevant messaging to its audiences.
AI-driven e-commerce platforms can personalize a customer’s shopping experience by dynamically adjusting product displays based on individual preferences, previous browsing behavior, or demographics.
How to try it: Smaller brands can leverage AI-powered e-commerce tools like Shopify Plus, which allows for personalized product recommendations and adaptive store layouts. Larger brands may invest in custom AI platforms that integrate with existing infrastructure, providing more advanced analytics and design options.
Real Example: Heineken uses AI to personalize its e-commerce platform, ensuring customers see relevant product suggestions based on past interactions. Their system adapts in real-time to a user’s preferences, optimizing the shopping experience.
With AI, your ads get smarter over time. It analyzes performance, tests different versions, and automatically shifts your budget to what’s working.
How to try it: Smaller brands can start with tools like Facebook Ads or Google Ads, which offer AI-powered optimization features. These tools can help create more efficient ad campaigns, targeting the right customers and maximizing ROI. Larger brands may invest in AI platforms like Albert.ai, which automates cross-channel advertising with advanced machine learning.
Real Example: Jack Daniel’s leaned into AI-powered video ads that adapted based on the viewer’s behavior. It helped them connect more authentically with younger drinkers, especially for the Tennessee Honey line.
From personalizing product suggestions to helping you launch smarter ads and better content, AI is quickly becoming a must-have for alcohol brands navigating today’s digital-first world. The best part? You don’t need a massive team or budget to benefit from these tools.
Start small, stay curious, and let the tech do the heavy lifting—because the future of alcohol e-commerce isn’t just digital, it’s intelligent.
Looking to take your beverage alcohol business direct to consumer, online?
Articles are written by Flaviar for Business team's seasoned ecommerce professionals. We help forward-thinking producers, retailers and publishers take beverage alcohol businesses direct-to-consumer, online. The topics we cover include:
%20(1).png)
