Global spirits volume sees 5% growth for 2022

The IWSR Drinks Market Analysis reported that the global spirits category grew 5% in volume in 2022, driven by whisky, rum and brandy. 

Giacomo Giannotti wins inaugural Torres Brandy Zero Challenge

Giacomo Giannotti, owner and bar manager of Paradiso, won the first edition of the Torres Brandy Zero Challenge in Barcelona on Thursday, 30 April.

St-Rémy introduces new lightweight bottles

St-Rémy French brandy is reducing the weight of its bottles as one of many measures to establish a new gold standard in sustainability.

Brands Report 2023: Brandy

Brandy has been separated out from cognac since 2020, and Torres has prevailed in each poll since then.

Torres Brandy presents first smoked brandy: Torres 10 Smoked Barrel

Torres Brandy has revealed its first smoked brandy, the Torres 10 Smoked Barrel, a limited edition that will only be available for a short time. 

Spanish Brandy ups appeal

Innovation in the category is aimed at attracting younger consumers, especially through cocktails.

St-Rémy launches brandy finished in port casks

St-Rémy Brandy has announced the launch of Finished in Port Casks, a limited-edition, individually numbered bottling of brandy matured in ex-Tawny Port casks.

St-Rémy announces expansion into new global markets

French Brandy company, St-Rémy, is celebrating the success of its St-Rémy Signature which launched in 2020 and is showing growth in its pioneering markets of Canada, USA and Australia, as it continues to expand into new markets.

Brands Report 2022: Brandy

Our brandy category takes into account any brandy outside the Cognac region and embraces a hugely diverse collection of spirits.

Spanish brandy's push for domestic appeal

The adoption of local produce has been one of the biggest trends within the global drinks industry over the past few years, particularly in the on-trade where the influence of sustainability has encouraged consumers to look closer to home for their drinking choices.

Carlos I commemorates 130th anniversary with exclusive brandy

Leading Spanish brandy producer Osborne has launched a limited-edition called Carlos 130 to mark the bestselling brand’s 130th anniversary.

Courvoisier launches sherry cask finish cognac

Leading cognac brand, Courvoisier has unveiled a sherry cask finish cognac, which is a global travel retail exclusive.

South Africa’s oldest brandy sells for R40,000

A one-off release of what is claimed to be South Africa’s oldest brandy, a 42-year-old single cask pot still from Distell’s Van Ryn’s brand, was sold at the recent Nederburg Charity Auction for R40,000 (US$3,000, £2,260, €2,600).

La Part Des Anges cognac auction

The 10th La Part Des Anges’ auction will take place on Thursday September 22 in Cognac. For the first time bidders from outside of Cognac were allowed to compete for the exclusive lots.

Darroze is new Armagnac president

The Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac, the generic body representing Armagnac producers, has announced Marc Darroze as its new president.

Armagnac Academies return to New York

The Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac, the official organisation that represents makers of the classic French brandy, has announced a date and venue for its Armagnac Academies educational initiative.

Distillation in Armagnac has started

The generic body representing Armagnac producers, the Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac, has announced that distillation started today (October 8) - this early for the first time in living memory.

National Calvados Week

National Calvados Week in the UK takes place from Sunday October 18 until Saturday October 24.

Gautier Cognac’s UK distribution with Catalyst

Catalyst Brands has signed a distribution agreement with Gautier Cognac to distribute its VS, VSOP and XO Cognacs exclusively throughout the UK.

Asia at turning point says cognac chief

Asia, and specifically China, is heading back to growth following the Chinese government's clamp down nearly two years ago on extravagant entertaining, excessive drinking and gifting.

Emperador to buy Louis Royer cognac?

There are unconfirmed reports that Emperador, the Philippine brandy maker, is to buy Louis Royer, the French cognac brand.

Diane Kruger becomes Martell ambassador

Hollywood actress and self-confessed Francophile Diane Kruger is Martell cognac’s ambassador for the brand’s 300th anniversary this year.

Brandy Report (8/12): South African Brandy

Hamish Smith gets under the skin of South Africa’s little-known gems.

Armagnac Academies’ success in China

The first Armagnac Academy in China took place on Thursday October 30 in Beijing at the Crown Plaza hotel in the Wangfujing district.

Spirits France buys majority stake in Janneau

Spirit France, leading producer of Calvados with the brands Père Magloire, Boulard and Lecompte, has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Armagnac brand: Janneau.

New limited edition Martell

Martell, which claims to be the oldest of the great cognac houses, is celebrating its 300th anniversary with the release of a new limited edition expression, Martell Premier Voyage.

Rémy Cointreau promotes Sarantopoulos

Rémy Cointreau has announced the promotion of former LVMH boss Panos Sarantopoulos as CEO of its liqueurs and spirits division.

Alliance Global buys Whyte & Mackay

The Philippines-based Alliance Global Group drinks group which owns the Emperador brand, has bought Whyte & Mackay US$726 million, including debt, according to unconfirmed reports.

Pernod hit by unfavourable foreign exchange rates

Pernod Ricard’s net sales for the first nine months of the 2013/14 financial year totalled €6,186 million – down 7% on the same period last year. The company says the results are in line with the first half-year and sales were stable excluding foreign exchange and group structure effects.

Courvoisier celebrates the Here and Now

The Here and Now is the name of Maxxium UK’s new advertising and marketing campaign for Courvoisier Cognac.

Armagnac Academies launched

The BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac) has launched a programme to educate drinks professionals about France’s oldest spirit.

Bisquit opens château for the first time

Bisquit Cognac is opening the doors of its château for the first time to the public to celebrate France’s national heritage weekend (Journées Européennes du Patrimoine).

National Calvados Week

National Calvados Week takes place in the UK between October 14 and 20.

Janneau to double capacity

Armagnac house Janneau has decided to double its capacity to distil in-house.

Cognac Camus celebrates 150th anniversary

The House of Camus, which claims to be the last major, independent and family-owned Cognac house, celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

1789 Courvoisier on sale in Harrods for £95,000

A 233-year-old Courvoisier cognac, discovered in a Dutch Collection is on sale for £95,000 at Harrods in London

Somerset Cider Brandy gets EU protection

UK: Somerset Cider Brandy has been granted geographical protection.

Stock posts impressive growth

The Stock Spirits Group has announced double digit organic volume growth with total sales volumes of 162.4 million litres in 2010.