Black Tot Rum’s annual celebration returns with new master blender’s reserve
Black Tot rum’s annual celebration is to return this year with a month-long programme of festivities and the release of the Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve.
Glenmorangie unveils packaging redesign
Glenmorangie Highland single malt whisky has revealed its new packaging, set to be rolled out from August this year in the UK, transforming all parts of the original design.
Comité Champagne harvest yield decision
Champagne growers and houses met in Epernay within the Comité Champagne to agree on the circumstances of the next harvest and on strategic directions for the sector.
Japanese Whisky: Pushing Premium
Japanese whisky continues to go from strength to strength as shochu producers turn to the category to make their mark in international markets.
The Pinnacle Guide founders to personally host round table
To mark the halfway point of its consultancy phase, The Pinnacle Guide’s founders are hosting its next round table personally, as they continue to gather information on what makes a great bar.
Bladnoch Distillery announces limited release whisky expression
Bladnoch Distillery has announced its newest expression, a 30-year-old single malt Scotch whisky with a limited release of 950 bottles.
La'Mel Clarke: Throwing shapes
Dancing, writing and making drinks are just some of the artistic elements to Seed Library’s La’Mel Clarke, whose reputation as one of the industry’s up and coming stars is gathering pace. Earlier this year the Londoner was nominated for Emerging Bartender of the Year at the annual Class Bar Awards.
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 live ceremony to be held in Barcelona
The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars will this year be unveiled at a live ceremony in Barcelona on Tuesday 4 October.
Yellow Tail tops global wine brand power list
The Wine Intelligence Global Wine Brand Power Index 2022 has reported that Yellow Tail is again the world’s most powerful wine brand with Casillero del Diablo meaning an unchanged top two.
The Balvenie announces release of French Oak 16 Year Old
Speyside whisky brand The Balvenie has announced the launch of French Oak 16 Year Old, marking the first use of French oak in the distillery’s 129-year history.
Torres named World’s Most Admired Wine Brand 2022
Spanish producer Familia Torres has retained its crown as The World’s Most Admired Wine Brand after topping the list for 2022.
Premium sales drive growth for Viña Concha y Toro in 2021
Viña Concha y Toro has reported that profits rose by 26.7% in 2021 with sales of premium wines accounting for more than half of company revenues for the first time.
Waterworth named new editor of DI
Drinks International has announced the appointment of Shay Waterworth as its new editor to replace the outgoing Martin Green from April onwards.
Strong demand from the UK, the US and China helped South African wine exports increase by 12.1% in value to R10.2bn in 2021.
Pernod Ricard reports strong H1 growth
Surging demand for premium spirits powered Pernod Ricard’s 17% year-on-year sales growth in the six months to December 31, 2021.
The Macallan launches 81-year-old single malt
The Macallan has launched its oldest ever singe malt called The Reach which was distilled during the Second World War.
Just as Ketel One was on the precipice of completing the perfect 10, in swoops Grey Goose to snatch the vodka crown.
Topping gin for seven of the last nine years, Tanqueray is once again king gin. The Diageo brand, famed for its juniper forward Tanqueray London Dry and Tanqueray No. Ten gins, was the house choice in 25% of the world’s best bars.
Brands Report 2022: How We Did It
Brands Report editor Hamish Smith explains the methodolgy behind the report's polling system.
Cava sees significant growth in the first nine months of 2021
Sales in the first nine months of 2021 of sparkling wines made under the protection of the DO Cava have increased by 16.45% on the same period in 2020.
Hyslop: Royal Salute 51 is 'one-of-a-kind' expression
Royal Salute master blender Sandy Hyslop has declared its new 51-year-old a “one-of-a-kind” blend.
Brown-Forman raises sales guidance
Brown-Forman has raised its full-year sales outlook in anticipation of supply chain disruption easing in the months ahead.
AB InBev agrees 20-year deal to replace Heineken as JD Wetherspoon's largest supplier
AB InBev has signed a 20-year deal to replace Heineken as the main beer supplier to UK pub giant JD Wetherspoon.
Lucas Bols announces strong revenue returns
Lucas Bols has announced a return of revenues to pre-Covid times for the first half of the 2021/22 financial year.
Salmon Guru wins 50 Best Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award
Spain’s Salmon Guru has been announced as the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award ahead of The World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in December.
Tackling the modern challenges of bulk wine distribution
Logistics companies within the global drinks industry have been battered by an unprecedented confluence of headwinds during the past 18 months.
Inflation looms for alcohol industry
Central banks are coming under increasing pressure to hike interest rates after inflation soared across the globe.
Taking over the reigns of The World’s 50 Best Bars would be a daunting experience for many, but not French duo Pom Modeste and Juliette Larrouy.
George T. Stagg will not be released this year
Buffalo Trace Distillery will not release a George T. Stagg expression this year after deciding that the 15-year-old barrels do not meet the right taste standards.
Bushmills unveils The Causeway Collection 2021
Irish whiskey producer Bushmills has unveiled a collection of 12 rare single malts aged in a variety of casks.
Vocation Brewery unveils major redesign
UK craft brewer Vocation has invested in a redesign for its entire range.
Pernod Ricard UK has highlighted the consumer trends accelerated by the last 18 months and urged retailers to “capitalise on the huge opportunity within premium spirits and wines this Christmas”.
Diageo invests in Komasa Kanosuke Distillery
Diageo’s drinks accelerator arm Distil Ventures has made a minority investment in Japanese single malt producer Komasa Kanosuke Distillery.
Distell withholds dividend as Heineken takeover talks persist
South African wine and spirits producer Distell has withheld its dividend for 2021 financial year amid ongoing takeover talks with Heineken.
Carlsberg sales surpass pre-pandemic levels
Carlsberg has upgraded its full-year profit guidance after reporting that sales volumes have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
STRANGER THOUGHTS: A place for members
The recent launch of Martinez members’ cocktail bar on Soho’s Greek Street struck a chord with me.
Concha y Toro increased sales by 9.1% in Q2
Leading Chilean wine producer Concha y Toro increased consolidated sales by 9.1% in the three months to June 30.
Andrew Carter is set to take over from Frazer Thompson as CEO of Chapel Down winery from September this year.
Diageo reports 16% organic net sales growth
Diageo has outperformed analysts’ expectations by reporting organic net sales growth of 16% for the year to June 30.
White Claw lays out international expansion plans
It’s been a sobering quarter for hard seltzer. Sales of the canned RTD that disrupted the US alcohol market when it burst onto the scene in 2016, have for the first time, stalled.
Campari Group reports 37.1% sales increase
Campari Group has reported that organic sales increased 37.1% year-on-year during the first half of 2021.
Brits love Rioja – they’re recognisable, affordable, easy to purchase, delicious to drink, and great with foods all year round. While Tempranillo is a core mainstay for Rioja, there’s so much more to the wines from this region, with winemakers working hard to develop more innovative premium wines at all price levels.
Master of Malt predicts future drinking trends
Online retailer Master of Malt has unveiled three key trends that could define the spirits industry during the next year.
The Last Drop Releases 50 Year Old Scotch Blend
The Last Drop has made its first foray into spirits creation with the release of its 50 Year Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky.
Foursquare Redoubtable Named Supreme Champion at International Spirits Challenge 2021
Foursquare Distillery in Barbados has won the coveted International Spirits Challenge 2021 Supreme Champion award for its Redoubtable 14 Year Old rum.
Brighter days ahead for the industry
Global alcohol consumption is expected to increase by 2.9% this year, according to new IWSR projections. Martin Green reports.
Praphakorn Konglee crowned Bacardí Legacy champion 2021
Praphakorn Konglee from Thailand’s Find the Locker Room bar has won the Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Competition 2021 with is drink ‘Out of Sight’.
Edrington reports year-on-year profit decline
Edrington has reported that pre-tax profit decreased 21% year-on-year to £178.4 million for the year ending 31 March 2021.
Pink Prosecco: not fizzling out
Drinks international catches up with the founder of The Emissary Prosecco, Ed Smith, to find out whether talk of a Rosé Prosecco shortage is cause for concern.
UK off-trade sales finally decline as bar trade rebounds
Sales of beers, wines and spirits have finally started to decline in the UK off-trade after bars were permitted to open their doors once again.