Martell launches Single Cru series

Martell has launched its Single Cru series, with each cognac in the collection sourced from a single terroir.

International Beverage to acquire Larsen Cognac business from Anora

International Beverage has entered into an agreement with Anora Group plc to acquire its Larsen Cognac business.

Pernod Ricard veteran launches Cognac brand

Guillaume Thomas, veteran Pernod Ricard executive, will launch Martingale Cognac this autumn.

Camus Cognac joins Speciality Brands’ portfolio

Speciality Brands has announced that it will become the exclusive UK distributor of French Cognac house, Camus.

Spiribam and Unicoop announce distribution partnership for Cognac Hardy

Spiribam, the division that oversees the spirits activities of the GBH family group, has signed a distribution partnership with Cognac Hardy in the US.

Brands Report 2023: Cognac

It’s a familiar-looking line-up at the top of the cognac charts, although there’s been some shift at the lower level.

Beckie Sullivan appointed as UK brand ambassador for Courvoisier

Edrington UK has announced its appointment of Beckie Sullivan as UK national brand ambassador for Courvoisier.

Dhavall Gandhi: The whisky scientist

Whisky's rising star Dhavall Gandhi talks to Drinks International about his new consulting venture.

Brands Report 2022: Cognac

No brand has had a more dominant performance over the 13 years of the Brands Report than that of Hennessy.

Thomas Lowndes 1826 premixed cocktail range launches

Edrington Beam Suntory has launched a range of premixed cocktails designed to bring high-quality on-trade experiences into shoppers’ homes.

Cognac export volumes rise +8.2%

The exports of cognac for 2017-18 have increased for the fourth time in a row, rising +8.2% in volume and a +5.4% in value. 

Cognac: Innovating history

Cognac is experiencing a period of innovation which is challenging some of its own traditions, but could this further enhance the glowing reputation of the French spirit? Shay Waterworth travelled to the south of France to investigate.

Nearly 20% of cognac production affected by hailstorms

On May 27, Cognac was hit with a hailstorm that affected a significant proportion of the vineyards within the appellation.

Courvoisier launches sherry cask finish cognac

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

Cognac export figures boom

Cognac exports have increased for the third year running, with overall growth of +10.2% in volume and +15.2% in value.

The House of Camus launches an Irish whiskey

Cognac producer Camus has unveiled a project to make an Irish whiskey, using old cognac barrels with ex-bourbon casks blended and aged on an Irish island.

Kongsgaard named April gin of the month

Danish gin brand Kongsgaard has been named Craft Gin Club’s April gin of the month.

Cognac posts healthy 2016 growth

Cognac exports rose to “record levels” in 2016, with volume and value increases of 6.0 % and 6.8 % respectively, as sales in China stabalised and new growth was found in North America.

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.

Savoy’s Wojaczek wins Courvoisier cocktail competition

Witek Wojaczek of The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy is the UK winner of Courvoisier’s Toast of Paris International Cocktail Competition.

Armand de Brignac makes Bernadette Knight its CMO

Armand de Brignac Champagne has announced that Bernadette Knight is its new chief marketing officer.

Suntory sells Louis Royer cognac

Suntory Holdings has announced the sale of cognac group Louis Royer to the family group Terroirs Distillers, a privately-held fine spirits company based in France.

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.

The Brandy Report (3/12): Cognac

In the latest article of the Brandy Report, Nicholas Faith discusses the downturn in the ever-volatile cognac market

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.

New Rémy Martin cellar master

Baptiste Loiseau, Rémy Martin’s new cellarmaster, was in London yesterday (June 11) as part of the farewell celebrations for the retiring Pierrette Trichet.

New Rémy Martin cellar master

Baptiste Loiseau, Rémy Martin’s new cellarmaster, was in London yesterday (June 11) as part of the farewell celebrations for the retiring Pierrette Trichet.

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.

Altia appoints Pekka Tennilä as its new CEO

Altia, the Nordic and Baltic wine and spirits company, has announced the appointment of 44-year-old Pekka Tennilä, who has been poached from Carlsberg.

Pernod results

Pernod Ricard has reported net sales for the first semester of 2013/14 totalled €4.57 million.

Diageo: Playing the numbers game

Playing the numbers game Diageo’s interim results for the six months to December 31 which were reported yesterday (January 30), make bleak reading.

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.

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).

Altia buys Larsen Cognac and Danish aquavit Brøndums

Altia, the Nordic-based alcoholic drinks group has bought the Larsen Cognac brand and the Danish aquavit brand Brøndums.

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.

Pernod Ricard to buy Cognac company

Pernod Ricard has eased concerns over Cognac supply with the purchase of 100% of the shares of the winemaker, distiller and wholesaler Le Maine au Bois SAS.

Vintage Hine Cognacs to auction at Bonhams

A bottle of Hine Grande Champagne Cognac from 1952, to commemorate the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II, is among several lots of Cognac to feature in auctioneers Bonhams’ sale on February 14 in London.

Cognac

With age statements and innovation grabbing attention worldwide, Cognac sales are booming. But can it keep up with global demand? Gavin D Smith reports 

Diageo and Suntory in talks to buy Beam?

Diageo and Suntory have held talks about bidding $10 billion for American drinks giant, Beam, according to reports in today’s Sunday Telegraph (December 9).

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

King Cocktail hits town

I’ve seen the beginning and the end of a lot of eras. That says it all about ‘King Cocktail’, Dale DeGroff. The great man is in London to co-host ‘The World’s 50 Best Bars’ event which was held in London last night (Oct 10) near Trafalgar Square...

Black Pearl cognac goes for £10,350

The bottle of of Rémy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl Cognac which was put up for auction (as reported on the Drinks International website, September 5), has sold for £10,350

India: Beam launches cognac

Beam has launched its Courvoisier age statement cognac collection in India at Delhi Duty Free Services.

Cognac grows 4% despite European malaise

The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) has announced shipments of cognac have risen by 4.3%, with growth in Asia and North America off-setting a European decline.

Rémy Martin Black Pearl cognac up for auction

A rare bottle of Rémy Martin Black Pearl cognac estimated to be worth between £5,000 and £7,000 is up for auction in London.

Ferrand looks to the 3 Stars

Cognac Ferrand has extended its Plantation line of rums with 3 Stars, a white rum blended from stocks sourced from Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica and finished in Cognac.

BNIC to auction 26 rare cognacs

Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) is to auction 26 rare cognacs at the upcoming charity auction, La Part des Anges.

Ice, ice, cognac

Cognac producer ABK6 is rolling out its Ice Cognac across Europe.