Beefeater introduces lower-abv botanical spirit drink

Beefeater has announced Beefeater Botanics Lemon & Ginger, a 27.5% abv spirit drink.

Strykk gets Canada and Netherlands deals

Non-alcoholic spirits brand Strykk has secured new distribution agreements in the Netherlands and Canada.

Avallen gains global distribution deal

Avallen has announced a global partnership with UK-based Charter Brands to drive new routes to market beyond Europe, Hong Kong & Australia.

Diddy, David Beckham and Ryan Reynolds donate $1 million to mixologists

Diddy, David Beckham and Ryan Reynolds have donated $1 million to several organisations that support the bartending community.

WSTA launches new labelling guidance for UK no/low sector

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has produced new guidance around the labelling of low and no alcohol drinks in the UK market.

Avallen Spirits joins 1% for the Planet

Drinks company Avallen Spirits is now a member of 1% for the Planet, the charitable platform created by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard.

The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails 2021

We asked our sample of 100 of the best bars in the world to rank their bestselling classic cocktails. Hamish Smith provides the commentary. 

Brands Report 2021: Bartenders' Choice

If the other lists in this report speak of the bestselling and the trending brands in the world of elite bars, this ranking is different. Here we ask about bartenders’ favourite spirits.

Brands Report 2021: Non-alcoholic spirits

The rise in non-alcoholic alternatives has led to the sector’s inaugural list in the Brands Report 2021, with Diageo’s Seedlip sitting pretty in the rankings.

Stoli Group gains Mexican distribution deal through Bodegas La Negrita

Stoli Group has agreed on a new distribution deal with Amber Beverage Group for its brands in Mexico through local distributor Bodegas La Negrita.

Molinari vermouth celebrates 75th anniversary with new bottle design

Italian vermouth brand Molinari has launched a limited edition bottle design to mark its 75th anniversary.

Campari lands Montelobos and Ancho Reyes deals

Campari UK has taken over the distribution rights of chilli liqueurs Ancho Reyes and mezcal brand Montelobos with immediate effect.

Low abv spirit Kåska looks to HK for growth

Finnish low alcohol spirit Kåska has targeted Hong Kong after its first batch sold out domestically within hours.

Everleaf sees +900% sales through COVID-19 lockdown

Non-alcoholic aperitif brand Everleaf has seen a direct-to-consumer (DTC) online sales spike, with sales in the four weeks leading up to 21 April 2020 up by 950% year-on-year.

IWSR: Status spirits to recover quickly from COVID-19

Research conducted by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis showed that the value of the status spirits market (brands that retail for US$100 or more) is $8.3bn, excluding baijiu.

Brands Report 2020: How we did it

The Brands Report is a snapshot of the buying habits of the best bars in the world.

The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails 2020

You can’t beat the classics, but every year there’s change within their ranks somewhere. Hamish Smith rounds up this year’s top 50

Brands Report 2020 launches

The Drinks International Annual Brands Report 2020 has launched in digital form.

Altia targets carbon-neutral production by 2025

Altia has set out plans to make its production carbon-neutral by 2025. Its goals cover both Altia’s direct fossil emissions and those generated by purchased energy.

Heaven Hill appoints Proof Drinks for UK distribution

Heaven Hill has appointed Proof Drinks as its UK distributor to look after its spirits portfolio.

Amber Beverage Group partners with Spirit France

Amber Beverage Group has made Spirit France the distributor of its fill portfolio in France.

More spirits outlets needed in Pennsylvania, says DISCUS

David Wojnar, VP of state government relations for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, has called for increased spirits outlets across the US state of Pennsylvania.

BrewDog Distilling Co: 'Whisky still focus despite portfolio growth'

BrewDog Distilling Company CEO David Gates joined Drinks International to discuss the new direction the company has taken with its spirits in 2019.

Diageo strikes halted after refreshed offer

Strike action has been halted at Diageo’s Scottish distilleries after GMB Scotland and Unite unions settled with the spirits company.

Drinks International launches Bar World 100

Ryan Chetiyawardana has been ranked as the world's most influential bar industry figure in the new Drinks International magazine Bar World 100.

No.3 London Dry Gin named ISC Supreme Spirit 2019

No.3 London Dry Gin from Berry Bros & Rudd was last night hailed as this year’s International Spirits Challenge ‘Supreme Spirit’, as chosen blind by ISC judges from the Challenge’s trophy winners.

Sustainability lead gin to open new distillery visitor centre in Grasse

Comte de Grasse who own 44°N Gin, will be opening a new distillery visitor centre in Grasse, the perfume region of France.

Virgin Holidays search for a bartender in paradise

Holiday operator Virgin Holidays will send one British bartender to the Caribbean to swap grey skies for Jamaican sun.

Changes at Bacardi Global Travel Retail

Bacardi Global Travel Retail (GTR) has announced two senior team changes: Vinay Golikeri is promoted to managing director, GTR while Mike Birch will now focus entirely on Bacardi’s digital commerce business.

Willow 4% abv spirit launches to market

Bar owner and vodka expert William Borrell has launched Willow, a low-alcohol (4.4% abv) spirit.

England overtakes Scottish distillery numbers

New HMRC figures have revealed that England has more distilleries registered than Scotland for the first time in history.

The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails 2019

When it comes to the bestsellers, the roster of classic cocktails is subject to the vagaries of fashion in tastes. Angel Brown rounds up this year’s top 50

Edrington announces new CEO

Edrington has announced that chief executive officer Ian Curle is retiring in March and will be succeeded by Scott McCroskie, who is on the Edrington board and managing director of The Macallan.

UK distilleries up 30% in one year

The number of distillery businesses in the UK jumped 30% in a year from 131 in 2016, to 170 in 2017, says UHY Hacker Young, the national accountancy group.

NYC hosts first British-focused spirits show

Manhattan is hosting its first British Spirits and Sparkling Wine Week to increase awareness and drive sales of UK products in New York City.

Alexandrion announces plans to build US distillery

Alexandrion Group, Romania’s largest spirits producer, has announced site plan approval by the planning board of the town of Carmel for the construction of its first US distillery in Mid-Hudson, Putnam County, NY.

Non-alcoholic 'spirits' brand Stryyk hits UK

Alex Carlton, founder of Funkin Cocktails has launched Stryyk, a new range of non-alcoholic spirits available in the UK.

Amsterdam to host Bacardi Legacy 2019

Bacardi has announced that Amsterdam will be the host city of the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition Grand Final 2019.

Foursquare 2005 wins ISC Supreme Champion

Foursquare 2005 has become the first rum brand in history to win the Supreme Champion award at the International Spirits Challenge.

Bushmills’ executive chairman David Gosnell gets an OBE

David Gosnell, the executive chairman of Bushmills Irish Whiskey, has been awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), in the Queen’s Birthday 2018 Honours List. 

Tortuga - a new spirits distribution company

Tortuga Brands is the name of a new UK-based sales, marketing and distribution agency drinks company, representing spirits brands in the on and off trade in the UK, as well as offering a wider global distributor network for brands.

Crown Cellars launches Distilled spirits portfolio

Crown Cellars, the specialist wine and spirits division of Carlsberg UK, has launched an integrated spirits offering, Distilled.

Shane Hoyne joins Quintessential Brands

Quintessential Brands Group has announced the appointment of Shane Hoyne as its new chief marketing officer.

Diageo World Class GB entries open

Entries for the Diageo Reserve GB World Class Competition 2018 are now open and the Global Final will take place in Berlin later this year.

The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails 2018

Hamish Smith takes the pulse of the top bars to discover which classics will be feeding into the mainstream

Brands Report: Brands in Cocktails

What are the top choices when it comes to making the classics? Hamish Smith reveals our poll’s favourites

Brands Report: All-Time Leagues

It’s those brands that endure for the long haul that make it into the top tables each year. Hamish Smith tallies up this year’s winners and losers

Brands Report: Champagne

Hamish Smith says it’s all about the big names when it comes to the classic fizz

Brands Report: Water

Bottled water hasn’t lost its sparkle, but the names have barely changed. Shay Waterworth reports

Brands Report: Tonic Water

It was inevitable that tonic water’s rise would continue to chase gin. Hamish Smith reports