Brands Report: Beer

Shay Waterworth asks whether the Peroni/Heineken cycle is on the verge of being broken.

Brands Report: Sherry

It’s back in fashion and the big brands are the winners, says Hamish Smith

Brands Report: Vermouth

Italy’s the winner as bars fall back in love with vermouth, finds Hamish Smith

Brands Report: Cachaça

With so many players, this is a tough category where marketing is key, says Hamish Smith

Brands Report: Rum

Widely tipped to be the next big category, Rum has become a serious battleground, says Shay Waterworth

Diageo to take Brexit in its stride

Diageo chief executive Ivan Menezes was answering questions at a special briefing for financial journalists and analysts, on its six month interim results (January 25, see web story).

Brands Report: Bitters

Angostura’s wide distribution puts it in a class of its own, says Hamish Smith

Brands Report: Mezcal

Hamish Smith finds there’s one front-runner here that looks unstoppable

Brands Report: Tequila

It’s all about top quality when it comes to Mexico’s finest, reports Shay Waterworth

Brands Report: Pisco

There’s an exciting new entrant in this sector, reports Shay Waterworth

Brands Report: Liqueurs

Now bitter is back as a consumer taste, bars are feeling the love for Campari, finds Hamish Smith

Brands Report: Brandy & Cognac

Hennessy dominates but brands with an Asian presence are gaining traction, says Hamish Smith

Brands Report: Scotch Whisky

The previously unassailable Johnnie Walker could be showing signs of weakness, finds Hamish Smith

Brands Report: Irish Whiskey

The growing Irish Whiskey category gets its first page to itself this year. Hamish Smith explains why

Brands Report: World Whisky

With Irish Whiskey stripped out, other countries get a chance to shine. Hamish Smith does the maths

Brands Report: American Whiskey

Diageo’s Bulleit holds both top spots for the third year running. Shay Waterworth reports

Brands Report: Gin

Tanqueray tops the best sellers yet again, but Hendrick’s is making its mark. By Hamish Smith

Brands Report: Vodka

There’s been little change in the best sellers, with the top brands all holding, says Hamish Smith

Brands Report: Bartenders' Choice

The Bartenders’ Choice list is the anomaly of the Brands Report - which otherwise deals in what’s selling best and what’s trending in bars - and instead looks at the spirits top bartenders personally prize.

Brands Report: Top Ten Spirits

What are the best selling spirits in the world's best bars? Drinks International has polled more than 100 of the world's top bars to find the answers.

Maurice Doyle rejoins Bacardi

Bacardi has announced that industry veteran Maurice Doyle, has rejoined the company as president - incubation brands and global commercial development.

Cannabis drinks get investment in Canada

Constellation Brands has announced the development of cannabis-based beverages after agreeing the acquisition of a minority stake in cannabis producer Canopy Growth Corporation.

Spirits Strategies Congress targets bar industry

The fourth edition of the Spirits Strategies Congress will take place in London on 31 October – 1 November 2017.

Researchers create fake booze detector

Researchers at the University of Manchester have developed the world’s first handheld device that can detect fake spirits inside bottles.

Late Chinese New Year an issue, says Diageo chief

Diageo chief executive Ivan Menezes says that despite a late Chinese New Year and highway ban in India, the company is on course to hit its targets ahead of the 2017 annual general meeting.

Diageo profits up 25% for 2017

Global beer and spirits brand, Diageo has reported a 25% increase in operating profit (£3.6bn) and a 15% increase in sales profit (£12.1bn) for the year ending 30 June 2017.

Rebecca Creek Distillery receives $15m investment

Rebecca Creek Distillery, one of the largest ‘craft’ distilleries in the US, has received a $15m investment by Dr. Henning Kreke, board chairman of Düsseldorf–based beauty retailer Douglas.

William Grant & Sons shows premium spirits boom in market report

Premium spirits are continuing to boost the UK on-trade market despite Smirnoff Red Label topping the value charts, according to the William Grant & Sons market report for 2017.

William Grant & Sons reports rise in premium spirits

The value of premium spirits has grown nearly 10% in the UK according to the William Grant & Sons market report for 2017.

Pernod Ricard UK announces new marketing director

Pernod Ricard UK has announced that Philip Ainsworth, current marketing director of Wyborowa Pernod Ricard, has been made its new marketing director.

Monteru Brandy applies Japanese Mizunara Oak finish

Monteru Brandy has become the first French spirit brand to finish a product in a Japanese Mizunara Oak cask.

Teeling appoints Bacardi as US importer

The Teeling Whiskey Company has announced that from September 1, Teeling whiskey will now be imported into the US through Bacardi.

Diageo buys George Clooney tequila Casamigos for $1bn

Diageo has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Casamigos, a US super-premium tequila brand founded by Hollywood star George Clooney, for $1bn.

Chivas Masters finalists announced

Chivas Regal has revealed the 15 national winners who will compete at the Chivas Masters Global Final taking place in Tokyo from July 1-5.

DI reveals world's fastest growing spirits brand

Indian Whiskey brand Bangalore Malt is the world’s fastest growing spirit with 82% growth, according to Drinks International’s Millionaires’ Club 2017.

Diageo Reserve appoints first 'cocktailian' role

Diageo Reserve, the luxury portfolio of Diageo, has appointed Canadian mixologist Lauren Mote as its global cocktailian – the first of its type in the industry – to build a relationship between the Reserve business and the wider luxury industry.

Premium spirits company Magnetic Brands launches in London

Dave Steward and Matt Mckee have set up a new sales, distribution and marketing agency called Magnetic Brands aimed at the premium spirits market.

Jamie Jones wins Diageo World Class GB final

Jamie Jones of The Social Company has been named Diageo Reserve GB’s World Class Bartender of the Year 2017 following a two-day final held at The Mondrian, London.

Pernod takes stake in Del Maguey mezcal

Pernod Ricard, has announced that it has signed an agreement to take a majority stake in Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, said to be the leading producer of artisanal, hand-crafted mezcals and the number one mezcal brand in the US.

Jonathan Arthur wins Courvoisier Toast of Paris title

British Bartender Jonathan Arthur has won the global final of Courvoisier Toast of Paris 2017, a cocktail competition focused on the Cognac category.

Alcoholic soda water launches in UK markets

Global Brands has launched Crooked Beverage Co, a range of alcoholic sodas which are the first of its kind to UK on and off-trade markets.

British spirits producer goes global after Dragons' Den rejection

White Heron Drinks founder Jo Hilditch has successfully trademarked her UK blackcurrant liqueur, British Cassis prior to global expansion.

Dominic Roskrow book hailed at Gourmand Culinary Awards

Drinks International features writer and columnist Dominic Roskrow has been honoured in the prestigious international Gourmand Culinary Awards at an awards ceremony in Yantai Wine Bay, China.

Bacardi Legacy: Story of the week

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese residents witnessed Ran Van Ongevalle of Belgium lift the Bacardi Legacy trophy in Berlin last week via an entourage of mobile phones broadcasting the live final across the world.

Ran Van Ongevalle wins Bacardi Legacy 2017

Ran Van Ongevalle has been named the 2017 Bacardi Legacy champion in Berlin with his Clarita cocktail.

Bacardi Legacy gets 'insane' coverage in China

More than 200,000 Chinese residents tuned in to the Taiwan and China performances in the semi-final of the Bacardi Legacy cocktail competition in Berlin.

Ian Burrell praises standards at Bacardi Legacy

Global rum ambassador Ian Burrell has praised the standard of competition after the opening day of semi-finals of the Bacardi Legacy cocktail competition in Berlin.

BrewDog launches new spirits range LoneWolf

BrewDog has launched a new spirits range called LoneWolf which will be available in all BrewDog bars and online.

William Grant & Sons appoint new commercial director

Spirits company William Grant & Sons UK has appointed Neil Barker as commercial director.

Distillers' City Debate prepares for London return

Tickets have been released for the sixth annual Distillers’ City Debate on Tuesday 16 May 2017 at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, London.