Brexit can boost spirits exports says WSTA chief

WSTA chief executive officer Miles Beale believes the UK can use Brexit to boost spirit export numbers after 45 new distilleries emerged in 2016.

Toorank becomes Dutch Spirits

Dutch distiller, Toorank, has announced a full rebrand and new corporate name, Dutch Spirits.

Bon Vivant Tonic Syrup readies for UK launch

Owner of Reàl, American Beverage Marketers, has teamed up with drinks consultant Giuseppe Gallo to create Bon Vivant Tonic Syrup.

DISCUS: April is Alcohol Awareness Month

US body the Distilled Spirits Council has launched a campaign to make April ‘Alcohol Awareness Month’, aimed at reminding adult consumers in the US to embrace moderation year-round.

Bacardi named 84th most reputable global brand

Bacardi Limited has been named among the 100 most reputable companies in the world in Forbes magazine for the fifth year in a row.

Star of Bombay seeks 'leadership role' in gin industry

Bombay Sapphire wants to ‘demonstrate a leadership role’ in the gin industry with the launch of Star of Bombay.

Armagnac Academies debuts in San Francisco

Armagnac Academies will make its debut in San Francisco on May 22 to educate members of the trade.

ZECA to unveil new cachaca sugarcane varieties

ZECA Cachaca will unveil its new hybrid sugarcane varieties at the Brazilian embassy in London on April 11.

Funkin launches Bramble mix

Funkin is expanding its range of cocktail mixers with the addition of Funkin Bramble this month, bringing the classic English cocktail to the on-trade in an "easy-to-use" format. 

The fourth John Walker Private Collection

Diageo has unveiled the fourth John Walker & Sons Private Collection expression.

Diageo: currency pressures won’t push up prices

Diageo has said that a weak pound would not see immediate changes in its prices.

DISCUS calls on Trump to aid exports

The Distilled Spirits Council has said it looks forward to working with the Trump administration to expand access for US agricultural exports, including distilled spirits, in foreign markets.  

DI Annual Bar Report: How we did it

The Drinks International Annual Bar Report looks to gauge the buying habits of the best bars in the world by conducting a survey of their owners, head bartenders and bar managers.

UK's first birch spirit launches

Freya, billed as the UK's first birch sap spirit, will launch this November.

BCB celebrates record numbers

Berlin Convent Berlin received record numbers of visitors this month, taking in 11,604 trade professionals over two days, an increase of 15% on last year.

The Global Drinks Forum

Leaders of the global drinks industry assembled in Berlin on October 10 to discuss the future of the industry. Here is a selection of what was said. 

Le Nechet wins World Class

France’s Jennifer Le Nechet has been crowned the world’s best bartender at the World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final 2016, the first female bartender to win the award.

Copenhagen By The Glass dates announced

Copenhagen By The Glass launches next month, in collaboration with Copenhagen Cooking and Food Festival.

Montenegro takes Cuervo brands to Italy

Gruppo Montenegro, the owner of Amaro Montenegro and Vecchia Romagna brandy, has finalised exclusive distribution agreements in the Italian market for Jose Cuervo, the world’s number-one tequila, Bushmills, Irish whiskey, The Kraken Black Spiced rum and Boodles British gin.

Millionaires' Club: The spirits market overview

Hamish Smith gives us his take on the spirits market – things look better than last year but it’s far from plain sailing.

The Millionaires' Club 2016 launches online

The Millionaires' Club, Drinks International's report on the largest selling spirits brands, is now available to download.

Millionaires' Club: Soju

Drinks International's annual league of million-case brands returns. Here is a list of the world's best-selling Soju brands in 2015.

Millionaires' Club: Bitters

Drinks International's annual league of million-case brands returns. Here is a list of the world's best-selling Bitter brands in 2015.

Millionaires' Club: Ones to watch

Drinks International's annual league of million-case brands returns. Here is a list of the ones to watch for next year.

Millionaires' Club: The Major Players

A rundown of the companies with the most million-case brands in the Millionaires' Club 2016.

Millionaires' Club: Fastest Growing Spirits

Drinks International's annual league of million-case brands returns. Here is a list of the world's fastest growing brands in 2015. 

Penny Blue Rum launches first VSOP release exclusively in Mauritius

The Indian Ocean Company and Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits have announced the launch of the first VSOP release from the Medine Distillery, a VSOP bottling of Penny Blue Mauritian Rum. 

Craft Spirits City Debate

Authenticity, heritage and craftsmanship – those were the keynote themes of this year’s City Debate hosted by the Worshipful Company of Distillers.

Diageo launches Cîroc Pink Grapefruit

Diageo Reserve has unveiled the first citrus offering in its Cîroc UK portfolio, Pink Grapefruit.

Beam Suntory launches Jim Beam Double Oak

Beam Suntory has released a ‘new take’ on Jim Bean Kentucky Straight Bourbon into the UK.

Craft spirits – friend or foe?

The Worshipful Company of Distillers’ City Debate this year tackles the controversial subject of ‘Craft Spirits – Friend or Foe of Global Brands?’

Sazerac Company partners with Linie Aquavit

The Sazerac Company has announced a partnership with aquavit Lysholm Linie and ArcusGruppen as its sole importer in the US.

Whyte & Mackay to distribute Camus

Whyte & Mackay and Cognac House Camus have entered into a new partnership to manage the distribution of Camus cognacs and Ungava gin in the UK.

Beam Suntory unveils latest Booker’s Bourbon

Beam Suntory has unveiled its latest Booker’s Bourbon for the US market, Batch 2015-06 ‘Noe Secret’.

Whisky to push global spirits consumption to 3.2bn by 2020

The global spirits market will pass the 3.2bn-case mark by the year 2020, according to the IWSR. 

Mezcal sales growing at 22%

Mezcal sales value is growing at 22% and now amounts to $88m a year, according to the Consejo Regulador del Mezcal.

Diageo hopes Millennials can turn Smirnoff’s fortunes around

Diageo is hoping to “re-imagine” Smirnoff as a true challenger rather than a tired leader by appealing to Millennials. 

House of Cocktails premixes launch

Global Brands has launched House of Cocktails, a new range of premixed cocktails available to the UK off trade.

Last call for 22nd annual Cocktail Challenge

Drinks International is still accepting entries to its new-look Cocktail Challenge.

Turkey investigates Diageo’s Mey Icki

Diageo’s Turkish operation Mey Icki is under investigation by Turkey’s antitrust authority, according to reports.

Analyst's view: The Global Spirits Market

After the release of The Millionaires' Club 2015, contributor and Euromonitor International's senior drinks analyst Jeremy Cunnington gives us his take on the spirits market's performance in 2014.

Jameson bitters launches

Pernod Ricard unveiled Jameson Wild Sloe Berry Bitters at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans last week.

The Millionaires' Club 2015 launches online

The Millionaires' Club, Drinks International's report on the largest selling spirits brands, is now available to download.

Crème de Casis takes ISC Supreme Champion award

Lejay Noir de Bourgogne was named Supreme Champion at the 20th International Spirits Challenge ceremony yesterday.

Bacardi buys Leblon

Bacardi has completed the acquisition of Leblon cachaça, having owned a share of the brand for several years.

William Grant is Rugby World Cup’s official spirits and champagne provider

William Grant & Sons has announced that it is the official spirits & champagne tournament provider to the Rugby World Cup 2015 which starts in September.

Martin Riley goes Nude

Martin Riley, Pernod Ricard’s former chief marketing officer, has joined brand marketing agency, Nude Brand Creation.

Jinro maintains spirits industry dominance

Jinro soju has retained its position as the number one selling spirit brand in the world, ahead of Emperador brandy, according to Drinks International’s Millionaires’ Club 2015.

Middle aged drinkers are going to have drink problems

Approximately 3.4 million middle aged people who drink regularly are going to have health problems, according to an alcohol education charity.

DI's Roskrow wins Drinks Writer of the Year

Dominic Roskrow has won Drinks Writer of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drinks Awards 2015 for articles published in Drinks International magazine.