Fords Gin reveals new trade-focused cocktail bar and brand home

Fords Gin, the London Dry Gin created by Simon Ford and tenth generation master distiller Charles Maxwell, has announced the opening of its new bar and brand home.

Act of Treason gains nationwide distribution in Australia

Australian spirits company Top Shelf International has launched its Act of Treason agave spirit in the domestic off-trade through Endeavour Group’s Dan Murphy’s.

Budweiser Brewing Group to distribute Kopparberg in the UK

Budweiser Brewing Group, part of AB InBev, will be the new distributor of Kopparberg products in the UK on-trade, effective from 28 May.

Maker's Mark appoints new UK brand diplomat

Edrington UK has announced the appointment of its latest UK brand diplomat for Maker’s Mark bourbon, Charlotte Pederson.

Burnt Faith partners with Proof Drinks

Burnt Faith has partnered with drinks specialists, Proof Drinks, to drive interest in British brandy houses across the UK.

Agile Media acquires rights to Sommelier Wine Awards

Agile Media, owner of Drinks International, has agreed an exclusive deal with Imbibe Live to bring back The Sommelier Wine Awards for 2024.

SommCon debuts newly expanded trade show

SommCon, the San Diego, California-based conference for wine, beer and spirits education has announced the launch of its newly expanded trade show for import, distribution and on and off-premise alcohol beverage buyers. 

Ramón Bilbao introduces Spanish Wine Master competition

Rioja’s Ramón Bilbao is introducing a professional competition to find its ‘Spanish Wine Master’, as the brand continues on its mission to educate the trade about Spanish wine.

The Drinks Trust announces Guy Lawrence as chair

The Drinks Trust has appointed Guy Lawrence, CEO of Brockman’s Gin, as the new chair of the charity following Troy Christensen’s two-year tenure.

Liviko expands distribution to Denmark

Estonian spirits producer, Liviko, and Conaxess Trade Beverages have signed a distribution agreement for Denmark.

Toku Saké launches Junmai Daiginjo in UK on-trade

Toku Saké, a new super premium saké, has announced the release of Junmai Daiginjo, its debut liquid. 

How one gin brand, packed with Spanish spirit and real strawberries, is taking the UK by storm

Puerto de Indias is the market leader in Spain’s strawberry gin segment, and a pioneer in creating the first gin from natural strawberries.

Drinks International’s Guide to London Cocktail Week

London Cocktail Week kicks off on Thursday 13 October and for 11 days it promises to be the biggest yet, involving 350 bars spread across the capital.

UK Government freezes alcohol duty in mini-budget

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has announced that planned increases in alcohol duty have been ditched in his mini-budget.

Diageo announces preliminary results, year ended 30 June 2022

Diageo has announced its preliminary results for the year, ended 30 June 2022, with strong performance and investments into long-term growth.

Tequila's Coffee Break

With Patrón discontinuing its popular XO Café, the tequila liqueur category has opened up to other brands – and it’s a popular space, finds Shay Waterworth.

Building Whiskey Bridges

Trade disputes resulting in crippling tariffs have been lifted after four years, but will America and its export countries find a permanent peace?

Old Mout launches limited edition cider glasses for WWF campaign

Old Mout is launching its biggest campaign yet to spread awareness of its partnership with WWF by introducing limited edition cider glasses.

Talking the challenges of cocktail weeks

Having recently returned from the US visiting both Oakland and Arizona Cocktail Weeks I was amazed by the differences in approach. In Oakland there was a much bigger trade focus and it felt more relaxed, whereas in Arizona it was one massive party for consumers.

Roma Bar show to return in 2022

The Roma Bar Show has announced that it will return for a second edition as a two-day event on 30 and 31 May.

Green to leave lasting legacy beyond DI

The announcement of Martin Green’s departure from Drinks International marks the end of an era for Agile Media and a significant loss for the wider drinks trade.

Russian vodka boycotts in US have little impact on war, says expert

An industry expert believes that boycotts on Russian vodka across the US will have little impact on the war due to the divide between ‘control states’ and those under the three tier system.

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.

New Zealand Wine Trade Hub Launches

New Zealand Winegrowers has launched an online portal designed to support the trade in major export markets around the world.

Quintessential launches innovation Spirit Centre to the trade

Quintessential Brands has launched its ‘Spirit Centre’ - an innovation hub  for all channels which aims to improve customer collaboration.

Prowein postponed until May

The organisers of Prowein have decided to push the trade show back from March to May in response to the rapid spread of the omicron variant of Covid-19.

Vinexpo America and Drinks America Debut on March 9-10

In less than two months wine and spirits professionals from around the world will meet in North America for the first major trade event of its kind since 2020. 

Camden Town Brewery launches festive ad campaign

Camden Town Brewery aims to save Christmas from bad gift givers in its first ever festive TV ad campaign.

UK gin producers lobby for tax break

UK gin producers have called upon Chancellor Rishi Sunak to freeze duty on spirits after revealing that exports have plummeted 35% as a result of the pandemic.

London Cocktail Week 2021 trade schedule released

London Cocktail Week has once again been extended to the whole month of October for 2021 and the full trade schedule has been released.

Cape Wine to return in October 2022

Popular trade show Cape Wine will return to Cape Town from October 5-7, 2022.

RumFest set for physical event in October

RumFest will return in person with a real life event for 2021 taking place between 15-17th October in London.

Edrington UK to host trade events series for London Cocktail Week

Edrington UK has announced a series of workshops and events for the London trade as part of October’s London Cocktail Week.

RumFest returns as physical event for 2021

Following 2020’s successful hybrid events, RumFest has announced its physical return for October 2021.

WSTA calls for immediate end to US whiskey tariff

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has called for the UK government to swiftly remove tariffs on US whiskies.

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.

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.

VSPT Wine Group reports strong Q1 sales

South American wine producer VSPT Wine Group posted a 27.6% sales increase during the first quarter of 2021 in spite of poor exchange rates.

US scotch whisky tariffs suspended for five years

A deal has been struck between the UK and US to end retaliatory tariffs on malt whiskies for five years.

WEBB Banks launches CBD and wellness subsidiary

Leading Caribbean and Central American drinks distributor WEBB Banks has created a subsidiary that will focus on supplying CBD and wellness products to the trade.

How the industry has changed since travel limits

Nick Strangeway looks at how travel restrictions have left a permanent impression on the global bar trade.

Californian wine: Trouble in paradise

California is the latest major wine-producing region to struggle with Mother Nature after a drought emergency gripped the Golden State.

Belvedere launches Organic Infusions range

Belvedere has stepped into the organic category with a trio of flavoured expressions that infuse the Polish rye vodka with organic fruits and botanicals.

UK proposes new tariffs on US wine imports

US wine imported into the UK could become one of several American products to be levied with new tariffs as part of the ongoing trade war.

Poland and Italy drive sales growth for Stock Spirits

Stock Spirits Group increased volume sales by 2% to 8.3 million 9-litre cases in the six months to March 31.

Armagnac: How US tariff relief poses long-term questions

A synchronised sigh of relief was heard right across the Armagnac region last year as the news broke of Donald Trump’s defeat in the US election.

Lucas Bols reports 32% drop in revenue in 2020

Lucas Bols has reported an estimated 32% year-on-year decline in revenue for the 2020/21 financial year after widespread on-trade closures and travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

New Zealand wine: Covid's highs and lows

While New Zealand has managed the pandemic better than most, a lack of tourism and difficulties with shipping have taken a toll on wine sales. Martin Green reports.

Fever-Tree co-founder dissects -3% revenue for FY20

Fever-Tree has announced full year revenue declines of 3% year-on-year for for the financial year ending 31 December 2020.

London Cocktail week 2021 extends to full month of October

London Cocktail Week has announced that the 2021 festival will once again be extended to the full month of October and not host The Cocktail Village.