UK government introduces new tax system on alcoholic beverages

New government regulations have been introduced in the UK from August 1 which will see alcoholic beverages now taxed on strength.

Bruichladdich reduces packaging emissions by 65% with redesign of The Classic Laddie

Islay distillery, Bruichladdich, has redesigned its signature The Classic Laddie, removing the secondary tin and significantly reducing glass weight to reduce packaging CO2 emissions by 65%.

Belvedere unveils release inspired by vodka making process

Belvedere has released its Belvedere 10, crafted from the single harvest of one rye field.

Gin shines brightly in travel retail

Gin may have fallen out of favour in the UK, but its prospects are much brighter in travel retail.

Havana Club unveils sustainable initiatives to cut carbon footprint

Havana Club is reducing the weight of glass bottles across its core portfolio in a move that it estimates will save 2.2K tons of CO2 per year.

Fred Sirieix named UK ambassador for G’Vine French gin

G’Vine gin, the French gin made with grapes, has announced Fred Sirieix as their first ever UK ambassador.

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.

Streaming platform The Avenue launches online bartending competition

Streaming platform The Avenue has launched the online cocktail competition Battle of the Bottle taking place this October and with a top prize of $10,000.

Ferrari Trento announces partnership extension with Formula 1

Ferrari Trento has announced it will be the official toast of Formula 1 until the end of the 2025 season, extending its partnership from three years to five.

Vodka Zelensky launches in the UK with all profits going to Ukrainian aid

Premium vodka brand, Vodka 4 Peace, has launched in the UK pledging to donate 100% of profits until 2026 and £5 per bottle to NGOs in Ukraine.

Destilería Serrallés launches Don Q in UK and Europe

Puerto Rican rum producer, Distillería Serrallés has launched its portfolio of aged Don Q Rums in the UK and European markets.

Absolut Vodka unveils new bottle design

Absolut Vodka has announced a new bottle, the brand’s biggest design update since 1979.

Crystal Head launches Pride Edition Magnum

Crystal Head Vodka has launched a magnum bottle to celebrate Pride festival and support its relationship with Kaleidoscope Trust.

Rare bottle of 1821 Grand Constance breaks wine auction record

A bottle of 1821 Grand Constance sold for a record-breaking R420,000 (£21,222) at the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction in Stellenbosch.

Pétrus wine aged in space expected to sell for $1million

A bottle of Pétrus 2000, which has spent 14 months aboard the International Space Station, is to be offered for sale by Christie’s.

The Famous Grouse launches new bottle for British & Irish Lions tour

The Famous Grouse has launched a limited-edition label to celebrate the brand’s role as the official sponsor of The British & Irish Lions.

Ryan Reynolds launches Aviation Gin Wrexham AFC bottle

Aviation American Gin has launched a limited-edition Wrexham AFC bottle to celebrate the takeover of the National League club by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Turkey increases special alcohol tax by 17.1%

Turkey has increased its special consumption tax on alcoholic beverages by 17.1%, according to Istanbul daily Habertürk.

Bacardi unveils world's first biodegradable spirts bottle

Bacardi has unveiled plans to put the world’s first 100% degradable spirits bottles on shelves and back bars by 2023.

Piper-Heidsieck launches Prohibition inspired bottle

Piper-Heidsieck has launched a limited-edition bottle and gift box to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Prohibition in the US.

Chivite pushes boundaries with barrel-fermented rosé

Spanish producer Chivite has launched a barrel-fermented rosé made from Garnacha grapes sourced from the Legardeta estate in northern Navarra.

Finsbury gin redesigned and Wild Strawberry variant launched

Borco has invested in a redesign for its Finsbury gin range and launched a Wild Strawberry variant to attract new consumers.

Jägermeister to donate €1m from proceeds of limited-edition bottle

Jägermeister has launched a limited-edition #SaveTheNight bottle designed to support the bar trade in various key markets around the world.

Jura Red Wine Cask Finish unveiled in time for World Whisky Day

Scotch whisky producer Jura has kicked off a new series of cask editions by releasing a whisky finished in red wine barriques.

Absolut Exposure launches at TFWA Cannes

Pernod Ricard launched Absolut Exposure last night at an event at TFWA Cannes.

Chivas Regal – the magnum force

Chivas Brothers has unveiled a 1.5 litre magnum of its flagshiop blended scotch whisky, Chivas Regal, aimed specifically at elite bars.

World's largest whisky unveiled

The Edrington Group has broken the world record for the largest bottle of whisky with the unveiling of a 228-litre bottle of The Famous Grouse.

Jim Beam’s 1795 exclusive at Frankfurt

Beam and Maxxium Travel Retail (MTR) have jointly launched a travel retail-exclusive Jim Beam bourbon at Frankfurt airport.

UK budget sees alcohol prices increase

UK: The Chancellor has added another 41p to a bottle of spirits and 11p to a bottle of wine in the latest Budget.

Absolut London makes timely arrival

Pernod Ricard UK is hoping the release of Absolut London in time for the Olympics and the Queen’s diamond jubilee will lift sales of the brand by 10%.

Rémy unveils limited edition Cointreau for Dubai

Rémy Cointreau has created a limited edition bottle for its Cointreau orange liqueur brand, especially for Dubai Duty Free.

Master of Malt launches blogger blend St Isidore

Following a collaboration with whisky bloggers and journalists, Master of Malt has released St Isidore.

Master of Malt reveals Rumbullion

Online spirits retailer Master of Malt has released Rumbullion, an “old-fashioned“ rum under its Professor Cornelius Ampleforth brand.

Balblair in double-vintage release

Inver House Distillers yesterday announced the global release of Balblair vintages 1992 and '01 from the newly-opened visitor centre at the brand's Highland distillery.

Malibu launches snow globe bottle in UK

Malibu is releasing a limited edition coconut rum with coconut flakes floating inside to look like snowflakes.

Smirnoff releases Nightlife Exchange Project bottles

Diageo has extended the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project campaign with the release of city and country-themed bottles to selected global markets.

Smirnoff goes for Gold

Diageo has launched a cinnamon spiced vodka in travel retail.

DJ designs Olmeca tequila bottle

Russia: Pernod Ricard has teamed up with DJ Ferry Corsten to launch a limited edition bottle of Olmeca tequila. The product will be exclusive to Russia, where Olmeca holds a 41% market share.

Jacquesson releases single-vineyard champagnes

Champagne Jacquesson has announced the launch of two single-vineyard champagnes from 2002 to global markets.

£75K Château d’Yquem breaks record

A bottle of 1811 Château d’Yquem has been sold for £75,000, setting a Guinness world record.

170-year old Veuve fetches €30K

A 170-year old bottle of champagne salvaged from a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea has fetched €30,000 at auction.

Chivas Brothers restyles The Glenlivet

Chivas Brothers has introduced new packaging across its “core range" of The Glenlivet.

Finlandia reveals new bottle design

Finlandia vodka, part of Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, has unveiled a new global packaging design dubbed ‘melting ice’.

Russian Distiller launches Polugar

Russian Distiller has launched two new ‘bread wines’, Rye Polugar and Rye Malt Polugar.

Plan Bee for Banrock Station

UK: Constellation Europe’s Banrock Station brand is to launch special edition wines to help preserve the British bee population.

Champagne Louis Roederer rolls out brown bottles

Following a 2009 announcement that it would be moving its non-vintage and vintage cuvées to brown bottles, Roederer has started to roll out Brut Premier in brown bottles.

Diageo redesigns Smirnoff 21

Diageo has redesigned its Smirnoff 21 packaging. The new bottles have launched in the UK and will roll out across the world from August.

Grolsch beer teams up with British Airways

Dutch beer Grolsch has announced a partnership with British Airways and has opened a bar in one of the airline’s lounges in Terminal 5.

Bacardi launches special edition Bénédictine

Travel retail: Bacardi has launched a limited edition bottling of Bénédictine liqueur.

South African wine gets sustainability seal

The South African wine industry has launched a new sustainability seal, as a guarantee of environmentally-sensitive production.