Poliakov goes red

French vodka brand Poliakov has extended its line in the European on-trade to include a ‘red fruit’ liqueur.

Bacardi trials Bombay Sapphire East

Bacardi USA has announced plans to trial a new gin, Bombay Sapphire East, in the US on and off-trade.

Diageo unveils Captain campaign

Diageo has launched a global, multi-media marketing campaign for its Captain Morgan rum-based brand.

Glenfiddich mastermind search is on

UK: Glenfiddich has launched the 2011 Glenfiddich Malt Mastermind competition. The aim of the game is to find the “trade’s most passionate malt enthusiasts”.

Highland Park goes to the dark side

Scotch brand Highland Park has introduced Earl Haakon, the third and final bottling of its limited edition Magnus Series.

Eristoff vodka goes for Gold

Bacardi Brown Forman Brands has launched a new vodka under the Eristoff brand.

Pernod Ricard signs joint venture with Tequila Avión

Pernod Ricard has announced a joint venture with Tequila Avión to produce and promote the ‘ultra-premium’ tequila brand Avión.

Olmeca Altos gets the Estes approval

Pernod Ricard brand Olmeca has announced a partnership with tequila ambassador and Mexican restaurant-bar owner Tomas Estes.

Diageo launches £15m Tanqueray campaign

Diageo has launched a £15m global campaign for its Tanqueray gin brand.

Campari quadruples Aperol sales

Campari's Italian aperitif brand Aperol is going from strength to strength according to its owners.

Auchentoshan charters transatlantic internships

Scotch whisky Auchentoshan is looking for entries to The Auchentoshan Switch, a cocktail competition that offers bartenders transatlantic internships.

EPI completes Piper-Heidsieck purchase

Rémy Cointreau has completed the sale of all the shares in Piper-Heidsieck-Compagnie Champenoise to the EPI Group (Européenne de Participations Industrielles).

Brown-Forman buys Maximus vodka

Brown-Forman has acquired the Maximus vodka brand from Altia. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Fussigny launches vintage range

A de Fussigny Cognac has announced the launch of four new vintage expressions at Vinexpo in Bordeaux.

Brown Brothers appoints UK brand manager

Australian winery Brown Brothers has appointed Rachel Herrig as brand manager to “drive the brand’s development in the UK and Ireland”.

Amsterdam: Johnnie Walker takes over Schiphol airport

Diageo has launched a Johnnie Walker campaign at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. The Step into the Circuit campaign is centred around the brand's Formula 1 sponsorship.

Diageo GTME unveils "world class" bar in BA club lounge

Diageo GTME, the global travel and Middle East division of the world’s largest drinks company, has unveiled its latest initiative to grab a greater slice of the travel retail alcoholic liquor market.

Blandy takes control of Madeira Wine Company

Portugal: The Blandy Group has regained control of the Madeira Wine Company (MWC) from Symington Family Estates. Symington will still retain a minority share in the business, but intends to concentrate on its Cockburn port brand, which it purchased last year.

New World leads Old in battle of the wine brands

New World brands continue to dominate the global wine sector and now constitute 13 of the top 15 wine brands, according to a recent study.

Finlandia reveals new bottle design

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

DQ makes UK comeback

Swedish vodka brand DQ has re-launched to the UK, following the restructuring of parent company Nordic Spirit.

Canada: Corby sells Seagram Coolers brand

Canada: Brick Brewing Company has acquired the Canadian rights to the Seagram Coolers brand from Corby Distilleries. The transaction closed upon signing.

Chivas receives Westwood styling

Scotch brand Chivas Regal and designer Vivienne Westwood have collaborated to launch a new limited edition whisky.

Bacardi points to technicality as Pernod prevails in Havana Club dispute

The Supreme Court of Spain has ruled in favour of Pernod Ricard and the Cuban government in the Havana Club trademark dispute with Bacardi.

Diageo appoints new Guinness boss

Diageo has announced a new global brand director for Guinness. Oliver Loomes has been appointed to the role, following Brian Duffy’s promotion to global category director for beer.

Budvar bucks Czech beer decline

Czech beer Budvar bucked a 12% decline in Czech beer exports in 2010 to record growth of 4%.

Brand Phoenix to distribute Angove wines

Brand Phoenix has been appointed distributors for Angove Family Winemakers in the UK off-trade.

Brown-Forman looking to offload Fetzer

Brown-Forman, the major US drinks company, has announced a strategic review with a view to offloading its Californina-based wine assets.

Jameson hits 3 million cases

Jameson has reached three million nine litre case sales (MAT ending October 31). According to the brand, growth in the US, Jameson’s largest export market, contributed to its milestone success, with one million cases sold.

Diageo aims to make Captain Morgan 'global mega brand'

Diageo intends to grow Captain Morgan into a "global mega brand", according to Ed Pilkington, the group’s global category director for vodka, gin and rum.

CEDC to purchase Kauffman vodka

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) is to purchase the global rights for Kauffman vodka.

Diageo opens discussions to acquire half of Zacapa

Diageo has initiated discussions to take over 50% of Guatemalan rum brand Zacapa.

Drambuie creates royal cocktail

Whisky liqueur brand Drambuie has created a cocktail to celebrate the announcement of Prince William’s engagement to Kate Middleton.

Nemiroff extends vodka production to Belarus

Ukrainian brand Nemiroff has begun producing vodka in the Republic of Belarus.

New York is tough

New York is tough for a small company trying to get its brand listed and stocked in the city, according to the chief executive of Xanté, the Swedish company with the eponymous cognac and pear liqueur brand.

Altia buys cognac Renault from Pernod Ricard

Altia has signed an agreement to acquire cognac brand Renault from Pernod Ricard for a cash consideration of €10m.

Jacob’s Creek campaign to be aired on Dave

Pernod Ricard has agreed a six-month sponsorship deal with UK TV channel Dave for its Australian wine brand Jacob’s Creek.

Diageo launches Swedish vodka

US: Diageo has launched a Swedish vodka in the US market.

Global repackaging for Courvoisier VS

Cognac brand Courvoisier has undertaken a global repackaging of its VS label, starting with the UK and US markets.

Ballantine’s launches Christmas Reserve

Ballantine’s has unveiled its first seasonal limited edition whisky entitled Christmas Reserve.

Licor 43 targets UK growth

Spanish liqueur brand Licor 43 is targeting UK growth, after up-scaling its marketing operations with the appointment of a brand ambassador.

Concha y Toro is the official wine of Manchester United

Concha y Toro, the largest wine producer in South America, has announced a deal with the Manchester United for its wine brands to become the official wine of the world famous football club.

Beefeater gin gets ready for winter

Chivas Brothers has launched a winter version of its Beefeater gin brand.

Pernod completes Ambrosio Velasco sale

Pernod Ricard Espana has completed the sale of its shares in Ambrosio Velasco to Diego Zamora for a total price of 32.4 M€ in cash.

Glenglassaugh shows its spirit

The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company has launched a range of “Spirit Drink” products. The aim is to give malt whisky fans the opportunity to sample the evolution of the spirit that will eventually become whisky.

Russian Standard rolls out music promotion

UK: Russian Standard Vodka has launched an on-pack music promotion. Consumers will have the chance to win free tickets to music gigs as part of the Russian Standard Vodka Originals brand campaign.

Pernod creates new company, new region

Pernod Ricard has created a new brand company for its wines and made several organisational changes to its overall structure.

Ballantine's gets packaging overhaul

Travel Retail: Pernod Ricard has revamped the packaging for its Ballantine’s blended Scotch whiskies. The revised prestige range first appeared on shelf in Asia Duty Free and includes Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, Ballantine’s 21 Year Old and Ballantine’s 30 Year Old.

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.

Pernod sells shares in Ambrosio Velasco

Pernod Ricard has sold its shares in Ambrosio Velasco to Diego Zamora for €33.1 million (excluding debt).