Tales shows it's shifting focus

Tess Posthumus reports from the recent tales of the cocktail – and finds it’s becoming so much more than just a cocktail festival.

Julie Reiner to reopen Milady’s in New York

Julie Reiner will return to her old territory this September, to open Milady’s at the corner of Prince and Thompson Streets in SoHo, New York.

“We never thought we’d actually win it”: Lab 22’s Max Hayward on having the world’s best cocktail menu

As the submission deadline approaches for the World’s 50 Best Bars Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu, Drinks International sat down with Lab 22 head bartender Max Hayward to reflect on what the accolade has meant for the bar.

London’s Lyaness named world’s best bar at The Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards

Lyaness at Sea Containers London took top honours as it was named World’s Best Bar at the 16th annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards at the New Orleans Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation partners with Singapore Tourism Board

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF), organizer of drinks industry conference, Tales of the Cocktail, where new ideas, products, and techniques are exchanged, has announced its partnership with Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Negroni: Three-Parts Winner

From the bartenders’ handshake cocktail to being sold in cans in supermarkets and restaurants, the negroni continues to dominate menus across the globe. Millie Milliken takes a closer look at the evolution of the Italian classic.

Beckie Sullivan appointed as UK brand ambassador for Courvoisier

Edrington UK has announced its appointment of Beckie Sullivan as UK national brand ambassador for Courvoisier.

London’s Oriole launches new cocktail menu

Jazz club and cocktail bar Oriole has launched its latest cocktail menu this month which celebrates the ingredients and traditions of the Old World, the New World and the Orient.

Little Red Door launches new menu for 2022

Parisian bar Little Red Door has launched a new menu for 2022 called Flourish, using directly sourced produce at the core of each cocktail.

Callooh Callaway announces 20-day bar takeover

This summer, bar brand Callooh Callay will be taking over 20 bars across 20 consecutive days in July, the first nationwide bar takeover rally in the UK.

Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge opens for European bartenders

Flor de Caña has announced the opening of inscriptions in Europe for the 2022 edition of its Sustainable Cocktail Challenge. 

Le Syndicat to play host to international takeover series

Award-winning Parisian cocktail bar Le Syndicat has announced a series of takeovers by London’s Silverleaf and Mexico City’s Hanky Panky to coincide with the Cocktail Spirits show.

Cantina OK!’s Harrison Kenney crowned winner at 2022 Patrón Perfectionists cocktail competition

Harrison Kenney of Sydney’s Cantina OK! has been crowned winner at the 2022 Patrón Perfectionists cocktail competition global final at Hacienda Patrón in Jalisco, Mexico.

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.

Diageo World Class heads to Sydney in 2022

Diageo World Class will host the 13th edition of its global finals in Sydney, Australia from 12-15 September this year.

Ukrainian spirits industry professionals launch international cocktail fundraiser

A group of Ukrainian spirits industry professionals have launched a fundraiser calling on bartenders around the world to create a cocktail dedicated to Ukraine.

Bacardi extends bottled cocktail range to the off-premise

Bacardi has announced that it will be extending the availability of its bottled cocktails range, Tails, to the off-trade.

London Cocktail Week announces 2022 dates and restructure

London Cocktail Week 2022 will run from 13-23 October 2022 - now encompassing two weekends, following two years of extended month-long activities.

Cardrona Distillery announces inaugural cocktail comp

Cardrona Distillery has opened entries to UK bartenders to its inaugural cocktail competition, Cardrona Club.

The rise of quality RTDs

Last year’s launch of Panther M*lk, a vegan oat milk RTD made with gin, rum, brandy and overproof spiced rum, shows just how quickly the pre-mixed cocktail industry has evolved since the days of mediocre Gin & Tonics.

World’s first alcoholic oat milk RTD launches in the UK

Panther M*lk, the world’s first ready to drink alcohol cocktail made from oat milk, spirits and liqueurs, has launched in the UK in two flavours.

Silverleaf: The independent luxury bar

The team behind Milroy’s of London have opened a new high-end venue called Silverleaf at Pan Pacific London near Liverpool Street.

Brands Report 2022: Cocktail Bitters

Cocktail Bitters are evocative of the Golden Age of cocktails – of brown and stirred-down drinks, braces, waistcoats and fine moustaches which went on to make an implausible comeback in the early 21st century.

The World's Best-Selling Classic Cocktails 2022

Once again, we asked our 100 global bars to rank their best-selling classic cocktails and a new champion has emerged this year.

Grey Goose launch new pop-up cocktail bar and at-home cocktail kit

Grey Goose has announced the launch of Duet, a pop-up cocktail bar series and martini cocktail kit.

50 Best releases shortlist for Best Cocktail Menu

The World’s 50 Best Bars has released the shortlist for its inaugural Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu award.

Monaghan wins first Flor de Caña Rum Sustainable Cocktail Challenge

Manachain Monaghan from the UK has been crowned global champion of Flor de Caña Rum’s Sustainable Cocktail Challenge with his ‘Steamship’ cocktail.

Streaming platform Spirits Network seeking UK bartenders for new cocktail competition

New York-based media company NBTV Studios has announced the UK launch of streaming platform, Spirits Network, and is inviting UK bartenders to audition for its inaugural programme, Shake Off.

Hacha announce opening of second London site

Deano Moncrieffe and Emma Murphy, the team behind acclaimed Dalston agaveria, Hacha have announced the opening of a second London site in Brixton.

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.

The Fernet-Branca Barback Games returns to London Cocktail Week

Fernet-Branca has announced that after a year’s hiatus, the Barback Games will return to London Cocktail Week for a third time, on 28th October.

Pernod Ricard UK predict that lockdown trends will drive premium spirits and wine sales this Christmas

Pernod Ricard UK has highlighted the consumer trends accelerated by the last 18 months and urged retailers to “capitalise on the huge opportunity within premium spirits and wines this Christmas”.

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.

The Essence House returns to Covent Garden for London Cocktail Week

The London Essence Company has announced that The Essence House pop-up is returning to Covent Garden throughout October for London Cocktail Week 2021.

Officina Cocktail Week brings in World's Best

Milan bar Officina is set to host Officina Cocktail Week with bartenders from some of the World’s Best Bars set to attend the inaugural event.

London Cocktail Week adds new Covent Garden hub

Wristbands are now available for London Cocktail Week 2021 which will once again be extended for the entire month of October.

The Old Man Singapore launches v3 menu

The Old Man Singapore has launched a new “v3” menu inspired by the life experiences of Ernest Hemingway as well as the women he loved.

Pornstar Martini inventor Douglas Ankrah passes

Douglas Ankrah, the inventor of the Pornstar Martini and creator of Soho’s LAB Bar has sadly passed away.

Archivo to host Jad Ballout in Verona

Aperitivo cocktail bar Archivio, based in Verona, will host bartender Jad Ballout this August to showcase his latest bar concept, Dead End Paradise.

50 Best launches new Best Cocktail Menu award

The World’s 50 Best Bars has created the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award which will be announced at the live awards ceremony on 7 December at London’s Roundhouse.

James Grant wins Diageo World Class 2021

James Grant from Canada has been crowned the 12th winner of Diageo World Class following a first ever virtual event for 2021.

Diageo reveals top three cocktail trends

Digital platforms that can predict your favourite cocktail, sustainable socialising and the rise of at-home mixologists will reshape the drinks industry, according to Diageo.

Praphakorn Konglee crowned Bacardí Legacy champion 2021

Praphakorn Konglee from Thailand’s Find the Locker Room bar has won the Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Competition 2021 with is drink ‘Out of Sight’.

London Cocktail Week launches one-off Warm-Up festival

For the first time, London Cocktail Week has announced a one-off Warm-Up festival, taking place 05-11 July 2021.

Coupette launches Apples in RTD form

Internationally awarded London bar Coupette has announced the launch of its Apples cocktail in RTD form from Saturday 29 May.

Kahlúa launch new coffee-inspired label design

Kahlúa has unveiled a new label design, inspired by the coffee culture of the brand’s native Veracruz, Mexico.

The global cocktail trends brought on by Covid-19

While the pandemic has been felt universally, the unevenness of lockdown restrictions has lent wildly different experiences to bar owners and cocktail drinkers around the globe.

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.

Canvas launches as premium cocktail delivery service

A new premium cocktail delivery service called Canvas has launched across the UK this February in partnership with a series of top end bartenders.

Indian bars send signature serves to customers' homes

In May 2020, when the lockdown was still at its strictest in India, Sidecar bar in New Delhi received the good news that it was the only Indian bar to have made it to the coveted 50 Best Bars in Asia list.