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How teamwork could aid Spanish brandy regions
Just under 1,000km separates the two dominant brandy-producing regions of Spain. Between the north eastern Consejo Regulador del Brandy Penedès to the south western Consejo Regulador del Brandy de Jerez are three mountain ranges, four major cities and two different personalities. They both create Spanish brandy, but the products and the philosophies are very different.
Amber Beverage completes Ten Locks asset purchase
Amber Beverage UK (ABUK) has completed an asset purchase deal with Kingsland Drinks-owned distribution business, Ten Locks.
Corruption and war: Ukraine's vodka revolution
In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine which sparked the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Over the subsequent years, drone attacks and combat fighting have dominated the news, but for the vodka industry there’s a completely different narrative less told.
Spiribam France adds seven brands to distribution network
Spiribam has announced that its French subsidiary will handle the distribution of seven new partner brands across France.
Iichiko shochu lands in the UK
Japanese shochu brand Iichiko has signed an exclusive partnership with premium spirits distributor Speciality Brands as of 1 September.
All too often becoming an independent bar owner involves being in debt to investors and constantly on the road. Danil Nevsky says it’s time for honesty to help the next generation understand what ownership really means.
Abhishek Modi’s ambitious plans for Indian spirits
Modi Illva is capitalising on India’s global appeal by branching out into premium spirits for export. Shay Waterworth finds out more from the man at the helm.
Global hospitality community platform launches
A new purpose-built digital networking platform designed specifically for hospitality professionals has launched.
Diageo completes sale of majority stake in Seychelles Breweries
Diageo has completed the sale of its 54.4% shareholding in Seychelles Breweries to Phoenix Beverages Limited, a subsidiary of Mauritius-based IBL Group.
Speciality Brands moves into sake with Kanpai
Spirits distributor Speciality Brands has announced the addition of Kanpai, the London Craft Sake Brewery, to its portfolio.
Speciality Brands adds New Zealand whisky to portfolio
Spirits distributor Speciality Brands is growing its world whisky portfolio with the addition of New Zealand’s Thomson Whisky.
Monarq and Torres reach distribution agreement
Monarq Group and Familia Torres, the Spanish wine and spirits producer, have announced a new regional distribution agreement for Torres Brandy and El Gobernador Pisco.
Louis Roederer tops Admired Champagnes list 2025
Louis Roederer has retained its title as The World’s Most Admired Champagne Brand for the sixth year in a row.
Ferrand Cognac launches new bottle design
Ferrand Cognac has launched a new bottle design for its core range of brandies including the 1840 Original Formula, Ambre, and Double Cask.
Ben Branson: Why non-alcoholic pricing is right
The pricing structure of non-alcoholic spirits has a high level of elasticity - there’s already a broad spectrum of price points which consumers are trying to navigate.
González Byass invests in Los Danzantes mezcal
Emperador Group and González Byass have formed a joint venture called Casa Pedro Domecq which has injected capital into Los Danzantes mezcal.
How Trump tariffs are changing Irish whiskey landscape
As president Trump wields his warnings of high tariff s on imports, Irish whiskey’s smaller producers are reassessing their position with the US. Shay Waterworth reports.
Velvet Cap Irish whiskey acquired by RoCo Brands
RoCo Brands, a premium spirits brands accelerator has acquired Irish whiskey brand Velvet Cap from Blackwater Distillery.
Diageo sells majority shares in Guinness Ghana
Diageo has sold an 80.4% shareholding in Guinness Ghana Breweries to Castel Group in Africa for $81m.
There’s no change in the top three, but the lower echelons see some shifts and a new entry.
Ben Branson: How to brand non-alc spirits
There are many different elements to consider when launching a non-alcoholic spirits brand. Aside from creating the liquid, the bottle design and communication are also crucial touchpoints.
Brands Report 2025: How We Did It
The Drinks International Brands Report provides insights into the buying habits and drinking trends within the world’s best bars.
Bardstown partners with Brindiamo on barrel leasing programme
American whiskey distiller, Bardstown Bourbon Company, and Brindiamo, a leader in sourcing bulk whiskey, will launch an exclusive barrel leasing programme.
Ex-Campari chief executive joins Cygnet Gin as chairman
Ex-Campari global chief executive Matteo Fantacchiotti has been appointed as partner and chairman of Welsh gin brand Cygnet.
Anora establishes Lithuanian arm
Anora has expanded its footprint in the Baltics by establishing Anora Lithuania, established on 13 November, with commercial operations set to commence in 2025.
Anora sells schnapps brand Snälleröds
Anora has completed the sale of its Swedish schnapps brand Snälleröds to Malmö-based beverage company Saturnus AB.
Diageo unites luxury brands in new division
Diageo has introduced a new global division to combine ‘luxury assets’ into one portfolio including brands such as Brora and Port Ellen.
Ben Branson on the future of non-alc spirits
In his inaugural column for Drinks International, Branson takes a wider look at the overall non-alcoholic spirits sector to identify which brands will thrive and which won’t survive.
Trump return fears for global premium spirits
News of Donald Trump’s re-election as US president earlier this week has sparked fear over the possibility of further tariffs being implemented on the spirits industry.
Global beverage brands form renewable energy alliance
Ten global beverage companies have joined forces under a new industry-wide consortium designed to help accelerate renewable energy adoption across the industry’s supply chain.
Leo Evers: De Kuyper's new CEO sets out big ambitions
Earlier this year hundreds of global industry figures gathered in Schiedam to bid farewell to De Kuyper Royal Distillers’ Mark de Witte, who retired after nine years as chief executive at the company.
Pernod reports sharp -26% sales drop in China
Sales for Q1 FY25 totalled €2,783m with an organic decline of -5.9% largely driven by a steep drop in China.
DrinksOne Brands to distribute Equiano Rum in the UK
UK distributor DrinksOne Brands, has partnered with African and Caribbean rum Equiano, to serve as the sole agency distributor for the brand across the UK.
Suntory Oceania’s AU$400m site starts production
Suntory Oceania has begun production at its AU$400m manufacturing facility in Australia, to produce the company’s RTD brands from next year.
Master of Malt once again founder-owned
AB InBev’s ZX Ventures arm has sold Master of Malt, Maverick Drinks and Atom Brands back to original founder Justin Petszaft, six years after acquiring the business.
The Millionaires' Club 2024 launches
The Millionaires’ Club 2024 has revealed that 44% of the world’s major spirits producers showed volume declines in 2023 as global recession and inflation takes effect.
Brown-Forman opens Japan distribution office
Brown-Forman has launched its own distribution business in Japan to bring its distribution in-house for the first time since entering the market in the 1970s.
Speciality Brands adds two brands to spirits portfolio
Spirits distributor Speciality Brands is adding Takamaka to its rum portfolio, alongside signing an exclusive partnership with Chichibu Distillery, taking over from Speciality Drinks.
Paragon to exclusively distribute Zamora brands in the UK
Drinks importer and distributor, Paragon Brands, has announced its new role as the exclusive distributor of Zamora Company spirits and liqueurs in the UK.
Brands Report 2024: How We Did It
We’ve been running the Brands Report since 2010 – the year after Agile Media launched the World’s 50 Best Bars – and, while it has evolved since then, taking in new categories and drawing data from an ever-rotating panel of bars, it still seeks to answer the same question. Which brands do the best bars buy – and why?
The Drinks International Brands Report 2024 has launched, offering the industry insights into the buying habits of the world’s best bars.
Korea’s soju prices set to fall
Korean liquor giants, including Hite Jinro and Lotte Chilsung Beverage, are set to reduce the wholesale prices of their soju brands beginning next year.
Spirit of Gallo brings soju brands to the US
Spirit of Gallo has announced it will distribute Korean soju brands Soonhari, Chum Churum and Saero in the US from January 2024, in partnership with Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co.
Ojo de Dios partners with Nightcap Brands
Ojo de Dios Mezcal has announced a partnership with Nightcap Brands as its official UK importer and sales agent.
Speciality Brands to distribute Distillerie de Grandmont in the UK
Drinks distributor Speciality Brands has signed an agreement with French spirits producer Distillerie de Grandmont to exclusively distribute the brand’s expressions in the UK from this month.
Speciality Brands to exclusively distribute Chopin Vodka
Drinks distributor Speciality Brands has signed an agreement with Chopin Vodka, to exclusively distribute the Polish brand in the UK from this October.
Outcast Brands expands into seven new markets
Outcast Brands, the Dublin-based spirits company has announced the expansion of its global presence with the introduction of its Blood Monkey gins and Two Shores rums into seven new international markets.
International Beverage to acquire Larsen Cognac business from Anora
International Beverage has entered into an agreement with Anora Group plc to acquire its Larsen Cognac business.
Brown-Forman announces Slovakia distribution business
American drinks group Brown-Forman has announced the launch of its own distribution business in Slovakia, bringing distribution in-house for the first time since the company entered the market.
Celebrity tequila - the long term effects
While they put a focus on the spirit, some experts believe the explosion of brands backed by famous faces does the category and quality expectations no favours.
