Wemyss Malts releases Darnley’s View Spiced Gin

Wemyss Malts has released Darnley’s View Spiced Gin to Europe and selected Asian markets, with the US to follow.

Wine economist to speak at Nederburg Auction

The organiser of South Africa’s famous Nederburg Auction, has announced that US economics professor and ‘wine economist’, Mike Veseth, will make a keynote speech on Saturday September 29 at Nederburg in Paarl.

Inver House reports strong results, releases new Balblair vintages

Inver House Distillers, the Scotland-based spirits arm of International Beverage Holdings has reported a 28% increase in turnover for the year ending December 2011.

Vinho Verde exports booming

Despite challenging Portuguese economic conditions, Vinho Verde exports are on the increase and will become more competitive in the global market place, according to the Vinho Verde Commission (CVRVV).

The Macallan 64 Year Old Lalique is world’s most expensive whisky

The Macallan 64 Year Old Lalique Cire Perdue is world’s most expensive whisky sold at auction – that’s official.

Sales of Captain Morgan to match Bacardi, says Diageo

Sales of Captain Morgan rum will one day catch up with Bacardi, according to Diageo.

South Africa’s flagship wine producer unveils new wine

Vergelegen, one of South Africa’s best wine producers, has unveiled a new wine, DNA.

An evening with André van Rensburg

One of South Africa’s best and certainly most controversial winemakers, André van Rensburg, was in London yesterday for the unveiling of his new wine, DNA.

Morrison Bowmore adds McClelland’s to Campari's US stable

Morrison Bowmore Distillers has granted Campari America exclusive US distribution rights for its McClelland’s scotch range.

Crabbie’s expands into US and Canada

Halewood International has expanded the distribution of its Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer brand into the US and Canada.

Concha y Toro commits to Fetzer

Concha y Toro, the largest wine producer in Latin America, is committed to developing and improving the Californian wine producer, Fetzer, which it bought from Brown Forman in March 2011.

Campari announces group pre-tax profit of €52.8 million

Gruppo Campari has announced group pre-tax profit of €52.8 million for the quarter ending March 31, 2012. 

UK: BBFB in £2m JD Tennessee Honey push

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands has announced a £2m first-year investment for the launch of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey in the UK.

Rémy Cointreau raises a cognac to Asia

Rémy Cointreau's consolidated turnover for the 2011/12 financial year was €1,026.1 million, an increase of 13% (up 15.6% organically) compared with the previous year.

$5m visitor centre for Captain Morgan rum

Diageo has opened a US$5m Captain Morgan visitors’ centre as part of of its new distillery in the US Virgin Islands.

Beam sets new Cooley focus

Following its €95m purchase of Cooley Distillery, Beam will phase out the supply of third-party brands to concentrate on building its core Irish whiskeys: Kilbeggan, Tyrconnell, Connemara and Greenore.

A-B InBev bolsters Caribbean brewing ops

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Brazil-based arm AmBev and E. León Jimenes which owns 83.5% of Cervecería Nacional Dominicana (CND) are to form a 'strategic alliance' in the Caribbean.

Cognac Ferrand and Wondrich's Curaçao arrives in US

Pierre Ferrand Cognac's orange liqueur, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao - created in collaboration with cocktail historian David Wondrich - has been rolled out to the US.

US recognises cachaça

The US is to officially recognise cachaça as a spirit from Brazil. The sugar cane spirit is currently labelled Brazilian rum in the US.

Malibu Melon Margarita to make US splash

Pernod Ricard USA will launch Malibu Melon Margarita in May, an addition to its off-trade-focused Malibu Cocktails pre-mixed range.

Scotch exports hit record high

The scotch whisky category belied global economic instability in 2011 by growing sales value 23% to a record £4.2billion.

US: DISCUS recruits Campari, appoints new chair

Campari America has joined the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

Malibu Sunshine to rise in spring

Pernod Ricard has announced the launch of Malibu Sunshine, a citrus edition of the rum and coconut liqueur.

Champagne regains fizz

The Champagne Bureau has reported increased shipments in 2011. Total shipments worldwide rose from 319.5 million bottles in 2010 to 323 million in 2011.

Cooley’s and Jameson ready for St Patrick’s Day

Beam Inc., the new owners of Cooley’s the Irish whiskey brand, says it has signaled its intent to build the Kilbeggan brand in the US by importing the largest case shipment ever of the blended whiskey for the St Patrick’s Day (March 17) celebrations this weekend.

Ballantine's whisky goes for golf

Chivas Brothers is to launch a limited edition golf pack for its Ballantine’s 17 and 21 year old blended whiskies.

Danny DeVito’s Limoncello poised for world markets

Danny DeVito’s Limoncello is about to be rolled out to international markets, following its US launch in 2011.

Campari reports steady 2011

Italian drinks company Davide Campari-Milano has reported a group net profit for 2011 of €159.2m, up from €156.2m in 2010.

Jim Beam's Fred Noe on tattoos and Twitter

Fred Noe is approaching 57 and he’s just had his first tattoo.

Beam rolls out Skinnygirl wine and flavoured vodka

US: Beam has expanded its Skinnygirl range to include wine, a range of flavoured vodkas and a Piña Colada.

World of Patria takes Chase into GTR

Travel Retail operator World of Patria International has reached agreement with Chase Distillery to offer its range of spirits and liqueurs.

Chivas launches Ballantine’s Signature Distillery Editions

Chivas Brothers has launched two 17-year old Ballantine’s expressions under the new line, Signature Distillery Editions.

Angostura crowns 2012 cocktail champ

Angostura has crowned US bartender David Delaney Jr as the winner of the 2012 Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge.

Australian Wine

Consumers in Australia’s top two export markets are abandoning its wines for cheaper alternatives leaving producers wondering if Asia will grow big enough to compensate for US and UK declines. By Graham Holter

Campari expands Turkey pen with $44m investment

Gruppo Campari plans to build a US$44m bottling facility at the Wild Turkey distillery in Kentucky, US.

Jameson goes global for St Patrick's Day

Irish Distillers has announced its St Patrick's Day plans for Jameson.

Diageo posts 7% organic sales growth

Diageo has delivered 3% volume growth and 7% organic net sales increase for the six months ended December 31, 2011.

Beam reports strong 2011 fourth quarter and full year results

Beam Inc, the US-based global spirits company, has reported full-year net sales increases of 8%.

Asian cognac clamour drives sales of €2bn

Annual sales of cognac are worth €2 billion thanks to a surge in XO and VSOP sales in the Far East, says the Cognac Bureau (BNIC).

Cutty Sark Tam o’Shanter arrives in travel retail

The Edrington Group has launched a limited edition of its Cutty Sark 25 Year Old to global travel retail.

Beam makes senior appoint

Beam, the US-based global premium spirits company, has announced that Arthur Aroney will join the organisation as managing director of Emerging Markets for its Asia Pacific/South America (APSA) region.

Beefeater 24 is now in 50 markets

Pernod Ricard’s super premium gin, Beefeater 24, is now available in 50 markets worldwide.

Altia buys Xanté

Altia Plc is buying the Xanté Company and the Xanté spirits brand from the Swedish Tilander family.

Seismic shift in South American wines

There has been a seismic shift in the Chilean and Argentinian wine industries, according to some leading experts.

French wine is the ideal

French wine is the favourite of regular wine drinkers in the UK and China and the second preference in Germany, says Wine Intelligence.

Plymouth is re-positioned as a super premium-plus gin

Chivas Brothers is introducing a new look for its Plymouth gin brand, re-positioning it above Beefeater 24, as a “super premium-plus”.

Bacardi to launch $2000 anniversary rum

Bacardi Limited is planning a raft of activity to celebrate its 150th birthday. Besides parties and commemorative gifts, the company is to launch a $2,000 limited-edition decanter of "rare" Bacardi rum.

Ethiopia: Diageo completes brewery acquisition

Diageo has completed the acquisition of the Meta Abo Brewery in Ethiopia for US$225 million.

Sparkling sparkles in US

US consumption of imported sparkling wine will reach new heights in 2012 due to the increased penetration of prosecco and cava, says Wine Intelligence. 

Pre-mixed Drinks Challenge results are published

The 2012 Pre-mixed Drinks Challenge was Drinks International’s fourth examination of the category and our most wide-ranging yet.