Inside Bar Leone Shanghai: 'A sports bar without screens'

Bar Leone co-founder Lorenzo Antinori has provided further details on the new site in Shanghai which was announced by Drinks International in September.

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.

Patrón undergoes redesign

Patrón tequila has undergone a full packaging redesign of its core range for the first time in 36 years.

New Ki No Bi distillery commences production

Pernod Ricard-owned Japanese gin Ki No Bi has announced that its new fossil-free distillery is fully operational, with the grand opening on 7 October.

The World's 50 Best Bars 51-100 list drops for 2025

The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, has announced its 51-100 list in the build up to the awards ceremony in Hong Kong on October 8.

London Cocktail Week returns for 2025 with new initiatives

London Cocktail Week will return this autumn from 9-19 October 2025, with the announcement of two new initiatives, Tiny Cocktails and Home Grown.

New potential for amaretto

New World wine is a recognised category, and now a similar movement is evolving for one of Italy’s classic liqueurs.

Lion appoints new chief executive and creates Lion ANZ business

Lion has announced the appointment of Anubha Sahasrabuddhe as chief executive officer and the creation of Lion ANZ business.

Brendan McCarron joins The Lakes Distillery as whiskymaker

The Lakes Distillery has announced the appointment of Brendan McCarron as its new whiskymaker.

UK government to overhaul high street hospitality red tape

The UK government is introducing new rules to fast-track licensing for venues and protect them from noise complaints.

DC’s Silver Lyan introduces new menu

Washington DC’s Silver Lyan, currently ranked 48th in North America’s 50 Best Bars, has launched its latest cocktail menu titled ‘The Butterfly Effect’.

Nightjar Shoreditch celebrates 15 years with new menu

East London bar Nightjar has introduced Recalling, a new cocktail menu celebrating the evolution of mixology through the ages.

Sastrería Martinez introduces new menu

Peruvian bar Sastrería Martinez has introduced its new menu titled Collection 25/26.

Chinola Fresh Fruit Liqueurs expands distribution with Southern Glazer’s

Dominican Republic’s Chinola Fresh Fruit Liqueurs has announced the expansion of its distribution into the Caribbean, Central America and travel retail through a new agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.

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.

Bali’s Potato Head launches menu inspired by Indonesia

Desa Potato Head’s bar has launched Roots Revived, a new conceptual menu inspired by Indonesia’s culture and heritage.

Asia's 50 Best Bars 51-100 launches for 2025

Asia’s 50 Best Bars has announced the extended 51-100 list for the fifth year running.

Whisky Hammer opens first operational base in mainland Europe

Online auctioneer Whisky Hammer, founded by Scottish brothers Craig and Daniel Milne, has announced the opening of its first operational base in The Netherlands.

Spiritseurope names new director general

Spiritseurope has appointment Mark Titterington as its new director general, effective 1 September 2025.

The Whisky Exchange names Natalie Tennent new managing director

The Whisky Exchange has appointed Natalie Tennent as its new managing director which will be effective from 7 July 2025.

Rémy Cointreau names new chief executive

The Rémy Cointreau board of directors has announced Franck Marilly as its new chief executive, taking office on 25 June 2025, succeeding Éric Vallat.

Loch Lomond Group acquires The New York Distilling Company

Loch Lomond Group (LLG) has announced the acquisition of The New York Distilling Company (NYDC).

UKHospitality responds to new UK-EU trade deal

After months of negotiations, the UK and EU have agreed on a new post-Brexit trade deal, with talks still continuing on a youth mobility scheme.

Montana: Inside Antinori x Caporale's new bar

As far as bar collaborations go, it doesn’t get much bigger than this. The founders of number two and number three in The World’s 50 Best Bars, Lorenzo Antinori and Simone Caporale, have joined forces to launch Montana in Hong Kong.

Sidecar founders to open new venue in Kathmandu

Minakshi Singh and Yangdup Lama, the team behind 50 Best Bars regular Sidecar, have announced a new concept in Kathmandu, their first international foray.

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.

Antinori and Caporale to open new bar Montana in Hong Kong

Lorenzo Antinori and Simone Caporale have announced the opening of a new bar in Hong Kong called Montana, Drinks International can exclusively reveal.

New Eden Mill Distillery fills first cask

Independent Scottish distiller Eden Mill has completed commissioning of its new distillery, with both gin and single malt whisky now being produced on-site.

Dram bar introduces new menu

London’s Soho-based cocktail bar Dram has launched its new menu, focusing on exploring the duality of ingredients in the venue’s multi-faceted space. 

Trump unveils plans for reciprocal global tariffs

In what has been dubbed ‘Liberation Day’, US president Donald Trump has announced steep reciprocal tariffs.

Experimental launches American Bar in Marais hotel

American Bar, situated inside Experimental Marais, has announced its official launch as a nod to classic New York bars.

The Ada Coleman Project expands global directory

The Ada Coleman Project, a platform dedicated to amplifying the visibility of women and non-binary professionals in the drinks industry, has announced the expansion of its global directory.

The Thompson Brothers launch crowdfund for sustainable distillery

Independent spirits producer The Thompson Brothers has announced a £1.8m crowdfunding campaign to help fund the construction of the Struie Distillery.

Danil Nevsky launches Cocktail Menu Collection

Indie Bartender, the global online education platform by Danil Nevsky, has launched a new resource called the Cocktail Menu Collection.

Anora appoints Kirsi Puntila CEO

Kirsi Puntila has been appointed the new CEO of Anora Group effective immediately.

Compass Box appoints new CEO

Scotch Whiskymaker, Compass Box, has appointed Nishat Gupte as the company’s new chief executive officer.

Allegory launches new cocktail menu

Washington DC’s Allegory bar, currently ranked at No.23 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2024 list, has introduced its new cocktail menu ‘Banned in DC’.

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.

Hacha to open Bermondsey venue ahead of Brixton site closure

London-based agaveria Hacha has announced a new bar in Bermondsey, which will see the closure of its second site in Brixton.

Jinro to build first distillery outside Korea

Korean beverage producer, HiteJinro, has announced the development of a new production facility in Vietnam.

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.

Schmuck. opens in New York City

Moe Aljaff and Juliette Larrouy have opened their new bar 'schmuck.' on 97 First Avenue at the corner of 6th Street in New York’s East Village.

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.

Tuscany’s Tenuta Valdipiatta receives €1m investment

The founder of Monteverdi Tuscany has announced a €1m investment into the expansion of estate vineyard and winery in south-eastern Tuscany, Tenuta Valdipiatta.

The American Bar at The Savoy introduces new menu

The American Bar at The Savoy has introduced its new menu, Liquid Moments, drawing on the hotel’s history.

Renais Gin secures £4.95m investment

Gin brand Renais has secured a £4.95m investment to accelerate international expansion and increase production capacity.

Soho House launches new non-alcoholic and low abv cocktail menu

Soho House has extended its drinks offering across its UK and North American Houses to feature a wider selection of low abv cocktail alternatives.

Isle of Barra Distillers breaks ground on new Scotch distillery

Isle of Barra Distillers has officially started construction on its new distillery in Castlebay on the Isle of Barra, Scotland.

Cazcabel opens £37m distillery

Tequila brand Cazcabel celebrated the opening of its new £37m distillery in San Francisco de Asis this week.

American single malt whiskey gains official category recognition

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has issued its final rule establishing a new American single malt whiskey category.