The Institute of Masters of Wine has announced 11 new masters of wine.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has announced new corporate branding in anticipation of becoming an independent publicly traded spirits company, to be renamed Beam, early in the fourth quarter.

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

US: Brugal rum brand-owner the Edrington Group, their distributors Rémy Cointreau Travel Retail Americas and retailer International Shoppes have combined forces to promote travel retail exclusive Brugal Extra Viejo Reserva and Brugal Añejo Reserva - starting in New York JFK.

StarBev has announced ‘significant investments’ in its Staropramen brand, as it eyes international expansion.

A bottle of 1811 Château d’Yquem has been sold for £75,000, setting a Guinness world record.

Owners of traditional products such as champagne and cognac need to show some humility in their dealings with new emerging markets, according to the president and CEO of Groupe Renaud Cointreau.

Diageo has appointed a head of its Western Europe division. From September 1, John Kennedy is to become chief operating officer, Diageo Western Europe. Kennedy is currently managing director, Diageo Ireland.

UK cider producer Aspall is to restructure its business and invest £4m following “40% volume growth” last year.

US: Heaven Hill has launched a liqueur called Hpnotiq Harmonie. The new product is an infusion of French vodka, natural fruits, flowers, and cognac.  The mix includes berries, violets and lavender.

Morrison Bowmore Distillers has made five new appointments within its sales and marketing team.

Chivas Brothers has launched a new special edition Beefeater gin. Developed by master distiller Desmond Payne, Beefeater London Market Gin will be available for a limited period from June 2011 in key global markets, including Spain, UK, Turkey and Bulgaria.

Constellation Brands has named Jay Wright, currently president of its North American division, as its new chief operating officer (COO), effective immediately. In his new role, Wright will oversee marketing, sales and operations across the company. This is the first time Constellation Brands has appointed such a role and a statement from the company said “the creation of the COO role is the latest step in the company's evolution to further refine and streamline its organisation”.

Entrants aiming to crack the US market need to take a bold approach, according to a wine importer.

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.

Irish Distillers, the Irish whiskey arm of Pernod Ricard, unveiled two new single pot still Irish whiskeys today (May 5).

Chivas Brothers has introduced new packaging across its “core range" of The Glenlivet.

SABMiller has launched a new Peroni Nastro Azzurro global ad campaign that celebrates the Italian summer.

Christie’s has conducted a 36-hour wine auction in Hong Kong and New York, with sales totalling US$11.2m.

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

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

Jeff Clarke has been appointed chief winemaker at Marlborough’s Ara Wines.

William Grant & Sons has repackaged its Grant’s Sherry Cask Finish and Ale Cask Finish expressions.

Ara, the Malborough-based New Zealand winery, has appointed Matthew Adams to the role of sales and marketing general manager.

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.