DISCUS warns of renewed spirits tariffs

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has sounded an alarm over the potential return and doubling of the EU’s retaliatory tariff on American whiskey in a new report.

WSET appoints Regine Lee MW to board of trustees

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), has announced the appointment of Regine Lee MW to its board of trustees.

In praise of canned wine

They might still seem unconventional and even unacceptable to some, but plenty of people are championing these containers, as Oli Dodd finds.

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.

Guinness 0.0 draught trials launch in GB

After a successful trial in Ireland, Guinness 0.0 is being rolled out across Great Britain on keg at a select number of pubs.

White Claw Vodka comes to the UK

RTD and hard seltzer brand, White Claw, has released its first vodka in the UK, launching nationwide next month.

Hospo concerns over UK smoking ban

The representative group for UK hospitality has criticised government plans to ban smoking from beer gardens, outside restaraunts, sports stadiums and outside hospitals.

Birra Moretti overtakes Carling as UK’s best-selling draught

Italian lager Birra Moretti has overtaken Carling to become the best-selling draught lager in the UK, research from CGA finds.

Concha y Toro sees near 20% revenue rise

Viña Concha y Toro has seen revenue growth of 17.7% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024 to Ch$237,348 million, while profit also increased 243.1%.

Freixenet launches French sparkling wines

Freixenet has entered the French sparkling wine category with the launch of two expressions immediately available in the UK.

Hine returns to travel retail through SipWell deal

Independent cognac house Hine has appointed SipWell to drive its travel retail presence across the UK, US and Asia.

Mangrove Global and Waitrose expand partnership

Spirits distributor Mangrove Global is bringing a selection of international brands from its independent spirits portfolio to UK customers nationwide, through an extended partnership with supermarket chain Waitrose. 

Guinness shines despite Diageo sales decline

Diageo reported a net sales decline of 1.4% to $20.3 billion for the year end 30 June 2024 which the company pinned on unfavourable foreign exchange and inflation.

The Drinks Trust adds five new trustees

The Drinks Trust charity has added five new members to its board of trustees – Jennie Baernreuther, Ian Bray, Tim Clay, Paul Haslam and Tony Watson.

Rosewood London appoints new director of bars

Rosewood London has announced the appointment of Andy Loudon as its director of bars, returning to the UK after nearly two decades of experience within the international hospitality industry. 

Freixenet Copestick and Zamora Company enter into distribution partnership

Freixenet Copestick and Spain’s Zamora Company have agreed a strategic distribution partnership for the Zamora portfolio of wines in the UK and Northern Ireland. 

Carlsberg agrees £3.3bn takeover fee of Britvic

Danish company Carlsberg has agreed a £3.3bn deal to buy the UK business of Britvic as well as the remaining 40% share in its joint brewing venture with Marston’s.

Toku Saké appoints new head of sales and advocacy

Toku Saké has appointed Stuart Hudson as head of sales and advocacy, effective as of this month.

Markham wins No3 Unrivalled Classics UK final

Martha May Markham of Swift in London has won the UK final of the Unrivalled Classics cocktail competition by No.3 Gin.

UK wine tourism up 55% in two years

WineGB has released its first wine tourism report which shows that visits to UK vineyards and wineries have risen by 55% in two years.

Labour Party outlines plans to support British pubs

The Labour Party’s plan for UK high streets aims to replace the business rates system, cutting energy bills and giving communities the ‘right to buy’ community assets, like pubs.

Lexie Constantinescu: A matter of urgency

The London bar community was rocked in April by the news that Lyaness bartender Alexandra ‘Lexie’ Constantinescu had unexpectedly passed away on an extended trip to Cuba, where she had previously been competing as a UK finalist in Havana Club’s Cocktail Maestros competition.

Snoop Dogg launches first white wine with Treasury Wine Estates

Treasury Wine Estates and rapper Snoop Dogg have expanded their collaborative wine portfolio with the launch of Cali Blanc.

Budweiser Brewing Group to distribute Kopparberg in the UK

Budweiser Brewing Group, part of AB InBev, will be the new distributor of Kopparberg products in the UK on-trade, effective from 28 May.

Viña Concha y Toro sales up more than 25%

Viña Concha y Toro has recorded sales growth of 26.4% for the first quarter of its financial year as it continues to recover from a challenging 2023.

Lyaness bartender Lexie Constantinescu passes

Lyaness bartender Alexandra ‘Lexie’ Constantinescu has passed away while on holiday in Cuba after competing in a cocktail competition.

Label 5 launches first grain whisky

Label 5 blended Scotch whisky has launched its first single grain whisky which will initially roll out in the UK market.

Global breweries partner for sustainable grain initiative

‘Brewing for Impact’, an initiative that will see breweries from seven countries produce beer using the West African grain fonio, has launched.

Seatrus Gin joins Friarwood portfolio

Friarwood wine and spirits merchant has announced it has gained exclusive rights to import Italian gin Seatrus in the UK.

Panther M*lk launches new range and bottle design

Panther M*lk, an oat milk ready-to-drink cocktail has launched a new bottle design and extended its range of flavours to include Crema, Rosa, Cafe, and Menta.

Satan's Whiskers named best bar in UK

Satan’s Whiskers took the title of Best Bar in the UK at the CLASS Bar Awards 2024, which took place last night (16 April) at Battersea Arts Centre in London.

Molson Coors to invest over £100m into UK breweries

Molson Coors Beverage Company has announced its plans to invest more than £100m in its UK brewery and beverage network over the next five years.

CopperBay opens third venue inside Paris's Hôtel Lancaster

CopperBay has launched its third site at Hôtel Lancaster on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, becoming one of the first independent venues to open within a luxury hotel in France.

No.3 Gin education programme concludes in Soho

No.3 London Dry Gin’s education initiative Ph3 Bartending Programme, which aims to empower bartenders, has reached its final ‘Graduation’ phase.

Stauning launches global cocktail competition

Danish whisky Stauning has launched the ‘Stauning Drinks Kollektive’, a global cocktail competition which aims to shine a light on bartenders from Denmark, Germany, France, the UK, US and Australia.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society donates new series profits to OurWhisky

As part of its celebrations for International Women’s Day 2024 the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has released five single cask whiskies selected by an all-women tasting panel.

UK tax freeze brings short-term relief for wine sector

The UK government has announced a freeze on alcohol duty in the Spring Budget which was declared on Wednesday 6 March.

Double Dutch's Female Bartending Scholarship returns for 2024

Double Dutch, producers of mixers and tonics, has launched its Female Bartending Scholarship Programme for the fourth consecutive year, as part of its commitment to foster upcoming female talent in the hospitality industry.

Mezcal brand The Lost Explorer enters tequila

Having worked for three decades as head distiller of Diageo’s Don Julio, maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa has partnered with The Lost Explorer to create its first tequila line.

Whitebox Cocktails partners with Artisan Spirits

Ready-to-serve cocktail brand Whitebox Cocktails has partnered with brand-building agency, Artisan Spirits, to expand its international distribution.

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.

Industry names to lead Schweppes brand ambassador programme

Schweppes has announced the launch of its European-wide brand ambassador programme.

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.

Tito's makes UK changes and supports Equal Measures

Tito’s Handmade Vodka has appointed Spirit Cartel as its new distributor for the UK and signed a sponsorship deal with Equal Measures.

British wine celebrates record 2023 harvest

WineGB has declared a record harvest for the British wine industry which is set to produce an estimated 20-22m bottles.

UK introduces new wine labelling laws for 2024

The UK government is set to implement new requirements for the selling and labelling of wine nationwide from 1 January 2024.

Renais Gin to launch in the US

Renais Spirits has announced a national distribution agreement in the US for Spring 2024, following its launch in the UK in May this year.

East London Liquor Company bought out of administration

East London Liquor Co has been bought out of administration following “harsh new conditions” on its Time to Pay agreement with HMRC.

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.

Hi-Spirits UK announces name change

Sazerac Company has announced the renaming of subsidiary spirits distributor Hi-Spirits UK, to Sazerac UK.