Edrington UK to host trade events series for London Cocktail Week

Edrington UK has announced a series of workshops and events for the London trade as part of October’s London Cocktail Week.

Icelandic beer brand Eico launches in UK

Icelandic beer brand Eico has launched in the UK which is made with water from glacial melt.

Lucky Saint launches in cans

Alcohol-free beer brand Lucky Saint has launched in cans across the UK following its successful roll out in draught and bottle formats.

Kirker Greer Spirits launches Japanese brand Ukiyo

Kirker Greer Spirits has launched a new Japanese spirits brand called Ukiyo which features two gins and a rice vodka coming soon.

Camden launches beer made with Marmite

Camden Town Brewery has partnered with Marmite to launch a new limited edition beer which uses the popular spread in its brewing process.

Amber Beverages launches pineapple-infused tequila in UK

Amber Beverages will launch the first new tequila from Fabrica de Tequilas Fino in the UK after the group’s recent acquisition of the distillery in Jalisco, Mexico.

London Cocktail Week adds new Covent Garden hub

Wristbands are now available for London Cocktail Week 2021 which will once again be extended for the entire month of October.

ZX Ventures: Tracking tastes in innovation

A direct-to-consumer site allowed AB InBev’s global investment and innovation group to continue gathering vital consumer feedback during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Luigi Bosca focuses on producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon

The man who helped establish Malbec as Argentina’s flagship grape is now bidding to showcase the country’s potential as a producer of world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.

Domino Communications launches intern programme with The Drinks Trust

UK drinks public relations agency Domino Communications and The Drinks Community – the professional members platform from The Drinks Trust – have launched an internship for those working in the hospitality and drinks industry.

Pornstar Martini inventor Douglas Ankrah passes

Douglas Ankrah, the inventor of the Pornstar Martini and creator of Soho’s LAB Bar has sadly passed away.

Pernod Ricard UK launches wine brand for dog lovers

Pernod Ricard UK has launched Leaps & Bounds, a new range of Australian wines inspired by dogs.

VSPT Wine Group sales up 11%

VSPT Wine Group has seen an 11% increase in sales for Q2 to maintain its number one spot in the Chilean market.

Diageo sees a strong future for direct-to-consumer sales

Diageo expects direct-to-consumer sales to grow rapidly and emerge as an important part of the business in the years ahead.

US wine tariffs threaten UK market shape

The UK’s most popular wines could disappear from supermarket shelves and pubs after the government proposed a 25% tariff on all wine imports from the US.

Hacha leads by example

Back in 2002 celebrity chef Jamie Oliver launched Fifteen, a restaurant made up of a team of trainee chefs from underprivileged backgrounds.

Prosecco steps up sustainable practice

The volatile symptoms of climate change are looming larger over the wine world, Oli Dodd investigates.

Trivento named as the world’s best-selling Argentine wine brand

Trivento has been revealed as the world’s best-selling Argentine wine brand in a report by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

Moët Hennessy launches Volcan De Mi Tierra tequila in the UK

Tequila brand Volcan De Mi Tierra has launched its Blanco and Cristalino expressions in the UK.

UK bar group reports record sales since reopening

British bar operator Arc Inspirations has reported that sales have increased by 35% compared to 2019 since it resumed trading in May.

Master of Malt predicts future drinking trends

Online retailer Master of Malt has unveiled three key trends that could define the spirits industry during the next year.

Bacardi identifies three key social groups as on-trade reopens

Bacardi has identified three key consumer groups after conducting an extensive survey on attitudes towards revisiting bars as lockdown measures are eased.

Distill Ventures launches accelerator programme to increase diversity

Distill Ventures has committed to increasing diversity within the drinks industry through the launch of a new pre-accelerator programme dedicated to early stage founders from underrepresented groups.

Sales of beer and Jägerbombs soar in England during the Euros

Alcohol sales in English pubs have skyrocketed during the Euros according to data collected by UK hospitality app OrderPay.

UK off-trade sales finally decline as bar trade rebounds

Sales of beers, wines and spirits have finally started to decline in the UK off-trade after bars were permitted to open their doors once again.

VSPT Wine Group reports strong Q1 sales

South American wine producer VSPT Wine Group posted a 27.6% sales increase during the first quarter of 2021 in spite of poor exchange rates.

Regal Rogue targets indigenous communities with new charity

Australian vermouth Regal Rogue is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the launch of four new signature serves alongside a charity initiative.

Tequila's calling for celebrity mixto

Stars continue to flock to give their endorsement to 100% agave brands, but sustainability has become an issue as consumer demand has risen.

US scotch whisky tariffs suspended for five years

A deal has been struck between the UK and US to end retaliatory tariffs on malt whiskies for five years.

Belvedere launches Organic Infusions range

Belvedere has stepped into the organic category with a trio of flavoured expressions that infuse the Polish rye vodka with organic fruits and botanicals.

UK proposes new tariffs on US wine imports

US wine imported into the UK could become one of several American products to be levied with new tariffs as part of the ongoing trade war.

Eden Mill extends distribution through La Martiniquaise-Bardinet

Scottish distiller Eden Mill has entered a new partnership with French drinks group La Martiniquaise-Bardinet for the UK distribution of its gin portfolio.

Research exposes high demand for draft alcohol-free beer

A consumer survey from alcohol-free beer brand Lucky Saint has revealed that nearly a third of people in the UK would now consider ordering an alcohol-free drink in bars, pubs or restaurants.

Edrington and Beam Suntory agree distribution swap

Edrington and Beam Suntory have reached an agreement to end their joint-venture distribution businesses in Spain and the UK after more than a decade of partnership.

Edrington and Beam Suntory announce equity swap for UK and Spanish businesses

Spirits giants Edrington and Beam Suntory have agreed to an equity swap of stakes in their jointly-owned distribution companies in Spain and the UK.

Poland and Italy drive sales growth for Stock Spirits

Stock Spirits Group increased volume sales by 2% to 8.3 million 9-litre cases in the six months to March 31.

Concha y Toro posts 8.2% revenue increase for Q1

Leading Chilean wine producer Concha y Toro has reported an 8.2% revenue increase in the first three months of 2021.

Lucas Bols reports 32% drop in revenue in 2020

Lucas Bols has reported an estimated 32% year-on-year decline in revenue for the 2020/21 financial year after widespread on-trade closures and travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Henkell Freixenet reports 7.4% sales decline for 2020

Henkell Freixenet has reported that net sales decreased by 7.4% year-on-year in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic caused bars and restaurants to close for several months.

Gonzalez Byass UK appoints Melissa Draycott as managing director

Melissa Draycott will take over from Martin Skelton as managing director of Gonzalez Byass UK in September.

Fentimans launches 200ml mixer range

Fentimans is to replace 125ml mixer bottles with a new range of 200ml mixers, as the premium mixer brand aims to “tap into the growing popularity for long mixed drinks”.

Imbibe Live 2021 set to go ahead

Imbibe Live 2021 will go ahead from 13-14 September at Olympia London, organiser Reed Exhibitions has announced.

Freixenet Copestick signs distribution deal with The Garage Wine Co.

Freixenet Copestick has expanded its portfolio by signing an exclusive distribution partnership with Chilean producer The Garage Wine Co.

Safety is paramount for female bar staff

Nick Strangeway on the duty of care which bars must have to their female staff and customers.

New Zealand wine: Covid's highs and lows

While New Zealand has managed the pandemic better than most, a lack of tourism and difficulties with shipping have taken a toll on wine sales. Martin Green reports.

The rise of Rioja’s carbonically macerated reds

It’s December 2020 and I’m holding in my hands a Rioja whose vintage bears the same year. And it’s one of the brightest, freshest, easiest to drink wines I’ve had since moving to the area.

Jura launches new rum cask finish

Jura single malt whisky has launched a new rum cask finish as the latest member of the Jura Cask Editions.

Concha y Toro net profits increased 48.6% in 2020

Leading Chilean wine producer Concha y Toro increased net profit by 48.6% to Ch$77,994 million (US$107.4 million) in 2020.

Naughty Water builds up momentum in the burgeoning hard seltzer category

An ambitious start-up aims to turn hard seltzers into a hot summer drinks trend within the UK market.

Casillero del Diablo launches Spanish Tempranillo

Leading Chilean wine brand Casillero del Diablo is expanding into Spain by launching a Tempranillo from Cariñena.