Graham’s Port has launched its first-ever bartending competition, in which seven bartenders from around the world will convene in Porto to compete for a €1000 cash prize and six months’ supply of Blend N º5 and Blend N º12.

Scotch whisky brand Dewar’s has announced the latest release in the brand’s Cask Series, Japanese Smooth, an 8-year-old blended Scotch finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks.

Super-premium gin Brockmans has announced that one million bottles were sold within a 12-month period, a milestone for the brand.

Keith Motsi has carved a truly unique path through the hospitality industry. Having been born in Zimbabwe and raised in Leeds, UK, he now finds himself at the reins of one of Asia’s top luxury hotel bars.

Super-premium tequila brand Mijenta, has launched Mijenta Reposado Tequila, the second UK launch from the brand following the release of Mijenta Blanco Tequilla in June 2021.

UK-based functional drink brand Three Spirit has announced the launch of a range of non-alcoholic alternative wines, Blurred Vines.

Dublin-based online whisky store, The Single Malt Shop, has announced that they will now deliver to the UK and to celebrate the launch, delivery costs to the UK will be free until the end of May. 

Keith Motsi, head bartender at Charles H in Four Seasons Seoul, has won the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2022.

The Old Kent Road in south London is one of the country’s oldest and most storied. The original track was paved by the Romans and used as their principal thoroughfare between old Londinium and the coast. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote about its use as a pilgrim’s way in The Canterbury Tales and later it was the route by which King Henry V and his men returned triumphant from the battle of Agincourt.

Premium vodka brand, Vodka 4 Peace, has launched in the UK pledging to donate 100% of profits until 2026 and £5 per bottle to NGOs in Ukraine.

Puerto Rican rum producer, Distillería Serrallés has launched its portfolio of aged Don Q Rums in the UK and European markets.

Viña Concha y Toro has reported that profits rose by 26.7% in 2021 with sales of premium wines accounting for more than half of company revenues for the first time.

Kenyan ultra-premium spirits producer, Procera Gin has announced a partnership with Axiom Brands to accelerate growth in the UK on- and off-trade.

Ukrainian vodka brand Dima’s has launched a fundraising initiative to support British-Ukrainian Aid and Come Back Alive, which see all proceeds from the purchase of four bottled cocktails going to charity.

Hendrick’s have launched Neptunia, a limited-edition gin using Scottish coastal botanicals and the latest release from master distiller Lesley Gracie’s Cabinet of Curiosities collection.

Cardrona Distillery has opened entries to UK bartenders to its inaugural cocktail competition, Cardrona Club.

London Cocktail Week founders Siobhan Payne and Hannah Sharman-Cox, alongside Global Bartending’s Dan Dove, have announced the launch of the Pinnacle Guide, a new one, two and three ‘Pin’ recognition system for the world’s best bars.

Strong demand from the UK, the US and China helped South African wine exports increase by 12.1% in value to R10.2bn in 2021.

Co-founder and chief exec of non-alcoholic spirit brand Lyre’s, Mark Livings, has joined the advisory board of Ful, a producer of climate-positive, sparkling spirulina drinks.

Pernod Ricard UK has expanded its American whiskey portfolio with Rabbit Hole making the UK the first European market to launch the brand.

Diageo is investing £73 million in a Guinness microbrewery and “culture hub” in the heart of London.

Indian hospitality and hotel brand Taj have announced the opening of a new bar and restaurant at the five-star Taj 51 Buckingham Gate in central London.

Panther M*lk, the world’s first ready to drink alcohol cocktail made from oat milk, spirits and liqueurs, has launched in the UK in two flavours.

London Wine Fair director Hannah Tovey has branded Prowein's decision to move the Dusseldorf-based show to May "a direct attack" on the UK drinks trade.

Sales of no and low alcohol beverages in 10 key global markets reached almost $10 billion in 2021 up from $7.8 billion in 2018, according to a new IWSR report.