Ribera del Duero: harnessing unique terroir

A move away from oak barrels to producing fresher, fruitier wines is characterising experimentation in one of Spain’s most important winemaking regions.

Rhum arrangé goes global

There’s a new string to rhum agricole’s international bow as producers hit export markets with their fruit-flavoured versions. 

Sake wins fans overseas

While Japan’s national drink is losing consumers in its home country, its versatility is gaining it greater recognition in wider markets.

Sue Hodder: different thinking

Eleanor Yates meets Australian winemaker Sue Hodder, who believes in embracing team diversity as a great strength in the industry.

The women changing the modern drinks media

While it may seem one of the most equitable sectors of the industry, women still come up against challenges, as Shay Waterworth discovers.

Asia retail recovery gathers pace

A spate of upscale new liquor store openings is good news for Asia duty free, but will Chinese spending return to pre-pandemic levels?

Irish whiskey: finding flavour

Irish whiskey looks to champion the taste profiles of its base ingredient as a way to raise category awareness.

The agave spirits waiting in the wings

Oli Dodd gets the lowdown on the lesser-known traditional agave spirits that could be ripe for expansion in the coming years.

Julia Massies: Pernod UK chief's priorities and ambitions

Pernod Ricard UK managing director Julia Massies joined Shay Waterworth at Scarfes Bar in The Rosewood Hotel, London, to discuss her formative months in the role and the future.

Premium mixers: reducing waste

Taking steps towards greater sustainability has become unavoidable across the drinks industry, with premium mixers no exception. Clinton Cawood rounds up some of the most impac­tful initiatives of recent times.

A journey through the Loire

The wines of the Loire Valley are bucking international trends with their single variety diversity. Shay Waterworth visits the region.

Chartreuse devotees find alternatives

Following the news that the famous monk-made liqueur was going to be harder to come by in quantities, several pioneers have stepped forward to carry the banner for a classic cocktail substitute.

Champions of tequila tradition

The meteoric rise of tequila is well documented, but not all agave spirits are equal. Eleanor Yates visited El Tequileño in Jalisco to discover the challenges of making the Mexican favourite.

Chinese duty free market stages recovery

The all-important Chinese duty free market is showing welcome signs of recovery after a disappointing 2023.

Christian Barré on Havana Club’s premium potential

As a long-standing brand, Havana Club has built up a large inventory, allowing it to target the growing ultra-premium end of rum while still offering value and trade-up.

Indian whisky ramps up momentum

World whiskies have been gaining attention for some time, but those from India are the ones grabbing the spotlight right now.

Richard Betts on questioning tradition in tequila

Tequila-maker Richard Betts talks to Oli Dodd about the passion he has for creating agave spirit that protects the land and communities that live there.

Armagnac’s new generation dynamism

Armagnac has a long history of tradition and strict governing rules, but that hasn‘t stopped the latest producers from recognising and leaning into trends.

The bartending renaissance of amaro

Oli Dodd looks at the long tradition of amaro and how bartenders the world over are modernising and expanding the category.

Meeting of cava minds

Shay Waterworth attends the first cava industry summit, and finds quality, innovation and leadership – but a need for agreement on a future action plan.

Breaking bread with Altamura

Frank Grillo created his Altamura vodka to showcase the flavour of the special wheat that is its base.

Troy Arquiza: tradition and innovation

Troy Arquiza outlines how, as global master blender for Bacardi, he has access to a wealth of historical knowledge to help shape rum’s future. 

A new nation of rum distillers

A growing band of rum makers are pu­tting Britain on the map – with a remit to steer the category into exciting new waters.

Steady recovery gives hope for 2024

How will the travel retail drinks sector remember 2023? Joe Bates reviews the highs and lows of an eventful 12 months.

The rise of African rum

Tyler Zielinski discovers a whole new world of production across the continent.

A new nation of rum distillers

A growing band of rum makers are pu­tting Britain on the map – with a remit to steer the category into exciting new waters.

Jassil Villanueva Quintana: a world of flavour

Oli Dodd hears how Brugal maestra ronera Jassil Villanueva Quintana perfected a new process of aromatic cask toasting.

What’s brewing in world beer

Eleanor Yates finds that, while it’s not without its challenges, beer globally is generating some interesting reasons for optimism.

How vermouth became versatile

The craft drinks movement has brought excitement and quality into the fortified, aromatised wine sector.

American zest for limoncello

Italian producers don’t see California’s offerings as a threat, but Americans are embracing home-grown versions of the lemon liqueur.

Aquavit: spirit of the Nordics

Shay Waterworth dives into Norway’s aquavit pool and finds producers striking out to gain greater global recognition.

Spanish brandy: forward-thinking brands hit the mark

Spanish brandy is a big hitter despite a history lacking in marketing. But Shay Waterworth finds a sector that’s brimming with innovation today.

Italy battles vineyard challenges

Italian wine output is dropping, but producers are finding ways to mitigate the damage caused by climate change and fungal disease in the vineyards.

Regenerating French brandy

St-Rémy master blender Cécile Roudaut is on a mission to modernise a well-known but misunderstood category.

Growth slows for RTDs

As the rate of growth declines, premiumisation and cocktails take the lead in a still-healthy sector. Eleanor Yates reports.

Widespread response to tackle climate change

Across the drinks world, producers are instigating regenerative and sustainable farming practices. Shay Waterworth reports on some of the vital initiatives taking place.

Duty free back with a bang at upbeat Cannes show

With more exhibitor space, buyers and landlords than ever before, last month’s TFWA World Exhibition showed an industry with renewed momentum.

Marc Álvarez: Sipping the best

His bar may have been named the World’s Best, but Sips co-owner Marc Álvarez is not languishing. He shares with Oli Dodd how he plans to keep pursuing his dreams.

Alexander Stein on shaking up Armagnac

At the end of 2021 Alexander Stein, founder of Monkey 47, acquired a majority stake in Société des Produits d’Armagnac from Pernod Ricard with the aim of restoring Marquis de Montesquiou to its former glory. 

Michele Mariotti on high life in the Highlands

Managing 11 outlets across a single estate is no mean feat, and factoring in sustainability and locality adds to the enormity of the task. Gleneagles head of bars Michele Mariotti talks Oli Dodd through the job.

An analysis of The World's 50 Best Bars 2023

Hamish Smith provides the annual analysis of how this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars list has panned out.

Whisky: should beauty come before age?

The whisky sector could be missing out on some fine liquids by sticking to current age regulations.

Slow China bounce back fails to stall duty free recovery

The duty free drinks sector has continued to recover and premiumise after Covid despite the slow recovery of Chinese international travel.

RTDs take off in travel environment

Pre-mixed drinks have come a long way since their sugary-sweet inception, and their journey continues as demand soars among voyagers.

Port under pressure in biggest market

Taylor’s Port boss Adrian Bridge talks Oli Dodd through the ramifications of the recent UK duty hikes for the fortified wine.

Weather blesses champagne harvest

While extremes of heat and plentiful rain have caused disasters around the world, producers of champagne are celebrating a bumper harvest.

GN Chan on winning Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2023

GN Chan, co-founder of New York’s Double Chicken Please has been named the winner of Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2023 ahead of The World’s 50 Best Bars announcement next month in Singapore. 

New World rye strikes a chord

The American whiskey style has seen a boost in its fortunes in the US, and now it’s catching the eye of distillers across the globe.

Mixers think pink

Producers are innovating in mixers as they attempt to tap into new drinking trends. Eleanor Yates rounds up the latest additions.

Amaretto: beyond the Sour

Clinton Cawood finds producers are pushing forward with new and innovative serves for classic Italian liqueur amaretto.