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Trump’s tariff war provides spirits producers with a recurring nightmare
Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on imported spirits sees history repeating itself. How might distillers be affected this time around, asks Oli Dodd.
How Trump tariffs are changing Irish whiskey landscape
As president Trump wields his warnings of high tariff s on imports, Irish whiskey’s smaller producers are reassessing their position with the US. Shay Waterworth reports.
How the Negroni revolutionised the herbal liqueur category
Herbal bitters are having a moment, says Eleanor Yates, largely thanks to the flexible nature of one particular cocktail
How can travel retail cope with the global challenges of 2025?
The New Year has kicked off with multiple challenges for the travel retail sector to address. Amid these headwinds, Joe Bates asks where the industry can look for growth
How Indian single malt is conquering its domestic market
Demand for domestically produced single malts is rapidly rising as increasingly affluent consumers discover their quality. Oli Dodd reports.
Armagnac’s underrated potential
Armagnac does have its fans, but more needs to be done to elevate its position as a cocktail ingredient, says Shay Waterworth.
Waterford Whisky: the rise and fall of a great brand
Shay Waterworth turns to Irish whiskey expert Mark McLaughlin for some insight into Waterford’s demise.
Ron Matusalem: 150 years of history
Shay Waterworth traces the story of a family company which still honours its traditions of innovating today
The Heart Cut: Taking bottling overseas
The Heart Cut is intent on bottling lesser-known spirits to introduce different styles to curious customers.
Cava crisis: Spanish fizz must adapt amid torrid droughts
Winegrowers have always endured droughts – they’ve been a constant challenge in wine regions all over the world for hundreds of years. But the consistent lack of rainfall in the cava region over the past three years is unprecedented.
How the rum industry adapts to hurricanes
Hurricanes are a regular occurrence in rum-producing countries and brands must continue to adapt as their frequency increases. Oli Dodd reports.
The cream liqueurs doubling down on innovation
Long in thrall to the Baileys brand, cream liqueurs producers worldwide are showing they are capable of broadening out the sector in a variety of ways. Shay Waterworth reports
Peeling back the layers on limoncello
There’s more to limoncello than its traditional role as a digestif, particularly finding favour in the Spritz serve. Clinton Cawood reports.
Elizabeth Yard on making rums through a whisky lens
At Scotland’s Elizabeth Yard, the principles of whisky making are applied to the creation of cask-influenced rums. Oli Dodd reveals the full picture.
Lack of innovation is being blamed for marked declines in one of the rum category’s most important markets. By Oli Dodd.
While stout is undoubtedly dominated by one big brand, some craft producers fancy their chances of making a name for themselves in the sector, finds Eleanor Yates.
This tropical holiday island once seemed like an unstoppable growth juggernaut for the travel retail industry, but Hainan has recently hit the buffers. Joe Bates also reports on the passing of a duty free legend
Trump tariff threats cause concern across drinks industry
Shay Waterworth looks at how the trade has reacted to the possibility of tariff hikes
Portuguese wine: Ancient techniques driving modern drinking
With modern day winemaking primarily involving concrete and stainless steel fermentation tanks, or oak barrels, these techniques don’t necessarily match all the needs of the modern drinker who is looking for a more natural approach.
Torres tips the scales of Spanish brandy
Penedès has become Spain’s dominant brandy provider for the first time, largely thanks to Familia Torres, reports Shay Waterworth.
Angostura ramps up international efforts with rums
With 200 years of its eponymous bitters under its belt, Trinidad’s famous brand is stepping up its overseas push. Shay Waterworth reports.
Appreciation grows for vermouth
Consumers are buying into the botanical wine’s heritage, but education about the category is ongoing. Eleanor Yates reports.
World whisky: enriching whisky culture
Distillers around the world are taking inspiration from other countries as well as their own traditions to liven up their offerings. Oli Dodd reports.
Ben Branson on the future of non-alc spirits
In his inaugural column for Drinks International, Branson takes a wider look at the overall non-alcoholic spirits sector to identify which brands will thrive and which won’t survive.
Aquavit finds a new home in cocktails
Clinton Cawood finds the ‘water of life’ is gaining traction in countries outside of its traditional home base, largely thanks to cocktail innovation.
Travel retail business reflects on four eventful decades
The global travel retail business took stock of four eventful decades last month at the TFWA World Exhibition and looked to the future. Joe Bates reports
Leo Evers: De Kuyper's new CEO sets out big ambitions
Earlier this year hundreds of global industry figures gathered in Schiedam to bid farewell to De Kuyper Royal Distillers’ Mark de Witte, who retired after nine years as chief executive at the company.
Fawn Weaver: history in the making
Fawn Weaver is the first African American to own a major spirits brand – and the person who unveiled the truth about Jack Daniel’s black master distiller. Shay Waterworth meets a woman on a mission to change the face of American whiskey.
Irish Distillers: bridging the gap
With interest in Irish whiskey – and single pot still versions in particular – on the rise, Irish Distillers is investing to ensure availability of permanent editions.
Lifting the lid on black histories
Fawn Weaver’s reveal of the Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green story has shone a spotlight on some forgotten history of the involvement of black people in the spirits industry. But that’s far from the whole story, as Oli Dodd finds.
Eleanor Yates rounds up the main events for the hotly anticipated 2024 bar industry show.
Recreations of aged spirits’ flavour profiles in non-alcoholic drinks have proved unsuccessful to date. But that could all be about to change, reports Shay Waterworth
India boosts travel retail drinks market as China’s star fades
The travel retail drinks market is experiencing a complex mix of challenges and opportunities as the industry heads to the annual TFWA World Exhibition, but there are reasons for optimism, as Joe Bates discovers.
Beyond whisky and cognac: travel retail tastes broaden
The big two categories of Scotch whisky and cognac retain their important role in the travel retail spirits sector, but the market is evolving, as Joe Bates discovers.
They might still seem unconventional and even unacceptable to some, but plenty of people are championing these containers, as Oli Dodd finds.
Champagne houses have been grappling with volatile weather conditions for some years, and are carefully considering how best to mitigate the effects in the vineyard and the cellar.
Eleanor Yates looks at the high-abv category that’s gaining greater traction with producers and consumers alike.
Shay Waterworth discovers the new brand pushing aged amaretto and alternatives to the classic Sour serve.
External shocks knock travel retail off balance
The past two months have seen the travel retail business suffer from setbacks, but drinks brands have been determined to capitalise on one-off events such as the Olympics and the general summer getaway. Joe Bates reports.
Premium mixers: flavours with a twist
Traditional mixer flavours are facing competition from a new wave of combinations pepping up their spirit partners. Clinton Cawood looks into the latest contenders.
A Prohibition casualty, this whiskey style had all but disappeared by the 1980s, underwent a revival thanks to the classic cocktails craze but now faces further challenges as high-proof drinks lose popularity. Oli Dodd reports on where it may now be headed.
Pernod divests as still wine declines
With volumes down, younger drinkers eschewing the category and climate change taking its toll, the long-term wine forecast doesn’t look too rosy. Oli Dodd analyses the issues brought into focus by Pernod Ricard’s recent steps.
The vodkas challenging the norm
Producers are branching out with the bases for their vodkas, opening up new flavour opportunities, reports Eleanor Yates.
Italian aperitivo style is in fashion
Clinton Cawood analyses the rise and rise of the aperitivo as consumers demand lower-abv drinks and new flavour profiles.
Producers have identified potential for good growth in markets across the continent, finds Shay Waterworth.
How celebrities took over rosé
They may be seen as gimmicky by some, but celebrity wine brands can be a force for good for the overall still wine sector. By Oli Dodd.
Absolut Warhol limited edition gets 15 minutes of TR fame
Absolut Vodka is rolling out a new limited-edition bottle at airports worldwide, inspired by a long-lost Andy Warhol painting. Travel retail exclusives rarely boast such an intriguing backstory, says Joe Bates.
Suntory accelerates growth in India
The Japanese spirits company exploits opportunities for whisky across a dynamic market, reports Oli Dodd.
Citadelle Gin throws doors open to public
The French company is welcoming spirits lovers into its home for the first time this year. Eleanor Yates speaks to Maison Ferrand owner Alexandre Gabriel about the move.
Andy McGeoch on launching Courageous Spirits' debut age statement whisky
Three years since debuting King’s Inch whisky, Glasgow’s Courageous Spirits has launched its first age statement whisky, an eight-year-old single malt matured in sherry butts and bourbon casks.
