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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.
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.
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.
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.
Absolut talks fossil-free distilling
This year saw Swedish vodka brand Absolut reach its milestone of becoming fossil-free ahead of schedule, having achieved its goal to phase out the use of fossil fuels a year earlier than planned.
From innovative finishes and ageing processes to unexpected flavour combinations, producers are using some unusual techniques to expand their rums’ horizons. Clinton Cawood reports
Shay Waterworth attends the first cava industry summit, and finds quality, innovation and leadership – but a need for agreement on a future action plan.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eleanor Yates finds that, while it’s not without its challenges, beer globally is generating some interesting reasons for optimism.
The craft drinks movement has brought excitement and quality into the fortified, aromatised wine sector.
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.
St-Rémy master blender Cécile Roudaut is on a mission to modernise a well-known but misunderstood category.
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.
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.
Producers are innovating in mixers as they attempt to tap into new drinking trends. Eleanor Yates rounds up the latest additions.
Clinton Cawood finds producers are pushing forward with new and innovative serves for classic Italian liqueur amaretto.
Rum tends to be associated with the Caribbean, but UK-made spirit has a long history and is now being revived.
Sorrel Moseley-Williams finds bartenders experimenting to expand the use of Brazil’s national spirit beyond the Caipirinha.
The huge boom in UK gin sales is levelling off, with even the big-name brands experiencing sales slumps.
English wine: the new Champagne?
Investment, improved equipment, a warming climate – much has happened in recent years to elevate the quality and profile of English wine, particularly its fizz.
Bruichladdich: swimming against the tide
Bruichladdich’s packaging has undergone a radical overhaul, driven by environmental concerns. Global marketing director Gareth Brown discusses with Oli Dodd the unique challenges of an island such as Islay.
Why can’t Northern Ireland benefit from duty free bonanza?
Belfast International Airport has not been able to cash in on the return of duty free after Brexit but elsewhere the summer travel season was a soaraway success.
Neal Bodenheimer on taking Tales from the brink to the world
Hamish Smith speaks to Neal Bodenheimer, board member and co-resurrector of Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.
Global inflation hinders GTR recovery
Macroeconomic forces are slowing the recovery of the travel retail drinks business, leading brands to rethink their strategies towards the channel.
