
DI joins Tales of the Cocktail platform for change
Shay Waterworth explains why DI believes it’s so important to partner with Tales of the Cocktail on its Beyond the Bar programme.
Tyler Zielinski makes the pilgrimage to Jamaica’s Hampden Estate, where natural production methods for rum have long been employed.
Shay Waterworth investigates the potential for Rioja blanco as consumer tastes swing towards lighter styles and climate change means bringing in different grape varieties.
The Scotch industry is very keen on using sherry vats to finish its whiskies, but the fortified still has an image problem with drinkers.
There’s so much more to rosé beyond Provence styles – consumers just need to be made aware of other options.
TFWA Asia Pacific: Challenges remain but future’s bright for Asia Pacific
The message to emerge loud and clear from the busy TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition is that travel retail’s most important market is on the road to recovery.
Hannah Tovey: If the UK is a primary market, you need to be at London Wine Fair
The London Wine Fair returned to the Olympia for a three-day event that felt like a return to pre-pandemic normality, Drinks International sat down with the show’s director Hannah Tovey to reflect on the event and look ahead to next year.
Re and Little Red Door: Working together for a better future
Food waste and positive farming techniques are the goals of two Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award winners. Shay Waterworth follows the new efforts of Re and Little Red Door.
The UK’s favourite spirit battles high tax, rising costs and a lack of support from the government.
Divided across two nations, pisco is badly in need of leaders to take it into the wider world.
Women winemakers in Chile are working with a shifting climate and diversifying the country’s portfolio in the process.
Environmental and social responsibility have become essential to business, and achieving the highest standard possible involves hard work, Drinks International sits down with Tim Etherington-Judge to talk B Corp.
TFWA Asia Pacific: confidence in Asia
This month’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition takes place at a time of rebirth for the region’s travel retail business after years of Covid-related misery.
Uncle Nearest: creating a legacy
The uncovering of a family history has led to one of the biggest success stories in American whiskey history.
Scotland's whisky-making industry has been hard hit by many external factors – not least the UK’s Spring Budget.
Bushmills new distillery: cause to celebrate
Bushmills’ new distillery has opened up a world of possibilities both for production levels and the creation of exciting Irish whiskey expressions.
Crémant shares many similarities with French cousin champagne – but price isn’t one of them. Shay Waterworth reports on how the wine is growing.
Premium tonic and fellow mixers have grabbed consumer attention rapidly in recent years, and have been subject to much innovation, Shay Waterworth seeks out the latest trends.
Cocktail bitters: the small but mighty ingredient
They may only be needed in tiny drops, but bitters are a crucial element for many cocktails. Eleanor Yates looks at how the market is growing post-covid.
Faustino embarks on major development
The Rioja producer has announced plans for a new visitor centre that will showcase its commitment to sustainability.
One sector of popular music seems fixated on the spirit and is helping introduce new consumers to the sector. but it’s not all plain sailing.
Americas travel retail rebounds after Covid-19
The travel retail industry calendar moves on to the Americas and Summit of the Americas in Florida. Joe Bates reports on a region rebounding strongly after covid, but which does face challenges.
Soderbergh directs singani to a win
Steven Soderbergh has dipped into the oceans of spirits and secured his favourite Bolivian drink its own classification.
Historic event supported by Maison Edouard Delaunay nets record amount for Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Women’s History Month with Uncle Nearest
To mark Women’s History Month, Drinks International caught up with female powerhouse Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey to look at its success in the traditionally male dominated space that is the whisk(e)y industry.
Alcohol duty increase a “historic blow to the Scotch whisky industry”
When UK chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his 2023 budget in the House of Commons, how you received it might’ve depended on your preferred tipple.
Despite the challenges posed by its production methods, the sugarcane spirit is serious about a commitment to a greener future.
Native corn key to Mexican whisky
There’s a new kid on the block in Mexico. Corn whisky is seeing a fair bit of growth as its potential is becoming recognised.
Ribero del Duero: Extreme efforts
With greatly varying temperatures and a wide variety of soil types, Ribero del Duero winemakers have to be forward thinking.
It’s had a meteoric rise of late, but is mezcal becoming a victim of its own success?
Irish whiskey producers are looking for a change to regulations in order to allow the style to flourish.
Gin shines brightly in travel retail
Gin may have fallen out of favour in the UK, but its prospects are much brighter in travel retail.
Shay Waterworth takes a look at what can be expected from this year’s leading international wine and spirits trade show in Düsseldorf.
Peru reaches new heights with spirits
The South American country has been making waves with its cuisine in recent years. and now drinks producers are getting in on the act, says Sorrel Moseley-Williams.
Wildfires devastate Chile vines
Sorrel Moseley-Williams reports on how wine producers are coping following the recent disaster in their ancient vineyards.
Flävar’s Rolf Munding talks Swedish Schnapps and expansion plans
Swedish schnapps brand, Flävar, recently reached 100k bottles sold since launching in the UK on-trade in May 2022. Drinks International caught up with Rolf Munding, owner of Market Taverns Group, whose latest venture, Flävar, plans to grow its European presence this year.
Scottish drinks face restriction
The possibility of a clampdown on alcohol promotions has ruffled feathers in Scotch whisky quarters.
Largely misunderstood outside of its domestic market, baijiu could be finding new routes to globalisation.
Rhum agricole seeking a new audience
Producers need to switch up their educational efforts around the sugarcane spirit to broaden its appeal.
New markets are emerging for premium mixers and providing major expansion opportunities.
With red wine consumption dropping, the region’s producers face tough challenges.
Liqueurs have long been in the shadow of spirits, but their role in modern day mixology should not be underestimated.
China’s about-face on Covid fires travel retail optimism
China’s great reopening has injected much-needed optimism into the travel retail business at the start of 2023, but over in the Middle East Dubai’s duty free business has been dealt an unexpected regulatory blow.
What makes a classic cocktail?
The Hi-Spirits Classic Cocktail Competition, as the name suggests, is all about the classics. inspired by Jake Burger’s book, An Anthology of 12 Classic Cocktails, the comp calls on bartenders to create twists and classics – a subject which judge Clinton Cawood wanted to explore further by sitting down with Burger.
Hite Jinro is working to bring South Korea’s beloved spirit to the rest of the world, Shay Waterworth talks to the company’s overseas market managing director.
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.
Defending 'nice' whisky writers
A response to the notion that 'without criticism there is only marketing', by DI editor Shay Waterworth.
Two Drifters’ Gemma Wakeham: “There has to be accountability for sustainability goals”
Since Devon-based husband-and-wife team Russ and Gemma Wakeham launched the carbon-negative Two Drifters rum in 2019, the brand has gone from strength to strength – despite not necessarily doing things the easy way.
Oli Dodd finds foreign investment is helping to increase awareness of a pretty niche spirit.