No.3 London Dry Gin named ISC Supreme Spirit 2019
No.3 London Dry Gin from Berry Bros & Rudd was last night hailed as this year’s International Spirits Challenge ‘Supreme Spirit’, as chosen blind by ISC judges from the Challenge’s trophy winners.
Sustainability lead gin to open new distillery visitor centre in Grasse
Comte de Grasse who own 44°N Gin, will be opening a new distillery visitor centre in Grasse, the perfume region of France.
Virgin Holidays search for a bartender in paradise
Holiday operator Virgin Holidays will send one British bartender to the Caribbean to swap grey skies for Jamaican sun.
Changes at Bacardi Global Travel Retail
Bacardi Global Travel Retail (GTR) has announced two senior team changes: Vinay Golikeri is promoted to managing director, GTR while Mike Birch will now focus entirely on Bacardi’s digital commerce business.
Willow 4% abv spirit launches to market
Bar owner and vodka expert William Borrell has launched Willow, a low-alcohol (4.4% abv) spirit.
England overtakes Scottish distillery numbers
New HMRC figures have revealed that England has more distilleries registered than Scotland for the first time in history.
The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails 2019
When it comes to the bestsellers, the roster of classic cocktails is subject to the vagaries of fashion in tastes. Angel Brown rounds up this year’s top 50
Edrington has announced that chief executive officer Ian Curle is retiring in March and will be succeeded by Scott McCroskie, who is on the Edrington board and managing director of The Macallan.
UK distilleries up 30% in one year
The number of distillery businesses in the UK jumped 30% in a year from 131 in 2016, to 170 in 2017, says UHY Hacker Young, the national accountancy group.
NYC hosts first British-focused spirits show
Manhattan is hosting its first British Spirits and Sparkling Wine Week to increase awareness and drive sales of UK products in New York City.
Alexandrion announces plans to build US distillery
Alexandrion Group, Romania’s largest spirits producer, has announced site plan approval by the planning board of the town of Carmel for the construction of its first US distillery in Mid-Hudson, Putnam County, NY.
Non-alcoholic 'spirits' brand Stryyk hits UK
Alex Carlton, founder of Funkin Cocktails has launched Stryyk, a new range of non-alcoholic spirits available in the UK.
Amsterdam to host Bacardi Legacy 2019
Bacardi has announced that Amsterdam will be the host city of the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition Grand Final 2019.
Foursquare 2005 wins ISC Supreme Champion
Foursquare 2005 has become the first rum brand in history to win the Supreme Champion award at the International Spirits Challenge.
Bushmills’ executive chairman David Gosnell gets an OBE
David Gosnell, the executive chairman of Bushmills Irish Whiskey, has been awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), in the Queen’s Birthday 2018 Honours List.
Tortuga - a new spirits distribution company
Tortuga Brands is the name of a new UK-based sales, marketing and distribution agency drinks company, representing spirits brands in the on and off trade in the UK, as well as offering a wider global distributor network for brands.
Crown Cellars launches Distilled spirits portfolio
Crown Cellars, the specialist wine and spirits division of Carlsberg UK, has launched an integrated spirits offering, Distilled.
Shane Hoyne joins Quintessential Brands
Quintessential Brands Group has announced the appointment of Shane Hoyne as its new chief marketing officer.
Diageo World Class GB entries open
Entries for the Diageo Reserve GB World Class Competition 2018 are now open and the Global Final will take place in Berlin later this year.
The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails 2018
Hamish Smith takes the pulse of the top bars to discover which classics will be feeding into the mainstream
Brands Report: Brands in Cocktails
What are the top choices when it comes to making the classics? Hamish Smith reveals our poll’s favourites
Brands Report: All-Time Leagues
It’s those brands that endure for the long haul that make it into the top tables each year. Hamish Smith tallies up this year’s winners and losers
Hamish Smith says it’s all about the big names when it comes to the classic fizz
Bottled water hasn’t lost its sparkle, but the names have barely changed. Shay Waterworth reports
It was inevitable that tonic water’s rise would continue to chase gin. Hamish Smith reports
Shay Waterworth asks whether the Peroni/Heineken cycle is on the verge of being broken.
It’s back in fashion and the big brands are the winners, says Hamish Smith
Italy’s the winner as bars fall back in love with vermouth, finds Hamish Smith
With so many players, this is a tough category where marketing is key, says Hamish Smith
Widely tipped to be the next big category, Rum has become a serious battleground, says Shay Waterworth
Diageo to take Brexit in its stride
Diageo chief executive Ivan Menezes was answering questions at a special briefing for financial journalists and analysts, on its six month interim results (January 25, see web story).
Angostura’s wide distribution puts it in a class of its own, says Hamish Smith
Hamish Smith finds there’s one front-runner here that looks unstoppable
It’s all about top quality when it comes to Mexico’s finest, reports Shay Waterworth
There’s an exciting new entrant in this sector, reports Shay Waterworth
Now bitter is back as a consumer taste, bars are feeling the love for Campari, finds Hamish Smith
Brands Report: Brandy & Cognac
Hennessy dominates but brands with an Asian presence are gaining traction, says Hamish Smith
The previously unassailable Johnnie Walker could be showing signs of weakness, finds Hamish Smith
The growing Irish Whiskey category gets its first page to itself this year. Hamish Smith explains why
With Irish Whiskey stripped out, other countries get a chance to shine. Hamish Smith does the maths
Brands Report: American Whiskey
Diageo’s Bulleit holds both top spots for the third year running. Shay Waterworth reports
Tanqueray tops the best sellers yet again, but Hendrick’s is making its mark. By Hamish Smith
There’s been little change in the best sellers, with the top brands all holding, says Hamish Smith
Brands Report: Bartenders' Choice
The Bartenders’ Choice list is the anomaly of the Brands Report - which otherwise deals in what’s selling best and what’s trending in bars - and instead looks at the spirits top bartenders personally prize.
Brands Report: Top Ten Spirits
What are the best selling spirits in the world's best bars? Drinks International has polled more than 100 of the world's top bars to find the answers.
Bacardi has announced that industry veteran Maurice Doyle, has rejoined the company as president - incubation brands and global commercial development.
Cannabis drinks get investment in Canada
Constellation Brands has announced the development of cannabis-based beverages after agreeing the acquisition of a minority stake in cannabis producer Canopy Growth Corporation.
Spirits Strategies Congress targets bar industry
The fourth edition of the Spirits Strategies Congress will take place in London on 31 October – 1 November 2017.
Researchers create fake booze detector
Researchers at the University of Manchester have developed the world’s first handheld device that can detect fake spirits inside bottles.
Late Chinese New Year an issue, says Diageo chief
Diageo chief executive Ivan Menezes says that despite a late Chinese New Year and highway ban in India, the company is on course to hit its targets ahead of the 2017 annual general meeting.
