Wales’ Hensol Castle Distillery gains UK listing with Molson Coors

Wales-based Hensol Castle Distillery has announced an agreement with Molson Coors Beverage Company to list a portion of its spirits across the UK.

Edrington full-year sales fall by 10%

Scottish spirits company Edrington has announced its financial results for the year to 31 March 2025, which saw revenue fall by 10%.

Jamie Ritchie to join Berry Bros & Rudd

Fine wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros & Rudd has appointed Jamie Ritchie as managing director of international and auctions, with responsibility for leading its business in the US and Asia.

Diageo India buys majority stake in Nao Spirits

Diageo India, also known as United Spirits Limited, has announced the purchase of a majority controlling stake in Goa-based gin producer Nao Spirits for INR 130 crores (US$15.2m). 

WSET launches refreshed Level 3 Award in Spirits qualification

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has launched an updated version of its Level 3 Award in Spirits qualification, in response to the growing demand for spirits education.

Luxardo announces change of UK distribution

Luxardo, the family-owned Italian distillery, has announced a change in its distribution in the UK market.

IWSR forecasts $34bn beverage alcohol growth by 2034

According to forecasts by IWSR, leader in beverage alcohol data and insights, the global beverage alcohol market is expected to grow by $16bn over the next five years.

Diageo India and WSET introduce initiative for women

Diageo India has partnered with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) to offer Level 1 Spirits training sessions for women bartenders and junior professionals across the country.

UKHospitality responds to new UK-EU trade deal

After months of negotiations, the UK and EU have agreed on a new post-Brexit trade deal, with talks still continuing on a youth mobility scheme.

Maverick Drinks launches Bols Blue 1575 into UK market

Maverick Drinks has announced the introduction of Bols Blue 1575 to its portfolio, as the liqueur launches in the UK for the on and off trade from this month. 

Brown‑Forman launches distribution business in Italy

Jack Daniel’s owner Brown‑Forman has announced the start of its own distribution business in Italy to bring its portfolio directly to Italian consumers for the first time. 

Gibson’s launches first G&T in a can

French gin brand Gibson’s has introduced its first gin and tonic in a can, created with Gibson’s London Dry Gin and tonic water.

Whisky tariffs halved in UK-India trade deal

The UK and India have agreed a new trade deal which will see tariffs on gin and Scotch whisky fall to 40%.

Women Leading Rum evolves to include spirits

Women Leading Rum has announced the expansion of its organisation to now include those involved in spirits, becoming Women Leading Rum & Spirits.

UK GI spirits see licensing fee reduction

From July, spirits protected by geographic indicator (GI) status will see current fees associated with the Spirit Drinks Verification (SDV) scheme replaced by a lower flat rate.

Johnson Brothers acquire Maverick Beverage Company

Johnson Brothers has entered into the Texas market with the acquisition of Maverick Beverage Company, a leading distributor of fine wine and spirits.

Saga Spirits signs distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s

Saga Spirits, a new whiskey company from Wes Henderson, co-founder of Angel’s Envy, has entered into a distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits for its portfolio of whiskey products.

New Eden Mill Distillery fills first cask

Independent Scottish distiller Eden Mill has completed commissioning of its new distillery, with both gin and single malt whisky now being produced on-site.

Monarq and Torres reach distribution agreement

Monarq Group and Familia Torres, the Spanish wine and spirits producer, have announced a new regional distribution agreement for Torres Brandy and El Gobernador Pisco.

Diageo swaps US Cîroc rights in Lobos 1707 exchange

Diageo has exchanged majority ownership of the brand rights for Cîroc vodka in North America, for majority ownership of tequila brand Lobos 1707.

Stock Spirits acquires The Drinks Company

Stock Spirits Group has announced its acquisition of The Drinks Company, a UK-based independent spirits importer and distributor.

Former Bacardi-Martini boss launches French distributor

IQ Spirits, a new distributor dedicated to premium independent spirits in France, has announced its launch.

Boatyard expands into US

The Boatyard Distillery has announced a new partnership with Banfi Vintners to become the exclusive sales agent in the US for its Boatyard Double Gin. 

Campari Group offloads Australian production facility

Campari Group will sell its production facility in Australia to local canning and bottling business Garage Beverage Manufacturing.

Diageo India plans to 'build portfolio' of craft spirits

A Diageo India chief believes that the company has ambitions to "build a portfolio" of craft spirits in India.

WSET partners with Equal Measures to increase diversity in spirits

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has been named the new education partner for Equal Measures, the UK-based non-profit organisation dedicated to delivering intersectional diversity in the drinks and hospitality industries.

Diageo India says tequila proving tariff-proof

At the country's first Bar Summit, Diageo India asserted that the tequila category's growth has shown no indication of slowing despite the country's high tariffs on imported beverage alcohol.

Suntory invests ¥6.5bn in Osaka Plant

Suntory Spirits, manager of Suntory Group’s alcoholic beverage business in Japan, has announced a total investment of ¥6.5 billion in the Suntory Osaka Plant.

US alcohol sales decrease as non-alc thrives

Alcohol sales across the US are shrinking, according to NielsenIQ, with off-premise beer, wine and spirits (excluding RTDs) all losing ground.

Jinro to build first distillery outside Korea

Korean beverage producer, HiteJinro, has announced the development of a new production facility in Vietnam.

Drinksology appoints industry veteran to lead EMEA and GTR growth

Belfast-based Drinksology Kirker Greer Group (DKG), has appointed Gordon Buchanan as its new regional director for Europe, EMEA and Global Travel Retail (GTR).

Anora establishes Lithuanian arm

Anora has expanded its footprint in the Baltics by establishing Anora Lithuania, established on 13 November, with commercial operations set to commence in 2025.

Brown-Forman board chair to step down

Brown-Forman has announced that Campbell P. Brown will step down as chair of its board of directors in July.

Anora sells schnapps brand Snälleröds

Anora has completed the sale of its Swedish schnapps brand Snälleröds to Malmö-based beverage company Saturnus AB.

Idris Elba partners with Maison Ferrand to expand into cognac

Following the success of his Champagne and rosé wines, actor Idris Elba announced the addition of Porte Noire Cognac to his growing portfolio.

Diageo unites luxury brands in new division

Diageo has introduced a new global division to combine ‘luxury assets’ into one portfolio including brands such as Brora and Port Ellen.

New Scottish spirits brand launches

Living Souls, a new Scottish spirits brand specialising in small batch and single cask releases, has announced its launch.

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024: Under the numbers

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

DISCUS warns of renewed spirits tariffs

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has sounded an alarm over the potential return and doubling of the EU’s retaliatory tariff on American whiskey in a new report.

WSET appoints Regine Lee MW to board of trustees

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), has announced the appointment of Regine Lee MW to its board of trustees.

US spirits volumes see further decline

New data from the IWSR, the global authority on beverage alcohol data and intelligence, has revealed the US beverage alcohol market continued to shrink in the first seven months of 2024, with volumes declining more than expected.

African Originals secures USD$2m to fuel expansion

African Originals, the beverage company behind brands such as Kenyan Originals, African Originals and 5.8 has raised USD$2m in a funding round led by Phoenix Beverages Limited, Mauritius' largest beverage company. 

Diageo acquires Ritual Zero Proof

Diageo North America has announced its acquisition of Ritual Zero Proof Non-Alcoholic Spirits (Ritual).

Campari buys stake in Bunnahabhain owner CVH Spirits

Campari Group has acquired a minority stake in the owner of single malt whisky brand Bunnahabhain.

Suntory Oceania’s AU$400m site starts production

Suntory Oceania has begun production at its AU$400m manufacturing facility in Australia, to produce the company’s RTD brands from next year.

Campari chief executive resigns after five months

Campari Group chief executive, Matteo Fantacchiotti, has announced his resignation after only five months in the role.

Fynoderee Distillery expands into Europe

Isle of Man drinks producer The Fynoderee Distillery is expanding its operations to mainland Europe in a move to boost the island’s growing food and drink sector.

Pernod Ricard acquires minority stake in Lewis Hamilton's Almave

Pernod Ricard has announced the acquisition of a minority stake in Almave, the non-alc blue agave-based spirit brand, co-founded by Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton and Casa Lumbre’s Iván Saldaña. 

Whisky Live Paris returns for 20th anniversary edition

Whisky Live Paris celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, returning to France’s capital with new addition to the 2024 show, The Agave Patio, paying tribute to the growing interest in the tequila and mezcal market. 

Enotria & Coe to distribute Toku Saké in the UK

Toku Saké has announced the appointment of Enotria & Coe as its exclusive distributor in the UK.