Castarède Armagnac expands into US
Castarède Armagnac has partnered with US importer company 375 Park Avenue Spirits to expand the international markets available to its range of French spirits.
The British Squadron of Armagnac Musketeers created
The inauguration of the British Squadron of the Company of Armagnac Musketeers took place last week in the City of London
Nearly 20% of cognac production affected by hailstorms
On May 27, Cognac was hit with a hailstorm that affected a significant proportion of the vineyards within the appellation.
Bordeneuve Châteaux & Collections reports Asia interest
Armagnac producer, Bordeneuve Châteaux & Collections has received a spike in interest from Asian importers over the past six months.
Rémy Marin launches Carte Blanche Merpins Cellar Edition
Rémy Martin’s youngest ever cellar master, Baptiste Loiseau has released a limited edition cognac under the Carte Blanche name.
Armagnac XO age guide increases to 10 years
The Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l'Armagnac (BNIC) has changed the minimum age limit of XO armagnac from 6 to 10 years, effective from 1 April 2018.
St-Rémy releases new packaging
St-Rémy has released new packaging for its XO and VSOP ranges to ‘reinforce its quality leadership’.
Lougrat wins Courvoisier Toast of Paris UK final
Paul Lougrat from London has won the UK leg of Courvoisier’s third annual Toast of Paris cocktail competition.
Cognac exports boom in China and US
The exports of French wine and spirits increased by more than €1bn in 2017, largely due to the increased popularity of cognac.
Courvoisier cocktail competition to judge Instagram ratings
Courvoisier has launched its third annual ‘Toast of Paris’ cocktail competition where, for the first time, UK bartenders will be marked on the Instagram-worthiness of their cocktails alongside the traditional criteria.
Hennessy profits from US and China interest
Moet Hennessy has reported a significant increase in 2017 sales figures as it confirmed Cognac's high demand in the US and China.
Cognac: XO classification to rise to 10 years
The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) has announced that all XO Cognac brandy will be classified as 10 years old from April 1, 2018.
Courvoisier honours its coffee relationship
A classic scene in French restaurants is an elegant couple sipping on cognac whilst having their post meal coffee. But Courvoisier is determined to spread the trend across boarders.
Courvoisier launches sherry cask finish cognac
Leading cognac brand, Courvoisier has unveiled a sherry cask finish cognac, which is a global travel retail exclusive.
Campari sells Carolans and Irish Mist to Heaven Hill
Gruppo Campari has announced the sale of Carolans and Irish Mist to Heaven Hill Brands, via the sale of 100% of the share capital of TJ Carolan & Son Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary.
The House of Camus launches an Irish whiskey
Cognac producer Camus has unveiled a project to make an Irish whiskey, using old cognac barrels with ex-bourbon casks blended and aged on an Irish island.
Cognac posts healthy 2016 growth
Cognac exports rose to “record levels” in 2016, with volume and value increases of 6.0 % and 6.8 % respectively, as sales in China stabalised and new growth was found in North America.
Pernod launches non-chill filtered Martel
Pernod Ricard has launched the first Martell non-chill filtered cognac.
Metaxa 12 Stars hires explorer Horn
The House of Metaxa has relaunched its flagship expression, Metaxa 12 Stars, to coincide with the appointment of new brand ambassador, explorer Mike Horn.
Frapin's Max Cointreau dies aged 94
Cognac Frapin has announced Max Cointreau died on Wednesday October 19 in his home town of Gensac la Pallue, near Cognac, at the age of 94.
South Africa’s oldest brandy sells for R40,000
A one-off release of what is claimed to be South Africa’s oldest brandy, a 42-year-old single cask pot still from Distell’s Van Ryn’s brand, was sold at the recent Nederburg Charity Auction for R40,000 (US$3,000, £2,260, €2,600).
La Part Des Anges cognac auction
The 10th La Part Des Anges’ auction will take place on Thursday September 22 in Cognac. For the first time bidders from outside of Cognac allowed to compete for the exclusive lots.
La Part Des Anges cognac auction
The 10th La Part Des Anges’ auction will take place on Thursday September 22 in Cognac. For the first time bidders from outside of Cognac were allowed to compete for the exclusive lots.
Darroze is new Armagnac president
The Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac, the generic body representing Armagnac producers, has announced Marc Darroze as its new president.
Millionaires' Club: The Brandy List
Drinks International's annual league of million-case brands returns. Here is a list of the world's best-selling Cognac and brandy brands in 2015.
Savoy’s Wojaczek wins Courvoisier cocktail competition
Witek Wojaczek of The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy is the UK winner of Courvoisier’s Toast of Paris International Cocktail Competition.
Armagnac Academies return to New York
The Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac, the official organisation that represents makers of the classic French brandy, has announced a date and venue for its Armagnac Academies educational initiative.
Distillation in Armagnac has started
The generic body representing Armagnac producers, the Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac, has announced that distillation started today (October 8) - this early for the first time in living memory.
National Calvados Week in the UK takes place from Sunday October 18 until Saturday October 24.
Gautier Cognac’s UK distribution with Catalyst
Catalyst Brands has signed a distribution agreement with Gautier Cognac to distribute its VS, VSOP and XO Cognacs exclusively throughout the UK.
Beam Suntory to sell Spanish brandies?
Beam Suntory is considering the sale of its brandies in Spain amid declining sales, according to Bloomberg News.
Emperador continues to tower over brandy category
The best selling brandy of 2014 was the Philippines’ Emperador once again, after the brand maintained its 2013 sales haul, according to the Millionaires’ Club 2015.
Asia at turning point says cognac chief
Asia, and specifically China, is heading back to growth following the Chinese government's clamp down nearly two years ago on extravagant entertaining, excessive drinking and gifting.
Emperador to buy Louis Royer cognac?
There are unconfirmed reports that Emperador, the Philippine brandy maker, is to buy Louis Royer, the French cognac brand.
Diane Kruger becomes Martell ambassador
Hollywood actress and self-confessed Francophile Diane Kruger is Martell cognac’s ambassador for the brand’s 300th anniversary this year.
We might as well call the brandy category the cognac category.
Rémy Cointreau's sales slide 5.6%
Rémy Cointreau has reported organic sales value dropped 5.6% and operating profit dropped 14.6% for the six months ended September 30.
Armagnac Academies’ success in China
The first Armagnac Academy in China took place on Thursday October 30 in Beijing at the Crown Plaza hotel in the Wangfujing district.
Faith pours doubt on elderly Cognacs
Cognac expert Nicholas Faith has panned some of Cognac’s most expensive bottles, saying the French spirit rarely improves after 40 years of ageing.
Spirit France buys majority stake in Janneau
Spirit France Group has announced it has acquired a majority stake in Armagnac brand Janneau from the Giovinetti family.
Courvoiser's Asseline goes global
Beam Suntory has promoted Rebecca Asseline from Courvoisier UK brand ambassador to global brand ambassador.
Martell, which claims to be the oldest of the great cognac houses, is celebrating its 300th anniversary with the release of a new limited edition expression, Martell Premier Voyage.
Baptiste Loiseau, Rémy Martin’s new cellarmaster, was in London yesterday (June 11) as part of the farewell celebrations for the retiring Pierrette Trichet.
Baptiste Loiseau, Rémy Martin’s new cellarmaster, was in London yesterday (June 11) as part of the farewell celebrations for the retiring Pierrette Trichet.
Travel Retail: Rémy Martin rolls out cellar-specific cognacs
Rémy Martin Cognac is to launch the first two expressions in its Fine Champagne Cognac collection, exclusive to travel retail.
World's 50 Best Bars Brands Report: Brandy
For the latest instalment of the Brands Report, we quizzed the class of 2013 on the brandy brands moving through their bars.
London's Wellesley buys 'world's oldest Cognac'
The Wellesley hotel in London’s Knightsbridge, claims to have bought the world’s oldest Cognac.
Hennessy tops world's best selling cognac ranking
The world’s largest cognac producer is Hennessy, according to Drinks International’s The Millionaires’ Club 2013.
Nicholas Faith spies bright Cognac future despite China dip
Nicholas faith has said Cognac producers “have it made” and needn’t worry about the apparent slowdown of sales in China, the world’s top destination for the French spirit.
Courvoisier celebrates the Here and Now
The Here and Now is the name of Maxxium UK’s new advertising and marketing campaign for Courvoisier Cognac.