Act of Treason gains nationwide distribution in Australia

Australian spirits company Top Shelf International has launched its Act of Treason agave spirit in the domestic off-trade through Endeavour Group’s Dan Murphy’s.

The Lost Explorer Mezcal appoints new UK brand ambassador

The Lost Explorer Mezcal has appointed Alan Uresti Silva, previously of Annabel’s, as UK brand ambassador.

Maison Courvoisier’s ambassador of joy returns with limited edition bottling

Maison Courvoisier has announced the return of British Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori as its ‘ambassador of joy’, a role created exclusively for the artisit and designer. 

Desolas Mezcal expands into Canada

Desolas Mezcal has announced a new distribution partnership with Renaissance Wine Merchants to expand its footprint into Canada.

Maison Courvoisier announces second edition of Mizunara expression

Maison Courvoisier has announced the launch of a second edition Courvoisier Mizunara, following the success of its inaugural edition.

Pernod Ricard veteran launches Cognac brand

Guillaume Thomas, veteran Pernod Ricard executive, will launch Martingale Cognac this autumn.

Baijiu sales falter in first half of 2023

Sales of China’s national spirit were slower in the first six months of 2023 compared to the same period last year according to a poll conducted by China Alcoholic Drinks Association.

Graham’s Port launches Bicentenary Collection of rare ports

In celebration of its bicentennial year, Graham’s Port has launched a limited rare collection of ports in a specially designed piece of furniture. 

Louis XIII unveils Rare Cask 42.1

A decade after the release of Rare Cask 42.6, Louis XIII has introduced its Rare Cask 42.1, the first edition to be presented as a ritual set.

Camus Cognac joins Speciality Brands’ portfolio

Speciality Brands has announced that it will become the exclusive UK distributor of French Cognac house, Camus.

Spiribam and Unicoop announce distribution partnership for Cognac Hardy

Spiribam, the division that oversees the spirits activities of the GBH family group, has signed a distribution partnership with Cognac Hardy in the US.

Christian Drouin launches Caroni Angels

Family-owned Calvados producer Christian Drouin has launched the sixth instalment of its Expérimental range, Caroni Angels.

Former Carlsberg global marketing director joins non-alcoholic drinks brand

Stephanie Illgner, former global marketing director of Carlsberg, has joined ISH, a non-alcoholic brand established in 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Swedish schnapps Flävar plans for European expansion

Swedish schnapps brand Flävar reaches 100k bottles sold since launching in the UK on-trade in May this year, with plans to grow its European presence in 2023.

Toku Saké launches Junmai Daiginjo in UK on-trade

Toku Saké, a new super premium saké, has announced the release of Junmai Daiginjo, its debut liquid. 

Amaro Santoni partners with The Liana Collection

Dolce-amaro aperitivo, Amaro Santoni, has announced it will be partnering with British distributor The Liana Collection this year, as they continue their expansion within the UK. 

Jinro announces first Korean spirit sponsorship of major UK festival

The world’s number one selling spirit brand Jinro soju has announced it will be sponsoring Luno presents All Points East festival this month, the first time a Korean spirit brand has supported a major UK festival, making history for the global drinks market.

Shochu now sold under beer and wine license in New York

Shochu can now be sold under its own category name in the state of New York, US, after amendments to the Beverage Control Act allowing Japanese Shochu (24% ABV or under) to be sold under a beer and wine license.

Beckie Sullivan appointed as UK brand ambassador for Courvoisier

Edrington UK has announced its appointment of Beckie Sullivan as UK national brand ambassador for Courvoisier.

Ukrainian spirits industry professionals launch international cocktail fundraiser

A group of Ukrainian spirits industry professionals have launched a fundraiser calling on bartenders around the world to create a cocktail dedicated to Ukraine.

World’s first alcoholic oat milk RTD launches in the UK

Panther M*lk, the world’s first ready to drink alcohol cocktail made from oat milk, spirits and liqueurs, has launched in the UK in two flavours.

Brands Report 2022: Mixers

Listening to the demands of bartenders, premium mixer brands have become increasingly experimental with their flavour combinations. To reflect this greater variety, the tonic water table of previous reports has been broadened to encompass all mixer brands.

Brands Report 2022: Sherry

Perhaps one of the smaller categories of the Brands Report, sherry is significant nonetheless. More than three-quarters of venues we polled stock sherry behind their bar. And most of those that do have two brands, while more than half will have three or more.

Brands Report 2022: Cocktail Bitters

Cocktail Bitters are evocative of the Golden Age of cocktails – of brown and stirred-down drinks, braces, waistcoats and fine moustaches which went on to make an implausible comeback in the early 21st century.

Bacardi launches non-alcoholic spirit brand

Bacardi has announced the launch of a new non-alcoholic spirit brand created, in collaboration with Amsterdam-based bartenders, with cocktails in mind. 

Mastiha brand Axia launches in the UK

Axia spirit, the world’s first extra-dry Mastiha spirit, has been released in the UK following launches in Greece and the US.

Jinro tops The Millionaires' Club for 20th consecutive year

Korean Soju giant Jinro has topped Drinks International's The Millionaire Club for the 20th year in a row having added 9m 9-litre cases in 2020.

Sake exports reach record highs in 2020

The exports of sake hit a record high in 2020 for the 11th consecutive year reaching a value of 24.1bn yen, a 3.1% increase on the previous year.

Brands Report 2021: Vermouth

Vermouth is the fortified wine of choice in the cocktail bar. We say choice, but when so many classics demand it (think Negroni, Dry Martini, Manhattan) there’s little choice about it – 100% of our sample stocked two lines of vermouth; 98% stocked three or more.

Brands Report 2021: Sherry

Sherry, while a category in historical volume decline, has a fresher demeanour behind the bar. Here sherry is among friends – friends who cannot get enough of fortified wines.

Brands Report 2021: Cocktail bitters

Right across the world Angostura Bitters plays a key role in cocktail menus and classics such as the Old Fashioned and Pisco Sour, and in 84% of the industry’s top bars it was the number one choice.

Brands Report 2021: Mezcal

Mezcal’s journey from exotic curiosity to established category in the world’s best bars is nearing completion. Ninety-seven per cent of our polled bars said they stocked at least one mezcal. Three quarters had two brands and two thirds said they stocked three lines or more.

Soju producer HiteJinro targets global spirits dominance

Soju producer HiteJinro says it wants to become a leading global spirits company like Diageo and Pernod Ricard starting with the complete distribution of its soju around the world.

Corte Vetusto launches cocktail comp to support UK on-trade

Corte Vetusto has launched a cocktail competition called the Cut Above Challenge to help, inspire and show solidarity to the UK bar industry.

Carpano targeting bartender relations during COVID-19

Carpano Botanic Bitter has focused on connecting with bartenders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in order to further infiltrate the Negroni market globally.

Fernet-Branca launches coin competition in COVID-19 aid

Fernet-Branca has launched a Coin Challenge to help the UK bar industry during the uncertain times of COVID-19.

Fenjiu baijiu launches online education series

Cheng International, UK distributor of Fenjiu baijiu from China, is launching an eight-part livestream series on baijiu aimed at buyers and bar tenders working in the drinks industry.

Vermouth exports down nearly 5% worldwide

In 2018 approximately 259m litres of vermouth were exported worldwide showing a decrease of -4.1% against the previous year, according research conducted by IndexBox estimates.

Brewdog's Inugami Shochu to push the low abv trend

Brewdog Distilling master distiller Steven Kersely says its new shochu brand will further develop the low abv market in the UK.

Brewdog launches Inugami Shochu brand in UK

Brewdog Distilling has launched its own shochu brand called Inugami Shochu which will be available in the UK through the company’s Brewdog bars.

Mancino Kopi to launch in Milan

Mancino Vermouth has launched a new coffee expression in collaboration with Barbera Caffè in Naples.

Jägermeister deemed inoffensive to Swiss Christians

A Swiss court has ruled that the logo for Jägermeister is not religiously offensive to Christians.

Brands Report 2020: Cocktail bitters

If the bitters category was laid out like a Monopoly board then Angostura would have hotels on Mayfair and Park Lane.

Hendrick's launches absinthe to UK on-trade

Hendrick’s has launched its own absinthe to the UK on-trade with a vision to expand internationally in spring 2020.

Martini Racing Ciclismo geared up for biggest ride to date

Martini Racing Ciclismo is set to take on a 260km cycle ride in Italy this September to support the wellbeing of bartenders.

Fenjiu baijiu targets European growth with UK launches

Baijiu brand Fenjiu has launched five varieties in the UK as it sets sights on international sales growth in Europe.

Martini launches Fiero to target summer market

Martini has announced the UK launch of Fiero to the summer drinks market designed to attract a younger adult audience.

Pisco Waqar launches international training seminars

Pisco Waqar has launched a series of training seminars aimed at bartenders to improve the on-trade knowledge of pisco throughout Europe.

Lowlander creates first ever IPA genever

Botanical brewer Lowlander Beer has launched a genever distilled from its Lowlander I.P.A. – the first of its kind.

Kweichow Moutai to expand into Europe

Chinese distiller Kweichow Moutai Co. has outlined plans to expand sales overseas using the UK as a launch pad into Europe.