Lidl’s own label scores 95.5 points in Murray's Whisky Bible

Lidl’s own label 34 Year Glen Alba Sherry Cask Finish scotch whisky has been classified as ‘magnificent’ and ‘truly superb’ by whisky legend Jim Murray. 

Suntory executive to address distilling conference

Shinji Fukuyo, executive officer and chief blender at Suntory Spirits, will address the Worldwide Distilled Spirits Conference 2017 in Scotland.

East London Liquor Company unveils fourth barrel-aged bottling

East London Liquor Company has announced the fourth and final bottling for 2016 in its barrel-aged gin programme.

Australia Day Tasting 2017 dates announced

Wine Australia has announced the Australia Day Tasting will return to London, Edinburgh and Dublin in January 2017. 

Maisons Marques et Domaines becomes 45th WSET corporate patron

Maisons Marques et Domaines has become the latest organisation to support the Wine & Spirit Education Trust as a bronze corporate patron.

Scotch whisky and cachaça join forces

The Scotch Whisky Association and the Brazilian Institute of Cachaça have signed a mutual cooperation agreement.

Pernod acquires majority stake in West Virginia craft distiller

Pernod Ricard has acquired a majority stake in Smooth Ambler Spirits, the West Virginia craft distiller, for an undisclosed sum. 

WSTA declares 2016 the year of gin

This year has proved to be a record-breaking year for gin with end of year sales continuing to soar in the UK, according to the latest WSTA market report. 

Molson Coors announces 'new look' leadership team

Molson Coors has announced the appointment of Phil Whitehead as managing director, Molson Coors UK & Ireland.

Pernod sells Domecq to Emperador

Pernod Ricard has announced the sale of the Domecq brand and its related brandies and wines to Emperador Group and Gonzalez Byass. 

Budweiser UK teams up with Uber

Budweiser and Uber have joined forces to launch their biggest UK responsible drinking campaign for Christmas. 

WSTA urges UK ministers to let industry lead Brexit negotiations

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association is calling for Brexit ministers to let industry lead negotiations to ensure the ‘best possible’ free trade agreements with the EU and beyond.

Cunard partners with WSET

Luxury travel brand Cunard has partnered with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to launch the first WSET certified wine and spirit courses to be available on its flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2.

DrinkUp.London hires London Beer Week festival director

DrinkUp.London has announced former Belvedere ambassador, Ali Dedianko, will join its team as festival director for London Beer Week.

Brown-Forman names Northern Europe head of brand advocacy

Brown-Forman has named Nidal Ramini as its new head of brand advocacy for Northern Europe.

Innis & Gunn doubles its initial crowdfunding target

Independent craft brewer Innis & Gunn surpassed its equity crowdfunding target by £1.5 million, raising a total of £2.5 million when its Crowdcube powered, AdventureCapital campaign closed last night.

Lucas Bols names UK ambassador

Michael Mann, formerly of City of London Distillery has been named the Lucas Bols UK brand ambassador. 

Marie Brizard expands Polish partnership

Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits has announced that it is expanding its partnership with the Polish distributor Eurocash to strengthen the presence of its flagship brands.

Benromach offers Single Cask exclusive to trade customers

Benromach Distillery has launched an ‘exclusive opportunity’ for trade customers to bottle a single cask of whisky and customise the packaging.

Bacardi cuts greenhouse gas emissions in half

Bacardi has cut its global greenhouse gas emissions in half, more than a year earlier than its end of December 2017 target.

The Telegraph Whisky Experience returns for 2016

The Telegraph Whisky Experience will return to London for its fourth year, hosted at One Whitehall Place on December 5-6. 

WSTA tackles Brexit minister

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association says it met Brexit minister David Jones last week to discuss how the industry can best protect trade and prosper when the UK leaves the EU.

Symington family announces new Douro estate acquisition

Symington Family Estates has purchased a new property in the northeastern area of the Douro valley. 

The World's 50 Best Bars 2016 in pictures

The World's 50 Best Bars, which took place at Christ Church Spitafields yesterday (October 6th), saw nine awards presented to the best bars in the world. 

Dead Rabbit named winner of World's 50 Best Bars 2016

Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grogg from New York has taken the title of World’s Best Bar 2016 at the annual World’s 50 Best Bars Awards in London.

WSTA at FIVS conference

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association met with international partners in Canada, last week, as part of the FIVS Ottawa meetings for talks on developing post-Brexit trade agreements.

Travel Retail Challenge winners announced

Heineken Brew Lock was named supreme champion at Drinks International’s tenth annual Travel Retail Challenge last night. 

Villa Massa to double market share by 2020

Villa Massa, the 'first premium Limoncello brand to commercialise globally', is aiming to increase its market share by 50% by 2020.

Stellenbosch has potential to rival Napa

Stellenbosch has the potential to become as significant as the Napa Valley, according to Visit Napa Valley president and CEO.    

Bars 51-100 announced

Ahead of The World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony, Drinks International has released the list of bars that finished in places 51-100 in the 2016 poll.

Eisberg to sponsor the Tour of Britain

Eisberg, the UK’s leading alcohol-free wine brand, has agreed a three-year partnership to become the ‘Official Wine Partner’ for the Tour of Britain cycle race.

BDA welcomes HMRC’s flexibility for alcohol production

The British Distillers’ Alliance has replied to HMRC’s consultation on revised and consolidated guidance for the licensing and approval of distillers, rectifiers and compounders on the deadline of August 5 .

Former trade minister to address WSTA conference on Brexit

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has announce that former minister for trade and minister for Europe, Lord Francis Maude, will be the keynote speaker at its annual conference.

Bar Convent Berlin adds additional hall

The Bar Convent Berlin organisers have announced that there will be an additional hall this year.

Cocktails in the City returns this summer

Cocktails in the City will return with a summer edition later this month. 

Balvenie’s malt master receives MBE

The Balvenie’s malt master, David Stewart, has been awarded an MBE for services to the Scotch whisky industry at a ceremony in The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Desmond Payne receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Beefeater’s Desmond Payne received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 21st annual International Spirits Challenge last night. 

Akvavit wins ISC Supreme Champion

An akvavit has been named the International Spirits Challenge Supreme Champion 2016. 

Sherry in 'cycle of change'

Sherry is changing with a new, evolving consumer base, according to sherry's Consejo Regulador.

Jura unveils Tastival 2016 bottling

Jura has revealed its Tastival 2016 bottling, a limited edition expression to mark the distillery’s annual island whisky festival.  

Jinro dominates Millionaires' Club list again

Soju brand Jinro has been named the top-selling spirit in the world in the Millionaires’ Club 2016, after selling 73.8m 9-litre last year.

Conviviality hails transformational year

Conviviality, the UK’s leading independent alcohol wholesaler, has reported group sales increased by 137% to approximately £864m in a ‘transformational year’.

LWF overwhelming positive despite a drop in visitors, says show director

London Wine Fair feedback has been 'overwhelmingly positive' despite a fall in visitor numbers, according to show organisers. 

New responsible drinking guidelines completely out of kilter, says WSTA chief

The UK chief medical officer’s responsible drinking guidelines are entirely out of kilter with the rest of the world and out of touch with reality, according to WSTA’s Miles Beale. 

WSTA backs EU Remain campaign

Leaving the EU would lead to a more uncertain trading environment, loss of access to the single market and the absence of a UK voice at the table to shape EU regulation by which the industry would still be bound, according to the WSTA chief executive. 

Sandeman unveils 'radical departure' in aged tawny design

Sandeman unveiled a preview of its repackaged aged tawny range at London Wine Fair this week. 

Marie Brizard announces "sharp" increase in 2015

Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits has announced that its 2015 annual results are “sharply up and in line” with 2018 ambitions. 

28 Hongkong Street wins Asia's 50 Best Bars

28 Hongkong Street of Singapore has taken first place in Drinks International’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards, the first regional spin-off of The World’s 50 Best Bars.

Old Forester joins Bacardi Brown-Forman

Bacardi Brown-Forman has announced that it will take over the UK distribution of Old Forester Kentucky Bourbon from Mangrove.

Diageo launches Guinness Africa Special

Diageo is introducing a new beer created for the ‘next generation’ of Guinness drinkers, Africa Special.