Rémy Cointreau TRA appoints marketing manager

Santiago Quevedo has been appointed to the position of trade marketing manager and brand ambassador at Rémy Cointreau Travel Retail Americas (RCTRA).

Islay.com domain to be sold on ebay

The owner of website domain name islay.com has announced that it will be sold on ebay.

Constellation Wines renamed Accolade after Champ takeover

Constellation Wines Australia and Europe has been renamed Accolade Wines following the completed acquisition of an 80% share in the company by Australian equity group Champ.

Diageo and Bacardi set out green credentials

Diageo aims to cut its global carbon emissions by 50% by 2015, while Bacardi has published details of its environmental advancements.

ICS attempts to measure the pleasure of cognac

In its fourth edition, the International Cognac Summit (ICS) 2011, attempted to answer the question: can you quantify pleasure when tasting cognac?

Bacardi appoints presidents

Bacardi has named Jon Grey and Robert Furniss-Roe regional presidents of Middle East and Africa, and Latin America respectively.

India to host Diageo competition

Diageo has announced a host city for the final of its World Class 2011 bartender competition. Delhi, India, will play host to the final of what has been dubbed “the Oscars of the industry”.

Cognac celebrates record shipments

Cognac has reported record-breaking shipment figures for 2010. The region reported the value of 2010 shipments to be €1.86 billion.

Last chance to make The Glenrothes

The worldwide competition to appoint four Glenrothes whisky makers closes at the end of January. According to organisers, response to the competition has been very strong but there is still a chance to enter online. The successful candidates will be recruited to work as The Glenrothes whisky makers at the Speyside distillery, Scotland.

Scotland: Deputy prime minister toasts whisky exports

UK: The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg MP raised a glass to scotch whisky exports – up 12% in the first ten months of 2010.

Diageo North America appoints presidents

The US Spirits division of Diageo North America has appointed Mark Hubler as president of Open States and Greg Armstrong president of Control States and National Accounts.

100 YO Antarctic whisky undergoes tests

One hundred-year old whiskies that belonged to Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton have been sent to a Whyte & Mackay distillery for testing.

Jacob's Creek winemaker live chat

Join us for a live web chat with Jacob’s Creek chief winemaker Bernard Hickin on Wednesday January 19 at 1pm (GMT).

Diageo appoints senior execs

Diageo Gobal Travel Middle East (GTME) has announced three ‘key strategic leadership’ appointments to its senior executive management team.

Irish Distillers launches new whiskeys

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has launched two new whiskeys.

Brown-Forman appoints Asia Pacific boss

Brown-Forman has appointed Michael McShane as managing director for Asia Pacific, effective February 1, 2011.  McShane succeeds Stuart Beck who is to retire from the company in May 2011.  McShane will be based in Hong Kong.

Former Wine Australia boss joins Wine Intelligence

Former Wine Australia boss Paul Henry is to join wine research company Wine Intelligence as associate director.

Maker's Mark president to retire

Bill Samuels Jr is to step down as president of Maker’s Mark bourbon.

Africa: Heineken acquires additional brewing capacity

Africa: Heineken has announced the acquisition of two holding companies from the Sona Group. The two acquired businesses have controlling interests in each of the Sona, IBBI, Benue, Life and Champion breweries in Nigeria.

NZ: Winegrowers aim for organic

New Zealand: An organic wine group has set a goal for 20% of New Zealand vineyards to be organic by 2020.

Australia: Foster's donates $500,000 to flood victims

Foster’s Group has committed $500,000 to help Queensland flood victims.

Groupe Charlois acquires Winemakers Cooperage

French wine barrel manufacturer, Groupe Charlois, has expanded into the US with the purchase of Winemakers Cooperage (WC) from Treasury Wine Estates.

Budvar bucks Czech beer decline

Czech beer Budvar bucked a 12% decline in Czech beer exports in 2010 to record growth of 4%.

Cognac Summit targets taste

The fourth International Cognac Summit (ICS) will focus on the effect of cognac on the palate.

Foster’s pays tribute to England’s Ashes victory

Foster’s has launched an online tribute to England’s cricket victory, the first time for 24 years that England has won an Ashes Test Series in Australia.

Courvoisier takes to the sky

Courvoisier cognac is to be available on Virgin Atlantic flights.

Pre-mixed drinks results revealed

The Pre-Mixed Drinks Challenge Awards have been announced.

Saxco appoints quality assurance manager

Saxco, a US-based group of packaging companies affiliated to Saxco International, has appointed James Hartman as quality assurance manager.

Design firm Claessens/Cartils now Cartils

Dutch branding and packaging design consultancy Claessens/Cartils has changed its name to Cartils.

CUB extends Carlsberg accord

Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) and Carlsberg Group have extended their agreement for the distribution of Carlsberg brands in Australia.

Brand Phoenix to distribute Angove wines

Brand Phoenix has been appointed distributors for Angove Family Winemakers in the UK off-trade.

Scotch whisky gets protection in Vietnam

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has gained a geographical indication of origin for scotch whisky in Vietnam.

Barwell & Jones to distribute Willow Bridge Estate

Coe Group-owned UK distributor Barwell & Jones has added Willow Bridge Estate to its portfolio of wines.

Bordeaux wine app to launch

Bordeaux Wine Council has announced the release of a mobile phone application called Smart Bordeaux.

Alcohol Concern calls for training against alcohol misuse

UK charities Alcohol Concern and the Children’s Society have called for “mandatory social work training” on the issues surrounding parental alcohol misuse.

ICB loses Vodkat name in court battle

Diageo Great Britain (Diageo GB) has agreed a final settlement with Intercontinental Brands (ICB) in their dispute over ICB’s Vodkat product. The settlement sees the end of litigation between the two companies that has been ongoing since 2008.

Jameson hits 3 million cases

Jameson has reached three million nine litre case sales (MAT ending October 31). According to the brand, growth in the US, Jameson’s largest export market, contributed to its milestone success, with one million cases sold.

Beefeater packs a punch in travel retail

Limited edition Beefeater Winter gin has made its European travel retail debut in the main World Duty Free store in London Heathrow Terminal 3.

Rye-malt spirit Krivach launches

Russian Distiller has launched Krivach, a malted rye distillate that is said to be the first of its type in Russia for 120 years.

Baron Otard launches its rarest cognac

Cognac brand Baron Otard has launched Fortis et Fidelis, describing it as its oldest and rarest expression.

Diageo aims to make Captain Morgan 'global mega brand'

Diageo intends to grow Captain Morgan into a "global mega brand", according to Ed Pilkington, the group’s global category director for vodka, gin and rum.

First Cape to sponsor Lions rugby tour

First Cape Wines has announced it will sponsor the British and Irish Lions rugby tour of Australia in 2013.

Beam extends leadership roles

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has announced expanded leadership roles for executives Bill Newlands, Phil Baldock and Bob Probst.

Kofi Annan to speak at wine and climate change summit

Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan will deliver the keynote address at the World Climate Change and Wine Congress 2011.

BBPA backs tax break for low-alcohol beer

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has backed the UK Government’s planned reduction of duty on low-alcohol beer.

Brugal 1888 launches at Madrid airport

Brugal 1888 has been launched at Brugal Island, a rum tasting bar and store situated in Madrid airport.

Drinkaware calls for tougher measures on drinking

UK charity Drinkaware has said that tougher action is needed to counter UK binge drinking.

CEDC to purchase Kauffman vodka

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) is to purchase the global rights for Kauffman vodka.

Cider in Russia

Russia could be the next growth market for cider, according to a new report.