Champagne exports to the US in 2023 dropped 20% on the previous year to around 27m bottles according to Comité Champagne.

The UK government has announced a freeze on alcohol duty in the Spring Budget which was declared on Wednesday 6 March.

Pernod Ricard reported a -3% decline of both organic sales and organic profit from recurring operations for the first half of the financial year 2024.

The Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge is returning for its sixth edition, inviting global bartenders to create an original aperitivo cocktail inspired by art, using Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto.

We’ve been running ­the Brands Report since 2010 – the year after Agile Media launched ­the World’s 50 Best Bars – and, while it has evolved since then, taking in new categories and drawing data from an ever-rotating panel of bars, it still seeks to answer the same question. Which brands do the best bars buy – and why?

Korean liquor giants, including Hite Jinro and Lotte Chilsung Beverage, are set to reduce the wholesale prices of their soju brands beginning next year.

Renais Gin to launch in the US

18 December, 2023

Renais Spirits has announced a national distribution agreement in the US for Spring 2024, following its launch in the UK in May this year.

Malibu has partnered with anti-spiking charity Stamp Out Spiking to train 2,000 on-trade staff and consumers about dealing with a dangerous spiking situation.

London agaveria Hacha has launched its new menu, Cymatics, showcasing 12 cocktails inspired by music from some of the industry’s most notable names, past and present.

For the fourth year in a row, Buffalo Trace owner, Sazerac Company, has been named American Whiskey Producer of the Year by Drinks International’s International Spirits Challenge (ISC).

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London is partnering with The Lakes Distillery for The Whiskymaker's Editions ‘Decadence’, to commemorate its ten-year anniversary.

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London will partner with cocktail bar Himkok for a takeover experience on Wednesday 6 September from 7-10pm.

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. 

The House of Suntory is partnering with 100 of the UK’s bars to mark its 100th anniversary, as part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to the on-trade and hospitality sector.

The IWSR has recognised Trivento winery as the world’s top-selling Argentine wine brand.

Douro Somm Camp, part of Symington Family Estates’ School of Port educational platform, launched in 2020, is returning this year in July.

This year, eight years after launching its Première Cuvée, Hambledon are releasing the first ever rosé version of this wine, its Première Cuvée Rosé. 

Trois Frères Distillery, the makers of Takamaka Rum in the Seychelles, has announced its launch into Belgium in collaboration with independent importer, The Nectar.

The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be unveiled as part of a live awards ceremony in Singapore at the Pasir Panjang power station on Tuesday, 17 October 2023.

This April, Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London is launching its new menu ‘10’, in celebration of its 10-year anniversary. 

Single malt Scotch whisky, Jura, is looking to further its success with a refreshed entry-level expression, Jura Bourbon Cask.

Bushmills Irish Whiskey has unveiled the tenth and final release from its current Causeway Collection, a 33 Year Old Port Cask, to be sold exclusively in World Duty-Free’s stores at Heathrow Airport.

Last year, 23 Restaurant Services acquired and added Don the Beachcomber restaurant brand to its portfolio, now in honour of Donn’s birthday on 22 February, the Tampa, Florida-based hospitality company is moving forward with an expansive growth strategy for its new tiki-themed restaurant brand.

Graham’s Port has announced the launch of its global competition aimed at bartenders and mixologists for a second year running. 

Diageo, purveyor of Johnnie Walker and Guinness, has announced half year results to 31 December 2022 with reported net sales of £9.4bn, increased 18.4%, reflecting strong organic net sales growth.

London bar operator, Inception Group, will be launching Mr Fogg’s Pawnbrokers on Dean Street, Soho, on 22 February this year. 

Trois Frères Distillery, the makers of Takamaka Rum in the Seychelles, has announced that it is launching into Taiwan through boutique importer and distributor Bring The Rocks.

Curious Brewery has reached an agreement to add Wild Beer Co to its portfolio, an acquisition that will double the size of the existing Curious operation.

According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the first half of 2022 (H1) saw value growth of beverage alcohol reaching historic highs, driven by a combination of post-pandemic demand and price increases.

Ferrari Trento, the Italian sparkling wine brand, has had a successful year in the world of fine wine, motorsport and wine tourism. 

Spanish-lager 1906 Black Coupage by Hijos de Rivera brewery has been crowned Supreme Champion at the International Beer Challenge 2022 as well as winning the award for Best Lager above 5%.

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. 

The global mezcal market is expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2031, new data by Straits Research has revealed.

Diageo Reserve’s World Class bartender competition, now in its 14th year, has opened for entries in the UK. 

Paradiso from Barcelona was named the World’s Best Bar at the annual World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in Barcelona, the first time the accolade has been awarded to a bar outside of London and New York.

Premium tequila brand Cazcabel has announced that its $37million distillery is set to open in Atotonilco El Alto in the Jalisco highlands of Mexico in 2023.

Norwegian bartender, Adrián Michalčík, has been awarded the title of Diageo World Class Global Bartender of the Year, which saw bartenders from 50 countries take part.

US-based drinks group Luxco has reported a 27% uplift in annual sales across Germany and Europe.

Following a one-year hiatus, the Drinks International Travel Retail Awards will be returning for its 16th year to celebrate innovation and excellence in the world of drinks travel retail.

Highland single malt brand, Loch Lomond, has been named the world’s fastest-growing top 25 single malt brand in 2021 by IWSR, with a 73% year-on-year increase in volume.

The show's new edition, titled Tropicana, will host eight prominent Speakeasy Bars, as it returns this year following its previous success. 

A strong performance in key markets saw Beam Suntory’s net sales increase by 13% year-on-year in the first half of 2022, a 25% increase on the pre-pandemic period in 2019.

Wine production in France has been forecasted to rebound this year following the frost-hit 2021 harvest but the ministry of Agriculture and Food has warned that worsening drought could curb volumes.

Avallen Spirits, certified B Corp, have published their second Bee More Report, the company’s annual self-publication of their environmental impact for the year running 1 May to 31 April. 

On 1 July The Balvenie launched the latest in its Stories range, a 27-year-old single malt finished in Caroni rum casks, Drinks International caught up with brand ambassador Alwynne Gwilt to talk about the distillery's unique relationship with rum.

Familia Torres expects to be self-supplying 50% of the energy at its Pacs del Penedès winery by early 2023, due to the renewable energy it will produce at its facilities.

Diageo has announced its preliminary results for the year, ended 30 June 2022, with strong performance and investments into long-term growth.

Black Tot rum’s annual celebration is to return this year with a month-long programme of festivities and the release of the Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve.

Glenmorangie Highland single malt whisky has revealed its new packaging, set to be rolled out from August this year in the UK, transforming all parts of the original design. 

Champagne growers and houses met in Epernay within the Comité Champagne to agree on the circumstances of the next harvest and on strategic directions for the sector.

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La'Mel Clarke

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