Netherlands-based distillery, Group Toorank, has launched Sloane’s Gin to the UK market.

Canada: Beam Global has launched two cognacs with declared age statements. According to the company, the two marques are the “first cognacs available from any of the four major cognac makers to display a declared age statement”.

French vodka brand Poliakov has extended its line in the European on-trade to include a ‘red fruit’ liqueur.

Diageo has announced that Madonna will partner Smirnoff in the next instalment of the Nightlife Exchange Project.

Isle of Jura has announced it will give whisky consumers the chance to own a cask of scotch worth £10,000.

South Africa: Patron has launched its first billboard campaign outside of the US. 

Pernod Ricard has appointed bartender and 'tequila expert' Matthias Lataille as UK ambassador for Olmeca Altos.

Accolade Wines has launched a low alcohol wine under the Stowells brand. Stowells Light is 5.5% abv and a 125ml glass contains one unit of alcohol and 56 calories.

Bacardi USA has announced plans to trial a new gin, Bombay Sapphire East, in the US on and off-trade.

Diageo has launched a global, multi-media marketing campaign for its Captain Morgan rum-based brand.

Buffalo Trace has launched two un-aged bourbons, White Dog Wheated Mash and White Dog Rye Mash.

Mako Vodka, a nautically themed spirit made using water from “ice-age aquifers” has launched to selected states in the US. 

StarBev has announced ‘significant investments’ in its Staropramen brand, as it eyes international expansion.

Liqueurs de France has rolled out the launch of its Enigma absinthe range to the UK, in a bid to change consumer perceptions of the spirit.

Badet Clement has added Rolle to its Les Jamelles Rare & Antique range, a five-strong collection of “heritage, forgotten, or little-known” varietals from the south of France.

A bottle of 1811 Château d’Yquem has been sold for £75,000, setting a Guinness world record.

Constellation Brands has added Keith Wandell, president and chief executive officer of Harley- Davidson to its board.

Scotch brand Highland Park has introduced Earl Haakon, the third and final bottling of its limited edition Magnus Series.

Bacardi Brown Forman Brands has launched a new vodka under the Eristoff brand.

Moët & Chandon has created a new identity for its Grand Vintage champagne labels.

Monin has launched Sweet and Sour, a cocktail syrup for the on-trade.

The Glenmorangie Company has released a £2,500 whisky matured in Chateau d’Yquem sauternes casks.

Diageo has launched a £15m global campaign for its Tanqueray gin brand.

Czech lager brand Pilsner Urquell poured an estimated 90,000 litres of beer during the 2011 Open Championship in Kent, UK.

UK: Pernod Ricard has launched a range of pre-mixed serves for its coconut rum brand Malibu.

Campari's Italian aperitif brand Aperol is going from strength to strength according to its owners.

Carlos Santana has become joint owner of Casa Noble tequila in Mexico.

Absolut vodka has launched a global creative campaign called Absolut Blank. The campaign involves 'blank' bottles that have been turned into pieces of art by 18 different artists.

Rémy Cointreau has completed the sale of all the shares in Piper-Heidsieck-Compagnie Champenoise to the EPI Group (Européenne de Participations Industrielles).

J Wray & Nephew has appointed Brown-Forman as the exclusive distributor of Appleton Jamaica Rum brands in Mexico.

Drinks International and Euromonitor International have published the Millionaires Club 2011. The report lists spirits brands that sell over one million nine-litre cases. A record 172 brands feature in this year’s edition and figures are based on 2010 sales volumes.

The UK heat of the Gin Mare cocktail Competition took place this week at the Imbibe show in London.

Morrison Bowmore has unveiled two new Auchentoshan expressions. 1999 Bordeaux Cask Matured and Valinch, a small batch release of the Classic expression bottled at cask strength and non-chill filtered.

Brown-Forman has acquired the Maximus vodka brand from Altia. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Heineken and Google have announced an advertising partnership which will begin with the launch of worldwide digital campaigns on YouTube and mobile phones.

A de Fussigny Cognac has announced the launch of four new vintage expressions at Vinexpo in Bordeaux.

Remy Martin has launched its Louis XIII cognac in a jeroboam decanter. The new format has a £16,000 price tag and there are 100 jeroboams available.

Kilchoman, the small “farm distillery” on the famous scotch island of Islay, has unveiled a single malt whisky which it claims is the first 100% Islay-only whisky in more than 100 years.

UK cider producer Aspall is to restructure its business and invest £4m following “40% volume growth” last year.

A de Fussigny cognac has released XO 24 Carats Grand Champagne to North America, Europe, Asia and duty free.

Chivas Brothers has launched a US$200,000 whisky as a tribute to the oldest crown jewels in Britain - the Honours of Scotland.

US: Heaven Hill has launched a liqueur called Hpnotiq Harmonie. The new product is an infusion of French vodka, natural fruits, flowers, and cognac.  The mix includes berries, violets and lavender.

Isle of Arran Distillers has launched a limited edition scotch in collaboration with conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland.

Buffalo Trace Distillery has offered the entire 174-bottle release of its Millennium Barrel expression to US charities for auctioning.

Belgiun beer Duvel Green has been renamed Duvel Single Fermentation, in a bid to ease consumer understanding.

Global drinks giant Diageo has reached an agreement with Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala to take a 50% controlling stake in the Guatemalan Zacapa rum brand.

Berry Bros & Rudd Spirits has released The Glenrothes 1995 Vintage to international markets following its launch at Whisky Live Tokyo in February.

Chivas Brothers has launched a new special edition Beefeater gin. Developed by master distiller Desmond Payne, Beefeater London Market Gin will be available for a limited period from June 2011 in key global markets, including Spain, UK, Turkey and Bulgaria.

Ardbeg has announced the September launch of its new limited release, Ardbeg Alligator, to Europe, Asia and the US.

US: Beam Global and Courvoisier cognac have launched Courvoisier Rosé. The liqueur is a blend of Courvoisier cognac and French 'red wine grapes'. The flavour profile is said to feature "notes of blackberry, blackcurrant and a touch of cherry, complemented by vanilla, honey and vine-peach flavours". The 36 proof liquid (18%abv) is best served chilled or on ice and is available throughout the US for $24.99.