Group Toorank launches Sloane’s Gin
Netherlands-based distillery, Group Toorank, has launched Sloane’s Gin to the UK market.
Canada: Beam launches cognac with age declaration
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”.
Poliakov goes red
French vodka brand Poliakov has extended its line in the European on-trade to include a ‘red fruit’ liqueur.
Madonna joins Smirnoff 'Nightlife' campaign
Diageo has announced that Madonna will partner Smirnoff in the next instalment of the Nightlife Exchange Project.
Jura knocks up £10k cask competition
Isle of Jura has announced it will give whisky consumers the chance to own a cask of scotch worth £10,000.
Patron ramps up marketing in South Africa
South Africa: Patron has launched its first billboard campaign outside of the US.
Lataille lands UK Olmeca role
Pernod Ricard has appointed bartender and 'tequila expert' Matthias Lataille as UK ambassador for Olmeca Altos.
Accolade launches low alcohol wine
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 trials Bombay Sapphire East
Bacardi USA has announced plans to trial a new gin, Bombay Sapphire East, in the US on and off-trade.
Diageo unveils Captain campaign
Diageo has launched a global, multi-media marketing campaign for its Captain Morgan rum-based brand.
Buffalo Trace extends un-aged line
Buffalo Trace has launched two un-aged bourbons, White Dog Wheated Mash and White Dog Rye Mash.
Mako Vodka makes US splash
Mako Vodka, a nautically themed spirit made using water from “ice-age aquifers” has launched to selected states in the US.
StarBev eyes international expansion for Staropramen
StarBev has announced ‘significant investments’ in its Staropramen brand, as it eyes international expansion.
Enigma to dispel absinthe myths
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 adds Rolle to 'rare' range
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.
£75K Château d’Yquem breaks record
A bottle of 1811 Château d’Yquem has been sold for £75,000, setting a Guinness world record.
Constellation appoints new board member
Constellation Brands has added Keith Wandell, president and chief executive officer of Harley- Davidson to its board.
Highland Park goes to the dark side
Scotch brand Highland Park has introduced Earl Haakon, the third and final bottling of its limited edition Magnus Series.
Eristoff vodka goes for Gold
Bacardi Brown Forman Brands has launched a new vodka under the Eristoff brand.
Moët chalks up the vintages
Moët & Chandon has created a new identity for its Grand Vintage champagne labels.
Monin in Sweet and Sour launch
Monin has launched Sweet and Sour, a cocktail syrup for the on-trade.
Glenmorangie launches £2500 whisky
The Glenmorangie Company has released a £2,500 whisky matured in Chateau d’Yquem sauternes casks.
Diageo launches £15m Tanqueray campaign
Diageo has launched a £15m global campaign for its Tanqueray gin brand.
Pilsner Urquell closes on 90,000 litres at The Open
Czech lager brand Pilsner Urquell poured an estimated 90,000 litres of beer during the 2011 Open Championship in Kent, UK.
Pernod launches Malibu pre-mixes
UK: Pernod Ricard has launched a range of pre-mixed serves for its coconut rum brand Malibu.
Campari quadruples Aperol sales
Campari's Italian aperitif brand Aperol is going from strength to strength according to its owners.
Santana strikes chord with Casa Noble tequila
Carlos Santana has become joint owner of Casa Noble tequila in Mexico.
Absolut draws a Blank
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.
EPI completes Piper-Heidsieck purchase
Rémy Cointreau has completed the sale of all the shares in Piper-Heidsieck-Compagnie Champenoise to the EPI Group (Européenne de Participations Industrielles).
Brown-Forman lands Appleton distribution deal
J Wray & Nephew has appointed Brown-Forman as the exclusive distributor of Appleton Jamaica Rum brands in Mexico.
Millionaires Club 2011 is published
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.
Gin Mare Cocktail Competition UK winners
The UK heat of the Gin Mare cocktail Competition took place this week at the Imbibe show in London.
Auchentoshan has two new expressions
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 buys Maximus vodka
Brown-Forman has acquired the Maximus vodka brand from Altia. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Heineken teams up with Google
Heineken and Google have announced an advertising partnership which will begin with the launch of worldwide digital campaigns on YouTube and mobile phones.
Fussigny launches vintage range
A de Fussigny Cognac has announced the launch of four new vintage expressions at Vinexpo in Bordeaux.
Remy launches Louis XIII jeroboam
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.
One hundred per cent Islay single malt whisky
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.
Aspall invests £4m and restructures business
UK cider producer Aspall is to restructure its business and invest £4m following “40% volume growth” last year.
A de Fussigny releases XO 24 Carats
A de Fussigny cognac has released XO 24 Carats Grand Champagne to North America, Europe, Asia and duty free.
Chivas launches $200,000 whisky
Chivas Brothers has launched a US$200,000 whisky as a tribute to the oldest crown jewels in Britain - the Honours of Scotland.
Heaven Hill launches new liqueur
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 offers Millenium Barrel to charity
Buffalo Trace Distillery has offered the entire 174-bottle release of its Millennium Barrel expression to US charities for auctioning.
Duvel swaps Green for Single Fermentation
Belgiun beer Duvel Green has been renamed Duvel Single Fermentation, in a bid to ease consumer understanding.
Diageo to take controlling stake in Zacapa rum
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 to roll out The Glenrothes 1995
Berry Bros & Rudd Spirits has released The Glenrothes 1995 Vintage to international markets following its launch at Whisky Live Tokyo in February.
Chivas launches new Beefeater gin
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 to launch Alligator expression
Ardbeg has announced the September launch of its new limited release, Ardbeg Alligator, to Europe, Asia and the US.
Beam launches Courvoisier Rosé
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.