Funkin has appointed Simon Little, formerly of Diageo, Percy Fox, SABMiller, Greene King and Gaymers, as its new sales director.

Nomacorc, the world’s largest producer of synthetic wine closures, has declared the production and shipment of its 100 millionth Select Series closure.

The makers of RTD brand Hooch are set to launch the product in international markets.

The Leeuwin Estate has launched a 2009 Margaret River Shiraz as part of its Art Series.

SPI Group, owner of the Stolichnaya Russian vodka brand, has made John Esposito president of its US operations.

Diageo has launched a 10 year old expression of Bulleit Bourbon in the US.

The Sazerac Company is to launch a vodka brand called Epic.

Campari International and Skyy vodka have launched a television advertising campaign in South Africa.

Beer Direct has introduced an ale to the UK market that has been brewed by Trappist monks.

Stellenbosch winery, Kleine Zalze, has announced the appointment of Nitida Wines’ RJ Botha, to its winemaking team.

German distiller Asbach has released a special edition 1952 vintage brandy to celebrate its 120^th anniversary.

Wines of Chile has announced the Trophy winners for its annual awards.

The Famous Grouse, the major scotch whisky blend has announced its continued sponsorship of Scottish Rugby with a new three year sponsorship package as the ‘Official Spirit of Scottish Rugby’.

Gordon & MacPhail is set to build a new bottling line for its Speyside single malt, Benromach, to meet a swell in demand.

Diageo has announced it will re-launch Tanqueray Malacca to the worldwide on-trade in February. 

Orlando Wyndham has announced that the harvesting of the 2013 vintage in Australia for its global wine brand, Jacob’s Creek, is underway.

Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy has launched Glenmorangie Ealanta, the fourth annual release in the single malt's Private Edition range.

English sparkling wine Nyetimber has released a 2007 Blancs de Blancs.

La Cave des Vignerons de Pfaffenheim has released Gentil de Pfaff 2011, an AOC Alsace Blanc wine.

Blended scotch brand Chivas 18 has teamed up with Italian design company Pininfarina to launch a series of limited editions called Chivas 18 by Pininfarina.

US: Pernod Ricard has launched Absolut Hibiskus - what it describes as the first ever floral-flavoured vodka. 

McGuigan Wines has teamed up with TV chef John Torode to work on a new wine and food matching project that will be announced in the New Year.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label has named David Gandy as its new brand ambassador. 

J&G Grant has announced the appointment of Callum Fraser as the new production manager at the Glenfarclas Distillery.

Maison Ruinart, which claims to be the oldest champagne house (established in 1729), has announce the launch of the latest vintage of its prestige cuvée Dom Ruinart Rosé 1998 to the UK market.

Diageo’s Captain Morgan reached the milestone of 10 million 9-litre case sales during the year ending November 30.

Diageo the world’s largest premium drinks company in the world, is to sponsor public transport in London and Edinburgh on New Year’s Eve.

A 233-year-old Courvoisier cognac, discovered in a Dutch Collection is on sale for £95,000 at Harrods in London

Adnams, best known as a regional English brewer, has previewed two English whiskies which will be launched next year in time for Christmas.

The best Albariños in the world are: La Val Crianza sobre Lias from Galician producer Bodegas La Val, Abadía San Campio from Cordorniu’s Terras Gauda and Vinha Antiga from Portuguese co-operative Provam.

First Drinks, William Grant & Sons UK distributor, has announced a major investment to strengthen its presence in the UK on-trade.

Moët & Chandon has announced that tennis great, Roger Federer, is the house’s new brand ambassador.

The boutique sparkling wine producer, Herbert Hall Wines, has been selected to make an English Sparkling Wine Cuvée for The Prince of Wales’s Highgrove brand.

Beluga vodka has announced it will be one of the sponsors of the Nobel Prize events on December 10 in Stockholm.

Konik’s Tail, the Polish-made, UK-headquartered vodka brand will launch in Poland next year.

Lee Potter Cavanagh of Mark’s Bar at HIX in London is this year’s Glenfiddich Malt Mastermind.

Jameson Irish whiskey sales reached four million 9-litre cases globally in the 12 months leading up to Q1 of FY2012-2013 (sometime during July-September 2012).

The Four Roses Distillery has released the latest in its series of limited-quantity bottlings with the 2012 Limited Edition Single Barrel, a handcrafted bourbon selected by Four Roses master distiller, Jim Rutledge.

Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve has again been made available by Pernod Ricard for the run up to Christmas.

First Drinks has announced the finalists of the Glenfiddich Malt Mastermind cocktail competition.

Australian producer McGuigan Wines has scooped another winemaker of the year award.

Cellar Trends plans to slowly prise Jägermeister from its Red Bull glass-partner by convincing consumers to drink the brand as a cold shot. 

Chase Distillery’s new super-premium gin, Williams Great British Extra Dry, has reached the UK market.

International Beverage Holdings unveiled Balblair 1969 Vintage in London yesterday, one of the oldest vintages ever released by the Highland distillery.

Chivas Brothers is to launch a marketing campaign for Beefeater, to follow the Forever London adverts.

Distell has announced the launch of sparkling white wine, JC Le Roux Le Domaine, to the UK market.  

Australian Vintage has launched Vinni, a wine-based sparkling drink intended to be drunk in a pint glass.

Burn Stewart Distilleries claims to have unearthed casks containing 40-year old stocks of its flagship scotch brand Bunnahabhain.

Sullivans Cove,Tasmania’s  single malt whisky, has been named ‘Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year’ in Jim Murray’s 2013 Whisky Bible.

Maximilian Riedel, the 11^th-generation CEO of Riedel Crystal, has won the 125^th anniversary Pratt Legend Award, from the Pratt Institute.