Diageo is launching a global campaign for its Bushmills Irish whiskey , including a new blend, to coincide with the distillery’s 400th birthday. The world’s largest drinks company acquired Bushmills in 2005 after several years of trying to buy an Irish distillery. Its original attempt to buy the whole of Irish Distillers was thwarted by the Irish government in 1988 which preferred ownership going to…

Sherry is planning a heavy marketing push in the US, Canada and Japan in the hope of doubling exports. Trade association Fedejerez has announced a marketing spend of €2.8 million for the next four years, with €1 million earmarked for the US. It is thought that targeting countries with emerging markets will enable bodegas to boost their export rate. A search has begun for an…

European Union agricultural ministers have reached an agreement on new regulations on the production and labelling of spirits within Europe. Under the legislation, vodka made from cereals or potatoes will be able to carry a label simply saying “vodka”, but vodkas made from other raw materials will have to state what they are on the label. Other changes include protection of the terms London Gin…

Some of the world’s top mixologists are due to arrive in Cognac for the International Cognac Summit, which takes place from Jan 20 -23 . The Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac (BNIC) is hoping a new Cognac-based cocktail with the potential to be world class will emerge. Some of the cocktail stars expected include: Dale DeGroff, president of the Museum of the American Cocktail; Audre…

Portuguese wine producer Sogrape Vinhos has opened a new winery for Sandeman, its international Port brand. The company says it has invested approximately E7.5m in the Quinta do Seixo facility, which is gravity-fed and boasts four types of press and uses four types of maceration processes. It is being hailed as the most technically advanced winery in Portugal and the company says it will revolutionise…

A US-distilled absinthe is on the market for the first time in almost a century. St. George Spirits, the California artisan distiller responsible for Hangar One vodka, is the first US company since 1912 to make and sell absinthe in the US. The distiller’s Absinthe Verte went on sale during the Christmas holidays in limited markets. The US, along with many other nations, had banned…

Racke, the German-based drinks group, has taken on the German distribution of Rich Prosecco, the brand endorsed by glamour girl and hotel heiress Paris Hilton. The sparkling wine drink, made with Prosecco grapes from the Treviso region of Italy, comes in gold 20cl cans . It also comes in Rich Passion with passion fruit and Rich Royal with strawberry and cassis. Heineken has announced a…