Diageo plans to significantly increase production of its recently acquired Ketel One vodka, as part of a global push on the brand. Diageo wants to expand Ketel One’s presence outside of North America, initially in Latin America and Europe, chief executive Paul Walsh has told Drinks International. Diageo has spent US$900 million to begin a 50 /50 joint venture on Ketel One with the Nolet…

While Spain’s best known wine, Rioja, has updated its logo, two names have been added to the list of Spain’s Denominación de Origen wine producing regions. Based on the Tempranillo vine, the quintessential grape variety of Rioja, Rioja’s regulatory council hopes its new logo design will appeal to new younger drinkers without alienating its existing devotees. The logo is being introduced to the domestic Spanish…

Havana Club, the dark rum brand owned by Cuba Ron SA and Pernod Ricard , has recorded a 15 per cent year-on-year increase, taking it past the 3 million nine-litre case mark. Havana Club International says the rum is set to make 5 million cases by 2013. The company exports to 124 countries, excluding the US where Cuban-made products are banned. Havana Club International…

Pacific Beverages, SABMiller’s joint venture with Coca-Cola, is planning to build a “state-of-the art” brewery in Australia to increase production of its premium brands. The brewery in New South Wales will have a capacity of 500,000 h l and will be used by Pacific to brew more Bluetongue and Bondi Blonde beer and potentially develop more premium brands. Ari Mervis, managing director of SABMiller Asia,…

Fortune Brands is believed to be ahead of its rivals in the bidding auction for Sweden’s state-owned Vin & Sprit, owner of Absolut vodka. Sweden’s government has narrowed the race to four bidders, according to a local media report, understood to be Fortune Brands, Pernod Ricard, Bacardi and a private equity group. But it is Fortune, which already distributes Vin & Sprit’s Absolut vodka brand…

Irish Distillers, part of Pernod Ricard and maker of Jameson whiskey, is set to sue rival distiller Cooley. The dispute relates to a new Cooley whiskey produced for the Russian market. Irish Distillers is understood to be concerned about the whiskey’s similarity to the Jameson brand. A spokesperson for Irish Distillers declined to comment on the case, but said that proceedings were at a…

Scotch whisky specialist Edrington Group has its sights on fast-growing rum markets after buying a majority share in the Brugal Company. Drinks International understands Edrington paid more than £200 million for the 60 per cent share in Dominican Republic-based Brugal. The deal catapults Edrington into the growing rum market. Brugal sells 5 million cases of golden rum annually, has an 80 per cent share of…