== Concept == Zubrowka is the generic term for the bison grass vodka of Polish origin that is taking cocktail bars by storm. This distinctive vodka dates back to the 14th century when bison grass was first added to vodka, giving it a unique yellowish hue and aromatic flavour. A blade of the bison grass, unique to the Bialowieza forest, is left in the bottle…

The British government is planning to better protect whisky from Scotland , but is it needed?…

Drinks analysts looking at the rum category have for years shaken their heads sorrowfully as rum never quite achieved its potential. "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride" would be an accurate summation – until now. In the decade from 1996-2006, rum sales increased in volume by 3.5 per cent, according to IWSR statistics, outperforming the overall spirits market at 2 per cent. This rise has…

To appreciate how much deluxe blends matter to Scotch whisky, one has only to look at the two biggest players in the drinks industry. In each case, the flagship brand is a 12 Year Old blend – namely Johnnie Walker Black Label at Diageo and Chivas Regal at Pernod Ricard. These two brands account for 70-80 per cent of the total deluxe category and…

South Africa’s winemakers have unlocked their expertise and let loose their distinctive expressions on the world market since the nation shook off its colonial past and abandoned apartheid in 1994. So much so that South Africa today has more than 102,000ha of land under vine – up from 92,601ha in 1999 – and makes as much as three per cent of the world’s wine. Although…

The messages coming out of the industry are quite contradictory in regard to the health of the gin sector. Volume sales statistics indicate a market that has been static or in slow decline for a number of years, with little change predicted for the future. But talk to global players and there is tremendous optimism, with premium brands seeing double-digit growth and a plethora of…

The vodka brand launched in 1998 by billionaire entrepreneur Roustam Tariko certainly appears to have the might of the Russian government behind it. "Russian Standard cannot be compared to anything else – it is simply unbeatable," said Yuri Ushakov, ambassador of the Russian Federation to the US, at the April US launch of Russian Standard Original at the Russian Embassy in Washington DC. "What is…