The rum category is currently experiencing something of a boom, led by the golden and barrel-aged rums. The range of styles on show in the Drinks International Rum Challenge provided varied fare for the judging panel. Chairman of judges Ian Burrell, London restaurant owner and rum ambassador, said the medal-winning rums had to come through some demanding judging criteria. "It was a deliberate policy," he…

White Gold Appleton White J Wray & Nephew PREMIUM White Silver Saint James Rhum Agricole 50% abv Rhums Martiniquais OVERPROOF Silver J Wray & Nephew White Overproof J Wray & Nephew Bronze Rum Bar Premium White Overproof Worthy Park Estate Under 7 Year Old gold/dark Gold Chairman’s Reserve St Lucia Distillers Bronze English Harbour 5 YO Antigua Distillery Over 7…

With immaculate timing – coinciding with preparations for this Challenge – the new EU definition for London Gin was recognised and passed into EU law on February 20 this year as part of the revised EU Spirit Drink Regulations. Along with it came equivalent technical definitions of two other categories – Gin and Distilled Gin – regulating distilling techniques and the addition of flavourings and…

Gold: Trophy G’Vine Nouaison 43.9 EuroWineGate Distilled gin Gold: Trophy Tanqueray London Dry Gin 43.1 Diageo London gin Gold Beefeater London Dry Gin 40 Chivas Brothers London gin Gold Blue Ribbon 40 Oposit Wines & Spirits London gin Gold Gibson’s 37.5 La Martiniquaise London gin Gold Larios 40 Beam Global España London gin Gold Tesco Finest Classic No 1 Gin 43 G&J Greenall London gin…

Bells and The Famous Grouse are the best-selling whiskies in the UK and are considered "premium blends" with a non-discounted shelf price of over £15 a litre. Last year this sector grew by £7.4 million in the off-trade according to Nielsen, at the expense of "secondary blends" and "cheapest on display" whiskies. This trend was confirmed by Simon Dunn, spirits buyer at Britain’s biggest supermarket,…

These are heady days for rum, a spirit that is enjoying a new sense of confidence as export markets begin to understand the quality and provenance of the product. In the US sales are already booming. Rum accounts for 18 per cent of all spirits sales, achieving revenues of US$2.1 billion in 2007, an increase of 8.9 per cent on the previous year. Only vodka…

Spain’s leading native brand, the single grain, five-times distilled Evolution vodka, is using strong music, dj and clubbing tie-ins with the aim of leapfrogging the brand beyond its Spanish heartland to a more global audience of drinkers. Brand activity has majored on sponsorship of Spanish music festivals with an international theme, including the Infinita Gay Festival in Madrid, which attracts upwards of 2…