World whisky is defined as any outside the more traditional producing regions of Scotland, America and Ireland. The geo split of the top 10 is 50% Japan and 30% Canada, plus Taiwan’s Kavalan and India’s Amrut, suggesting Japan is on the cusp of warranting its own section and tipping over to traditional status. With one in three bars declaring it the house pour, Nikka…

In the world’s best bars, for cognac it’s long been Hennessy’s world, with the other brands simply living in it. Well, no more. The LVMH flagship has topped our bestselling table every year since we began recording in 2010 but there’s a new top dog.  Rémy Martin has invested heavily in its presence at the top end of the bar world, sponsoring a…

­The presence of Johnnie Walker in the world’s best bars is significant, with almost half using it as a top-three option by volume. ­ The Macallan was once again the runner-up with the second most bars declaring it their bestseller, an impressive statement for a brand which demands a premium. It also topped the trending list with almost double the number of votes than…

The move marks GHF’s first brand acquisition and sees Fielden join the group under new ownership. Tristram Coates, founder and chief executive of GHF, said: “We have long admired the Fielden brand and have followed its development closely, believing it to be something truly special. A genuine challenger, doing whisky differently. Fielden has strong credibility with bartenders, retailers and whisky enthusiasts through its…

Once again the established rum brands have demonstrated their influence in the industry’s top bars. Bacardi, Havana Club and Planteray have retained their podium spots and were collectively the house pour in two thirds of the bars polled. However, while the order of the top three remains the same as 2025, the gap is narrowing with just a few bars separating the brands. There’s…

Don Julio has maintained its dominance as the bestselling tequila brand in the world’s best bars. Diageo’s flagship brand has taken poll position in the Brands Report in every edition since 2016, but it’s never been this tight at the top.  This year Don Julio only held on to its position by virtue of more often being the house pour, it was the…

The partnership will support the bottler’s continued growth as it joins Skylark’s portfolio of rums. “The team at Skylark is driven to elevate the rum category and broaden choice and understanding through authentic, craft and unique rums whilst supporting the trade in stepping away from the over reliance of mainstream rum brands. Their deep category knowledge alongside events, tastings and trade partnerships will help…