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With age statements and innovation grabbing attention worldwide, Cognac sales are booming. But can it keep up with global demand? Gavin D Smith reports 

Pernod Ricard launched Absolut Exposure last night at an event at TFWA Cannes.

Bar Convent Berlin attracted 5,700 visitors this year, a 20% increase on 2011.

Bartender Kim Daniel Bergersen of Norway prevailed from a field of 11 finalists at Pilsner Urquell’s International Master Bartender (IMB) competition.

Treasury Wine Estates has appointed John Grant as managing director of its Beringer Brand Business Unit.

Angostura is on the lookout for bartenders to take part in the national heats of its Global Cocktail Challenge 2013, a competition which culminates in the selection of its global brand ambassador.

Lucy Britner on livening up tequila

Su Birch, CEO of Wines of South Africa (WoSA) is the winner of Wine Intelligence’s inaugural ‘10 for 10 Business Award’.

William Grant has released Glenfiddich’s first-ever vatted ‘vintage reserve’, the 1974 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve which the company claims was selected by a global panel of 16 experts.

Rexam, the can maker, has announced that it has been chosen by Beam Global Spirits and Wine India to provide the can for its new Teacher's ready-to-drink variant.

Irish Distillers has announced its St Patrick's Day plans for Jameson.

Heineken has announced net profits of €1.5 billion before one-off items, an increase of 9.2%.

Pernod Ricard has announced an 11% increase in sales and a 20% increase in net profit for the six months ending December 31, 2011.

Heineken has announced that it has extended its 15-year partnership with the James Bond franchise.

Nomacorc has launched Select 100, a closure for fragile wines and full bodied red wines that requiring extended aging.

Bacardi has announced the finalists of the UK heat of its global  Legacy Cocktail Competition.

Direct Wines, the world's largest independent wine merchant with a turnover of £350 million, has announced major changes to its buying and merchandising teams.

Entries are now being taken for the 14th annual International Finlandia Vodka Cup. The final is to be held on February 1, 2012 and the prize fund is $25,000.

The UK's Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer has touched down in Australia in the first stage of a planned global roll out.

Stella Artois has crowned its World Draught Master for 2011 following the final of the global competition in Buenos Aires.

Beam Inc has announced a new commercial structure in its Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) region.

Pernod Ricard has added to its ever-widening stable of Absolut limited editions with the release of Absolut Mode to global travel retail (GTR) for the run up to Christmas.

Pernod Ricard has unveiled Absolut Gustafson at the TFWA in Cannes, a new limited edition for global travel retail.

Champagne Jacquesson has announced the launch of two single-vineyard champagnes from 2002 to global markets.

Rémy Cointreau Global Travel Retail (GTR) is attempting to raise awareness of vodka brand Russian Standard, with its new campaign Vodka As It Should Be.

Beam Global is to launch Teacher’s Origin in global travel retail. The product has already launched in India, where, according to Beam, Teacher’s is the number one blended whisky.

Beam Global has appointed Debora Boyda to the role of general manager of the Mixables Category Business Team (CBT). 

Beam Global has launched Laphoaig Triple Wood to global markets and introduced Laphroaig PX as the expression’s global travel retail replacement.

Brown-Forman Duty Free has made four senior-level appointments, effective immediately.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has appointed Christopher G. Bauder to the role of bourbon category business team (CBT) general manager.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has announced new corporate branding in anticipation of becoming an independent publicly traded spirits company, to be renamed Beam, early in the fourth quarter.

Diageo has launched a £15m global campaign for its Tanqueray gin brand.

Absolut vodka has launched a global creative campaign called Absolut Blank. The campaign involves 'blank' bottles that have been turned into pieces of art by 18 different artists.

The Vinho Verde Wine Commission (CVRVV), in Portugal, has invested €5m on a three-year global promotion.

Global drinks giant Diageo has reached an agreement with Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala to take a 50% controlling stake in the Guatemalan Zacapa rum brand.

Stella Artois’ seven-month quest to find its “draught master” has begun with the launch of the Quality Draught Masters Programme.

The Bacardi Global Travel Retail Division has announced three director-level appointments in a bid to “create a leadership team with a wealth of experience and global expertise”.

International Beverage Holdings will unveil the 1995 vintage of Balblair single malt scotch whisky at TFWA Asia Pacific.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has launched gin brand, Larios 12, to Spanish travel retail.

SABMiller has launched a new Peroni Nastro Azzurro global ad campaign that celebrates the Italian summer.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, the premium spirits business of Fortune Brands has announced a ten year incentive-based agreement with Coca-Cola Amatil in Australia.

Angostura has crowned the winner of its 2011 Global Cocktail Challenge. Andy Griffiths from Cookie bar in Melbourne, Australia, took home the US$10,000 prize as well as a one year brand ambassadorship.

Bushmills has announced that it will launch a global competition on St Patrick’s day, called Make it 2 Bushmills.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has appointed Albert Baladi as president of Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA), effective March 5.

Scotch whisky brand Chivas Regal has launched a global television commercial as part of the ongoing Live with Chivalry campaign.

Diageo has announced a new global brand director for Guinness. Oliver Loomes has been appointed to the role, following Brian Duffy’s promotion to global category director for beer.

Bacardi has named Jon Grey and Robert Furniss-Roe regional presidents of Middle East and Africa, and Latin America respectively.

Diageo intends to grow Captain Morgan into a "global mega brand", according to Ed Pilkington, the group’s global category director for vodka, gin and rum.