BrewDog has opened its first bar in Thailand as part of its international expansion drive having already opened venues in Perth, Rotterdam and Denver this year.

Danish company Carlsberg has agreed a £3.3bn deal to buy the UK business of Britvic as well as the remaining 40% share in its joint brewing venture with Marston’s.

Peruvian bar Sastrería Martinez is launching its new menu this month titled Collection 24/25.

Spirits distributor Speciality Brands is adding Takamaka to its rum portfolio, alongside signing an exclusive partnership with Chichibu Distillery, taking over from Speciality Drinks.

Argo at Four Seasons Hong Kong – number 34 in The World’s 50 Best Bars - will take over Amaro bar in London’s South Kensington on 30 January.

London agaveria Hacha has launched its new menu, Cymatics, showcasing 12 cocktails inspired by music from some of the industry’s most notable names, past and present.

Hamish Smith speaks to Neal Bodenheimer, board member and co-resurrector of Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.

Speciality Brands has announced that it will become the exclusive UK distributor of French Cognac house, Camus.

A response to the notion that 'without criticism there is only marketing', by DI editor Shay Waterworth.

The Lakes Distillery has appointed Sarah Burgess as its new whisky maker, taking over the role from Dhavall Gandhi.

Dubai has scrapped its 30% tax on alcohol sales for the rest of the year in an apparent bid to boost tourism, while also stopping the charge on personal alcohol licences, something residents who wish to drink at home are required to have.

With rail strikes set to bring the UK’s rail network to a standstill, as rail workers walk out over a long-running row over jobs, pay and conditions, hospitality businesses are seeing large-scale cancellations impacting the sector at its most critical trading period of the year. 

All-rye Finish distiller, Kyrö Distillery Company has secured a nationwide listing with UK supermarket Waitrose with the brand’s Kyrö Dairy Cream and Kyrö Ginnow available for purchase in-sotre and online.

Streaming platform The Avenue has launched the online cocktail competition Battle of the Bottle taking place this October and with a top prize of $10,000.

Brown-Forman has announced an over £30m investment in The GlenDronach Distillery to increase production facilities at its homeplace in the Valley of Forgue in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. 

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has said that beer production in northern parts of Mexico is “over” as the region faces severe water shortages.

Japanese whisky continues to go from strength to strength as shochu producers turn to the category to make their mark in international markets.

Bimmerle KG has taken over the distribution of La Martiniquaise Scotch whisky brand Label 5 Classic Black whisky in Germany.

Hazelwood Demesne Limited, owner of the Lough Gill Distillery in Sligo, has announced its acquisition by the Sazerac Company to develop the historical site.

The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars will this year be unveiled at a live ceremony in Barcelona on Tuesday 4 October.

While exotic woods from around the world have gained popularity for finishing Scotch, indigenous oak looks to be making a comeback for some producers, finds Shay Waterworth.

Keith Motsi, head bartender at Charles H in Four Seasons Seoul, has won the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2022.

The announcement of Martin Green’s departure from Drinks International marks the end of an era for Agile Media and a significant loss for the wider drinks trade.

Renowned New York bar The Dead Rabbit will take over the Lapidus Bar at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Miami for the whole of December.

South Africa has suffered greater than most countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has reported three times as many cases as any other African country, and many of the government’s attempts to curb the virus – closing borders, prohibiting or restricting the domestic sale of alcohol, and banning the transport of goods to the country’s ports – have had a damaging impact on the wine industry.

Jean-Etienne Gourgues landed one of the top jobs in the Scotch whisky industry when he took over as chairman and chief executive of Chivas Brothers this summer.

Mexico City’s Licorería Limantour swapped bar teams with Barcelona’s Two Schmucks to host guest shifts in their respected venues.

A deal has been struck between the UK and US to end retaliatory tariffs on malt whiskies for five years.

Nick Strangeway looks at how travel restrictions have left a permanent impression on the global bar trade.

Pisco has seen its share of damage throughout the pandemic, with both Peru and Chile taking a hit on harvests and exports. But there is light ahead, as Shay Waterworth reports.

While most enter hospitality via high-volume bars or nightclubs, Pietro Collina got his first role at private members’ bar Mark’s Club in London aged 16.

In May 2020, when the lockdown was still at its strictest in India, Sidecar bar in New Delhi received the good news that it was the only Indian bar to have made it to the coveted 50 Best Bars in Asia list.

The tequila industry enjoyed record levels of production and exports in 2020, according to the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT).

Ardbeg has released a limited-edition bottling, Arrrrrrrdbeg, to celebrate distillery manager, Mickey Heads’ 13 years at the head of the distillery.

The Portman Group has announced that Matt Lambert will replace John Timothy as chief executive in January 2021.

Heineken 0.0% will take over sponsorship of the Europa League when the tournament resumes on Wednesday night.

Spanish wine producer Codorníu has announced that Sergio Fuster will take over as chief executive in September.

Gin has adopted many new incarnations in the course of its meteoric rise – but is it in danger of going too far? Christian Davis ponders over a great G&T

CEO of Sogrape Vinhos, Francisco Ferreira, has ventured that the planting of further international varietals could help to attract more consumers to Portuguese wine.

Current project director Danila Avdiu will leave Messe Düsseldorf on December 31, 2012.

Four Roses bourbon has taken over the downstairs bar at Shaker & Company, London, for the month of February.

Jägermeister parent company Mast-Jägermeister has appointed Denis Schrey to its management team.

Budvar has reported record export results for 2011.

International Wine & Spirit Research (IWSR) says that Asia-Pacific will be the fastest-growing region for the alcoholic beverage markets over the next five years.

Chivas Brothers is to roll out a Christmas edition of it Ballantine’s scotch whisky. Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is available until December in ‘key markets’ including Spain, France and Taiwan.

Drambuie has reported operating profits of £2.81m – up 2% on last year.

Moet & Chandon has launched a champagne designed to be served over ice.

Heinemann Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Germany-based duty free retailer and distributor Gebr Heinemann, has appointed Paul Topping to the role of director.

Global drinks giant Diageo has opened the doors of its new £40 million distillery in Speyside, Scotland.

The 2010 New Zealand grape harvest totalled 266,000 tonnes, 19,000 tonnes smaller than the 2009 crop and in line with the pre-harvest forecast.