Bacardi Brown Forman Brands has launched a new vodka under the Eristoff brand.

Pernod Ricard has announced a joint venture with Tequila Avión to produce and promote the ‘ultra-premium’ tequila brand Avión.

Pernod Ricard brand Olmeca has announced a partnership with tequila ambassador and Mexican restaurant-bar owner Tomas Estes.

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

Campari's Italian aperitif brand Aperol is going from strength to strength according to its owners.

Scotch whisky Auchentoshan is looking for entries to The Auchentoshan Switch, a cocktail competition that offers bartenders transatlantic internships.

Rémy Cointreau has completed the sale of all the shares in Piper-Heidsieck-Compagnie Champenoise to the EPI Group (Européenne de Participations Industrielles).

Brown-Forman has acquired the Maximus vodka brand from Altia. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

A de Fussigny Cognac has announced the launch of four new vintage expressions at Vinexpo in Bordeaux.

Australian winery Brown Brothers has appointed Rachel Herrig as brand manager to “drive the brand’s development in the UK and Ireland”.

Diageo has launched a Johnnie Walker campaign at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. The Step into the Circuit campaign is centred around the brand's Formula 1 sponsorship.

Diageo GTME, the global travel and Middle East division of the world’s largest drinks company, has unveiled its latest initiative to grab a greater slice of the travel retail alcoholic liquor market.

Portugal: The Blandy Group has regained control of the Madeira Wine Company (MWC) from Symington Family Estates. Symington will still retain a minority share in the business, but intends to concentrate on its Cockburn port brand, which it purchased last year.

New World brands continue to dominate the global wine sector and now constitute 13 of the top 15 wine brands, according to a recent study.

Finlandia vodka, part of Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, has unveiled a new global packaging design dubbed ‘melting ice’.

Swedish vodka brand DQ has re-launched to the UK, following the restructuring of parent company Nordic Spirit.

Canada: Brick Brewing Company has acquired the Canadian rights to the Seagram Coolers brand from Corby Distilleries. The transaction closed upon signing.

Scotch brand Chivas Regal and designer Vivienne Westwood have collaborated to launch a new limited edition whisky.

The Supreme Court of Spain has ruled in favour of Pernod Ricard and the Cuban government in the Havana Club trademark dispute with Bacardi.

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.

Czech beer Budvar bucked a 12% decline in Czech beer exports in 2010 to record growth of 4%.

Brand Phoenix has been appointed distributors for Angove Family Winemakers in the UK off-trade.

Brown-Forman, the major US drinks company, has announced a strategic review with a view to offloading its Californina-based wine assets.

Jameson has reached three million nine litre case sales (MAT ending October 31). According to the brand, growth in the US, Jameson’s largest export market, contributed to its milestone success, with one million cases sold.

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.

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) is to purchase the global rights for Kauffman vodka.

Diageo has initiated discussions to take over 50% of Guatemalan rum brand Zacapa.

Whisky liqueur brand Drambuie has created a cocktail to celebrate the announcement of Prince William’s engagement to Kate Middleton.

Ukrainian brand Nemiroff has begun producing vodka in the Republic of Belarus.

New York is tough for a small company trying to get its brand listed and stocked in the city, according to the chief executive of Xanté, the Swedish company with the eponymous cognac and pear liqueur brand.

Altia has signed an agreement to acquire cognac brand Renault from Pernod Ricard for a cash consideration of €10m.

Pernod Ricard has agreed a six-month sponsorship deal with UK TV channel Dave for its Australian wine brand Jacob’s Creek.

US: Diageo has launched a Swedish vodka in the US market.

Cognac brand Courvoisier has undertaken a global repackaging of its VS label, starting with the UK and US markets.

Ballantine’s has unveiled its first seasonal limited edition whisky entitled Christmas Reserve.

Spanish liqueur brand Licor 43 is targeting UK growth, after up-scaling its marketing operations with the appointment of a brand ambassador.

Concha y Toro, the largest wine producer in South America, has announced a deal with the Manchester United for its wine brands to become the official wine of the world famous football club.

Chivas Brothers has launched a winter version of its Beefeater gin brand.

Pernod Ricard Espana has completed the sale of its shares in Ambrosio Velasco to Diego Zamora for a total price of 32.4 M€ in cash.

The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company has launched a range of “Spirit Drink” products. The aim is to give malt whisky fans the opportunity to sample the evolution of the spirit that will eventually become whisky.

UK: Russian Standard Vodka has launched an on-pack music promotion. Consumers will have the chance to win free tickets to music gigs as part of the Russian Standard Vodka Originals brand campaign.

Pernod Ricard has created a new brand company for its wines and made several organisational changes to its overall structure.

Travel Retail: Pernod Ricard has revamped the packaging for its Ballantine’s blended Scotch whiskies. The revised prestige range first appeared on shelf in Asia Duty Free and includes Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, Ballantine’s 21 Year Old and Ballantine’s 30 Year Old.

Diageo has redesigned its Smirnoff 21 packaging. The new bottles have launched in the UK and will roll out across the world from August.

Pernod Ricard has sold its shares in Ambrosio Velasco to Diego Zamora for €33.1 million (excluding debt).

Pernod Ricard has decided to dump the Montana brand name and re-name New Zealand’s flagship Sauvignon Blanc, Brancott Estate.

The Edrington Group has appointed Matthew Turner as brand controller for Highland Park.

US: Heaven Hill Distilleries has launched the 21^st flavour of its Burnett’s flavoured vodka brand.

Diageo has announced the return of its Arthur’s Day celebrations for stout brand Guinness.

Smirnoff has retained its position as the world’s leading alcoholic drinks brand according to The Power 100, 2010, the annual survey of the world’s leading drinks brands published by brand valuation and strategy consultancy Intangible Business.