The Drinks Trust has launched its annual industry survey aimed at achieving a better understanding of the wider drinks industry and hospitality community.

Schweppes has announced the launch of its European-wide brand ambassador programme.

Ex-bar director Alex Francis and former head bartender Barney O’Kane have announced their departure from the Parisian bar.

The team at Little Red Door in Paris have announced strike action due to an ongoing legal dispute between co-owner Timothée Prangé and the bar’s majority shareholders.

RTD forecast growth slows

24 October, 2023

IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has released its RTDs Strategic Study 2023, which revealed the RTD category is expected to grow by 12% in volume between 2022 and 2027, achieving $40bn by 2027 across 10 key markets.

Drinks distributor Speciality Brands has signed an agreement with French spirits producer Distillerie de Grandmont to exclusively distribute the brand’s expressions in the UK from this month.

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.

Italian drinks company and owner of Disaronno and Tia Maria, Illva Saronno Group, has bought a majority stake in US rye whiskey brand and distillery, Sagamore Spirit.

Burnt Faith has partnered with drinks specialists, Proof Drinks, to drive interest in British brandy houses across the UK.

Peru-based cocktail bar, Sastreria Martinez, has announced the launch of its brand new menu titled Collection 2023.

Outcast Brands, the company behind Blood Monkey Gin and Two Shores Rum, has announced their partnership with bbb drinks for the distribution and brand activation of their premium spirits in the UK market. 

From this month until the end of 2023, The Drinks Trust aims to raise £230,000 to support those who need help the most through its new Cost of Living Crisis Appeal.

Edrington UK, supplier of whisky and cognac, has launched a podcast series, The Stillhouse Podcast, hosted by UK spirits expert, Becky Paskin.

The eighth edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be announced at a live awards ceremony in Hong Kong on 18 July 2023.

This Spring, The Real Drinks Co. is adding a new permanent release to its portfolio called Peony Blush, a naturally fermented sparkling tea that uses white peony tea leaves to produce an alcohol-free alternative to sparkling rosé.

Absolut expands its product portfolio as the company’s global NPD plans this year include two new product ranges and a new addition to its current flavour vodka range.

Gin may have fallen out of favour in the UK, but its prospects are much brighter in travel retail.

The Drinks Trust has appointed Guy Lawrence, CEO of Brockman’s Gin, as the new chair of the charity following Troy Christensen’s two-year tenure.

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

Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes has received a knighthood in King Charles' first New Year’s Honours list, an appointment that allows him to use the title ‘sir’.

The no- and low-alcohol categories grew by more than 7% in volume across 10 key global markets in 2022 to surpass a market value of $11bn, a new report from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has revealed.

Ginger ale’s cool niche

30 November, 2022

Often overshadowed by its more intense cousin, ginger ale is piggy-backing on the rise in popularity of lower-abv serves.

The Drinks Trust has launched an Energy Crisis Fund to help hospitality members pay for their heating and electricity bills throughout the winter.

Springbank has been named The World’s Most Admired Whisky brand in the second edition of the annual top 50 list released by Drinks International.

The IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has released results for its 2022 Strategic Study examining and forecasting growth in the ready-to-drink (RTD) category.

This winter, The Drinks Trust is launching a dedicated grant-giving campaign, the Emergency Energy Poverty Fund, that will run from October 2022 until the exhaustion of funds.

Following a one-year hiatus, the Drinks International Travel Retail Awards will be returning for its 16th year to celebrate innovation and excellence in the world of drinks travel retail.

Rum: The White Choice

23 August, 2022

White rum has long been a star ingredient of cocktails and with consumers now demanding better quality drinks, it is ripe for premiumisation. 

As the submission deadline approaches for the World’s 50 Best Bars Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu, Drinks International sat down with Lab 22 head bartender Max Hayward to reflect on what the accolade has meant for the bar.

From September this year The Drinks Trust’s Develop programme will offer a bartending certificate provided by Mixology School and in partnership with United Kingdom Bartenders’ Guild.

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF), organizer of drinks industry conference, Tales of the Cocktail, where new ideas, products, and techniques are exchanged, has announced its partnership with Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The Drinks International Travel Retail Awards has extended its deadline for entries to 27 July, as it returns for its 16th year to celebrate innovation in the travel retail drinks sector.

Dancing, writing and making drinks are just some of the artistic elements to Seed Library’s La’Mel Clarke, whose reputation as one of the industry’s up and coming stars is gathering pace. Earlier this year the Londoner was nominated for Emerging Bartender of the Year at the annual Class Bar Awards.

The 2022 edition of Drinks International’s Bar World 100, in association with Perrier, is set to be released on Monday 27 June at 3pm GMT.

Campari Academy, an educational platform aimed at the global bar trade, has been rolled out globally with bartender Monica Berg named creative director.

Beverage producer Curius has launched with the promise of bringing a “fashion-like perspective” to drinks brand-building and three new product launches in 2022.

Drinks Community, The Drinks Trust’s networking platform, has opened mentor and mentee applications for its 2022 Mentor Programme.

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.

Drinks International has announced the appointment of Shay Waterworth as its new editor to replace the outgoing Martin Green from April onwards.

London Wine Fair director Hannah Tovey has branded Prowein's decision to move the Dusseldorf-based show to May "a direct attack" on the UK drinks trade.

The UK’s CBD market is now the second-largest in the world and following a period of regulatory red tape, the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry claims that the UK now has the most evolved regulatory framework for CBD in the world. Coupled with a growing consumer trend away from alcohol, CBD-infused functional beverages could be set to explode this year.

The Drinks International Annual Brands Report 2022 has launched.

Online sales of alcoholic beverages in 16 key global markets will increase by 66% over the next five years, according to projections from IWSR.

Swift Soho has launched a new cocktail menu called Legends drawing inspiration from famous drinkers throughout history.

London-based Lyaness, the bar created by Ryan Chetiyawardana and the team behind the former world’s best bar, Dandelyan, has launched its third menu.

Grey Goose has announced the launch of Duet, a pop-up cocktail bar series and martini cocktail kit.

For about six hours in early October the world was brought to a standstill. However, it wasn’t the outbreak of a global pandemic that spread panic, but the simultaneous crash of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.

Suntory’s Yamazaki has topped the inaugural edition of Drinks International’s The World’s Most Admired Whiskies which launched on 21 October.

Industry charity The Drinks Trust is holding its first annual charity auction, ‘Cream of the Crop’, to raise funds for those who produce and pour drinks across the UK.

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La'Mel Clarke

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La’Mel Clarke, front of house at London’s Seed Library, looks at the forgotten art of hosting and why it deserves the same respect as bartending.

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