Diageo has unveiled the YunTuo Single Malt Whisky Distillery, the first of its kind for the company in China.

News of Donald Trump’s re-election as US president earlier this week has sparked fear over the possibility of further tariffs being implemented on the spirits industry.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has sounded an alarm over the potential return and doubling of the EU’s retaliatory tariff on American whiskey in a new report.

Sales for Q1 FY25 totalled €2,783m with an organic decline of -5.9% largely driven by a steep drop in China.

New data from the IWSR, the global authority on beverage alcohol data and intelligence, has revealed the US beverage alcohol market continued to shrink in the first seven months of 2024, with volumes declining more than expected.

US-based Bourbon distiller, Saga Spirits Group, has reportedly announced plans to develop a $92.5 million distillery and tourism centre on 150 acres in Kentucky.

RTD and hard seltzer brand, White Claw, has released its first vodka in the UK, launching nationwide next month.

Viña Concha y Toro has seen revenue growth of 17.7% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024 to Ch$237,348 million, while profit also increased 243.1%.

Independent cognac house Hine has appointed SipWell to drive its travel retail presence across the UK, US and Asia.

Diageo reported a net sales decline of 1.4% to $20.3 billion for the year end 30 June 2024 which the company pinned on unfavourable foreign exchange and inflation.

Hanna Lee Communications has launched a trade-consumer event called New York Bartender Week which will make its debut on 18-24 November 2024.

In what looks like a mirror movement of wine some 50 years ago, agave spirits are finding their feet in unlikely quarters, finds Shay Waterworth.

US-based whiskey brand Uncle Nearest has announced the acquisition of Square One Organic Spirits.

US wine company Jackson Family Wines has entered the American whiskey category with the launch of its Stonestreet Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

Viña Concha y Toro has recorded sales growth of 26.4% for the first quarter of its financial year as it continues to recover from a challenging 2023.

‘Brewing for Impact’, an initiative that will see breweries from seven countries produce beer using the West African grain fonio, has launched.

Patrón tequila has announced it is bringing back Patrón XO Cafe to the US having discontinued the product three years ago.

CopperBay has launched its third site at Hôtel Lancaster on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, becoming one of the first independent venues to open within a luxury hotel in France.

Danish whisky Stauning has launched the ‘Stauning Drinks Kollektive’, a global cocktail competition which aims to shine a light on bartenders from Denmark, Germany, France, the UK, US and Australia.

Champagne exports to the US in 2023 dropped 20% on the previous year to around 27m bottles according to Comité Champagne.

Having worked for three decades as head distiller of Diageo’s Don Julio, maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa has partnered with The Lost Explorer to create its first tequila line.

Actor Cate Blanchett has joined Toku Saké as creative director where she will direct the strategy of the brand, including new product development and innovation.

Ready-to-serve cocktail brand Whitebox Cocktails has partnered with brand-building agency, Artisan Spirits, to expand its international distribution.

Pernod Ricard reported a -3% decline of both organic sales and organic profit from recurring operations for the first half of the financial year 2024.

Julie Nguyen from Opium Bar in Thailand has won the third edition of Flor de Caña’s Sustainable Cocktail Challenge.

US Beverage LLC (USB) has signed an agreement with German wheat beer brand Erdinger to be the exclusive US importer for its portfolio.

US Beverage LLC (USB) has signed an agreement with German wheat beer brand Erdinger to be the exclusive US importer for the brand’s portfolio.

Asahi Europe and International (AEI) has announced the acquisition of Octopi Brewing, with plans to brew Asahi Super Dry in the US for the first time.

Whisky producer, The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC), and owner of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), has acquired US-based independent bottling brand, Single Cask Nation.

Renais Spirits has announced a national distribution agreement in the US for Spring 2024, following its launch in the UK in May this year.

Spirit of Gallo has announced it will distribute Korean soju brands Soonhari, Chum Churum and Saero in the US from January 2024, in partnership with Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co.

UK RTD brand Moth (Mix of Total Happiness) is launching in the US this week.

Nc’nean Distillery Limited has secured a Virgin Money funding package with the backing of UK Government department, UK Export Finance (UKEF), to help the independent distillery grow in North American markets.

Distillers are calling for the permanent removal of EU imposed “debilitating tariffs” on American whiskey, which are scheduled to be reimposed and doubled to 50% on 1 January 2024.

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.

Mr Lyan is hosting a takeover of Sea Containers in London to celebrate 10 years since the opening of the company’s first venue.

The Macallan has introduced The Macallan Colour Collection, a new range of age statement whiskies, exclusively available in global travel retail.

Pernod Ricard saw organic net sales rise 10% in fiscal 2023, driven by strong growth across all spirits categories, alongside broad-based growth across all regions.

Desolas Mezcal has announced a new distribution partnership with Renaissance Wine Merchants to expand its footprint into Canada.

Molson Coors Beverage Company has reached an agreement to acquire Blue Run Spirits, producer of bourbon and rye whiskies.

Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has announced the launch of his Irish stout brand Forged into the UK market through 350 ASDA stores on August 5.

Bruichladdich Distillery co-founder, Simon Coughlin, will officially retire on 31 July, after more than 23 years with the Hebridean distillery.

Penfolds has announced Nigo, the founder of Human Made and artistic director of Kenzo, as its first-ever creative partner.

After 127 years, having survived San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake, Prohibition and both World Wars, Anchor Brewing Company is closing down due to recent economic pressures.

Guillaume Thomas, veteran Pernod Ricard executive, will launch Martingale Cognac this autumn.

Newly unredacted documents have shed light on US rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs claims of racial discrimination against drinks giant Diageo.

While they put a focus on the spirit, some experts believe the explosion of brands backed by famous faces does the category and quality expectations no favours.

US rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has sued Diageo over racism allegations and undermining the partnership with Combs Wines and Spirits.

The Botanist Bar in Vancouver, Canada, has been named the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, part of the second annual North America’s 50 Best Bars awards 2023, sponsored by Perrier.

Steven Soderbergh has dipped into the oceans of spirits and secured his favourite Bolivian drink its own classification.