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.

Five years on from its launch, Hampshire-based wine estate Black Chalk, has announced that from April it will be distributed in the US market for the first time, via Sera Wine Imports.

A new report by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has revealed that total US spirits exports reached a record $2.06bn in 2022, buoyed by the temporary halt to retaliatory tariffs, with American whiskey exports to the UK remaining lower than pre-tariff levels.

Spiribam, the division that oversees the spirits activities of the GBH family group, has signed a distribution partnership with Cognac Hardy in the US.

UK-based Mermaid Gin has launched three gins from the brand’s portfolio in the US and secured listings with two luxury cruise operators based out of Miami.

Havana Club owner, Pernod Ricard, has reported 19% organic sales growth in the first half of fiscal 2023, with all spirits segments seeing double-digit growth.

California, US has introduced a bill to allow spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages to be sold under the same licence as beer and wine.

Outcast Brands, the creators of Blood Monkey Irish Gin, have announced that its flagship gin is now available in Canada through the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).

Flavour company Empirical has announced the UK launch of its two latest spirits, SOKA (43% abv) and Symphony 6 (40% abv).

Diageo, purveyor of Johnnie Walker and Guinness, has announced half year results to 31 December 2022 with reported net sales of £9.4bn, increased 18.4%, reflecting strong organic net sales growth.

US-based on-trade show, Bar Convent Brooklyn (BCB), has announced its Education Committee for 2023, as well as opening submissions for its Education Sessions. 

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits has announced that its e-commerce platform, Proof, has passed the $3 billion revenue mark in 2022.

Fercullen Irish Whiskey from the Powerscourt Estate will now be available across the US as a result of a new distribution partnership with Zamora Company USA.

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.

The Macallan has introduced a new single malt whisky into The Red Collection, The Macallan 77 Years Old.

Louisville-based Sazerac will invest US$600 million in new barrel warehouses in London, Laurel County, Kentucky.

The global mezcal market is expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2031, new data by Straits Research has revealed.

Pernod Ricard has released its sales and results for Q1 FY23, with sales totalling €3,308 million and an organic growth of +11%.

Strengthening its agave portfolio, Pernod Ricard has announced the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of a majority shareholding of Código 1530 Tequila, a range of ultra-premium tequila.

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

Premium tequila brand Cazcabel has announced that its $37million distillery is set to open in Atotonilco El Alto in the Jalisco highlands of Mexico in 2023.

Iichiko shochu has signed an importer agreement with Shaw-Ross International Importers to expand its availability across the US.

US-based drinks group Luxco has reported a 27% uplift in annual sales across Germany and Europe.

VintageCellar is a member-only fine wine investment app that launched in the UK in July. Drinks International caught up with chief executive and founder Selim Bocti to talk about his mission to bring fine wine investment into the 21^st century.

Campari Group has acquired an initial 15% interest in Howler Head Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, after the signing and closing of an agreement with Catalyst Spirits.

A strong performance in key markets saw Beam Suntory’s net sales increase by 13% year-on-year in the first half of 2022, a 25% increase on the pre-pandemic period in 2019.

Lyaness at Sea Containers London took top honours as it was named World’s Best Bar at the 16^th annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards at the New Orleans Ritz Carlton Hotel.

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

Businesses all over the world have boycotted Russian vodka in a show of solidarity with Ukraine, but what does this mean for the wider vodka market?

When it comes to the production of rhum agricole, terroir is key to quality. Oli dodd meets those at the forefront of this lesser-known spirits category.

Familia Torres has consolidated its vinicultural project in the Rías Baixas appellation of origin, with the acquisition of a new winery in the province of Pontevedra.

Shochu can now be sold under its own category name in the state of New York, US, after amendments to the Beverage Control Act allowing Japanese Shochu (24% ABV or under) to be sold under a beer and wine license.

Bollinger Group, in addition to five other estates in France and the US, has acquired the Sancerre historic estate, Hubert Brochard.

Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog is set to open 25 more bars in India, growing its presence in the craft beer market.

The value of the global alcohol market grew by 12% to reach US$1.17 trillion in 2021, making up for the 4% covid-driven losses in 2020, new data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has found.

Attaboy in New York has been crowned the winer of the inaugural edition of North America’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier.

Barcelona-based cocktail bar Two Schmucks has announced a four-week US tour that will take the team to five of America’s most renowned bars across five states.

Having recently returned from the US visiting both Oakland and Arizona Cocktail Weeks I was amazed by the differences in approach. In Oakland there was a much bigger trade focus and it felt more relaxed, whereas in Arizona it was one massive party for consumers.

The Dubliner Irish Whiskey has announced the launch of a new cinnamon and chilli flavoured whiskey liqueur variant.

Scotch whisky brand Dewar’s has announced the latest release in the brand’s Cask Series, Japanese Smooth, an 8-year-old blended Scotch finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks.

Super-premium gin Brockmans has announced that one million bottles were sold within a 12-month period, a milestone for the brand.

The Wine Intelligence Global Wine Brand Power Index 2022 has reported that Yellow Tail is again the world’s most powerful wine brand with Casillero del Diablo meaning an unchanged top two.

Diageo has announced the acquisition of super-premium flavoured Tequila brand 21 Seeds.

United Spirits Limited (Diageo India) has announced an investment of INR 31.5 crores (US$ 4.1m) to acquire a strategic minority stake in Nao Spirits.

An industry expert believes that boycotts on Russian vodka across the US will have little impact on the war due to the divide between ‘control states’ and those under the three tier system.

London Cocktail Week founders Siobhan Payne and Hannah Sharman-Cox, alongside Global Bartending’s Dan Dove, have announced the launch of the Pinnacle Guide, a new one, two and three ‘Pin’ recognition system for the world’s best bars.

Strong demand from the UK, the US and China helped South African wine exports increase by 12.1% in value to R10.2bn in 2021.

Pernod Ricard UK has expanded its American whiskey portfolio with Rabbit Hole making the UK the first European market to launch the brand.