The World’s 50 Best Bars reflects travel restrictions and spotlights neighbourhood bars, says Nick Strangeway.

Sales of no and low alcohol beverages in 10 key global markets reached almost $10 billion in 2021 up from $7.8 billion in 2018, according to a new IWSR report.

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

In 2020, craft spirits in the US volume gains of almost 8%, growing to a 5% volume share and 7% value share of the total US spirits market, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

Lucas Bols has announced a return of revenues to pre-Covid times for the first half of the 2021/22 financial year.

Villa Massa has launched Vermouth Giardino, a pair of super-premium vermouth designed with the professional bartending community in mind.

Axia spirit, the world’s first extra-dry Mastiha spirit, has been released in the UK following launches in Greece and the US.

Central banks are coming under increasing pressure to hike interest rates after inflation soared across the globe.

Diageo has revealed plans to build a US$75m malt whisky distillery in southwestern China.

Both parties have expressed their delight by Saturday’s announcement that the US and EU have agreed to lift retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey.

Manachain Monaghan from the UK has been crowned global champion of Flor de Caña Rum’s Sustainable Cocktail Challenge with his ‘Steamship’ cocktail.

Demand for ready-to-drink (RTD) products continues to grow amongst consumers, with the category expected to account for 8% of total beverage alcohol by 2025 according to a new report from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

New York-based media company NBTV Studios has announced the UK launch of streaming platform, Spirits Network, and is inviting UK bartenders to audition for its inaugural programme, Shake Off.

DoorDash is taking on Uber and Instacart by launching an alcohol delivery service in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Boston Beer Company saw its share price plummet by almost 10% yesterday after weak demand for hard seltzer forced it to pull its earnings guidance.

The United States has once again topped the list of the most attractive wine markets in the world,  according to a new report from Wine Intelligence.

Absolut Vodka has announced a new bottle, the brand’s biggest design update since 1979.

The Covid-19 pandemic has inspired drinks producers across the world to significantly ramp up their focus on direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales.

For many drinkers outside of its native Brazil, cachaça is a largely mysterious category, perhaps known as the star of a Caipirinha and nothing more. In its homeland, however, cachaça’s popularity borders on religious.

Sometimes accidents breed innovation. In 1928 Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by chance, having thrown away a bacteria sample he thought was spent.

It has been a sobering quarter for hard seltzers. Sales of the canned RTD that disrupted the US alcohol market when it burst on to the scene in 2016 have finally stalled.

A direct-to-consumer site allowed AB InBev’s global investment and innovation group to continue gathering vital consumer feedback during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The man who helped establish Malbec as Argentina’s flagship grape is now bidding to showcase the country’s potential as a producer of world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.

VSPT Wine Group has seen an 11% increase in sales for Q2 to maintain its number one spot in the Chilean market.

The UK’s most popular wines could disappear from supermarket shelves and pubs after the government proposed a 25% tariff on all wine imports from the US.

It’s been a sobering quarter for hard seltzer. Sales of the canned RTD that disrupted the US alcohol market when it burst onto the scene in 2016, have for the first time, stalled.

In late 2020 the US Food & Drug Administration sent out a warning letter to Red Moon Herbs in Asheville, North Carolina, after it claimed its adaptogenic products were intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose or cure Covid-19.

Trivento has been revealed as the world’s best-selling Argentine wine brand in a report by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

Tequila brand Volcan De Mi Tierra has launched its Blanco and Cristalino expressions in the UK.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has called for the UK government to swiftly remove tariffs on US whiskies.

Global alcohol consumption is expected to increase by 2.9% this year, according to new IWSR projections. Martin Green reports.

Distill Ventures has committed to increasing diversity within the drinks industry through the launch of a new pre-accelerator programme dedicated to early stage founders from underrepresented groups.

Praphakorn Konglee from Thailand’s Find the Locker Room bar has won the Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Competition 2021 with is drink ‘Out of Sight’.

South American wine producer VSPT Wine Group posted a 27.6% sales increase during the first quarter of 2021 in spite of poor exchange rates.

Australian vermouth Regal Rogue is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the launch of four new signature serves alongside a charity initiative.

Stars continue to flock to give their endorsement to 100% agave brands, but sustainability has become an issue as consumer demand has risen.

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

In 2020, beverage alcohol consumption in the US saw the largest volume gain in nearly 20 years.

When Stephen Davies arrived at Penderyn in 2004, the Welsh whisky industry had lain dormant for almost a century. Nowadays it’s an established category with a growing reputation for quality.

The global drinks industry is showing positive signs of recovery and will grow in volume by 2.9% by the end of 2021, according to new IWSR forecasts.

California is the latest major wine-producing region to struggle with Mother Nature after a drought emergency gripped the Golden State.

Korean Soju giant Jinro has topped Drinks International's The Millionaire Club for the 20th year in a row having added 9m 9-litre cases in 2020.

US wine imported into the UK could become one of several American products to be levied with new tariffs as part of the ongoing trade war.

Diageo North America has announced Pronghorn, an economic initiative to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion in the spirits industry.

A synchronised sigh of relief was heard right across the Armagnac region last year as the news broke of Donald Trump’s defeat in the US election.

Leading Chilean wine producer Concha y Toro has reported an 8.2% revenue increase in the first three months of 2021.

Lucas Bols has reported an estimated 32% year-on-year decline in revenue for the 2020/21 financial year after widespread on-trade closures and travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Isle of Harris Distillery in the Outer Hebrides Islands of Scotland has signed a new distribution agreement in the US with Misa Imports.

The Teasmith Gin has secured an £80,000 export deal with the biggest  independent wine retailer in the US.

The Bollinger family has announced the acquisition of Oregon-based Ponzi Vineyards which will be its first winery in the US.