US: Beam has expanded its Skinnygirl range to include wine, a range of flavoured vodkas and a Piña Colada.
Travel Retail operator World of Patria International has reached agreement with Chase Distillery to offer its range of spirits and liqueurs.
Chivas Brothers has launched two 17-year old Ballantine’s expressions under the new line, Signature Distillery Editions.
Angostura has crowned US bartender David Delaney Jr as the winner of the 2012 Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge.
Consumers in Australia’s top two export markets are abandoning its wines for cheaper alternatives leaving producers wondering if Asia will grow big enough to compensate for US and UK declines. By Graham Holter
Gruppo Campari plans to build a US$44m bottling facility at the Wild Turkey distillery in Kentucky, US.
Irish Distillers has announced its St Patrick's Day plans for Jameson.
Diageo has delivered 3% volume growth and 7% organic net sales increase for the six months ended December 31, 2011.
Beam Inc, the US-based global spirits company, has reported full-year net sales increases of 8%.
Annual sales of cognac are worth €2 billion thanks to a surge in XO and VSOP sales in the Far East, says the Cognac Bureau (BNIC).
The Edrington Group has launched a limited edition of its Cutty Sark 25 Year Old to global travel retail.
Beam, the US-based global premium spirits company, has announced that Arthur Aroney will join the organisation as managing director of Emerging Markets for its Asia Pacific/South America (APSA) region.
Pernod Ricard’s super premium gin, Beefeater 24, is now available in 50 markets worldwide.
Altia Plc is buying the Xanté Company and the Xanté spirits brand from the Swedish Tilander family.
There has been a seismic shift in the Chilean and Argentinian wine industries, according to some leading experts.
French wine is the favourite of regular wine drinkers in the UK and China and the second preference in Germany, says Wine Intelligence.
Chivas Brothers is introducing a new look for its Plymouth gin brand, re-positioning it above Beefeater 24, as a “super premium-plus”.
Bacardi Limited is planning a raft of activity to celebrate its 150th birthday. Besides parties and commemorative gifts, the company is to launch a $2,000 limited-edition decanter of "rare" Bacardi rum.
Diageo has completed the acquisition of the Meta Abo Brewery in Ethiopia for US$225 million.
US consumption of imported sparkling wine will reach new heights in 2012 due to the increased penetration of prosecco and cava, says Wine Intelligence.
The 2012 Pre-mixed Drinks Challenge was Drinks International’s fourth examination of the category and our most wide-ranging yet.
Pernod Ricard will release Irish whiskey Redbreast 12 Cask Strength to the US in February, following the expression’s September launch to Ireland, Germany and France.
Rémy Martin is to introduce a new expression of its VSOP cognac for the European market. VSOP Mature Cask Finish is to replace VSOP in Europe, while the rest of the world will continue to receive the original VSOP cognac.
The European Union and the US Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) have welcomed a decision that finds the Philippines to be in breach of trade rules when it comes to tax on imported spirits.
Pernod Ricard has furthered its line of Absolut Vodka flavours with the launch of Miami and Gräpevine to the US market.
Rémy Cointreau has created a limited edition bottle for its Cointreau orange liqueur brand, especially for Dubai Duty Free.
Beam Inc has announced an agreement to purchase Irish whiskey producer Cooley Distillery.
Direct Wines, the world's largest independent wine merchant with a turnover of £350 million, has announced major changes to its buying and merchandising teams.
US consumer goods company Rok Stars has stuck a deal with Castle Trade Services to launch its recently acquired Oval vodka in the UK.
The rise of craft beer in the US can benefit Peroni Nastro Azzurro, says the lager's global brand director Andrew Walker.
Rémy Cointreau has attributed its positive half-year profits to “remarkable” growth in Asia and “strong” performances in the US and Europe.
Penfolds has launched Bin 620 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz to global markets, the first release of the ‘special bin’ since 1966.
US: Mexico-based La Madrileña is to distribute Beam’s entire portfolio in Mexico. As part of the performance-based agreement, effective on January 1, 2012, La Madrileña will be the exclusive distributor of Beam’s brands, including Jim Beam bourbon, Sauza tequila, Courvoisier cognac and Cruzan rum.
We’re all interested in ‘what’s going to be next?’ Well I returned recently from New York where, courtesy of Pernod Ricard/Irish Distillers I witnessed the launch of Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel. Apparently the brand kicked off in the US in Brooklyn so the new limited edition ‘dialled up’ Jameson was launched there and at the moment it is only available there...
US: Diageo has launched two new Smirnoff flavours. Whipped Cream and Fluffed Marshmallow are to be fronted by model and socialite Amber Rose.
World number one Irish whiskey, Jameson, is teaming up with film actor Kevin Spacey and his production company to launch a short film competition to discover talented screenwriters and directors from Russia, South Africa and the US.
Acceptance of screw-cap closures on wine bottles sold in the UK has risen to 85% of the regular wine-drinking population, according to a report on wine stoppers from Wine Intelligence.
US: Buffalo Trace has released a vodka that has been distilled 159 times.
New US consumer goods company Rok Stars, headed by Patron Spirits co-founder John Paul DeJoria, has acquired Austrian vodka brand Oval.
Russian Standard Vodka, which claims to be Russia’s number one premium vodka, has announced the appointment of John Palatella as executive vice president of sales & distribution for the US.
Beam Inc has celebrated the filling of the company’s 12 millionth barrel of bourbon since the repeal of Prohibition in the US in 1933.
US: Polish vodka brand Sobieski is to launch three new flavours in the US. Espresso, Cynamon and Bizon Grass are to be imported and marketed by Imperial Brands.
Pernod Ricard's new intenational brand development director says that it's number one Irish whiskey brand, Jameson, is on course to meet it's forecast of hitting 1.4 million cases in the US within the next year.
Pernod Ricard USA has announced a tie-up with US R&B artist Ne-Yo for the launch of Malibu Red, a liqueur made from rum and tequila.
Irish Distillers launched the latest expression of its leading Irish whiskey brand, Jameson, in a 'softly softly' roll out in Brooklyn last night.
Glasgow-based whisky brand Auchentoshan completed the UK leg of The Auchentoshan Switch, a cocktail competition that offers two bartenders transatlantic internships.
Patrón Spirits International has teamed up with Mumbai-based agent Aspri Spirits to distribute its portfolio of tequila, vodka and rum in India.
Drinks group Sazerac has unveiled a line of flavoured vodkas under its Wave brand for the US market.
UK: Hi-Spirits is set to launch the Buffalo Trace Distillery 2011 Antique Collection this month.
US Spirits company Fortune Brands today begun trading as Beam on the New York stock exchange, following the separation of its businesses.
In his inaugural column for Drinks International, Branson takes a wider look at the overall non-alcoholic spirits sector to identify which brands will thrive and which won’t survive.
