Morrison Bowmore has launched Bowmore Tempest Small Batch Release No. 3 to global markets.

Bas-Armagnac Francis Darroze has launched Les Grands Assemblages, a seven-strong range of armagnacs to global markets.

Rémy Cointreau has attributed its positive half-year profits to “remarkable” growth in Asia and “strong” performances in the US and Europe.

Diageo has opened a £10 million cooperage in Scotland.

London Pride brewer Fuller’s has announced half-year growth of 6% after registering a turnover of £128m.

The board of Alcohol Concern, the anti-alcohol lobby group in the UK, has announced a restructuring of its senior management following the loss of core funding with the role of the CEO becoming part time for a year alongside the recruitment of a full time director of fundraising and campaigning.

UK Rumfest has announced the winners of the Golden Rum Barrel Awards 2011, with Foursquare Distillery of Barbados taking home two of the top prizes.

The winners of the International Spirits Challenge trophies have been announced.

Stella Artois is gearing up for its World Draught Masters final in Buenos Aires, having anointed a champion from its UK heat.

Drambuie has reported operating profits of £2.81m – up 2% on last year.

Maxxium Travel Retail’s sales grew by 11% last year, outpacing European travel retail growth of 8%, according to findings by International Wine and Spirits Research (IWSR).

Growers, cooperatives and houses in Champagne have offered ambivalent first appraisals of the 2011 vintage, following what has been described as the appellation’s “earliest ever harvest”.

The International Wine Challenge announced its winners last night at the Hilton hotel in London

Drinks International is delighted to announce that premier Italian Prosecco producer Follador is to sponsor this year's Travel Retail Awards.

US-based synthetic closure brand, Nomacorc, has announced it registered 10% year-on-year growth during Q1 and Q2 of 2011.

Pernod Ricard has posted annual organic sales growth of 7% to achieve a turnover of €7.6b.

Kentucky-based bourbon company, Buffalo Trace Distillery, has announced the September release of its 2011 Antique Collection.

The Vinho Verde Wine Commission (CVRVV), in Portugal, has invested €5m on a three-year global promotion.

Scotland: Diageo is to invest £20 million in its Speyside whisky facilities.

Drinks International’s Hamish Smith catches up with Vinexpo CEO Robert Beynat at 2011 show.

A 170-year old bottle of champagne salvaged from a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea has fetched €30,000 at auction.

The Isle of Jura Distillery has opened a £100,000 visitor centre.

New World brands continue to dominate the global wine sector and now constitute 13 of the top 15 wine brands, according to a recent study.

The International Wine and Spirits Institute (IWSI), based in Bordeaux, is to open an eight-week spirits training programme in London next year.

The Glenmorangie Company has announced the release of Pride 1981, a 28-year old single malt whisky that has been finished in Sauternes casks for ten years.

Online whisky retailer Master of Malt has launched a 40-year old whisky liqueur.

Stock Spirits recorded double-digit organic revenue growth and profit growth in 2010.

Scotch company Gordon & MacPhail has launched The Glenlivet 70 Year Old, priced at £13,000 a bottle.

Cork producer Amorim recorded double-digit volume growth in 2010.

Scotch brand Chivas Regal and designer Vivienne Westwood have collaborated to launch a new limited edition whisky.

Pernod Ricard has reported a sales increase of 13% to €4.28 billion in its half year results.

One hundred-year old whiskies that belonged to Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton have been sent to a Whyte & Mackay distillery for testing.

Czech beer Budvar bucked a 12% decline in Czech beer exports in 2010 to record growth of 4%.

A London speakeasy has been named the best bar in the world, according to an industry poll.

The International Spirits Challenge winners were announced at a ceremony in London last night.

Diageo has launched its autumn Special Release Series, a collection of single malt scotch whiskies aimed at the world’s top bars and whisky connoisseurs.

Drinks International Travel Retail Awards trophy winners were announced during the Tax Free World Association exhibition in Cannes this week (October 19).

Glen Garioch, the 200-year old Aberdeenshire-based distillery, has re-launched its range of single malt whiskies.

Ballantine’s has unveiled its first seasonal limited edition whisky entitled Christmas Reserve.

Global drinks giant Diageo has opened the doors of its new £40 million distillery in Speyside, Scotland.

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, producers of Jameson, is set to introduce Redbreast 15 Year Old Irish Pure Pot Still whiskey as a permanent expression within the range in key international markets including Ireland, USA, France and Germany.

Stock Spirits has launched a 21 year old  single malt Czech whisky. The company believes it to be the only Bohemian single malt in the world.

Travel Retail: Pernod Ricard has revamped the packaging for its Ballantine’s blended Scotch whiskies. The revised prestige range first appeared on shelf in Asia Duty Free and includes Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, Ballantine’s 21 Year Old and Ballantine’s 30 Year Old.

According to the Scotch Whisky Association more than 5 bottles of scotch are shipped to France every second.

The 2010 New Zealand grape harvest totalled 266,000 tonnes, 19,000 tonnes smaller than the 2009 crop and in line with the pre-harvest forecast.

A new study has revealed that Scotch whisky is worth £4 billion a year in added value to the Scottish economy - with the industry spending in excess of £1.1 billion annually on supplies produced in Scotland.

Foster’s Group plans to create separate stock exchange listings for its beer and wine divisions.

US popularity and universal appeal have kept the Irish whiskey market buoyant, according to business analyst Datamonitor.

A 56% increase in exports confirmed Scotch whisky’s growing popularity in Brazil in 2009, according to new figures published by the UK-based Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Smirnoff has retained its position as the world’s leading alcoholic drinks brand according to The Power 100, 2010, the annual survey of the world’s leading drinks brands published by brand valuation and strategy consultancy Intangible Business.