It was a glitteirng evening at Jamaica House in the island's capital, Kingston. A balmy evening in a superb setting. The Jamaican prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, more than played her part in launching Appleton Estate Jamaican Independence Reserve, which coincides with the island's celebrations to mark ithe anniversary of 50 years of independence.
Ardbeg brings back 17 Years Old
Ardbeg Distillery is reviving its 17 Years Old in a limited edition shared exclusively with the Ardbeg Committee.
Maker’s Mark unveils Cellar Aged Bourbon
Maker’s Mark has debuted its Cellar Aged Bourbon, an annual, global limited-release expression.
House of Suntory partners with 100 UK bars
The House of Suntory is partnering with 100 of the UK’s bars to mark its 100th anniversary, as part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to the on-trade and hospitality sector.
Bushmills opens £37m distillery to double production
Proximo has officially opened its £37m distillery in Northern Ireland which is poised to double the production of Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
Jura releases bourbon cask expression
Single malt Scotch whisky, Jura, is looking to further its success with a refreshed entry-level expression, Jura Bourbon Cask.
Bushmills Irish Whiskey has unveiled the tenth and final release from its current Causeway Collection, a 33 Year Old Port Cask, to be sold exclusively in World Duty-Free’s stores at Heathrow Airport.
Highland Park releases its oldest whisky to date
Orkney-based distillery, Highland Park, has unveiled its 54 Year Old single malt Scotch Whisky, the oldest release from the company to date.
Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers release Old Perth PX
Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, creators of Old Perth Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, have announced the release of Old Perth PX.
Shortbarrel Bourbon acquires Atlanta’s Old Fourth Distillery
Atlanta-based Shortbarrel has announced the acquisition of the Old Fourth Distillery, the oldest continuously operating distillery in Atlanta, US.
Buffalo Trace Distillery launches Old Fashioned Trolley
This month, Buffalo Trace Distillery will launch The Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned Trolley, in partnership with JW Marriott Grosvenor House London.
Taylor’s launches Very Very Old Tawny Port
Taylor’s has announced the launch of VVOP, the latest in a series of limited releases and one of the oldest wines released by the producer to date.
The Balvenie: One Scotch brand's love affair with rum
On 1 July The Balvenie launched the latest in its Stories range, a 27-year-old single malt finished in Caroni rum casks, Drinks International caught up with brand ambassador Alwynne Gwilt to talk about the distillery's unique relationship with rum.
London’s Oriole launches new cocktail menu
Jazz club and cocktail bar Oriole has launched its latest cocktail menu this month which celebrates the ingredients and traditions of the Old World, the New World and the Orient.
Bladnoch Distillery has announced its newest expression, a 30-year-old single malt Scotch whisky with a limited release of 950 bottles.
Old Mout is launching its biggest campaign yet to spread awareness of its partnership with WWF by introducing limited edition cider glasses.
The Balvenie announces release of French Oak 16 Year Old
Speyside whisky brand The Balvenie has announced the launch of French Oak 16 Year Old, marking the first use of French oak in the distillery’s 129-year history.
Leisure Wine: South London's first natural winery
The Old Kent Road in south London is one of the country’s oldest and most storied. The original track was paved by the Romans and used as their principal thoroughfare between old Londinium and the coast. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote about its use as a pilgrim’s way in The Canterbury Tales and later it was the route by which King Henry V and his men returned triumphant from the battle of Agincourt.
The Old Hem was completely destroyed and two people were killed by Russian shelling on the Eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday, according to reports by the Kharkiv prosecutor's office.
The Macallan launches 81-year-old single malt
The Macallan has launched its oldest ever singe malt called The Reach which was distilled during the Second World War.
Hyslop: Royal Salute 51 is 'one-of-a-kind' expression
Royal Salute master blender Sandy Hyslop has declared its new 51-year-old a “one-of-a-kind” blend.
Alex Thomas named Bushmills master blender
Bushmills has appointed Alex Thomas as master blender at The Old Bushmills Distillery working across the entire portfolio and product development.
Bushmills unveils The Causeway Collection 2021
Irish whiskey producer Bushmills has unveiled a collection of 12 rare single malts aged in a variety of casks.
Glenmorangie launches floral limited-edition packaging
Glenmorangie has launched limited-edition packaging for its 18 Years Old variant to celebrate its partnership with botanical sculptor Azuma Makoto.
Diageo invests in Komasa Kanosuke Distillery
Diageo’s drinks accelerator arm Distil Ventures has made a minority investment in Japanese single malt producer Komasa Kanosuke Distillery.
The Last Drop Releases 50 Year Old Scotch Blend
The Last Drop has made its first foray into spirits creation with the release of its 50 Year Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky.
Single Malts of Scotland launches new 11-year-olds
Independent whisky bottlers Single Malts of Scotland has added new 11-year-old whiskies as part of its Reserve Casks range.
Glenfiddich Grand Couronne joins The Grand Series
Glenfiddich has bolstered its Grand Series range with the launch of a 26 Year Old Speyside malt called Grande Couronne.
Bowmore targets travel retail with 31 Year Old single malt
Bowmore has launched a limited-edition 31 Year Old single malt into the travel retail channel as part of its Timeless Series collection.
Ardbeg 25 Years Old joins permanent range
Ardbeg 25 Years Old has become the oldest expression to join the Islay distillery’s permanent range.
Glenturret relaunches with new core whisky range
The Glenturret has unveiled a new core range as it plans to launch in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and New Zealand next month.
A private barrel selection bottling of Michter’s 10 Year Old bourbon has sold for a record £166,000 ($209,462) at a charity auction in London.
Chivas donates Old Trafford advertising space to charity
Chivas Brothers has donated its digital advertising slot at Old Trafford to a motor neurone disease charity for the upcoming clash between Man Utd and Sheff Utd.
Automatic for the people
The future of the drinks trade will feature more ecommerce and greater use of robots.
London Cocktail Week – back with a bang
London Cocktail Week organisers have announced that it will be moving The Cocktail Village to a new bigger venue on Brick Lane.
Inver House Distillers, the Scotland-based spirits arm of International Beverage Holdings has reported a 28% increase in turnover for the year ending December 2011.
The Macallan 64 Year Old Lalique Cire Perdue is world’s most expensive whisky sold at auction – that’s official.
Irish Distillers launched Yellow Spot, ‘son of Green Spot’, last night in London. The great and the good of whisk(e)y’s fourth estate crammed into a bar in the sumptuous Connaught Hotel for the unveiling and tasting.
Spot on with Yellow Spot
Yellow spot is the latest single pot still whiskey from Irish Distillers.
Ballantine's whisky goes for golf
Chivas Brothers is to launch a limited edition golf pack for its Ballantine’s 17 and 21 year old blended whiskies.
Chivas launches Ballantine’s Signature Distillery Editions
Chivas Brothers has launched two 17-year old Ballantine’s expressions under the new line, Signature Distillery Editions.
Double of Jura
Jura, The Whyte and Mackay single malt, has teamed up with its coffee industry namesake to create a range of whisky and coffee pairings.
Last night I went to Boisdale, that well known London haunt for whisky, cigar and red meat lovers, for the launch of The Balvenie Craftsman's Reserve No1, The Cooper...
Glenmorangie Artein added to Private Edition range
The Glenmorangie Company has announced the global launch of Artein, the third release of the Glenmorangie Private Edition range.
Bowmore Tempest No. 3 launches
Morrison Bowmore has launched Bowmore Tempest Small Batch Release No. 3 to global markets.
Darroze releases seven armagnacs
Bas-Armagnac Francis Darroze has launched Les Grands Assemblages, a seven-strong range of armagnacs to global markets.
Buffalo Trace primed for Antique release
Kentucky-based bourbon company, Buffalo Trace Distillery, has announced the September release of its 2011 Antique Collection.
Canada: Beam launches cognac with age declaration
Canada: Beam Global has launched two cognacs with declared age statements. According to the company, the two marques are the “first cognacs available from any of the four major cognac makers to display a declared age statement”.
Now in its twenty third year, Drinks International’s Cocktail Challenge is one of the longest running cocktail competitions in the world. It has built a reputation for its independent, sponsor-free approach. This year we are in search for a new creative and innovative serve that will excite our panel of judges from the World’s 50 Best Bars. The annual competition pits global spirits and liqueur brands’ best cocktails against each other in a blind tasting to nd the Cocktail Challenge Champion for 2016. Brands are invited to submit their recipes into the Aperitif, Long Drinks and A er Dinner categories. Cocktails will be made and judged by bartenders from the World’s 50 Best Bars.
Categories
Aperitif Cocktail - White Spirits
Aperitif Cocktail - Brown Spirits
Aperitif Cocktail - Liqueurs & Specialities
Long Drink Cocktail - White Spirits
Long Drink Cocktail - Brown Spirits
Long Drink Cocktail - Liqueurs & Specialities
After Dinner Cocktail - White Spirit
After Dinner Cocktail - Brown Spirits
After Dinner Cocktail - Liqueurs & Specialities
Click here to enter the 2016 awards
For enquiries contact:
Rick Beaumont on +44 (0) 1293 558130 email rick.beaumont@drinksint.com
Or
Jo Morley on +44 (0) 1293 590044 email jo.morley@drinksint.com
Click below to see the archive of previous winners.
Pernod sells Georgian company
Pernod Ricard has announced the disposal, by its affiliate Pernod Ricard Europe, of its shares in Georgian Wine and Spirits LLC to JSC Marussia (Georgia).