Swift Soho has launched its new menu ‘Backstage Heroes’, inspired by the behind-the-scenes world of theatre and the arts.

Seychelles rum brand Takamaka is set to launch in Australia this spring in collaboration with Dispatch Imports.

Diageo has introduced a new global division to combine ‘luxury assets’ into one portfolio including brands such as Brora and Port Ellen.

Familia Torres has been named the most innovative winery at the Golden Vines Awards 2024 held in Madrid.

Living Souls, a new Scottish spirits brand specialising in small batch and single cask releases, has announced its launch.

Earlier this year hundreds of global industry figures gathered in Schiedam to bid farewell to De Kuyper Royal Distillers’ Mark de Witte, who retired after nine years as chief executive at the company. 

After nearly two centuries, Speyside’s Cabrach Distillery has begun distillation of its first single malt whisky at its new distillery.

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky arm of Pernod Ricard, has collaborated with sake brewery Masuizumi on a new spirit.

New Zealand wine has released its annual report, revealing a drop in wine exports in volume and value terms over the last 12 months.

Islay distillery Laphroaig has appointed George Campbell as its new distillery manager.

Silverleaf at Pan Pacific London is to launch a new menu in October named Texture Is Everything.

Suntory Oceania has begun production at its AU$400m manufacturing facility in Australia, to produce the company’s RTD brands from next year.

Kink Bar in Berlin has announced the launch of its latest cocktail menu, continuing its approach of offering each cocktail in both long and short form.

Fords Gin, the London Dry Gin created by Simon Ford and tenth generation master distiller Charles Maxwell, has announced the opening of its new bar and brand home.

Oslo cocktail bar, Himkok, has unveiled its new menu Beats & Sips in collaboration with Sony Music Norway, to launch 26 September. 

Moët Hennessy has partnered on a joint venture with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter to create SirDavis, a new American whiskey. 

London bar Oriole will open its new permanent space in The Yards, Covent Garden on 28 August.

Skrewball peanut butter whiskey liqueur has entered Australia and New Zealand in partnership with Pernod Ricard.

The Drinks Trust charity has added five new members to its board of trustees – Jennie Baernreuther, Ian Bray, Tim Clay, Paul Haslam and Tony Watson.

Hanna Lee Communications has launched a trade-consumer event called New York Bartender Week which will make its debut on 18-24 November 2024.

Diageo has agreed to sell Pampero rum to Gruppo Montenegro for an undisclosed sum.

BrewDog has opened its first bar in Thailand as part of its international expansion drive having already opened venues in Perth, Rotterdam and Denver this year.

Whisky Live Paris celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, returning to France’s capital with new addition to the 2024 show, The Agave Patio, paying tribute to the growing interest in the tequila and mezcal market. 

London’s Swift Borough has launched its new cocktail menu titled South of The River, showcasing 14 cocktails that explore underrated parts of South London.

In what looks like a mirror movement of wine some 50 years ago, agave spirits are finding their feet in unlikely quarters, finds Shay Waterworth.

Owned by Michael Sager, Equal Parts the Hackney, London-based bar has launched a new menu to shine light on the diversity of grapes-based liquors and wines from various regions including Porto, Cognac and Austria.

The founders of Avallen Spirits, the owner of Avallen Calvados, Stephanie Jordan-Balmforth and Tim Etherington-Judge, have announced a new consultancy company.

Pernod Ricard-owned Japanese gin Ki No Bi has announced an investment in a new carbon-neutral, increased-capacity distillery.

Suntory Global Spirits has officially submitted plans for the redevelopment of its distillery on Islay to expand production by more than one-third.

Le 300 Bar, located at The Maybourne Riviera hotel in the south of France, has introduced a new cocktail menu, Contraste.

The London bar community was rocked in April by the news that Lyaness bartender Alexandra ‘Lexie’ Constantinescu had unexpectedly passed away on an extended trip to Cuba, where she had previously been competing as a UK finalist in Havana Club’s Cocktail Maestros competition.

Ian Macleod Distillers, in partnership with The Islay Boys, has announced an update on the progress of their new single malt whisky distillery, Laggan Bay, on Islay.

Peruvian bar Sastrería Martinez is launching its new menu this month titled Collection 24/25.

The team behind New Delhi-based cocktail bar Sidecar, two-time member of The World’s 50 Best Bars, has announced the opening of a new venue called The Brook.

Panther M*lk, an oat milk ready-to-drink cocktail has launched a new bottle design and extended its range of flavours to include Crema, Rosa, Cafe, and Menta.

Danish distillery Stauning is expanding its core portfolio with the launch of a new expression, Høst (40.5% abv).

Experimental Group is due to open its second Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels wine bar in New York, La Compagnie Flatiron, ten years after the opening of its Soho site. 

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust has announced the launch of a new Level 2 Award in Sake from April 2024.

Having worked for three decades as head distiller of Diageo’s Don Julio, maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa has partnered with The Lost Explorer to create its first tequila line.

Actor Cate Blanchett has joined Toku Saké as creative director where she will direct the strategy of the brand, including new product development and innovation.

Ready-to-serve cocktail brand Whitebox Cocktails has partnered with brand-building agency, Artisan Spirits, to expand its international distribution.

Paris-based bar Danico, recently ranked no. 51 in the World’s 50 Best Bars 51-100 list 2023, has launched its third cocktail menu, ‘Japan’.

Drinks importer and distributor, Paragon Brands, has announced its new role as the exclusive distributor of Zamora Company spirits and liqueurs in the UK.

Velvet By Salvatore Calabrese, set in the Corinthia London, has announced the launch of its new menu ‘The Quote Book’, Drinks International can exclusively reveal.

Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery has secured a new funding package with specialist wine and spirits fintech Ferovinum, to support its domestic and international growth plans in 2024 and beyond.

Trois Frères Distillery has announced a new partnership with Kirsch Import to distribute its Takamaka rums across Germany as of this month. 

Dubai’s Galaxy Bar has unveiled a new menu alongside the launch of a mobile app and new interiors.

Natasha Bermúdez, bar director of New York’s Llama group, has launched a new venue in Madrid, Bar Llama.

Chivas Brothers has brought forward a new pay package to suspend strike action threatened by Unite, a 500-member union.