Bacardi Global Travel Retail has appointed Mike Birch to the role of managing director.
Australia: Stolichnaya has signed a five-year distribution deal with island2island Beverage Company.
Diageo GTME Americas has launched two new products under the Johnnie Walker brand. Johnnie Walker Platinum Label and Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve will launch in the Americas first, followed by a global roll-out in travel retail in the first half of 2012.
Bacardi has appointed a new CEO, following the retirement of Séamus McBride.
Gifting remains the driving force behind wine sales growth in China, according to research by Wine Intelligence.
William Grant has released Glenfiddich’s first-ever vatted ‘vintage reserve’, the 1974 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve which the company claims was selected by a global panel of 16 experts.
Rexam, the can maker, has announced that it has been chosen by Beam Global Spirits and Wine India to provide the can for its new Teacher's ready-to-drink variant.
Chivas Brothers is introducing a new look for its Plymouth gin brand, re-positioning it above Beefeater 24, as a “super premium-plus”.
LVMH has appointed new chief executive officers for its champagne brands Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin.
UK: Grupo Codorníu has made four appointments. Carolyn d’Aguilar and Susannah Bearne move internally to roles in the marketing department while Jake Crimmin and Tom Barton join the UK sales team.
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.
Dom Pérignon has announced the global launch of its 2003 vintage, the champagne house’s first since last year's 2002 release.
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...
ProWein organisers Messe Düsseldorf, has announced that next year’s show will be bigger with the opening of an additional hall.
US: Diageo has launched two new Smirnoff flavours. Whipped Cream and Fluffed Marshmallow are to be fronted by model and socialite Amber Rose.
UK: Diageo GB is re-positioning its Bell’s blended scotch whisky brand via a £1.35m TV ad campaign.
Inver House Distillers yesterday announced the global release of Balblair vintages 1992 and '01 from the newly-opened visitor centre at the brand's Highland distillery.
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.
Irish Distillers launched the latest expression of its leading Irish whiskey brand, Jameson, in a 'softly softly' roll out in Brooklyn last night.
Norwegian beverage company Mack has redesigned and extended its Arctic Beer series.
Central European spirits and liqueurs company Stock Spirits Group is gearing up to acquire new business.
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 Wine and Spirit Trade Assoication (WSTA) has announced that Nick Hyde, managing director of Diageo Wines Europe, is its new chairman.
AXA Millesimes has released the 2009 Sauternes, Les Lions de Suduiraut, to global markets.
Drinks group Sazerac has unveiled a line of flavoured vodkas under its Wave brand for the US market.
Martell’s new look for its VSOP, which was recently launched in the Singapore and Malaysia domestic markets, is now being rolled out throughout the world.
Sobieski vodka owner Belvedere has appointed Krzysztof Trylinski as chairman and chief executive officer of the group. He aims to clear the company's debt by selling two of its brands.
Budweiser has revamped its cans in the UK, with a red 'bowtie' sitting behind the Budweiser logo on the new-look version.
Malibu is releasing a limited edition coconut rum with coconut flakes floating inside to look like snowflakes.
Deep discounting on wine by UK retailers may be having less impact on consumer behaviour, according to a new report
Pernod Ricard has added to its ever-widening stable of Absolut limited editions with the release of Absolut Mode to global travel retail (GTR) for the run up to Christmas.
Diageo has extended the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project campaign with the release of city and country-themed bottles to selected global markets.
New Zealand’s Ara Wines has launched One Estate, a sparkling wine made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, in the UK.
Packaging company Rexam is to build a new beverage can plant in Finland.
Pernod Ricard has unveiled Absolut Gustafson at the TFWA in Cannes, a new limited edition for global travel retail.
Diageo has announced plans to step-up its multi-million dollar strategic partnership with social media website Facebook.
Drambuie has reported operating profits of £2.81m – up 2% on last year.
Diageo has announced the launch of Baileys Biscotti to the UK.
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).
The Institute of Masters of Wine has announced 11 new masters of wine.
Beam Global Spirits & Wine has announced new corporate branding in anticipation of becoming an independent publicly traded spirits company, to be renamed Beam, early in the fourth quarter.
Bacardi USA has announced plans to trial a new gin, Bombay Sapphire East, in the US on and off-trade.
US: Brugal rum brand-owner the Edrington Group, their distributors Rémy Cointreau Travel Retail Americas and retailer International Shoppes have combined forces to promote travel retail exclusive Brugal Extra Viejo Reserva and Brugal Añejo Reserva - starting in New York JFK.
StarBev has announced ‘significant investments’ in its Staropramen brand, as it eyes international expansion.
A bottle of 1811 Château d’Yquem has been sold for £75,000, setting a Guinness world record.
Owners of traditional products such as champagne and cognac need to show some humility in their dealings with new emerging markets, according to the president and CEO of Groupe Renaud Cointreau.
Diageo has appointed a head of its Western Europe division. From September 1, John Kennedy is to become chief operating officer, Diageo Western Europe. Kennedy is currently managing director, Diageo Ireland.
UK cider producer Aspall is to restructure its business and invest £4m following “40% volume growth” last year.
US: Heaven Hill has launched a liqueur called Hpnotiq Harmonie. The new product is an infusion of French vodka, natural fruits, flowers, and cognac. The mix includes berries, violets and lavender.
La’Mel Clarke, front of house at London’s Seed Library, looks at the forgotten art of hosting and why it deserves the same respect as bartending.
