The UK heat of the Gin Mare cocktail Competition took place this week at the Imbibe show in London.

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

Ian Macleod Distillers has purchased the Tamdhu distillery in Speyside, from the Edrington Group.

Costellation Wines Australia and Europe has officially become Accolade Wines - as of June 27. Accolade brands include Hardy’s and Echo Falls.

Budweiser has signed a three-year agreement with The Football Association to become the ‘lead partner’ of The FA Cup.

UK cider producer Aspall is to restructure its business and invest £4m following “40% volume growth” last year.

Australian winery Brown Brothers has appointed Rachel Herrig as brand manager to “drive the brand’s development in the UK and Ireland”.

Belgiun beer Duvel Green has been renamed Duvel Single Fermentation, in a bid to ease consumer understanding.

Chivas Brothers has launched a new special edition Beefeater gin. Developed by master distiller Desmond Payne, Beefeater London Market Gin will be available for a limited period from June 2011 in key global markets, including Spain, UK, Turkey and Bulgaria.

The Snow Grouse and The Naked Grouse have launched to the UK, as part of The Famous Grouse’s range of blended scotch whiskies.

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

Stella Artois’ seven-month quest to find its “draught master” has begun with the launch of the Quality Draught Masters Programme.

Lanson International has launched a website to educate trade and consumers about champagne, called L‟Académie de Lanson.

Drinks International has announced the category winners of the 18^th annual Cocktail Challenge.

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

Bacardi has crowned the winner of the first Superior Rum Global Legacy Cocktail Competition, in Barcelona.

The absinthe ban in France has been lifted, according to absinthe brand La Fée.

Two of London’s bartenders drew swords in San Francisco in the final of the No. 209 Gin Duel.

Jim Beam has launched its Red Stag bourbon-based drink in the UK market and in travel retail outlets across Europe.

Ian Macleod Distillers has appointed Danielle Murphy as business development manager at its Scotland-based sales team.

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

Prowein organiser Messe Düsseldorf has announced record attendance figures for the show held this week, 27-29 March 2011.

South African winery Linton Park has announced the launch of The Rhino of Linton Park range.

Swedish vodka brand DQ has re-launched to the UK, following the restructuring of parent company Nordic Spirit.

The owners of the Mediterranean gin brand, Gin Mare, have launched a bartender competition that culminates in a grand final on the island of Ibiza in September with a winner’s purse of £6,000.

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

Havana Club grew by 15% in 2010, following strong performances in Cuba, Germany, France and the UK.

AB InBev’s buoyant Asia-Pacific and Latin America markets have offset negative growth in North America and Europe, to spur overall revenue growth.

UK gin distiller G&J Greenall has celebrated its 250th birthday by redesigning its Original London Dry Gin.

Clink! Wines, distributors to the UK and mainland Europe, has appointed Mariola Martinez as operations manager.

The Stock Spirits Group has announced double digit organic volume growth with total sales volumes of 162.4 million litres in 2010.

UK spirits group Ian Macleod Distillers has recorded a 41% profit, buoyed by the growth of Glengoyne single malt whisky.

UK: Trade bodies Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have denied that UK alcohol consumption is rising.

Scotch whisky Royal Salute has announced its sponsorship of the Sentebale’s Polo Cup in Dubai.

UK importer PLB has been appointed by Rioja winery Bodegas Navajas, with effect from March this year.

UK: AB InBev has launched a cider under the Stella Artois name. Stella Artois Cidre will be available from easter 2011 in 568ml bottles and 440ml cans and the company suggests serving the product over ice.

Constellation Wines Australia and Europe has been renamed Accolade Wines following the completed acquisition of an 80% share in the company by Australian equity group Champ.

In its fourth edition, the International Cognac Summit (ICS) 2011, attempted to answer the question: can you quantify pleasure when tasting cognac?

UK: The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg MP raised a glass to scotch whisky exports – up 12% in the first ten months of 2010.

Join us for a live web chat with Jacob’s Creek chief winemaker Bernard Hickin on Wednesday January 19 at 1pm (GMT).

Diageo Gobal Travel Middle East (GTME) has announced three ‘key strategic leadership’ appointments to its senior executive management team.

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

Foster’s has launched an online tribute to England’s cricket victory, the first time for 24 years that England has won an Ashes Test Series in Australia.

Brand Phoenix has been appointed distributors for Angove Family Winemakers in the UK off-trade.

Brown-Forman, the major US drinks company, has announced a strategic review with a view to offloading its Californina-based wine assets.

Constellation Brands, hitherto, the world's leading wine company, has announced that it has sold its Australian and UK business, (Constellation Wines Australia and Europe, CWAE), to CHAMP, an Australian private equity group.

UK charities Alcohol Concern and the Children’s Society have called for “mandatory social work training” on the issues surrounding parental alcohol misuse.

UK-based mixer brand Funkin has announced the launch of a new range of purées called Funkin Fusion.

Limited edition Beefeater Winter gin has made its European travel retail debut in the main World Duty Free store in London Heathrow Terminal 3.

First Cape Wines has announced it will sponsor the British and Irish Lions rugby tour of Australia in 2013.