On 8 September 2022 Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland aged 96.

London’s Arturo Burzio, assistant head bartender at Scares Bar at The Rosewood, has been announced as elit Martini Masters cocktail competition global finalist.

US-based drinks group Luxco has reported a 27% uplift in annual sales across Germany and Europe.

Sheffield-based bar Bamboo Door was crowned the winner of the annual Chairman’s Reserve UK Mai Tai Challenge at a final held at Merchant House in London.

Kranebet Italian Gin Liqueur, produced in Italy by Rossi d’Asiago distillers since 1924, has launched in the UK.

Heineken UK has announced the purchase of the remaining shares of Beavertown Brewery, having purchased a minority stake in 2018, assuming full ownership of London’s largest brewery.

Spirits company Edrington, has announced the appointment of Craig Johnstone as master blender for The Famous Grouse.

Pernod Ricard has released its FY22 Results, showing that sales grew organically by 17% in 2022, equalling €10.7m, with sales growing by double digits across each of its regions and spirit categories.

Young Spirits was founded in 2019 as a small batch bottling site for craft whisky and rum producers. In three years, the business has gone from strength to strength, tripling its revenue and growing from two to 42 employees. 

VintageCellar is a member-only fine wine investment app that launched in the UK in July. Drinks International caught up with chief executive and founder Selim Bocti to talk about his mission to bring fine wine investment into the 21^st century.

White Peak Distillery from Derbyshire, UK, is offering the last opportunity to own a bottle of its sell-out inaugural release of Wire Works Whisky via auction site Whisky Auctioneer.

Edrington UK has announced the appointment of its latest UK Brand Ambassador for the House of Suntory, Raffaele Di Monaco.

Diablo, created by South American wine company Concha y Toro, has announced the arrival of two new wines to its portfolio.

Drinks International sits down with Spirit of Harrogate co-founder Marcus Black to talk heritage, sport, and how to create a gin that stands out from the crowd.

French Brandy company, St-Rémy, is celebrating the success of its St-Rémy Signature which launched in 2020 and is showing growth in its pioneering markets of Canada, USA and Australia, as it continues to expand into new markets.

The world’s number one selling spirit brand Jinro soju has announced it will be sponsoring Luno presents All Points East festival this month, the first time a Korean spirit brand has supported a major UK festival, making history for the global drinks market.

The UK’s on-trade and hospitality outlets are preferring to serve leading brands of gin and tonic as their house products instead of supporting local and small-batch counterparts, as market researcher Shepper finds. 

Blended Scotch brand Johnnie Walker has announced a partnership with UK nightlife discovery app, DUSK, to give away 270,000 Johnnie Walker and lemonades at participating venues across the country.

A strong performance in key markets saw Beam Suntory’s net sales increase by 13% year-on-year in the first half of 2022, a 25% increase on the pre-pandemic period in 2019.

Spiribam UK and its St Lucian rum brand Chairman’s Reserve have announced the four finalists in its nationwide Mai Tai Challenge.

From September this year The Drinks Trust’s Develop programme will offer a bartending certificate provided by Mixology School and in partnership with United Kingdom Bartenders’ Guild.

Distell International’s Amarula African Gin is set to debut in Europe next month, starting with the UK, along with its Amarula Cream Liqueur, which has entered the European market for the first time.

Glenmorangie Highland single malt whisky has revealed its new packaging, set to be rolled out from August this year in the UK, transforming all parts of the original design. 

When it comes to the production of rhum agricole, terroir is key to quality. Oli dodd meets those at the forefront of this lesser-known spirits category.

Edrington UK has announced its appointment of Beckie Sullivan as UK national brand ambassador for Courvoisier.

Spier Wine Farm, one of South Africa’s oldest wineries, has joined the Freixenet Copestick portfolio from this month.

Vermont-based rye whiskey distillery WhistlePig has announced the launch of the six years aged, 100% rye PiggyBack, created by late master distiller Dave Pickerell to showcase rye’s mixability.

This summer, bar brand Callooh Callay will be taking over 20 bars across 20 consecutive days in July, the first nationwide bar takeover rally in the UK.

Trade disputes resulting in crippling tariffs have been lifted after four years, but will America and its export countries find a permanent peace?

Old Mout is launching its biggest campaign yet to spread awareness of its partnership with WWF by introducing limited edition cider glasses.

Independent tequila brand, Código1530, has announced its entry into the mezcal category with the launch of two mezcal expressions.

Paul Symington has been awarded a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Diageo has announced a two-year partnership with Queer Britain in London, the UK’s first national LGBTQ+ museum.

The Dubliner Irish Whiskey has announced the launch of a new cinnamon and chilli flavoured whiskey liqueur variant.

Hard seltzer Fountain, has announced a partnership that will see the brand launch bars at some of the UK’s largest venues, including OVO Arena Wembley and AO Arena in Manchester.

Graham’s Port has launched its first-ever bartending competition, in which seven bartenders from around the world will convene in Porto to compete for a €1000 cash prize and six months’ supply of Blend N º5 and Blend N º12.

Scotch whisky brand Dewar’s has announced the latest release in the brand’s Cask Series, Japanese Smooth, an 8-year-old blended Scotch finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks.

Super-premium gin Brockmans has announced that one million bottles were sold within a 12-month period, a milestone for the brand.

Keith Motsi has carved a truly unique path through the hospitality industry. Having been born in Zimbabwe and raised in Leeds, UK, he now finds himself at the reins of one of Asia’s top luxury hotel bars.

Super-premium tequila brand Mijenta, has launched Mijenta Reposado Tequila, the second UK launch from the brand following the release of Mijenta Blanco Tequilla in June 2021.

UK-based functional drink brand Three Spirit has announced the launch of a range of non-alcoholic alternative wines, Blurred Vines.

Dublin-based online whisky store, The Single Malt Shop, has announced that they will now deliver to the UK and to celebrate the launch, delivery costs to the UK will be free until the end of May. 

Keith Motsi, head bartender at Charles H in Four Seasons Seoul, has won the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2022.

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.

Premium vodka brand, Vodka 4 Peace, has launched in the UK pledging to donate 100% of profits until 2026 and £5 per bottle to NGOs in Ukraine.

Puerto Rican rum producer, Distillería Serrallés has launched its portfolio of aged Don Q Rums in the UK and European markets.

Viña Concha y Toro has reported that profits rose by 26.7% in 2021 with sales of premium wines accounting for more than half of company revenues for the first time.

Kenyan ultra-premium spirits producer, Procera Gin has announced a partnership with Axiom Brands to accelerate growth in the UK on- and off-trade.

Ukrainian vodka brand Dima’s has launched a fundraising initiative to support British-Ukrainian Aid and Come Back Alive, which see all proceeds from the purchase of four bottled cocktails going to charity.

Hendrick’s have launched Neptunia, a limited-edition gin using Scottish coastal botanicals and the latest release from master distiller Lesley Gracie’s Cabinet of Curiosities collection.