The Drinks Trade Regatta, the annual sailing event for the hospitality trade, has announced a new partnership with The Drinks Trust and Only A Pavement Away for 2026.

Spain-based Varma Spirits & Wines has announced its first international distribution agreement for its Macaronesian Gin, which has launched in Italy through the OnestiGroup.

Stock Spirits Group has appointed Steven Libermann as its chief executive officer, effective 1 December 2025.

Norwegian bartender, Felice Capasso, has won the title of World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2025.

In the 30th edition of the International Spirits Challenge, Suntory Spirits has won the 2025 Supreme Champion award with The Yamazaki 18.

South Africa has lowered the minimum alcohol by volume (abv) level requirement for spirits, aligning with the global norm.

Japanese shochu brand Iichiko has signed an exclusive partnership with premium spirits distributor Speciality Brands as of 1 September.

Distilled Spirits Council CEO Chris Swonger has urged the Trump administration to push for zero-for-zero tariffs following the release of a joint trade statement between the US and EU.

Diageo India has broken ground on The Good Craft Co. Flavour Market, its destination dedicated to Indian craft spirits.

Angel Ambrose caught up with Illva Saronno CEO Marco Ferrari as Disaronno turns 500 years old.

Modi Illva is capitalising on India’s global appeal by branching out into premium spirits for export. Shay Waterworth finds out more from the man at the helm.

Canada has seen the sales of American spirits fall by 66% after stores began pulling US products in response to tariffs.

Diageo India, also known as United Spirits Limited, has announced the purchase of a majority controlling stake in Goa-based gin producer Nao Spirits for INR 130 crores (US$15.2m). 

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has launched an updated version of its Level 3 Award in Spirits qualification, in response to the growing demand for spirits education.

As the International Spirits Challenge hits a milestone, Oli Dodd asks some of the most respected whisky judges for their thoughts on how the competition has evolved and why it is so important.

Women Leading Rum has announced the expansion of its organisation to now include those involved in spirits, becoming Women Leading Rum & Spirits.

From July, spirits protected by geographic indicator (GI) status will see current fees associated with the Spirit Drinks Verification (SDV) scheme replaced by a lower flat rate.

Saga Spirits, a new whiskey company from Wes Henderson, co-founder of Angel’s Envy, has entered into a distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits for its portfolio of whiskey products.

Stock Spirits Group has announced its acquisition of The Drinks Company, a UK-based independent spirits importer and distributor.

IQ Spirits, a new distributor dedicated to premium independent spirits in France, has announced its launch.

The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association (JSLMA) is planning to register Japanese whisky for Geographic Indication (GI) status.

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has been named the new education partner for Equal Measures, the UK-based non-profit organisation dedicated to delivering intersectional diversity in the drinks and hospitality industries.

Spanish spirits producer Beveland has launched Aigin, a gin which used artificial intelligence in the creation of its recipe.

Kirsi Puntila has been appointed the new CEO of Anora Group effective immediately.

Suntory Spirits, manager of Suntory Group’s alcoholic beverage business in Japan, has announced a total investment of ¥6.5 billion in the Suntory Osaka Plant.

The pricing structure of non-alcoholic spirits has a high level of elasticity - there’s already a broad spectrum of price points which consumers are trying to navigate.

Alcohol sales across the US are shrinking, according to NielsenIQ, with off-premise beer, wine and spirits (excluding RTDs) all losing ground.

Diageo’s Indian arm, United Spirits Limited (USL) has announced it will close its manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Premium spirits business International Beverage, the international arm of Thai Beverage Public Limited Company (ThaiBev) has acquired Asiaeuro International Beverage (AIB).

There are many different elements to consider when launching a non-alcoholic spirits brand. Aside from creating the liquid, the bottle design and communication are also crucial touchpoints.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has issued its final rule establishing a new American single malt whiskey category.

Anora has expanded its footprint in the Baltics by establishing Anora Lithuania, established on 13 November, with commercial operations set to commence in 2025.

Anora has completed the sale of its Swedish schnapps brand Snälleröds to Malmö-based beverage company Saturnus AB.

Michael Vachon is to leave Maverick Drinks – the craft spirits distributor he co-founded in 2013 - at the end of this year.

In his inaugural column for Drinks International, Branson takes a wider look at the overall non-alcoholic spirits sector to identify which brands will thrive and which won’t survive.

News of Donald Trump’s re-election as US president earlier this week has sparked fear over the possibility of further tariffs being implemented on the spirits industry.

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. 

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has sounded an alarm over the potential return and doubling of the EU’s retaliatory tariff on American whiskey in a new report.

Diageo has proposed a redevelopment of the Talisker distillery, which will see the previous facilities demolished if plans are approved.

Suntory Spirits has won the International Spirits Challenge 2024 Supreme Champion award with The Yamazaki 12.

Campari Group has acquired a minority stake in the owner of single malt whisky brand Bunnahabhain.

US-based Bourbon distiller, Saga Spirits Group, has reportedly announced plans to develop a $92.5 million distillery and tourism centre on 150 acres in Kentucky.

Spirits distributor Mangrove Global is bringing a selection of international brands from its independent spirits portfolio to UK customers nationwide, through an extended partnership with supermarket chain Waitrose. 

Launched in 2023 in Milan, red berry aperitif Cordusio has achieved B Corp status for its social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

Zamora Company has announced record turnover for 2023 with €268 million and a 21.5% increase in sales since 2021.

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.