A scotch whisky distiller, when asked recently if he made any blends, was gloriously sniffy and dismissive of blended whisky. It would have been interesting to see and hear what he would have made of the Johnnie Walker Directors Blends, which I got to taste last Thursday (November 28) in London.
Martin Miller dies aged 67
Martin Miller, founder of Martin Miller’s gin, passed away on Christmas Eve after a battle with cancer.
Charles Gordon of William Grant & Sons dies aged 86
It has just been announced that Charles Gordon, life president of William Grant & Sons, died in New York at the weekend. He was 86.
Bell joins Diageo
Diageo has announced that Georgie Bell, currently global ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, will join Diageo next month (January) as a global brand ambassador, focusing on the promotion of its new range of Mortlach single malt scotch which will be launched next year (2014).
First Drinks and Rémy Cointreau end their distribution agreement
First Drinks Brands and Rémy Cointreau have confirmed that their distribution agreement in the UK will end on March 31.
Diageo bites the Bulleit
Diageo has announced the launch of Bulleit Bourbon at and the introduction of its new Bulleit Rye whiskey into the UK.
Diageo bites the Bulleit
Diageo has announced the launch of Bulleit Bourbon and the introduction of its new Bulleit Rye whiskey into the UK.
Adnams launches English whiskies
Adnams, best known as an English regional brewer, is about to launch its first ever whiskies.
Ballantine's does a Brazilian
Ballantine’s Brasil is the name of a new lime-infused spirit drink, from the Chivas Brothers scotch and premium gin divisions of Pernod Ricard.
I have just returned from the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Havana Club International. Standing in a huge hall with more than 1,000 people – mostly employees but also people associated with the company and the eponymous Cuban rum brand – it became obvious what a force for good an alcoholic drinks brand can be.
Label 5 goes to Karoulias in Greece
La Martinquaise, the French spirits group, has announced that WS Karoulias, one of the leading spirits distribution companies in Greece, will be the exclusive distributor of its Label 5 scotch whisky in Greece.
Altia replaces CEO
Altia Plc has released CEO Antti Pankakoski. He has been CEO since 2007. He left last Wednesday, November 21.
Absolut GTR director Olsson resigns
Anders Olsson has decided to resign as director of the Absolut Company’s Global Travel Retail (GTR) division.
Campari posts sales of €1.05m and pre-tax profit of €149.5m
The directors of Davide Campari-Milano SpA has announced its consolidated results for the nine months ending 30 September 2013.
Latest Macallan Lalique decanter unveiled
The Macallan and French crystal maker, Lalique, unveiled their latest special decanter in the Six Pillars Collection at the TFWA exhibition in Cannes today (October 22).
Travel Retail up 9.4%
Global travel retail sales are up 9.4% to US55.8 billion, according to the president of the Tax Free World Association president, Erik Juul-Mortensen.
Diageo to spend £7.2m on Johnnie Walker
Diageo has announced a new marketing campaign for its scotch whisky blend, Johnnie Walker, that will amount to a £7.2 million spend.
Western spirits companies focus on margin
Western spirits companies that focus on growing margins to create value have been more successful than those that reduced prices in order to grow volumes, according to a report from Rabobank.
Apt 13's Flannery wins Heering Sling award
Mike Flannery, barman at New York’s Apartment 13 restaurant has won the 2013 Peter F Heering Sling Awards at the BCB Bar Convent show in Berlin.
Jim Beam launches Hardcore Cider
Beam’s newest Jim Beam is Red Stag by Jim Beam Hardcore Cider.
Mixology celebrates German-speaking bar talent
Bartender Arnd H Heissen and Cologne bar, Spirits, took the top prizes at The Mixology Bar Awards 2014 last night.
SPI sells Kremlyovskaya
The SPI Group has announced that it has sold Kremlyovskaya vodka to the Classic International Group.
Bowie wins Auchentoshan Switch
Aidan Bowie from the Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow is the European winner of the Auchentoshan Switch – the transatlantic mixology competition.
Berrys launches Penny Blue rum
Berry Bros & Rudd Spirits has launched a single estate XO aged rum from Mauritius, called Penny Blue.
Courvoisier celebrates the Here and Now
The Here and Now is the name of Maxxium UK’s new advertising and marketing campaign for Courvoisier Cognac.
More new Irish whiskeys
Irish Distillers has launched more Irish whiskeys, this time under the Paddy brand.
Black Bottle is relaunched
Burn Stewart Distillers has relaunched the premium blended scotch whisky, Black Bottle.
Use pubs or lose them
CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale), is calling on British people to use pubs otherwise they will close. It claims 26 pubs close every week in Britain.
Cool drinks brands
There are no alcoholic drinks brands in CoolBrands top 20 ‘A-Listers’ of 2013.
The Tate launches gin and beer
Tate Britain and Tate Modern, London’s famous art galleries, have introduced its own gin and limited edition beers.
Stock to float on the Stock Exchange
Stock Spirits Group has announced its intention to offer shares to institutional investors and float on the London Stock Exchange. It is expected the offer will complete next month. It hopes to raise £52 million.
Glenfiddich’s Malt Mastermind heads for Scotland
Glenfiddich’s Malt Mastermind competition is moving to Scotland – to Dufftown the home of the world’s number one single malt scotch whisky
Nemiroff exports are blocked
Ukrainian vodka producer Nemiroff is in the middle of a boardroom struggle which has resulted in some exports, including to Russia, being stopped.
Armagnac Academies launched
The BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac) has launched a programme to educate drinks professionals about France’s oldest spirit.
Scotch by rail
A trial is being launched to deliver Scotch whisky by train from Speyside to central Scotland in a bid to cut road journeys and emissions.
Bisquit opens château for the first time
Bisquit Cognac is opening the doors of its château for the first time to the public to celebrate France’s national heritage weekend (Journées Européennes du Patrimoine).
Campari celebrates $43m Wild Turkey packaging facility
A new packaging facility which cost US$43 million has been opened at the Wild Turkey distillery in Kentucky.
ProWein fully booked
The organiser of ProWein has announced that ProWein 2014 is already fully booked, six months before the show.
Irish PM opens Irish Distillers’ €100m expansion of Midleton
The Irish prime minister or Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, yesterday (September 4) officially opened Irish Distillers’ newly expanded Midleton distillery in Cork.
Diageo and IWC secure Dundalk for distilling
Diageo and the Irish Whiskey Company (IWC) have announced that they have entered into an agreement in principal concerning the future ownership of the Great Northern Brewery site, Dundalk.
Moscow Bar Show
The third Moscow Bar Show returns on October 1 – 3, at the IEC Crocus Expo.
National Calvados Week
National Calvados Week takes place in the UK between October 14 and 20.
SPI appoints Chase as Stoli distributor
The SPI Group has appointed Chase International Inc. as its new exclusive distributor of Stolichnaya vodka and elit by Stolichnaya, in the US duty free market.
Cinnamon Smirnoff Gold
Diageo has introduced Smirnoff Gold – a blend of Smirnoff No.21 premium vodka with natural cinnamon flavouring, garnished with edible 23 carat gold leaf.
Paul Walsh appointed to USL board
United Spirits board of directors has appointed former Diageo CEO, Paul Walsh, as an additional director of the company with immediate effect.
Irish Distillers release 2013 edition of Midleton Very Rare
Irish Distillers has launched the latest release of its flagship blended whiskey, Midleton Very Rare.
Beefeater #MyLondon Film Fest winner
Unhappy Hour by Jamie Sims was the winner of Beefeater #MyLondon Film Fest.
Diageo announces Distill Ventures
Diageo has unveiled what it claims is the world’s first accelerator programme, set up to encourage, nurture and mentor new and growing spirits brands.
Absolut announces new look for its flavoured vodkas
Absolut has announced new designs for its range of flavoured vodkas.
Diageo unveils Belgian chocolate Baileys
Diageo has announced what it claims to be one of its most innovative products for a decade - Baileys Chocolat Luxe.