A 233-year-old Courvoisier cognac, discovered in a Dutch Collection is on sale for £95,000 at Harrods in London

Adnams, best known as a regional English brewer, has previewed two English whiskies which will be launched next year in time for Christmas.

Brintex, the organiser of the London International Wine Fair, has announced new initiatives to reinvigorate the 2013 show.

First Drinks, William Grant & Sons UK distributor, has announced a major investment to strengthen its presence in the UK on-trade.

First Drinks has announced the finalists of the Glenfiddich Malt Mastermind cocktail competition.

A major exhibition about scotch whisky, Scotland’s national drink, will open on 29 November at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

Guala Closures, a leading maker of aluminium closures for spirits and wines, has bought the Metal Closures division of South African company, MCG Industries.

Global spirits groups and aspiring brands were present at the second annual Moscow Bar Show (MBS) this week to capitalize on Russian bartenders and distributors’ growing interest in international spirits. 

The Tax Free World Association (TFWA) and the Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) have released the programme for the 2012 MEDFA Conference.

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately-held spirits company in the world, has announced the appointment of Siddik Tetík as regional president of Asia Pacific.

Bacardi has announced the appointment of Ron Anderson as senior vice president and chief commercial officer.

With all the bans on absinthe now lifted, the traditional French and Swiss producers are now free to re-invent the category for the 21st century. Hamish Smith investigates

Diageo, has launched Chinese white spirit brand, Shui Jing Fang, onto the UK domestic market.

Legislation granting permanent normal trade relations status (PNTR) to Russia has been introduced to the US Senate. The Distilled Spirits Council urged speedy passage in order for US distillers to gain many market access benefits of Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The price of wine and spirits has risen by more than twice the level of inflation, according to the latest WSTA Market Report.

Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business, has announced that it has reached agreement with Ypióca Agroindustrial Limitada to buy cachaça brand, Ypióca, and certain production assets.

China is the key for any global company and it is as important now as the US was in the past, according to speakers at the inaugural Worshipful Company of Distillers' city debate.

Patrón Spirits has partnered with the Turkish importer BT to distribute the company's tequilas and XO Cafe coffee liqueur.

Diageo has announced the completion of the mandatory tender offer for the outstanding shares in Chinese white spirits company, Sichuan Shuijingfang

The US is to officially recognise cachaça as a spirit from Brazil. The sugar cane spirit is currently labelled Brazilian rum in the US.

Campari America has joined the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association, the lead body for the UK wine and spirits sectors, has announced the appointment of Miles Beale as its new chief executive.

Altia, the wine and spirits group that focuses on the Nordic countries, has announced a 7.6% net sales increase to €524.8 million for the year January to December 2011.

Patrón Spirits International will introduce its XO Café variant to China following an agreement with the Shanghai-based Telford Wine & Spirits.

The European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD) has launched a web-campaign to promote responsible marketing practices for alcoholic beverages. The objective is to explain in plain language how EU-wide codes of advertising should be applied.

UK spirits and liqueur agency, Mangrove, will no longer distribute Chase Distillery products. 

Pernod Ricard UK has announced the following senior appointments within its executive committee and senior management group with immediate effect.

The European Union and the US Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) have welcomed a decision that finds the Philippines to be in breach of trade rules when it comes to tax on imported spirits.

La Martiniquaise, the French spirits group, has announced that, Russian Alcohol Group  the Russian subsidiary of CEDC, will be the exclusive distributor of Label 5 scotch whisky in Russia from January. Label 5 claims to be the fast-growing tenth largest worldwide scotch brand.

Drinks International is delighted to announce that Patience Gould, its former editor and a well known figure in the drinks industry, is returning to write a regular column.

Central European spirits and liqueurs company Stock Spirits Group is gearing up to acquire new business.

Patrón Spirits International has teamed up with Mumbai-based agent Aspri Spirits to distribute its portfolio of tequila, vodka and rum in India.

The winners of the International Spirits Challenge trophies have been announced.

UK: Hi-Spirits is set to launch the Buffalo Trace Distillery 2011 Antique Collection this month.

A five-litre demijohn of 1985 Cognac Frapin has sold for €15,000 at a charity auction.

Nemiroff Company has made its first step into eco-friendly spirits with the launch of Nemiroff Distinct, a vodka flavoured with aloe. 

Gemini Spirits & Wine, which claims to be the fastest growing spirits and specialty brand development company in the US, is to become the exclusive US importer of the Peter Heering and Xanté brands.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has appointed Christopher G. Bauder to the role of bourbon category business team (CBT) general manager.

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.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled that discriminatory excise tax on spirits in the Philippines is a violation of WTO rules.

UK spirits and liqueur agency, Mangrove, has announced plans for expansion into the Middle East and south Asia.

Premiumisation is driving UK spirits volume and value growth in the on and off-trade, according to findings by First Drinks.

Pernod Ricard has announced the disposal, by its affiliate Pernod Ricard Europe, of its shares in Georgian Wine and Spirits LLC to JSC Marussia (Georgia).

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

Patrón Spirits has appointed Phil Gervasi, a former VP at Diageo, as executive vice president of sales for North America.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has launched gin brand, Larios 12, to Spanish travel retail.

Stock Spirits Group has appointed Waldemar Maj and Dominique Bach as non-executive directors.

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

Diageo’s Johnnie Walker is the number one spirits brand by value according to Impact Databank’s Top 100 Premium Spirits list.