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.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, the premium spirits business of Fortune Brands has announced a ten year incentive-based agreement with Coca-Cola Amatil in Australia.

Fortune Brands has said it sees a “bright and prosperous future for Beam Global as an independent spirits company”.

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

The South African government has increased excise duty on spirits by 10% and wine by 8%.

Diageo has struck an agreement to acquire Turkey's "leading" spirits company, Mey Içki.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has appointed Albert Baladi as president of Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA), effective March 5.

The US Spirits division of Diageo North America has appointed Mark Hubler as president of Open States and Greg Armstrong president of Control States and National Accounts.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has announced expanded leadership roles for executives Bill Newlands, Phil Baldock and Bob Probst.

UK beer brewer Adnams has opened a small-scale distillery, producing vodka, gin and whisky.

The European Spirits Organisation (CEPS) has launched a new five-year commitment to promote responsible drinking.

The economic contribution of Europe's spirits industry to the European economy has been revealed in a new report. The report was prepared by Ernst & Young and commissioned by CEPS – the trade body for the European spirits industry.

The International Spirits Challenge winners were announced at a ceremony in London last night.

SKyy Spirits, Gruppo Campari’s US-based subsidiary, has unveiled a new global ad campaign entitled Skyy Sexy to market its unflavoured vodka brand Skyy Vodka.

International Beverage Holdings is celebrating 49 awards in various international drinks competitions, including 13 awards in the International Spirits Challenge.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine is to push its Maker’s Mark brand in travel retail. A new campaign, created to enhance the travel experience, aims to raise awareness for Maker’s Mark amongst passengers and encompass advertising, in-store education, secondary displays and exclusive travel retail gift packs.

Stock Spirits has launched a 21 year old  single malt Czech whisky. The company believes it to be the only Bohemian single malt in the world.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, the premium spirits business of Fortune Brands has announced plans to divest three of its German-market local brands. Kuemmerling bitters, Fûrst Bismarck korn/schnapps and Jacobi 1880 brandy are to be sold to Henkell & Co, the second largest distributor of wine and spirits in Germany.

The 2010 Drinks International Millionaires research has been compiled. Based on sales volumes for 2009, this year saw a record number of brands on the list – 162.

Belgium: The European Spirits Organisation CEPS and The European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD) have teamed up with the Belgian Federation of Wine and Spirits to launch a responsible drinking campaign during the World Cup.