Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International magazine January edition

Brintex, organisers of the London International Wine Fair (LIWF), have announced  the appointment of Ross Carter as exhibition director, replacing James Murray who resigned after 10 years in the role.

World Cup finalist, UEFA Champions League, FA and League Cup winner… and now rum brand owner. Christian Davis tackles French international footballer Mikaël Silvestre

Bartender Kim Daniel Bergersen of Norway prevailed from a field of 11 finalists at Pilsner Urquell’s International Master Bartender (IMB) competition.

The International Wine Challenge held is annual bash at the Hilton on London’s Park Lane last night at which all its trophy winners were announced.

We have teamed up with Brand Finance to reveal the world’s biggest wine and spirits brands by value. Christian Davis highlights trends in the sector 

Drinks International will celebrate its 40^th birthday with the great and the good of the UK drinks industry on Thursday in London.

CEO of Sogrape Vinhos, Francisco Ferreira, has ventured that the planting of further international varietals could help to attract more consumers to Portuguese wine.

SPI Group has signed a five-year agreement with Telford International Company for the distribution of its Stolichnaya portfolio in China.

Danny DeVito’s Limoncello is about to be rolled out to international markets, following its US launch in 2011.

The trade wine fair ProWein attracted over 40,000 visitors, according to its organisers Messe Düsseldorf.

Travel Retail operator World of Patria International has reached agreement with Chase Distillery to offer its range of spirits and liqueurs.

Johnnie Walker has taken first place in Brands by Value, a list of the world’s 50 most valuable drinks brands.

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

Entries are now being taken for the International Cider Challenge.

Altia Plc is buying the Xanté Company and the Xanté spirits brand from the Swedish Tilander family.

There is unlikely to be any ice wine from Germany this year because of the mild winter north west Europe is experiencing.

The rise of craft beer in the US can benefit Peroni Nastro Azzurro, says the lager's global brand director Andrew Walker.

International Wine & Spirit Research (IWSR) says that Asia-Pacific will be the fastest-growing region for the alcoholic beverage markets over the next five years.

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.

Cognac house Martell has announced it will unveil the first expression of its Millésimes Collection in Asian duty free on November 23.

The UK's Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer has touched down in Australia in the first stage of a planned global roll out.

The September edition of Drinks International is now online and can be downloaded as a digital magazine by clicking here.

UK Rumfest has announced the winners of the Golden Rum Barrel Awards 2011, with Foursquare Distillery of Barbados taking home two of the top prizes.

John Halewood of Halewood International has died. He passed away on October 15.

French distributor DIVA (Distribution Internationale de Vins et Alcools) has created DIVA South Africa to market some of the country’s ‘premium’ wines to an international audience.

Czech lager brand Pilsner Urquell has anointed Dubliner Fearghus McCormack as its International Master Bartender 2011.

Constellation Brands has purchased the remaining 50.1% of Italian wine brand Ruffino from MPF International. 

Russia: Pernod Ricard has teamed up with DJ Ferry Corsten to launch a limited edition bottle of Olmeca tequila. The product will be exclusive to Russia, where Olmeca holds a 41% market share.

Drinks International is pleased to announce that beer group ABInbev has joined Prosecco brand Follador as sponsors of this year's Travel Retail Awards.

Drinks International is delighted to announce that premier Italian Prosecco producer Follador is to sponsor this year's Travel Retail Awards.

StarBev has announced ‘significant investments’ in its Staropramen brand, as it eyes international expansion.

Drinks International and Euromonitor International have published the Millionaires Club 2011. The report lists spirits brands that sell over one million nine-litre cases. A record 172 brands feature in this year’s edition and figures are based on 2010 sales volumes.

Entries are now open for this year’s Drinks International Travel Retail Awards. The awards will take place during the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.The magazine has announced a new venue for this year’s awards – the Bay Restaurant within the Palais des Festivals et des Congres complex.

Lanson International has launched a website to educate trade and consumers about champagne, called L‟Académie de Lanson.

Drinks International has announced the category winners of the 18^th annual Cocktail Challenge.

International Beverage Holdings will unveil the 1995 vintage of Balblair single malt scotch whisky at TFWA Asia Pacific.

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

Two Asian wine experts are to host an introduction to the Institute of Masters of Wine education programme at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair in early November.

Drinks International Travel Retail Awards trophy winners were announced during the Tax Free World Association exhibition in Cannes this week (October 19).

Wines Of South Africa’s (WOSA) first Sommelier World Cup has been won by an American.

The results of the International Cider Challenge 2010 are in. This is the first year of the competition and it attracted over a hundred entries. Drinks International recruited a panel of cider experts to blind taste the ciders, which were then awarded trophies and medals.

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

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.

The 2010 global Tax Stamp Forum is to take place in London in June.