No.3 London Dry Gin has opened entries for its newly renamed 2024 global cocktail competition, Unrivalled Classics. 

Yann Bouvignies is to leave Scarfes at Rosewood London to undertake a new role as director of bars at Rosewood Amsterdam.

Viajante87, the London bar from Pietro Collina and Veronica Di Pietrantonio, has announced the launch of The Culture Exchange, a takeover series that will bring some of Latin America’s best bars and restaurants to West London.

Maura Milia, bar manager of Connaught Bar, will leave her role this March to pursue a new project overseas, after a decade at the Mayfair hotel.

Diego Macedo and his team at Sastrería Martinez have created a menu which incorporates the lesser-known and indigenous ingredients of Peru. 

The Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge is returning for its sixth edition, inviting global bartenders to create an original aperitivo cocktail inspired by art, using Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto.

East London bar, Three Sheets, has announced the launch of a second site opening its doors in London’s Soho district in March 2024.

The team behind Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy has announced the launch of a new bar in Amsterdam.

Dubai’s Galaxy Bar has unveiled a new menu alongside the launch of a mobile app and new interiors.

Natasha Bermúdez, bar director of New York’s Llama group, has launched a new venue in Madrid, Bar Llama.

Africa's first bi-annual international cocktail and spirits festival, Ajabu, is set to debut in Johannesburg and Cape Town in 2024.

In October, The American Bar at Gleneagles Hotel won the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award at The World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in Singapore for its Book of Berries menu. 

Trailer Happiness has been a stalwart of the London bar fixture for 20 years now. Owner Sly Augustin tells Oli Dodd how he grew its success.

Oslo-based bar and distillery, Himkok, has partnered with Norwegian aquavit Linie to launch its limited edition Himkok Linie.

River Wood, head of mixology & Century Bar manager at The Gleneagles Hotel, had anything but a traditional start in hospitality.

Drinks International can exclusively reveal that Baccarat Bar of Harrods, London, has launched the third edition of its cocktail menu, titled ‘Through the Creative Lens’. 

Pavyllon London, the recently opened Mayfair restaurant by chef Yannick Alléno has introduced Bar Antoine, at the Four Seasons Hotel London, Park Lane.

Two bartenders are on a mission to create a modern version of the 1950s Italian bar with Cinquanta – Spirito Italiano. Oli Dodd hears why.

London cocktail bar Tayēr + Elementary has launched a new platform, Tayēr Studios.

Notting Hill bar, Viajante87 has announced a new menu, the first full cocktail list under the leadership of bar director Pietro Collina and brand manager Veronica Di Pietrantonio.

The Pinnacle Guide has opened applications for a new recognition system for the best bars in the world, aiming to be a driving force towards a more inclusive drinks industry.

Drinks at the newly-crowned World's Best Bar aren’t meant to be fussy. There is all the creativity, theatre and deft technique that you’d expect from co-owners Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez, but minus the pretence. 

Everleaf non-alcoholic aperitif is launching its ‘Everleaf Home’, a pop-up at The Hide Bar, London, to celebrate its fifth birthday this November.

Amsterdam-based bar owner, consultant and author Tess Posthumus, alongside business partner Joeri Salet, have announced the opening of Belly of the Beast, a subterranean cocktail bar launching in December.

Gabriela Wong from La Esquina de Buenos Aires in Costa Rica has been crowned champion at the 2023 Licor 43 Bartenders & Baristas Challenge, after the final in Madrid this week.

Himkok is a legend of The World’s 50 Best Bars and has been a leading figure for around a decade. A few of the bar’s techniques and innovations are demonstrated in the following drinks, which include some of the spirits made on site in the bar’s own distillery. 

The Dead Rabbit has announced 2024 plans for the third location of its Irish pub in Washington DC.

London agaveria Hacha has launched its new menu, Cymatics, showcasing 12 cocktails inspired by music from some of the industry’s most notable names, past and present.

London Cocktail Week kicks off on Thursday 12 October and for 10 days offers cocktail lovers a showcase of more than 100 events across 200 of the capital’s best bars.

Silverleaf bar at Pan Pacific London has launched its new menu, Building Blocks, the first new menu launch for the bar since opening in February 2022. 

This year’s Bar Convent Berlin will see the Campari Academy have its own suite at the Grand Campari Hotel, aiming to be the hub for all things education. 

Bar Convent Berlin 2023 will see the launch of the first BCB Agave Embassy, a partnership between Athens bar Barro Negro and BCB.

Maison Villevert’s La Quintinye Vermouth Royal and Nouaison Gin, have launched a global fundraising initiative across 20 countries to raise money for non-profit organisation, Wine To Water.

­This October, London Cocktail Week returns to the capital for its 14th year and will debut a number of initiatives dedicated to building community and supporting the industry.

Buffalo Trace Distillery, distiller of brands including Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Sazerac Rye, has announced the forthcoming opening of Buffalo Trace Distillery London, an American whiskey experience in Covent Garden.

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London is partnering with The Lakes Distillery for The Whiskymaker's Editions ‘Decadence’, to commemorate its ten-year anniversary.

Artesian bar at The Langham, London, has launched a food and cocktail pairing experience, with dishes from chef Angelo Sato of Humble Chicken matched with cocktails by head bartender of Artesian, Giulia Cuccurullo.

Ahead of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 ceremony in Singapore later this month, Buenos Aires’ Tres Monos has been named the winner of the Art of Hospitality Award, selected by the 650-strong voting academy as the bar where they received the single-best hospitality experience that year.

The sophomore edition of the 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship has revealed the three finalists chosen through several rounds of judging by industry experts from over 600 applicants.

Drinks International can exclusively reveal that Parisian neighbourhood bar and cocktail pub, The Cambridge Public House, will host ‘The Cambridge Global Series’, in celebration of the Rugby World Cup this October. 

London Cocktail Week has unveiled the Bartender Knowledge Exchange programme to help educate both local and international bartenders as part of a series of new initiatives in 2023 aimed at supporting the hospitality industry.

Transcend is the latest menu headed up by Panda & Sons founder Iain McPherson. The Scotsman was named Bar Innovator of the Year at the Class Bar Awards earlier this year and this very menu was shortlisted at Tales of the Cocktail for Bar Menu of the Year. 

Bar Daskal, the London-based Spanish wine and cocktail bar from the team behind Barrafina, and restaurant booking platform Resy have announced the first Bar Daskal Maestros, a new series bringing guests masterclasses from maestros in the industry.

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London will partner with cocktail bar Himkok for a takeover experience on Wednesday 6 September from 7-10pm.

For most bartenders, coming up with a new bar technique would be a lifetime achievement – something to tell the grandkids about. But for Iain McPherson of Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons, it’s a regular occurrence. 

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London is partnering with Appleton Estate Rum for an exclusive cocktail menu this month.

Simone Caporale’s Sips, named No.3 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022, and Boadas Bar are heading to the Donovan Bar in Mayfair, London, for a two-night takeover sponsored by Amaro Santoni this September.

The Clumsies and Line co-founder explains to Oli Dodd the thinking behind a bar venture that emphasises sustainability, focusing on community, collaborations and the circular economy of ingredients.

Venice Cocktail Week returns with its third edition this year, held in the Serenissima from 23-29 October.

Ergo at The Dubai Edition is travelling to Mahé in the Seychelles this August, the island home of Takamaka Rum, for a month-long residency at ‘The Rum Shack’.