Beam Inc., the new owners of Cooley’s the Irish whiskey brand, says it has signaled its intent to build the Kilbeggan brand in the US by importing the largest case shipment ever of the blended whiskey for the St Patrick’s Day (March 17) celebrations this weekend.

Pernod Ricard UK has unveiled an initiative titled ‘Building Premium Wine Brands’, to bring growth back to the UK light wine sector.

Chivas Brothers is to launch a limited edition golf pack for its Ballantine’s 17 and 21 year old blended whiskies.

Mount Gay Rum Distilleries and UK distributor First Drinks have appointed Miguel Smith as European brand ambassador for Mount Gay Rum.

Diageo GTME Americas has launched two new products under the Johnnie Walker brand. Johnnie Walker Platinum Label and Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve will launch in the Americas first, followed by a global roll-out in travel retail in the first half of 2012.

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

Turkey: SAB Miller, Anadolu Group and Anadolu Efes have completed the transfer of SAB Miller's Russian and Ukrainian beer businesses in the context of their strategic alliance for Turkey, Russia, the CIS, Central Asia and the Middle East, which was originally announced on October 19, 2011.

SAB Miller's Australian subsidiary, Foster's Group will no longer be allowed to import and distribute Mexican beer Corona Extra. Foster's has been informed by Corona's parent company Grupo Modelo that it intends to terminate Foster's licence to import and distribute Corona Extra in Australia with immediate effect. The brand's distribution will go to Lion Nathan. 

William Grant has launched its first ever Glenfiddich19 year old single malt scotch whisky, which has been matured in Madeira wine oak casks.

Accolade has launched a new wine under the Hardys brand at ProWein, Germany.

William Grant has released Glenfiddich’s first-ever vatted ‘vintage reserve’, the 1974 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve which the company claims was selected by a global panel of 16 experts.

US: Beam has expanded its Skinnygirl range to include wine, a range of flavoured vodkas and a Piña Colada.

Rexam, the can maker, has announced that it has been chosen by Beam Global Spirits and Wine India to provide the can for its new Teacher's ready-to-drink variant.

Australian wine producer Australian Vintage (AVL) has hailed the 2012 vintage from the Sunraysia and the Riverland wine region as ‘exceptional’ and one of the best in the past two decades.

The Bols brand is calling for entries into its Bols Around the World global bartending competition.

Gallo Family Vineyards, the Californian wine producer, has launched the Gallo Film Club.

Pernod Ricard UK is hoping the release of Absolut London in time for the Olympics and the Queen’s diamond jubilee will lift sales of the brand by 10%.

Irish Distillers has announced its St Patrick's Day plans for Jameson.

Scotch whisky producer Isle of Arran Distillers has furthered its Icons of Arran series with the launch of The Eagle.

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

The Spencerfield Spirit Company has launched a Perthshire Raspberry edition of its Edinburgh Gin brand to the UK.

Heineken has announced that it has extended its 15-year partnership with the James Bond franchise.

UK: Gordon and MacPhail has bottled a 60 year old Glen Grant whisky to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

An especially crafted blend of rare malt and grain scotch whiskies, distilled in and maturing since 1952, is being bottled today to celebrate the Queen’s accession to the British throne 60 ago today.

Beam has launched a new cognac in the US, under the Courvoisier brand.

Pernod Ricard has launched a new expression of its Martell cognac to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Martell Cordon Bleu. Cordon Bleu Centenary limited edition has launched in Asia duty free.

English brewer and distiller, Adnams, has added Morello Cherry Liqueur to its range.

Luxardo has added to its range of flavoured sambucas with the launch of Pear and Cola variants to the UK market.

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

County Cork-based hotel, Longueville House, has launched a premium cider to the Irish market.

London chef Michel Roux Jr has joined forces with French wine maker Michel Chapoutier to create wines named after Roux’s restaurant Le Gavroche.

There has been a seismic shift in the Chilean and Argentinian wine industries, according to some leading experts.

Angus Dundee distillers has launched a range of whiskies under the Charles Hamilton brand.

Nomacorc has launched Select 100, a closure for fragile wines and full bodied red wines that requiring extended aging.

William Grant has launched a new expression of its Glenfiddich whisky brand: Glenfiddich Malt Master’s Edition.

Australian Vintage has recruited the senior buyer of one of the UK’s major multiple retailers.

US-based Beam has completed the acquisition of Ireland's Cooley Distillery.

Chivas Brothers is introducing a new look for its Plymouth gin brand, re-positioning it above Beefeater 24, as a “super premium-plus”.

Bacardi Limited is planning a raft of activity to celebrate its 150th birthday. Besides parties and commemorative gifts, the company is to launch a $2,000 limited-edition decanter of "rare" Bacardi rum.

Ginseng spirit brand owner Alex Kammerling is to rebrand his drink following a “legal issue” with German brand Kuemmerling.

Pernod Ricard UK has announced the launch of a Beefeater ‘Forever London’ limited-edition pack, aimed at celebrating the brand’s heritage.

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with La Martiniquaise to distribute Label 5 whisky in Russia. La Martiniquaise announced the tie-up in December 2011.

French syrup maker Monin will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year by embarking on a UK cocktail tour.

The Glenmorangie Company has announced the global launch of Artein, the third release of the Glenmorangie Private Edition range.

Pernod Ricard has announced a marketing partnership between Jacob’s Creek and former tennis player Andre Agassi.

Pernod Ricard will release Irish whiskey Redbreast 12 Cask Strength to the US in February, following the expression’s September launch to Ireland, Germany and France.

Rémy Martin is to introduce a new expression of its VSOP cognac for the European market. VSOP Mature Cask Finish is to replace VSOP in Europe, while the rest of the world will continue to receive the original VSOP cognac.

Pernod Ricard has furthered its line of Absolut Vodka flavours with the launch of Miami and Gräpevine to the US market.

The SPI Group has announced a new distribution agreement with Findlater Wine and Spirit Group to distribute the Stolichnaya vodka portfolio in Ireland.

Bacardi has announced the finalists of the UK heat of its global  Legacy Cocktail Competition.