In our new series, Thanos Prunarus, owner of Baba au Rum, answers some key questions about the Athens bar scene.

Despite reports of its demise, cork is still very much alive and kicking as the wine closure of choice. Jamie Goode assesses its fortunes – and checks out the competition

From soldier to distiller by way of being a lawyer – the creator of Bulleit bourbon has a chequered history. He shares his stories with Hamish Smith

The Australian wine industry has had its ups and downs but the sector remains defiant and dynamic. Christian Davis reports

Packaging design expert Kevin Shaw reveals some sobering facts about the environmental impact of wine bottles

Lucy Britner looks at how the Mary Poppins effect continues to influence cocktail syrups

Spandau Ballet front-man Tony Hadley is among the ranks of musicians to have launched an ale. He shares his love of beer with Hamish Smith

The face of sparkling wine could change as global warming takes hold. Hamish Smith investigates

Gavin D Smith reports on the rapid expansion of Speyside’s distilleries

Hamish Smith on the 2014 World Cup and whether it will be the making of cachaça

An old country with a new approach to its winemaking, Moldova is eyeing international markets. Jaq Bayles finds plenty to write home about

Brandy, outside of the classic Cognac, Armagnac and calvados sectors, is a huge, diverse category comprising mainly national brands. Christian Davis provides the picture

Hamish Smith travels to Porto and finds optimism where he was least expecting it

Bruce Jack is one of South Africa’s best and most high profile winemakers, in charge of all of Accolade’s SA wines. Christian Davis engages with an engaging character

Guest writer Ameet Chandarana, MD of design & digital marketing firm Maynard Malone, asks: What is your brand bringing to the party? 

High-end Cognacs are in for a rough ride in China – and producers are bracing themselves accordingly. Patience Gould reports

After a supply blip in recent years Japanese whisky is once more on the march. Dominic Roskrow looks at the reasons why

Mauritius recently lifted its prohibition on agricole rum, releasing a new generation of distillers keen to gain global recognition. Jaq Bayles visited the island’s first Rum Festival

Hamish Smith has been to Jerez to see whether renewed sherry optimism closer to home in the UK has translated into sales

Rock climber-turned distiller Ralph Erenzo talks to Hamish Smith about Sonic Maturation and selling Hudson bourbon to the big boys

Aquavit is Scandinavian flavoured vodka or a Nordic version of gin. Christian Davis explores his roots

Rum stirs up more than just flavours. Lucy Britner finds out what’s happening in cocktail culture

Hamish Smith visits Roussillon in France, a region on the up despite myriad challenges – including the hogs that are driving winemakers crazy

Irish Whiskey is booming every which way. Everyone appears to be up for it, including Christian Davis who went to the Midleton Housewarming in the Emerald Isle

There’s big money to be had in the world of drinks gifting. Hamish Smith investigates

Rachel Barrie is on a mission to broaden the drinking demographic of Scotch. Jaq Bayles caught up with the Morrison Bowmore master blender at Glen Garioch distillery

Vodka really is the chameleon of the spirits world. Lucy Britner uncovers its many guises

Recruiting new consumers is the main challenge facing bitters, but the cocktail is there to help. Patience Gould reports

Robbie Bargh is head of the Gorgeous Group, which comes up with concepts for the hospitality business. Crucially, it also makes them happen. Christian Davis catches up with the ideas man

Cocktail-making can require an astonishing array of equipment. Lucy Britner consults the experts on what they really can’t do without

Sherry casks are pricey but offer malt whisky another dimension. Gavin D Smith reports

Diageo’s purchase of Indian drinks group United Spirits once again puts the spotlight on a true sleeping giant. Dominic Roskrow on a divided sector

Baijiu is the world’s biggest spirit with the world’s biggest consumer base. It is already international but can it broaden its appeal to western palates? Hamish Smith reports

Patrick van Zuidam is one of the new generation of Dutch distillers for whom quality is paramount. Christian Davis visits

Spain may be Old World but it is arguably the least Old World of the major wine producing countries. Christian Davis reports

In Spain it’s treated with a reverential respect which has hitherto not been apparent in other gin strongholds – but now the G&T is under the spotlight. Patience Gould reports

Lucy Britner provides the definitive lowdown on cocktail culture

Japanese shochu is seeking broader shores, and interest from restaurants and cocktail bars outside its homeland are providing hope. Hamish Smith talks to the purveyors of this unusual distillate

Soju is little-known outside its birthplace, Korea, but Hamish Smith senses a sea-change

Hamish Smith travels to Argentina and finds that economic policy is steering the direction of the country’s wine industry

American whiskey is being revolutionised by a rampant craft distilling industry – but will new brands enhance or damage the US’s reputation for quality, asks whiskey writer Dominic Roskrow

Diageo's Johnnie Walker was the world's best selling scotch whisky in 2012, with 18.9 million 9-litre case sales, a 5% increase on 2011.

Lucy Britner delves into the murky past of gin to catalogue its beginnings and see how far it has come – and where it might end up

It’s come a long way and there’s still plenty of opportunity for vodka to develop. Ian Wisniewski investigates the options

It’s a widely underestimated component of the classic gin mix, but tonic water is gaining ground when it comes to premiumisation. Hamish Smith reports

Production of Cognac is limited by its geography and its vineyards, so how is it coping with increasing demand? Hamish Smith investigates

The cocktail remains central to liqueurs action and, for producers, keeping their brand relevant is a number one priority. Patience Gould reports

Hamish Smith hooks up with self-styled global rum ambassador Ian Burrell in Venezuela

Lucy Britner looks into the growing phenomenon of the spirit that’s definitely not gin

There’s a whiff of uprising in Bordeaux’s middle classes. Hamish Smith reports