Market research exists in the short term, but reviewing past research projects can uncover trends relevant to the future, says Bryan Urbick of Consumer Knowledge Centre.

Lucy Britner probes cocktail experts on how to track trends and succeed in competitions

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

Vodka can be all things to all people. Christian Davis reports on the premiumisation of the most global of spirits

Popularity comes with a price for the agave plant. Lucy Britner puts tequila under the microscope

Portugal has no shortage of great wines to offer the world, but its challenge lies in communicating the message. Hamish Smith reports

The 2012 vintage is down more than 20% in places, but the Kiwis are happy to try to strike a balance between demand and supply. Christian Davis reports

Hamish Smith unravels the complex politics of a diverse spirit

Joe Bates talks to global brand director James Slack about Chivas Regal’s biggest duty free exclusive launch in the brand’s history

ISC judge and distiller Patrick van Zuidam looks at how liqueurs will be flavouring the next decade

Lucy Britner finds Spain’s best-known wine region is flying the flag for its country with exports up and investment sound

With ProWein 2013 in mind, Thomas Brandl finds out how winemakers in central and south-eastern Europe have made efforts to modernise and become more competitive.

Described by some as the Heston Blumenthal of drinks, Tony C has under his care 69 Colebrooke Row and Zetter Townhouse. Lucy Britner caught up with him at his Drink Factory

Despite reports of champagne’s struggle to keep cases sales up, Lucy Britner finds that the world has far from fallen out of love with France’s famous export

Christian Davis looks at the latest developments in the great debate over cork versus synthetics

Lucy Britner mixes with the best

Cider – and its many variants – continues to capture the imaginations of consumers. But does it have worldwide appeal? Hamish Smith gets to the core of the issue

Armagnac is arguably the closest spirit to wine in terms of provenance, raw materials and the outlook of the growers, producers and brand owners. Christian Davis reports

Gin is trading on the complexities of its flavour profile to cash in on the cocktail boom. Patience Gould finds a booming super-premium sector

With Irish whiskey proving a global smash, Hamish Smith looks into the growth plans of the big four players

Lucy Britner on livening up tequila

Despite a strong peso, consumers are prepared to pay the price for quality Chilean wine. Christian Davis reports

Asian beer hopes to reverse the trend of beverages tending to head east. Hamish Smith reports on efforts to break out of the box

Beaujolais sees an appellation change. Hamish Smith is there to find out

Hamish Smith takes a closer look at a much-touted travel retail launch

Hamish Smith takes a closer look at a much-touted travel retail launch

The world’s first female master blender, Joy Spence, is a chemist, philanthropist and all-round spirited raconteur. Jaq Bayles meets the architect of Jamaica’s best-known rums

Asian demand for whisky has boosted investment in Scotland, says Lucy Britner

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 

Tesco has moved one of its champagnes to lightweight bottles, but should other brands follow suit? James Boulton of Claessens International explores whether champagne producers can embrace sustainability without damaging their products’ premium status

With all the bans on absinthe now lifted, the traditional French and Swiss producers are now free to re-invent the category for the 21st century. Hamish Smith investigates

The market for whisky in India is huge, but local brands have the lion’s share due to the exorbitant import tariffs. Christian Davis reports

Ronnie Cox cut his whisky-selling teeth in the often inhospitable environment of 1980s Latin America. Hamish Smith meets the Berry Bros charmer

The category is densely populated and very competitive in the mainstream, but there are rich pickings to be had as liqueurs gain a new status. Patience Gould reports

German wines are world class but they are predominately white and the world wants red. It is a niche player in terms of volume, so how is it doing, asks Christian Davis

Luxury drinks brands are managing to make the recession work for them, top global designers tell Lucy Britner

The South American spirit may have failed to make much international impact in its 450-year history, but a new generation of producers are determined to change all that, finds Hamish Smith

If the name’s Grant and the place is Scotland, the chances are the game’s whisky. Lucy Britner meets a Grant at Glenfarclas

Consumers in Australia’s top two export markets are abandoning its wines for cheaper alternatives leaving producers wondering if Asia will grow big enough to compensate for US and UK declines. By Graham Holter

Although vodka can be mixed with anything and everything, producers in eastern and central Europe prefer the light touch when it comes to cocktails. Patience Gould checks out the action...

It’s not just about the spirit when it comes to making great cocktails. Jaq Bayles celebrates the other essential elements

Brazil’s national spirit is confined mostly to its own country’s shores. But Hamish Smith unearths a number of factors that look about to change all that