Pisco pack leaders
Divided across two nations, pisco is badly in need of leaders to take it into the wider world.
Change for Chilean wine
Women winemakers in Chile are working with a shifting climate and diversifying the country’s portfolio in the process.
What is B Corp?
Environmental and social responsibility have become essential to business, and achieving the highest standard possible involves hard work, Drinks International sits down with Tim Etherington-Judge to talk B Corp.
TFWA Asia Pacific: confidence in Asia
This month’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition takes place at a time of rebirth for the region’s travel retail business after years of Covid-related misery.
Uncle Nearest: creating a legacy
The uncovering of a family history has led to one of the biggest success stories in American whiskey history.
Scotch comes at a price
Scotland's whisky-making industry has been hard hit by many external factors – not least the UK’s Spring Budget.
Bushmills new distillery: cause to celebrate
Bushmills’ new distillery has opened up a world of possibilities both for production levels and the creation of exciting Irish whiskey expressions.
Crémant ready to pop
Crémant shares many similarities with French cousin champagne – but price isn’t one of them. Shay Waterworth reports on how the wine is growing.
Mixers step up the pace
Premium tonic and fellow mixers have grabbed consumer attention rapidly in recent years, and have been subject to much innovation, Shay Waterworth seeks out the latest trends.
Cocktail bitters: the small but mighty ingredient
They may only be needed in tiny drops, but bitters are a crucial element for many cocktails. Eleanor Yates looks at how the market is growing post-covid.
Faustino embarks on major development
The Rioja producer has announced plans for a new visitor centre that will showcase its commitment to sustainability.
Cognac future rapped up
One sector of popular music seems fixated on the spirit and is helping introduce new consumers to the sector. but it’s not all plain sailing.
Americas travel retail rebounds after Covid-19
The travel retail industry calendar moves on to the Americas and Summit of the Americas in Florida. Joe Bates reports on a region rebounding strongly after covid, but which does face challenges.
Soderbergh directs singani to a win
Steven Soderbergh has dipped into the oceans of spirits and secured his favourite Bolivian drink its own classification.
Wine auction raises €3.6m
Historic event supported by Maison Edouard Delaunay nets record amount for Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Women’s History Month with Uncle Nearest
To mark Women’s History Month, Drinks International caught up with female powerhouse Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey to look at its success in the traditionally male dominated space that is the whisk(e)y industry.
When UK chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his 2023 budget in the House of Commons, how you received it might’ve depended on your preferred tipple.
Rum moves to sustainability
Despite the challenges posed by its production methods, the sugarcane spirit is serious about a commitment to a greener future.
Native corn key to Mexican whisky
There’s a new kid on the block in Mexico. Corn whisky is seeing a fair bit of growth as its potential is becoming recognised.
Ribero del Duero: Extreme efforts
With greatly varying temperatures and a wide variety of soil types, Ribero del Duero winemakers have to be forward thinking.
How best to scale mezcal?
It’s had a meteoric rise of late, but is mezcal becoming a victim of its own success?
GI holds back Irish pot still
Irish whiskey producers are looking for a change to regulations in order to allow the style to flourish.
Gin shines brightly in travel retail
Gin may have fallen out of favour in the UK, but its prospects are much brighter in travel retail.
ProWein preview
Shay Waterworth takes a look at what can be expected from this year’s leading international wine and spirits trade show in Düsseldorf.
Peru reaches new heights with spirits
The South American country has been making waves with its cuisine in recent years. and now drinks producers are getting in on the act, says Sorrel Moseley-Williams.
Wildfires devastate Chile vines
Sorrel Moseley-Williams reports on how wine producers are coping following the recent disaster in their ancient vineyards.
Andrea Montague head of advocacy at Edrington UK: “The best educators are our bartenders”
Flävar’s Rolf Munding talks Swedish Schnapps and expansion plans
Swedish schnapps brand, Flävar, recently reached 100k bottles sold since launching in the UK on-trade in May 2022. Drinks International caught up with Rolf Munding, owner of Market Taverns Group, whose latest venture, Flävar, plans to grow its European presence this year.
Scottish drinks face restriction
The possibility of a clampdown on alcohol promotions has ruffled feathers in Scotch whisky quarters.
Baijiu evolves
Largely misunderstood outside of its domestic market, baijiu could be finding new routes to globalisation.
Rhum agricole seeking a new audience
Producers need to switch up their educational efforts around the sugarcane spirit to broaden its appeal.
Growth ahead for mixers
New markets are emerging for premium mixers and providing major expansion opportunities.
Bordeaux struggles
With red wine consumption dropping, the region’s producers face tough challenges.
Liqueurs: the main event
Liqueurs have long been in the shadow of spirits, but their role in modern day mixology should not be underestimated.
China’s about-face on Covid fires travel retail optimism
China’s great reopening has injected much-needed optimism into the travel retail business at the start of 2023, but over in the Middle East Dubai’s duty free business has been dealt an unexpected regulatory blow.
What makes a classic cocktail?
The Hi-Spirits Classic Cocktail Competition, as the name suggests, is all about the classics. inspired by Jake Burger’s book, An Anthology of 12 Classic Cocktails, the comp calls on bartenders to create twists and classics – a subject which judge Clinton Cawood wanted to explore further by sitting down with Burger.
Soju breaks new ground
Hite Jinro is working to bring South Korea’s beloved spirit to the rest of the world, Shay Waterworth talks to the company’s overseas market managing director.
Christian Barré on Havana Club’s premium potential
As a long-standing brand, Havana Club has built up a large inventory, allowing it to target the growing ultra-premium end of rum while still offering value and trade-up.
Defending 'nice' whisky writers
A response to the notion that 'without criticism there is only marketing', by DI editor Shay Waterworth.
Two Drifters’ Gemma Wakeham: “There has to be accountability for sustainability goals”
Since Devon-based husband-and-wife team Russ and Gemma Wakeham launched the carbon-negative Two Drifters rum in 2019, the brand has gone from strength to strength – despite not necessarily doing things the easy way.
Armagnac branches out
Oli Dodd finds foreign investment is helping to increase awareness of a pretty niche spirit.
Herbal Bitters: covering all bases
Spanning a wide spectrum of flavours, bitters is well placed to attract new consumers with variations on existing brands.
Indian whisky booms
While looming economic uncertainty may be jangling some nerves, for now, premiumisation is driving strong growth both domestically and abroad.
Top-end producers face mixed future
A recent IWSR report suggests that premium-plus producers are in for an economic rollercoaster.
Dan Gasper: ardent incubator advocate
Known for his time with Distill Ventures, Dan Gasper now has a new business stateside. He shares his vision for the company with Shay Waterworth.
What the future holds
The IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has provided its insight into the future of the industry’s biggest trends. the eight listed have been key to shaping the industry in recent times, but now they’re being moulded and twisted by current events and global issues.
Plastic push for wine
It’s got a bad rep for many reasons, but one winery owner thinks plastic is the way forward for more sustainable bottling.
China takes new approach to Covid-19
As the Chinese government abandons its zero-Covid policy, Joe Bates analyses what the sudden shift in policy means for Hainan’s rapidly growing duty free business.
Cava’s quality restructure
There’s been a boom in sales for the Spanish sparkler, and as more producers adopt recently introduced regulation there’s the promise of more interesting wines to come.
A rummage through rum styles
As rum grows, diversification is inevitable. Clinton Cawood reports on the innovations in style.