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.
Record-breaking Hainan store opens doors
The world’s largest duty free store has opened on Hainan but what does the future hold for this fast-growing market?
Founder George Frost on the rise and rise of Duppy Share Rum
Duppy Share Rum has announced it has secured £2m in investment as the UK-based brand turns its sights to the US. Drinks International caught up with founder George Frost.
Sustaining Humanity
There’s more to sustainability than reducing fossil fuels and planting trees. Shay Waterworth looks at the human side and treating people better.
Rum of Sugarlandia
After a week in Sugarlandia with Don Papa, Eleanor Yates explores the history and production of Filipino rum.
Why did Brown-Forman buy Diplomático?
The timing of the acquisition is perfect, as the premium sector continues to gather pace. Oli Dodd reports.
Daiquiri: Evolution of a classic
It’s been around a long time, but the rum favourite is still constantly being reimagined, finds Shay Waterworth.
Ginger ale’s cool niche
Often overshadowed by its more intense cousin, ginger ale is piggy-backing on the rise in popularity of lower-abv serves.
Distill Ventures’ Frank Lampen on the Diageo acquisition of Mr Black
In September, Diageo acquired Australian cold brew coffee liqueur brand Mr Black from accelerator programme, Distill Ventures. Drinks International caught up with Frank Lampen, chief executive and co-founder of Distill Ventures to talk about the purchase and what’s next for the programme.
Cream liqueurs: whipping up enthusiasm
Cream liqueurs may have been a fairly stuck category for a while, but new players are introducing exciting options.
Limoncello conditions turn sour
Climate change and economic challenges are taking their toll on production of Italy's favourite digestif.
Mezcal Unión’s Toño Vilches on origins, growth, and unity
Mezcal has become a spirits category for the cool kids. But so much sudden attention on the agave spirit leaves its producers, which are often small-scale operations, and the slow-growing agave crop, open to exploitation.
Le Syndicat reaches for the stars
A project to show how chefs and bartenders can work together has resulted in a new menu for Le Syndicat. Co-founder Romain Le Mouëllic explains how it worked.
Tonic water adapts and thrives
Players big and small are benefiting from a rise in demand for premium products in this mixer category.
Aquavit: The new Mezcal?
Aquavit is being touted as a spirit that has all the ingredients for an explosion in popularity. Oli Dodd reports on the Nordic hero.