Anora has expanded its footprint in the Baltics by establishing Anora Lithuania, established on 13 November, with commercial operations set to commence in 2025.

Brown-Forman has announced that Campbell P. Brown will step down as chair of its board of directors in July.

Anora has completed the sale of its Swedish schnapps brand Snälleröds to Malmö-based beverage company Saturnus AB.

Following the success of his Champagne and rosé wines, actor Idris Elba announced the addition of Porte Noire Cognac to his growing portfolio.

Diageo has introduced a new global division to combine ‘luxury assets’ into one portfolio including brands such as Brora and Port Ellen.

Living Souls, a new Scottish spirits brand specialising in small batch and single cask releases, has announced its launch.

Hamish Smith provides the annual analysis of how this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars list has panned out by city and country

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has sounded an alarm over the potential return and doubling of the EU’s retaliatory tariff on American whiskey in a new report.

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), has announced the appointment of Regine Lee MW to its board of trustees.

New data from the IWSR, the global authority on beverage alcohol data and intelligence, has revealed the US beverage alcohol market continued to shrink in the first seven months of 2024, with volumes declining more than expected.

African Originals, the beverage company behind brands such as Kenyan Originals, African Originals and 5.8 has raised USD$2m in a funding round led by Phoenix Beverages Limited, Mauritius' largest beverage company. 

Diageo North America has announced its acquisition of Ritual Zero Proof Non-Alcoholic Spirits (Ritual).

Campari Group has acquired a minority stake in the owner of single malt whisky brand Bunnahabhain.

Suntory Oceania has begun production at its AU$400m manufacturing facility in Australia, to produce the company’s RTD brands from next year.

Campari Group chief executive, Matteo Fantacchiotti, has announced his resignation after only five months in the role.

Isle of Man drinks producer The Fynoderee Distillery is expanding its operations to mainland Europe in a move to boost the island’s growing food and drink sector.

Pernod Ricard has announced the acquisition of a minority stake in Almave, the non-alc blue agave-based spirit brand, co-founded by Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton and Casa Lumbre’s Iván Saldaña. 

Whisky Live Paris celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, returning to France’s capital with new addition to the 2024 show, The Agave Patio, paying tribute to the growing interest in the tequila and mezcal market. 

Toku Saké has announced the appointment of Enotria & Coe as its exclusive distributor in the UK.

US, Colorado-based Golden Moon distillery has ceased operations after 16 years, due to being unable to find a buyer for the business.

Anora has reached an agreement to acquire the Blomberg glögg brand, along with its recipes and intellectual property rights, from Orkla Denmark.

US-based whiskey brand Uncle Nearest has announced the acquisition of Square One Organic Spirits.

Wiltshire-based distillery Ramsbury, known for its London Dry Gin and Estate Vodka, has begun preparations to release English whiskies. 

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by German supermarket chain Aldi over a ruling made last year which stated the discounter copied Marks and Spencer’s festive gin bottle design.

Kirker Greer Spirits has announced its expansion into the Singaporean market from early spring, partnering with distributor The First Pour.

Ready-to-serve cocktail brand Whitebox Cocktails has partnered with brand-building agency, Artisan Spirits, to expand its international distribution.

Spirits distributor Speciality Brands is adding Takamaka to its rum portfolio, alongside signing an exclusive partnership with Chichibu Distillery, taking over from Speciality Drinks.

FoodNews Creative Marketing Agency is launching the first edition of the Spirit of Craft Awards (SOCraft Awards).

The Drinks Trust has launched its annual industry survey aimed at achieving a better understanding of the wider drinks industry and hospitality community.

Drinks importer and distributor, Paragon Brands, has announced its new role as the exclusive distributor of Zamora Company spirits and liqueurs in the UK.

Low and no continues to gain traction, with new players constantly appearing, although the mainstays are as last year.

Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery has secured a new funding package with specialist wine and spirits fintech Ferovinum, to support its domestic and international growth plans in 2024 and beyond.

The founder of Patrón Tequila, John Paul DeJoria, has reunited with the brand’s former leadership team and a former executive of Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits to launch a new Texas-based spirits company.

Drinks giant Diageo and rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have released a statement resolving all legal disputes between them.

Pernod Ricard has signed an agreement to sell Czech herbal liqueur Becherovka to Poland’s Maspex Group for an undisclosed sum.

Korean liquor giants, including Hite Jinro and Lotte Chilsung Beverage, are set to reduce the wholesale prices of their soju brands beginning next year.

Spirit of Gallo has announced it will distribute Korean soju brands Soonhari, Chum Churum and Saero in the US from January 2024, in partnership with Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co.

Ojo de Dios Mezcal has announced a partnership with Nightcap Brands as its official UK importer and sales agent.

A recent report by Allied Market Research has revealed that the global flavoured alcohol market is anticipated to generate $1.8 trillion by 2032, up from a $1.2 trillion market size in 2022.

Scottish non-alcoholic brewery, Jump Ship Brewing, has begun legal proceedings against brewery and pub chain, Brewdog, in an attempt to protect the name of one of its beers.

UK RTD brand Moth (Mix of Total Happiness) is launching in the US this week.

Drinks International can exclusively reveal that non-alcoholic spirits brand, Lyre’s, has appointed DJ David Guetta as global brand ambassador.

BrewDog Distilling Co has released its first ever rum casks for sale as part of an annual online auction with specialist spirits auctioneer, Whisky Hammer. 

Bartender Ryan ‘Mr Lyan’ Chetiyawardana is joining forces with Whitebox Cocktails, the ready-to-pour cocktail brand founded by bartenders, to release three of his most known serves in a canned format.

Formula One champion and entrepreneur Lewis Hamilton, alongside agave expert and Casa Lumbre co-founder and master distiller Iván Saldaña, have unveiled Almave, the inaugural distilled non-alcoholic blue agave spirit.

IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has released its RTDs Strategic Study 2023, which revealed the RTD category is expected to grow by 12% in volume between 2022 and 2027, achieving $40bn by 2027 across 10 key markets.

Don Julio producer Diageo, has announced two regenerative agriculture programmes across its tequila and Scotch brands in Mexico and Scotland.

Outcast Brands, the Dublin-based spirits company has announced the expansion of its global presence with the introduction of its Blood Monkey gins and Two Shores rums into seven new international markets.

Bacardi Limited has announced the completion of its acquisition of super-premium artisanal mezcal brand, Ilegal Mezcal.

House of Suntory has announced the launch of limited-edition Yamazaki and Hakushu expressions in celebration of its 100^th anniversary.