Holiday operator Virgin Holidays will send one British bartender to the Caribbean to swap grey skies for Jamaican sun.

Bacardi Global Travel Retail (GTR) has announced two senior team changes: Vinay Golikeri is promoted to managing director, GTR while Mike Birch will now focus entirely on Bacardi’s digital commerce business.

Bar owner and vodka expert William Borrell has launched Willow, a low-alcohol (4.4% abv) spirit.

New HMRC figures have revealed that England has more distilleries registered than Scotland for the first time in history.

When it comes to the bestsellers, the roster of classic cocktails is subject to the vagaries of fashion in tastes. Angel Brown rounds up this year’s top 50

Edrington has announced that chief executive officer Ian Curle is retiring in March and will be succeeded by Scott McCroskie, who is on the Edrington board and managing director of The Macallan.

The number of distillery businesses in the UK jumped 30% in a year from 131 in 2016, to 170 in 2017, says UHY Hacker Young, the national accountancy group.

Manhattan is hosting its first British Spirits and Sparkling Wine Week to increase awareness and drive sales of UK products in New York City.

Alexandrion Group, Romania’s largest spirits producer, has announced site plan approval by the planning board of the town of Carmel for the construction of its first US distillery in Mid-Hudson, Putnam County, NY.

Alex Carlton, founder of Funkin Cocktails has launched Stryyk, a new range of non-alcoholic spirits available in the UK.

Bacardi has announced that Amsterdam will be the host city of the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition Grand Final 2019.

Foursquare 2005 has become the first rum brand in history to win the Supreme Champion award at the International Spirits Challenge.

David Gosnell, the executive chairman of Bushmills Irish Whiskey, has been awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), in the Queen’s Birthday 2018 Honours List. 

Tortuga Brands is the name of a new UK-based sales, marketing and distribution agency drinks company, representing spirits brands in the on and off trade in the UK, as well as offering a wider global distributor network for brands.

Crown Cellars, the specialist wine and spirits division of Carlsberg UK, has launched an integrated spirits offering, Distilled.

Quintessential Brands Group has announced the appointment of Shane Hoyne as its new chief marketing officer.

Entries for the Diageo Reserve GB World Class Competition 2018 are now open and the Global Final will take place in Berlin later this year.

Hamish Smith takes the pulse of the top bars to discover which classics will be feeding into the mainstream

What are the top choices when it comes to making the classics? Hamish Smith reveals our poll’s favourites

It’s those brands that endure for the long haul that make it into the top tables each year. Hamish Smith tallies up this year’s winners and losers

Hamish Smith says it’s all about the big names when it comes to the classic fizz

Bottled water hasn’t lost its sparkle, but the names have barely changed. Shay Waterworth reports

It was inevitable that tonic water’s rise would continue to chase gin. Hamish Smith reports

Shay Waterworth asks whether the Peroni/Heineken cycle is on the verge of being broken.

It’s back in fashion and the big brands are the winners, says Hamish Smith

Italy’s the winner as bars fall back in love with vermouth, finds Hamish Smith

With so many players, this is a tough category where marketing is key, says Hamish Smith

Widely tipped to be the next big category, Rum has become a serious battleground, says Shay Waterworth

Diageo chief executive Ivan Menezes was answering questions at a special briefing for financial journalists and analysts, on its six month interim results (January 25, see web story).

Angostura’s wide distribution puts it in a class of its own, says Hamish Smith

Hamish Smith finds there’s one front-runner here that looks unstoppable

It’s all about top quality when it comes to Mexico’s finest, reports Shay Waterworth

There’s an exciting new entrant in this sector, reports Shay Waterworth

Now bitter is back as a consumer taste, bars are feeling the love for Campari, finds Hamish Smith

Hennessy dominates but brands with an Asian presence are gaining traction, says Hamish Smith

The previously unassailable Johnnie Walker could be showing signs of weakness, finds Hamish Smith

The growing Irish Whiskey category gets its first page to itself this year. Hamish Smith explains why

With Irish Whiskey stripped out, other countries get a chance to shine. Hamish Smith does the maths

Diageo’s Bulleit holds both top spots for the third year running. Shay Waterworth reports

Tanqueray tops the best sellers yet again, but Hendrick’s is making its mark. By Hamish Smith

There’s been little change in the best sellers, with the top brands all holding, says Hamish Smith

The Bartenders’ Choice list is the anomaly of the Brands Report - which otherwise deals in what’s selling best and what’s trending in bars - and instead looks at the spirits top bartenders personally prize.

What are the best selling spirits in the world's best bars? Drinks International has polled more than 100 of the world's top bars to find the answers.

Bacardi has announced that industry veteran Maurice Doyle, has rejoined the company as president - incubation brands and global commercial development.

Constellation Brands has announced the development of cannabis-based beverages after agreeing the acquisition of a minority stake in cannabis producer Canopy Growth Corporation.

The fourth edition of the Spirits Strategies Congress will take place in London on 31 October – 1 November 2017.

Researchers at the University of Manchester have developed the world’s first handheld device that can detect fake spirits inside bottles.

Diageo chief executive Ivan Menezes says that despite a late Chinese New Year and highway ban in India, the company is on course to hit its targets ahead of the 2017 annual general meeting.

Global beer and spirits brand, Diageo has reported a 25% increase in operating profit (£3.6bn) and a 15% increase in sales profit (£12.1bn) for the year ending 30 June 2017.

Rebecca Creek Distillery, one of the largest ‘craft’ distilleries in the US, has received a $15m investment by Dr. Henning Kreke, board chairman of Düsseldorf–based beauty retailer Douglas.