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.

Premium spirits are continuing to boost the UK on-trade market despite Smirnoff Red Label topping the value charts, according to the William Grant & Sons market report for 2017.

The value of premium spirits has grown nearly 10% in the UK according to the William Grant & Sons market report for 2017.

Pernod Ricard UK has announced that Philip Ainsworth, current marketing director of Wyborowa Pernod Ricard, has been made its new marketing director.

Monteru Brandy has become the first French spirit brand to finish a product in a Japanese Mizunara Oak cask.

The Teeling Whiskey Company has announced that from September 1, Teeling whiskey will now be imported into the US through Bacardi.

Diageo has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Casamigos, a US super-premium tequila brand founded by Hollywood star George Clooney, for $1bn.

Chivas Regal has revealed the 15 national winners who will compete at the Chivas Masters Global Final taking place in Tokyo from July 1-5.

Indian Whiskey brand Bangalore Malt is the world’s fastest growing spirit with 82% growth, according to Drinks International’s Millionaires’ Club 2017.

Diageo Reserve, the luxury portfolio of Diageo, has appointed Canadian mixologist Lauren Mote as its global cocktailian – the first of its type in the industry – to build a relationship between the Reserve business and the wider luxury industry.

Dave Steward and Matt Mckee have set up a new sales, distribution and marketing agency called Magnetic Brands aimed at the premium spirits market.

Jamie Jones of The Social Company has been named Diageo Reserve GB’s World Class Bartender of the Year 2017 following a two-day final held at The Mondrian, London.

Pernod Ricard, has announced that it has signed an agreement to take a majority stake in Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, said to be the leading producer of artisanal, hand-crafted mezcals and the number one mezcal brand in the US.

British Bartender Jonathan Arthur has won the global final of Courvoisier Toast of Paris 2017, a cocktail competition focused on the Cognac category.

Global Brands has launched Crooked Beverage Co, a range of alcoholic sodas which are the first of its kind to UK on and off-trade markets.

White Heron Drinks founder Jo Hilditch has successfully trademarked her UK blackcurrant liqueur, British Cassis prior to global expansion.

Drinks International features writer and columnist Dominic Roskrow has been honoured in the prestigious international Gourmand Culinary Awards at an awards ceremony in Yantai Wine Bay, China.

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese residents witnessed Ran Van Ongevalle of Belgium lift the Bacardi Legacy trophy in Berlin last week via an entourage of mobile phones broadcasting the live final across the world.

Ran Van Ongevalle has been named the 2017 Bacardi Legacy champion in Berlin with his Clarita cocktail.

More than 200,000 Chinese residents tuned in to the Taiwan and China performances in the semi-final of the Bacardi Legacy cocktail competition in Berlin.

Global rum ambassador Ian Burrell has praised the standard of competition after the opening day of semi-finals of the Bacardi Legacy cocktail competition in Berlin.

BrewDog has launched a new spirits range called LoneWolf which will be available in all BrewDog bars and online.

Spirits company William Grant & Sons UK has appointed Neil Barker as commercial director.

Tickets have been released for the sixth annual Distillers’ City Debate on Tuesday 16 May 2017 at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, London.

WSTA chief executive officer Miles Beale believes the UK can use Brexit to boost spirit export numbers after 45 new distilleries emerged in 2016.

Dutch distiller, Toorank, has announced a full rebrand and new corporate name, Dutch Spirits.

Owner of Reàl, American Beverage Marketers, has teamed up with drinks consultant Giuseppe Gallo to create Bon Vivant Tonic Syrup.

US body the Distilled Spirits Council has launched a campaign to make April ‘Alcohol Awareness Month’, aimed at reminding adult consumers in the US to embrace moderation year-round.

Bacardi Limited has been named among the 100 most reputable companies in the world in Forbes magazine for the fifth year in a row.

Bombay Sapphire wants to ‘demonstrate a leadership role’ in the gin industry with the launch of Star of Bombay.

Armagnac Academies will make its debut in San Francisco on May 22 to educate members of the trade.

ZECA Cachaca will unveil its new hybrid sugarcane varieties at the Brazilian embassy in London on April 11.

Funkin is expanding its range of cocktail mixers with the addition of Funkin Bramble this month, bringing the classic English cocktail to the on-trade in an "easy-to-use" format. 

Diageo has unveiled the fourth John Walker & Sons Private Collection expression.

Diageo has said that a weak pound would not see immediate changes in its prices.

The Distilled Spirits Council has said it looks forward to working with the Trump administration to expand access for US agricultural exports, including distilled spirits, in foreign markets.  

The Drinks International Annual Bar Report looks to gauge the buying habits of the best bars in the world by conducting a survey of their owners, head bartenders and bar managers.

Freya, billed as the UK's first birch sap spirit, will launch this November.

Berlin Convent Berlin received record numbers of visitors this month, taking in 11,604 trade professionals over two days, an increase of 15% on last year.

Leaders of the global drinks industry assembled in Berlin on October 10 to discuss the future of the industry. Here is a selection of what was said. 

France’s Jennifer Le Nechet has been crowned the world’s best bartender at the World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final 2016, the first female bartender to win the award.

Copenhagen By The Glass launches next month, in collaboration with Copenhagen Cooking and Food Festival.

Gruppo Montenegro, the owner of Amaro Montenegro and Vecchia Romagna brandy, has finalised exclusive distribution agreements in the Italian market for Jose Cuervo, the world’s number-one tequila, Bushmills, Irish whiskey, The Kraken Black Spiced rum and Boodles British gin.

Hamish Smith gives us his take on the spirits market – things look better than last year but it’s far from plain sailing.

The Millionaires' Club, Drinks International's report on the largest selling spirits brands, is now available to download.

Drinks International's annual league of million-case brands returns. Here is a list of the world's best-selling Soju brands in 2015.

Drinks International's annual league of million-case brands returns. Here is a list of the world's best-selling Bitter brands in 2015.

Drinks International's annual league of million-case brands returns. Here is a list of the ones to watch for next year.

A rundown of the companies with the most million-case brands in the Millionaires' Club 2016.

Drinks International's annual league of million-case brands returns. Here is a list of the world's fastest growing brands in 2015.