Brands Report 2021: Tonic water
Fever-Tree has been named the number one tonic brand for the seventh year running and after a flurry of arrivals in recent years, the category is looking a little more settled. It’s always been the one mixer a bar can’t do without and in 2020, true to type, every bar polled stocked tonic water.
The Brands Report 2021 launches
The Drinks International Annual Brands Report 2021 has launched.
Ceder’s to launch digital campaign to promote responsible drinking
Non-alcoholic spirit brand Ceder's has announced a digital programme designed to promote health and wellness.
Jordan Henderson teams up with Budweiser for Dry January
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, former NBA star Dwyane Wade and UFC legend Georges St-Pierre are among the athletes promoting Budweiser Zero this month.
The Drinks Trust support funds hit £1.2m in 2020
In 2020, The Drinks Trust provided support to nearly 5,000 beneficiaries through both wellness services and financial aid which surpassed £1m in total.
Vermouth Day launched to champion the category
Renowned bartender and vermouth producer Giancarlo Mancino has created the world’s first Vermouth Day to celebrate the fortified wine.
Diageo rolls out advanced health warnings on key brands
Diageo is rolling out voluntary enhanced health warnings on bottles of Smirnoff, Gordon’s, Baileys and Captain Morgan as part of its broader responsible drinking campaign.
Glenmorangie unveils technicolour brand campaign
Glenmorangie has reimagined six everyday experiences as wonderful moments for a new campaign shot by celebrated photographer Miles Aldridge.
Amstel trains focus on China
Heineken has unveiled plans to make Amstel one of the bestselling beer brands in the Chinese market.
Kingfisher brewer adapts to new trading conditions
Kingfisher has launched a 6x33cl can format in time for the festive trading period as it bids to ramp up off-trade sales.
Master of Malt moves into own-label spirits
Online retailer Master of Malt has unveiled its first own-label spirits range comprising a gin, vodka, rum and blended Scotch.
Thomas Lowndes 1826 premixed cocktail range launches
Edrington Beam Suntory has launched a range of premixed cocktails designed to bring high-quality on-trade experiences into shoppers’ homes.
US spirits industry applauds UK for suspending retaliatory tariffs
The US spirits industry has applauded the UK’s decision to suspend retaliatory tariffs on American rum, brandy and vodka once it leaves the EU on January 1.
Irish whiskey trade group names new chairman
Tullamore DEW brand ambassador John Quinn has been named the new chairman of trade group Drinks Ireland | Irish Whiskey Association.
Equal Measures and The Mixing Class launch hospitality diversity project
Equal Measures and The Mixing Class have come together on a project aimed at increasing the diversity of the UK hospitality industry.
Campari Group suffers malware attack
Campari Group has revealed that some of its personal and business data has been compromised after it suffered a targeted ransomware attack.
Churchill's launches digital port club
Boutique producer Churchill’s has launched a direct-to-consumer port club targeting the UK market.
Diageo launches The Balance Challenge to promote responsible drinking
Diageo has launched an Instagram filter that encourages social media users to moderate alcohol consumption by switching to water instead.
Portman Group announces new chief executive
The Portman Group has announced that Matt Lambert will replace John Timothy as chief executive in January 2021.
Welsh hospitality faces alcohol ban and 6pm curfew
The Welsh hospitality industry is to face tougher restrictions on trade with a ban on the sale of alcohol and its curfew brought forward to 6pm.
IWSR predicts 42% global rise in ecommerce in 2020
According to new research released by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the value of alcohol ecommerce is forecast to increase by 42% this year, across 10 core markets, to reach US$24bn.
Tequila and mezcal bar 400 Rabbits in Nottingham, England has applied for its business to become a religion in order to stay open during lockdown.
China imposes 212% tariff on Australian wine
China has slapped a 212% tariff on Australian wine as diplomatic tensions between the two nations continue to mount.
Anne Le Naour: Interview with CA Grands Crus Executive Director
Drinks International caught up with Anne Le Naour, executive director at CA Grands Crus, to find out how the business has adapted to the challenging trading conditions of 2020.
Kojima Sohonten switchs to junmai sake production
Kojima Sohonten, the 13th oldest existing sake brewery founded in 1597, has changed its entire range to junmai (pure rice) sake.
Captain Tom launches charity gin
British national treasure Captain Sir Tom Moore has teamed up with Otterbeck Distillery in Yorkshire to launch a gin.
Bring Your Bar Home app launches in cocktail delivery sector
A new app called ‘Bring Your Bar Home’ has launched as the UK’s first cocktail takeaway and delivery guide which is personalised to your location.
Campari UK pleads companies donate unused Xmas party budgets
Campari UK has urged companies to donate a suggested 5% from their unused Christmas party budgets to its hospitality worker relief fund Shaken Not Broken.
Mermaid achieves Net Zero sustainability status
UK gin and vodka brand Mermaid has achieved Net Zero status after a year of being plastic-free.
London bar lands pre-batched cocktails deal with Coca-Cola
North London bar Ladies & Gents has created a range of 70s-style cocktails in partnership with Halewood and Coca-Cola.
Master of Malt relaunches #WhiskySanta campaign
Online retailer Master of Malt aims to spread some much-needed festive cheer by relaunching its popular #WhiskySanta promotion.
Wine.com reports 217% revenue increase
Leading US online retailer Wine.com has reported a 217% year-on-year revenue increase for the six months to September 30.
Diageo pledges to be carbon neutral and improve ethnic diversity by 2030
Diageo has unveiled a 10-year action plan designed to achieve net zero carbon emissions across all direct operations and boost ethnic diversity in the leadership team.
Martin Miller's Winterful celebrates the brand's 20th anniversary
Drinks International caught up with Martin Miller’s new brand ambassador to learn more about the brand’s new seasonal gin.
Naked Wines' James Crawford reflects upon H1 results
Drinks International caught up with Naked Wines’ chief financial officer James Crawford to discuss the firm’s impressive H1 results.
Sexy Fish cocktail menu set to dazzle customers
London hotspot Sexy Fish has unveiled a new cocktail book and menu called Surrealism to celebrate its fifth birthday.
Naked Wines revenues increase 79.6%
Naked Wines enjoyed 79.6% revenue growth in the six months to September 28 after demand for online wine purchases soared during the lockdown.
Hofmeister secures investment from beer industry veterans
The former managing directors of Greene King and Ei Group have invested in Hofmeister after growing excited by its potential to take the world beer category by storm.
Guinness forced to recall alcohol-free beer just two weeks after launch
Diageo has issued a product recall notice for Guinness 0.0 after revealing that a microbiological contamination may have left cans “unsafe to consume”.
IWSR forecasts alcohol industry to perform better than expected in 2020
The global drinks industry will enjoy a better than expected performance in 2020 as a result of dynamism in ecommerce and retail, according to new IWSR forecasts.
Trade coalition pleads against further EU tariffs on US spirits
A coalition of 20 trade associations representing the US, EU and UK wine and spirits sectors have warned against the introduction of new tariffs.
Bars and restaurants in the US added 192,000 jobs in October
Restaurants and bars in the US added 192,000 jobs in October, according to a new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The United Arab Emirates relaxes laws on alcohol
On Saturday, the United Arab Emirates announced new laws removing punishments for the consumption, sales and possession of alcohol for those 21 and over.
Bruce Jack discusses South African wine trade's challenges
Renowned South African winemaker Bruce Jack speaks to Drinks International about the challenges the industry has faced this year and its future prospects.
Rueda ramps up focus on exports
The Rueda wine region plans to significantly ramp up its focus on export markets after overhauling its Denomination of Origin regulations.
Caporale's ZEO hits UK market
New non-alcoholic spirit brand ZEO, which has been created in partnership with bartender Simone Caporale, has launched into the UK market.
Quintessential Brands promotes James Lousada to chief executive
Leading gin producer Quintessential Brands has promoted James Lousada to the role of chief executive.
DI's Global Bar Edition launches
Drinks International's Global Bar Edition, which includes the official guide to The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020, has launched in digital form.
Connaught triumphs at World's 50 Best Bars
London’s Connaught Bar has taken the crown at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020, ending its 10-year wait for the industry’s most coveted prize.
Milestone Beverages eyes expansion across Asia Pacific
Joe Milner's Milestone Beverages has been driving expansion through Asia, and it is now eyeing new markets. Martin Green hears how the company plans to move forward.