Leading bourbon producer Jim Beam has given the beleaguered travel retail sector a vote of confidence by launching an exclusive expression into the channel.

The Balvenie has released the seventh limited-edition bottling of its renowned and highly collectible Tun 1509 series.

Galaxy Bar in Dubai has been named this year’s Campari One to Watch by the World’s 50 Best Bars.

The winners of the International Spirits Challenge 2020 Awards will be announced via a live presentation on various social media channels at 8pm GMT on October 28.

Several spirits brands will be featured at the first ever virtual expo hosted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency on November 17-18.

Irish Distillers has unveiled the final whiskey created by outgoing master distiller Brian Nation during his final days in the role.

Legendary Adelaide Hills winemaker Taras Ochota has died after a long battle with illness.

The beer, wine and spirits category remained the star performer in the UK retail sector as it enjoyed 17% growth in the four weeks to October 3.

Nautilus Estate winemaker Clive Jones has been elected chair of the board at New Zealand Winegrowers.

Maybe Sammy in Sydney has been named the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award as part of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020.

Eighteen trade associations have joined forces to call for an immediate elimination of the retaliatory tariffs that the US and EU have imposed upon spirits, wine and beer.

Jack Daniel’s has announced that Chris Fletcher will take over from the outgoing Jeff Arnett as master distiller of the Tennessee whiskey brand.

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has described the First Minister’s measures announced on October 7 as “devastating” for the industry with the fallout being hundreds of business closures and thousands of job losses.

Winemakers Joao Pires and Matt Gant have collaborated on a range that exhibits levels of freshness, acidity and elegance rarely seen in the Douro.

Compass Box has marked its 20th anniversary by releasing a limited-edition expression that pays tribute to the whisky that originally launched the brand.

Venezuelan producer Diplomatico is targeting rum connoisseurs with a new high-end expression called Selección de Familia.

Mocktails Brands has appointed Craftwork as its UK distributor in a bid to ramp up sales of its premixed alcohol-free cocktails among British consumers.

Welsh whisky producer Penderyn is ending its distribution arrangement with Halewood and setting up its own in-house supply business.

Cask Liquid Marketing has expanded its portfolio with Tayēr RTD bottled cocktails by Monica Berg and Alex Kratena.

Japanese gin brand 135°EAST is targeting export growth after joining the Marussia Beverages portfolio.

Some of the world’s leading drinks brands are celebrating after securing trophies and gold medals at the 2020 Travel Retail Awards.

Diageo stock enjoyed its best session since March after chief executive Ivan Menezes issued a positive trading update ahead of the firm’s annual meeting.

England cricket legend Darren Gough has officially launched his eagerly anticipated Care for Wild wine range in partnership with Freixenet Copestick.

Red Storm and Ocean Storm have been withdrawn from the market after The Gin Guild threatened legal action against the producer for incorrectly labelling them as “gin”.

Germany’s first rye whiskey distillery has teamed up with export agency Proof Strength in a bid to boost its presence in various markets around the world.

AB InBev will spend $200,000 annually over a five year commitment to help black students qualify for careers in brewing.

London Cocktail Week founders Siobhan Payne and Hannah Sharman-Cox have emphasised the importance of the festival this year given the imposed hospitality curfews from the UK government.

The Whisky Exchange has stopped selling Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible  as the backlash against his “sexist” reviews continues to gather pace.

The Scottish Hospitality Group has dammed the scheduled introduction of a 10pm curfew for bars and restaurants in Scotland from Friday 25 September.

UK bar owners have lashed back at the introduction of a 10pm curfew by the British government on 22 September.

The Glenturret has unveiled a new core range as it plans to launch in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and New Zealand next month.

Alcohol free beer and cider specialist Drynks Unlimited has secured an additional £1 million investment in order to ramp up production.

Whisky writer Becky Paskin has criticised Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible for “sexist and vulgar” language that allows the objectification of women in whisky.

Ballantine’s has honoured its founder by launching a seven-year-old blend finished in bourbon barrels.

Heineken has entered the hard seltzer category with the launch of Pure Piraña in Mexico and New Zealand.

Trade show heavyweights Comexposium and Vinexpo have now officially joined forces to create a new company called Vinexposium.

Templeton Rye has released a limited-edition Caribbean Rum Cask Finish expression into the domestic and export markets.

India, one of the largest spirits consuming and producing countries in the world, has never had it easy when it comes to the matter of alcohol.

UK retailers enjoyed soaring sales of Champagne and sparkling wine as the country basked in warm weather during the four weeks to September 5.

Three bartenders have surged through to the British regional final of Diageo’s World Class mixology competition after impressing judges with their portable cocktail creations.

Berg tops 2020 Bar World 100

10 September, 2020

Monica Berg of Tayer + Elementary has topped the list of Drinks International’s 2020 Bar World 100 with partner Alex Kratena coming second.

The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be unveiled as part of a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, 5th November.

Judges at the International Spirits Challenge hailed the overall quality standards on display within the whisky category after issuing a remarkable medal tally.

Halewood has opened a £5 million distillery in St. Petersburg in order to boost production of its J.J. Whitley vodka.

Jack Daniel’s master distiller Jeff Arnett is stepping down after a 20-year career at the world-famous American whiskey producer.

Accolade Wines has acquired the historic Katnook Estate in Coonawarra from Wingara Wine Group.

Australian winemakers look set to receive just $20,000 of the $2 million they are owed after The Wine Society plunged into administration.

A strong domestic performance ensured that Brown-Forman net sales decreased by just 2% year-on-year in the three months to July 31, 2020.

A new online resource is dedicated to shining a light on “wine talent in the black, Asian and minority ethnic communities”.

The Fynoderee Distillery in the Isle of Man has appointed Berle ‘Rusty’ Figgins Jnr as master distiller to lead its distillery operations.

Digital Edition

Drinks International digital edition is available ahead of the printed magazine. Don’t miss out, make sure you subscribe today to access the digital edition and all archived editions of Drinks International as part of your subscription.

Comment

La'Mel Clarke

Service isn’t servitude: the skill of hosting

La’Mel Clarke, front of house at London’s Seed Library, looks at the forgotten art of hosting and why it deserves the same respect as bartending.

Instagram

Facebook