The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced that all spirits duty will be cut by 2% in today’s Budget Statement.

The champagne shipments results released last week were in line with expectation and a cause for satisfaction, Comité Champagne told DI at the Annual Champagne tasting yesterday.

Maxxium UK has announced the appointment of Mark Riley as managing director. 

Pernod Ricard has announced a number of appointments that will see the current CEO of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët (MMPJ), Philippe Guettat, head Pernod Asia. 

International drinks company Quintessential Brands has appointed Jeremy Rockett managing director of Marblehead, its UK brand development company.

The gin category will be the focus of a new Drinks International event that takes place on February 9 at Merchant House in London.

Bombay Sapphire won Best Visitor Centre at the inaugural Drinks International Distillery Experience Awards.  

Whether for topping cocktails or sobering customers, bottled water is an indispensable part of the bar’s armoury.

Bacardi has announced the appointment of Dmitry “Dima” Ivanov, as Bacardi chief marketing officer and president of Bacardi Global Brands. 

Dutch spirits supplier Lucas Bols has announced plans to raise around €125 million by launching an Initial Public Offering and listing on Euronext Amsterdam. 

No brand dominates Brands Report like Fever-Tree does.  

Gin's the thing and it's a boutique bar brand that has got bartenders around the world all fired up.

Bacardi has redesigned its Martini Asti bottles as part of its sustainability initiatives. 

Jane Ellison MP will be questioned in the final evidence session of its House of Lords inquiry on the future of EU Alcohol Strategy this Wednesday (10 December). 

James E McCabe has announced UK partnership plans with MYX Fusions Moscato, the ready-to-drink brand co-owned by international popstar Nicki Minaj. 

Diageo has topped the Beverage sector of Management Today magazine’s annual Britain’s Most Admired Companies awards. 

Nicolas Feuillatte has announced plans to launch the champagne brand in India next year.

Diageo Reserve World Class is calling for British bartending talent for its seventh year. 

US rap star Shawn ‘Jay Z’ Carter has bought the Armand de Brignac Champagne brand. 

Diageo has agreed the full global ownership and control of tequila Don Julio with Casa Cuervo in exchange for Bushmills. 

Martini has invested approximately €10m on broadcast, print and digital marketing with a re-tweak of its design in the works. 

Pernod Ricard has posted organic growth of 2% with sales totalling €2,037 in the first quarter of 2014/15. 

Jameson has unveiled Jameson Barrel Aged Cocktails, a programme to encourage bartenders to broaden their understanding of cocktail making and Irish whiskey. 

Accolade Wines'  has released released two new additions to the Babycham range, cherry soda and cream soda. 

Diageo has announced the launch of its first TV advert for its single grain Scotch whisky Haig Club, directed by Guy Ritchie. 

Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff have once again earned a place on the Interbrand ranking of the top 100 most valuable global brands. 

Diageo has achieved Investors in Young People accreditation in recognition of its work with young people. 

The Sake Sommelier Association (SSA) and Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS) have announced the six semi-finalists of this year’s Sake Sommelier of the Year competition. 

Pernod Ricard is sending nine ‘young talents’ to the One Young World Summit in Dublin from 15-19 October. 

The threat posed by the influx of counterfeit goods to the luxury goods market will be discussed at TFWA World Exhibition & Conference 2014. 

The World's 50 Best Bars 2014 awards ceremony took place in London's Christ Church Spitafields yesterday (October 9). 

PDT has been named the All-Time Achiever of Drinks International’s World’s 50 Best Bars poll. 

Adnams has announced Karen Hester will join its main board as an executive director in April 2015. 

Artesian at the Langham Hotel has been named the world’s best bar for a third consecutive year at Drinks International’s World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in London. 

It’s that time of year again, from October 6 to 12 central London will be awash with cocktail creativity. Holly Motion takes a look at what’s on the menu 

Chivas Regal has launched The Venture - a global search for the ‘most promising’ social entrepreneurs. 

Beam Suntory has announced it has completed the organisational integration of Suntory Holdings’ spirits business. 

Introducing minimum unit pricing on alcohol in England would be up to 50 times more effective in tackling problems caused by cheap drink than the government’s recent policy of a ban on below cost selling, according to researchers from the University of Sheffield.

Mayfair Japanese restaurant Sake no Hana will celebrate International Sake Day with complimentary sake and exclusive masterclasses on October 1- 4.  

A fire has destroyed a previous The World’s 50 Best Bars ‘One to Watch’, Dvars in Amsterdam. 

Drinks International has announced the winners of the Travel Retail Awards. 

Chivas Brothers is to launch a Miltonduff edition of its Ballantine's 17 year old blended scotch. 

An Australian wine producer has announced that it has planted Greek vines that produce white wine grapes, Assyrtiko – a first for Australia.

The first book dedicated to Canadian whisky, according tohe publishers. So, not before time then.

Yes, it is that time of year: late summer/autumn when publishers start releasing books with an eye to the Christmas gifting market. Well, here’s one for anyone looking for either a coffee table book or an easy-to-read/glance at, authoritative book on whisky.

Michael Cox, has been installed as the 518^th Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners for the forthcoming year.

The International Orgisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) is to provide definitions for for beverages obtained by dealcoholisation of wine and beverages obtained by partial dealcoholisation of wine.

The general assembly of the of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV, has announced the election of Claudia Inés Quini, deputy head of research at the National Institute for Vitiviniculture of Argentina (INV), as its incoming president.

The UK government’s Work and Pensions Secretary and former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, is due to  announce today (May23) that “alcoholics rendered unable to work by their condition will face active intervention in their lives to make them clean and employable”.

UK: Children as young as 10 are more familiar with some leading alcohol brands and adverts than those for popular foods and snacks, according to a new report by Alcohol Concern.