Whyte & Mackay has appointed Jonathan Driver as the company’s rare whisky director.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has acknowledged SABMiller's announcement that AB InBev has made an approach to merge the two companies.

Diageo has launched its "largest ever” global marketing campaign for Johnnie Walker.

The South African wine industry has reached a "tipping point", according to Michael Jordan, chairman of Wines of South Africa, speaking at Cape 2015. 

The UK alcohol market has returned to growth following years of continuous decline, according to the latest WSTA market report. 

First minister Nicola Sturgeon will officially open Chivas Brothers’ £25m Dalmunach Distillery on the banks of the River Spey today.

Rob McPherson, former president of Bacardi Canada, has urged Facundo Bacardi not to “let Bacardi go off the cliff”. 

London Wine Week injected more than £50,000 into the capital’s hospitality industry as 8,000 visitors and more than 6,000 wristband wearers embraced London’s ‘thriving wine scene’ last week. 

Stock Spirits Group has warned of an ‘extremely weak’ first quarter in a trading statement released ahead of its annual general meeting today. 

Diageo and DFS Group have opened the latest Johnnie Walker House retail showcase in Singapore Changi Terminal 3.

Majestic Wines has shocked the UK wine trade by buying Rowan Gormley’s Naked Wines and appointing him as CEO of the enlarged Majestic.

Diageo will launch seven products across six brands into the UK on-and off-trade this summer. 

Funkin is expanding its range of single batch syrups with two new flavours, ginger and earl grey. 

Brown-Forman has announced the appointment of veteran employee Marshall Farrer to global travel retail managing director. 

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.