Producers throughout the Cognac region have major concerns that early budbreak, caused by an unprecedented warm spell in early April, could result in severe crop damage if night-time temperatures fall to freezing in the next few weeks.

Heinemann Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Germany-based duty free retailer and distributor Gebr Heinemann, has appointed Paul Topping to the role of director.

Indian distributor Radico Khaitan is to launch Japanese whiskies the Yamazaki 12 year old and Hibiki 17 year old in India.

Stock Spirits Group has appointed Waldemar Maj and Dominique Bach as non-executive directors.

Finlandia vodka, part of Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, has unveiled a new global packaging design dubbed ‘melting ice’.

Prosecco winery Follador has appointed World of Patria as its travel retail and duty free distribution partner.

Pernod Ricard has announced the sale of its minority shareholding in Suntory Holdings, which stands at around 1%.

Ian Macleod Distillers has appointed Danielle Murphy as business development manager at its Scotland-based sales team.

Stock Spirits recorded double-digit organic revenue growth and profit growth in 2010.

Prowein organiser Messe Düsseldorf has announced record attendance figures for the show held this week, 27-29 March 2011.

South African winery Linton Park has announced the launch of The Rhino of Linton Park range.

Russian Distiller has launched two new ‘bread wines’, Rye Polugar and Rye Malt Polugar.

Swedish vodka brand DQ has re-launched to the UK, following the restructuring of parent company Nordic Spirit.

Pernod Ricard  is to donate ¥ 60 million (€ 525,000) to support the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief effort.

Diageo’s Johnnie Walker is the number one spirits brand by value according to Impact Databank’s Top 100 Premium Spirits list.

Brown-Forman has announced that its board of directors has authorised the repurchase of up to $250 million of its outstanding Class A and Class B common shares until November 30, 2011, subject to market and other conditions.

Jack Daniels has launched a honey whiskey – the brand’s first launch in nearly a generation.

Canada: Brick Brewing Company has acquired the Canadian rights to the Seagram Coolers brand from Corby Distilleries. The transaction closed upon signing.

Europe: Pernod Ricard has resumed the supply of Malibu after stopping it due to a ‘fluctuation in the coconut flavour’.

Team Italy has won the 2011 42 Below Cocktail World Cup.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, the premium spirits business of Fortune Brands has announced a ten year incentive-based agreement with Coca-Cola Amatil in Australia.

Angostura has crowned the winner of its 2011 Global Cocktail Challenge. Andy Griffiths from Cookie bar in Melbourne, Australia, took home the US$10,000 prize as well as a one year brand ambassadorship.

Bushmills has announced that it will launch a global competition on St Patrick’s day, called Make it 2 Bushmills.

Diageo has announced the launch of super premium vodka Smirnov Titul to the Russian market.

Scotch company Gordon & MacPhail has launched The Glenlivet 70 Year Old, priced at £13,000 a bottle.

Jameson has devised a trio of St Patrick’s day promotions, including a global music event, radio broadcast and a special edition bottle.

Jeff Clarke has been appointed chief winemaker at Marlborough’s Ara Wines.

Heineken has proposed that Charlotte Kwist replaces her uncle Dirk Pieter Hoyer as a director of Heineken Holdings.

Rémy Martin has announced the sale of a 1930s crystal carafe containing Louis XIII cognac, for an estimated €50,000.

Cork producer Amorim recorded double-digit volume growth in 2010.

Havana Club grew by 15% in 2010, following strong performances in Cuba, Germany, France and the UK.

William Grant & Sons has repackaged its Grant’s Sherry Cask Finish and Ale Cask Finish expressions.

AB InBev’s buoyant Asia-Pacific and Latin America markets have offset negative growth in North America and Europe, to spur overall revenue growth.

Scotch distiller Laphroaig has announced the global roll out of its Triple Wood expression.

The Rémy Cointreau Group has announced that it has entered into “exclusive negotiations with EPI” to sell its champagne division.

US distributors Glazer’s has appointed Robert Swartz as chief operating officer and Phil Meacham as executive vice president malt beverages.

Brown-Forman has sold its Fetzer wine business to Concha y Toro for US$238 million. The transaction is expected to close in April 2011.

UK gin distiller G&J Greenall has celebrated its 250th birthday by redesigning its Original London Dry Gin.

Clink! Wines, distributors to the UK and mainland Europe, has appointed Mariola Martinez as operations manager.

Fortune Brands has said it sees a “bright and prosperous future for Beam Global as an independent spirits company”.

The South African government has increased excise duty on spirits by 10% and wine by 8%.

UK spirits group Ian Macleod Distillers has recorded a 41% profit, buoyed by the growth of Glengoyne single malt whisky.

UK: Trade bodies Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have denied that UK alcohol consumption is rising.

Moderate drinking can help prevent heart disease, according to a new report in the British Medical Journal. The report, which is a review of research published over 30 years, said individuals who drink alcohol in moderation are less likely to develop heart disease compared to non-drinkers.

E&J Gallo has introduced a red wine that has been blended specifically so it can be drunk chilled.

Scotch brand Chivas Regal and designer Vivienne Westwood have collaborated to launch a new limited edition whisky.

Diageo has struck an agreement to acquire Turkey's "leading" spirits company, Mey Içki.

Whisky retailer Master of Malt has launched a liqueur made from single malt scotch whisky.

Nemiroff has reported strong growth in 2010. The Ukrainian vodka brand said sales volumes rose to $473.6 million – $56.8 million (13.6%) up on the previous year. The company said the largest growth areas were Ukraine and Poland.

Pernod Ricard has reported a sales increase of 13% to €4.28 billion in its half year results.